Chevrolet, Michelle Kwan Award 10 College-Bound Female Athletes with Scholarships
July 11, 2002Chevrolet, Michelle Kwan Award 10 College-Bound Female Athletes with Scholarships
LOS ANGELES – The second annual Chevrolet/Michelle Kwan REWARDS Scholarship Program today named this year’s 10 winners of its college scholarship totaling $50,000. REWARDS recognizes and assists outstanding college-bound female athletes from across the country.
Of the 10,000 graduating seniors who applied, 10 were selected based on outstanding performance in the following categories: academics, athletics, leadership, participation in school/community activities, financial need and personal essay.
REWARDS (Recognizing Excellence of Women in Academics & Rewarding Dynamic Student-athletes) will provide each student $2,000 for the first year of college, and $1,000 each for the next three years, as long as the recipient meets renewal criteria.
These 10 young women will meet Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan in Long Beach, Calif., on July 11 at the “Champions On Ice” event. The following day, award recipients will attend a formal awards presentation and dinner with Kwan in Santa Monica, Calif.
“Chevrolet would like to congratulate these young women for both their academic and athletic achievements,” said Kurt Ritter, Chevrolet general manager. “We’re proud to work with Michelle on this scholarship program to help these young, inspirational women fulfill their goals and aspirations. Chevy has long supported the pursuit of excellence in academics and athletics through our Olympic sponsorships and the REWARDS program is one more way we can help young people realize their dreams.”
“I’m really pleased to be able to continue to help young student-athletes achieve their educational goals,” said Kwan. “As a student-athlete myself, I know firsthand the challenges these young women face and I’m proud to be sharing their journey toward academic and athletic excellence. Without a doubt, the combination of academics and athletics provides a solid foundation for success.”
The following are this year’s winners of the Chevrolet/Michelle Kwan REWARDS Scholarship:
| Name | Hometown | College/University | Major | Primary Sport |
| Jenny Alexander | Belton, Tex. | MIT | Biomedical Technology, Biochemistry or Molecular Biology | Volleyball |
| Rebekah Crider | Tupelo, Miss. | Itawamba Community College | Pre-Med | Softball |
| Lianne Labossiere | Miami, Fla. | Yale University | Political Science/Economics | Soccer |
| Jacqueline Leahy | Aurora, Colo. | Princeton University | Undecided | Fencing |
| Merrie Mosedale | Manteo, N.C. | Duke University | Biomedical Engineering | Swimming |
| Rose Ryan Eden | Prairie, Minn. | Whitman College (in Walla Walla, Wash.) | Politics or History | Skiing |
| Jennifer Serpe | Richmond, Va. | University of Virginia | Psychology | Figure Skating |
| Ashley Thomas | Anchorage, Alaska | Malone College (in Canton, Ohio) | Undecided | Cross-country |
| Joslyn Woodard | Irvine, Calif. | Yale University | Biology | Track and Field |
| Renee Woodburn | Stone Mountain, Ga. | Cornell University | Human Biology, Health and Society | Cheerleading |
No stranger to juggling academics and athletics, Kwan divides her time between late-night study sessions as a student at UCLA and the intense practice schedule of a figure skating champion.
Known for her elegant skating style and competitive spirit, this year Michelle became the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history. Michelle has won an unprecedented 38 championships, including six U.S. national championships and four world championships. She also won a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, and a bronze medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Chevrolet’s relationship with Michelle Kwan is part of its ongoing partnership with the United States Figure Skating Association, which dates from 1996 and has been extended through 2004.
Over the past 30 years, Chevrolet has supported education by contributing $8 million to colleges, universities and high schools through the Chevrolet Player of the Game program. Chevrolet’s commitment to education also has been demonstrated in its support of other programs, such as the “Excellence in Education” award, which recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding African-American and Hispanic students throughout the United States. Chevrolet also produces college guides for African-American and Hispanic high school students annually. The guides, created in conjunction with Ebony and Hispanic Magazine, provide information on scholarships, college preparation and programs focusing on African-American and Hispanic heritage.
Chevy’s commitment to youth is evident through Chevy R.O.C.K. (Reaching Out to Communities and Kids), a community service initiative dedicated to providing young people with the life skills, experiences and resources to become positive members of their communities and role models to their peers. Chevy R.O.C.K. has three components: the Matching Grant Program, supporting dealers at the local level; a Chevrolet sponsorship of the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (S.A.V.E.); and support for a range of education-related programs such as S.A.V.E. and Making College Count.
For more information on the Chevrolet/Michelle Kwan REWARDS scholarship program, please go to www.chevy.com/rewards.
