ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Borders Group, Inc. today announced that 65 students, who are employees of the company or dependents of employees, will receive a total of $200,000 in scholarship funding for the 2007-2008 academic year through the sixth annual Borders Group Foundation Scholarship program. Five scholarships were awarded at the $10,000 level and the remainder at the $2,500 level. This more than doubles the amount awarded last year, and is the largest annual award in the program's history.
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Now in its 11th year, the Borders Group Foundation, a not-for-profit organization funded by the company and its employees, provides financial assistance to Borders Group employees in time of need. As part of its mission, the Foundation has established a scholarship fund to provide financial assistance to regular part-time and full-time employees who are furthering their education, as well as the dependents of employees requiring educational assistance. Eligible students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, and must be currently accepted at or enrolled in a two-year or four-year college, university or vocational technical school.
The "Honor Scholar Awards," which increased from $5,000 to $10,000 this year, are open to all full- and part-time employees with at least one year of service with the company, as well as their dependents. Applicants must have completed at least 12 undergraduate or vocational credits.
The Borders Group "Scholar Awards," which increased from $1,500 to $2,500 this year, are open to all full-time and part-time employees with at least ninety days of service with the company, as well as their dependents.
The company also awarded its "David H. Carpenter Scholarship," which increased from $1,500 to $2,500 this year. David H. Carpenter was the Midwest territorial vice president for Borders stores until he passed away suddenly in June 1998. He was a graduate of Michigan State University, and the scholarship was established in his memory. This year's recipient of the "David H. Carpenter Scholarship" is Elizabeth Jagenow, daughter of Sarah Jagenow, who works in the company's corporate headquarters. Elizabeth is attending Michigan State University.
Borders Group "Honor Scholar Award" ($10,000) recipients include:
- Peter Andreou, son of Cynthia Andreou at Borders in Mount Prospect,
Ill., attending Northern Illinois University.
- Gary Clayton, spouse of Darlene Clayton at Borders in Dallas, Texas,
attending Southern Methodist University.
- Jillian Larson, cafe seller at Borders in Peoria, Ill., attending
Illinois Central College.
- Lauren Mazur, training supervisor at Borders in Stony Brook, N.Y.,
attending the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
- Alysse Stehli, bookseller at Waldenbooks/Borders Express in Lancaster,
Pa., attending Millersville University.
Borders Group "Scholar Award" ($2,500) recipients include:
- Kaileigh Ahlquist, daughter of Steve Ahlquist at Borders in Providence,
R.I., attending Reed College.
- Brandon Barbour, spouse of Jaclyn Barbour at Borders in Provo, Utah,
attending Brigham Young University.
- Natalie Barnett, daughter of Noel Barnett at Borders in Plattsburgh,
N.Y., attending College of the Atlantic.
- Lauren Bartoe, daughter of Roberta Bartoe at Waldenbooks/Borders
Express in Monaca, Pa., attending Duquesne University.
- Jason Berry, department assistant at the Corporate Office in Ann Arbor,
Mich., attending Eastern Michigan University.
- Tonya Blanchard, bookseller at Borders in Mishawaka, Ind., attending
Jones International University.
- Tricia Blomgren, inventory supervisor at Borders in West Lafayette,
Ind., attending Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.
- Jennifer Bolser, merchandising supervisor at Borders in Beaverton,
Ore., attending Portland State University.
- Amanda Bosworth, bookseller at Borders in Flint, Mich., attending the
University of Michigan.
- Stephanie Bowers, daughter of Jeffrey Bowers at the Corporate Office in
Ann Arbor, Mich., attending Mott Community College.
- Casey Breymann, cafe seller at Borders in Henderson, Nev., attending
Nevada State College.
- Aaron Bush, son of Mark Bush at the Corporate Office in Ann Arbor,
Mich., attending Spring Arbor University.
- Nichlaus Carroll, spouse of Jonnie Carroll at Borders in Albuquerque,
N.M., attending The University of New Mexico.
- Danielle Casper, bookseller at Borders in Cucamonga, Calif., attending
Colorado Christian University.
- Miranda Chavis, bookseller at Waldenbooks/Borders Express in Southern
Pines, N.C., attending Sotheby's Institute of Art.
- Connie Chou, cashier at Borders in Geneva, Ill., attending San Diego
State University.
- Gage Church, spouse of Timothy Sharp at Borders in Roseville, Minn.,
attending United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.
- Kristen Clanton, bookseller at Borders in Tampa, Fla., attending the
University of Nebraska at Omaha.
- Matthew Claridge, bookseller at Borders in Deerfield, Ill., attending
Pensacola Christian College.
- Morgan Dowd, daughter of Mary Adams at Borders in Annapolis, Md.,
attending Georgetown University.
- Kimberly Eridon, seller at Borders in St. Paul, Minn., attending
Hamline University.
- Tiffany Gardner, daughter of Stephanie Gardner at Waldenbooks/Borders
Express in Lubbock, Texas, attending Texas Tech University.
- Brian Gavin, cafe seller at Borders in Clarksville, Tenn.
- Bradley Gehrke, bookseller at Borders in Eau Claire, Wis., attending
Chippewa Valley Technical College.
- Christopher Hagan, senior bookseller at Waldenbooks/Borders Express in
Westminster, Calif., attending the University of California, Irvine.
- Elizabeth Hoefer, bookseller at Waldenbooks/Borders Express in Iowa
City, Iowa, attending Macalester College.
- Alexander Holtzman, son of Joseph Holtzman at the Corporate Office in
Ann Arbor, Mich., attending Kalamazoo College.
- Yelena Kart, bookseller at Borders in Deerfield, Ill., attending DePaul
University.
- Chelsea Kaufman, daughter of Kristina Kaufman at Waldenbooks/Borders
Express in Clarian, Pa., attending Mercyhurst College.
- Brendan Kiburg, son of Laurel Kiburg at Borders in Wheaton, Ill.,
attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- Matthew Kruer, merchandising supervisor at Borders in Phoenix, Ariz.,
attending the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
- Monica Laco, daughter of Anthony Laco at Waldenbooks/Borders Express in
Strongsville, Ohio, attending Xavier University.
- Meghan Lucey, daughter of Amy Lucey at Borders in Fairfield, Conn.,
attending Fordham University.
- Mary McClellan, daughter of Julie McClellan at Borders in Woodbridge,
Va., attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
- Morgan Meyer, cashier at Borders in Dubuque, Iowa, attending the
University of Dubuque.
- Amanda Odenwelder, bookseller at Borders in Dickson City, Pa.,
attending Marywood University.
- Amy Olson, daughter of Robin Olson at Borders in Coon Rapids, Minn.,
attending the University of St. Thomas.
- Devon Oppenheimer, cafe seller at Borders in Medina, Ohio, attending
Kenyon College.
- Jennifer Pekulik, bookseller at Borders in Greendale, Wis., attending
the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.
- Andrea Perriguey, daughter of Mary Ann Perriguey at Waldenbooks/Borders
Express in Knoxville, Tenn., attending the University of South
Carolina.
- Rachel Plenzler, cafe seller at Borders in Toledo, Ohio, attending the
Universiy of Toledo.
- Victoria Rancourt, daughter of Anita Rancourt at Waldenbooks/Borders
Express in Greenville, S.C., attending Winthrop University.
- Daniel Sawyer, bookseller at Borders in Montclair, Calif., attending
the University of California, Los Angeles.
- Katherine Sawyer, spouse of Sachin Puri at the Corporate Office in Ann
Arbor, Mich., attending Eastern Michigan University.
- Eliya Schmidt, cafe seller at Borders in Albuquerque, N.M., attending
the University of New Mexico.
- Cindy Soto, bookseller at Waldenbooks/Borders Express in Independence,
Mo., attending Nicholls State University.
- Brian Stepanic, bookseller at Borders in North Canton, Ohio, attending
the University of Akron.
- Rebecca Straple, daughter of Madelaine Straple at Borders in LaGrange,
Ill., attending Illinois State University.
- Daniel Sugar, cashier at Borders in Wilmette, Ill., attending Brown
University.
- Miloud Tais, training supervisor at Borders in Lynwood, Wash.,
attending the University of Washington.
- Elizabeth Tojdowski, training supervisor at Borders in Victor, N.Y.,
attending Everest Institute.
- Emelia Tse, daughter of Sharon Tse at the Corporate Office in Ann
Arbor, Mich., attending Kalamazoo College.
- Michael Wawzenek, son of Larry Wawzenek at Borders in LaGrange, Ill.,
attending The University of Illinois Chicago.
- Charlotte Wilson, bookseller at Borders in Salem, Ore., attending
Western Oregon University.
- Janae Wilson, Paperchase seller at Borders in Elk Grove, Calif.,
attending the University of California, Los Angeles.
- Tyler Winkler, cafe supervisor at Borders in Las Vegas, Nev., attending
the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
- Tyler Winter, son of James Winter at Borders in Fairview Heights, Ill.,
attending the University of Missouri, Rolla.
- Jennifer Wise, daughter of Mary Williamson at Waldenbooks/Borders
Express in Houston, Texas, attending Smith College.
- Karen Yeoman, cafe supervisor at Borders in Greendale, Wis., attending
the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Scholarship recipients were selected based upon prior academic success, leadership capabilities, participation in school and community activities, work experience, a statement of career aspiration and personal or family circumstances that demonstrated need.
As a key component of the Foundation's mission to strengthen the Borders family, the scholarship program provides financial assistance to employees and their dependents who are furthering their education. The Foundation has awarded more than $440,000 in scholarships since 2001.
The Borders Group Foundation was established in 1996 to assist employees facing financial need created by catastrophic circumstances including natural disasters, medical emergencies, loss due to fire, and a host of other situations. The company is the largest single donor to the Foundation, matching 50 cents on the dollar for every employee contribution. One hundred percent of all donations go directly to assist Borders Group employees.
The Foundation's scholarship program is administered by Scholarship Program Administrators.
About Borders Group
Borders Group, Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BGP. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., the company is a $4.1 billion global retailer of books, music, movies, and gift and stationery items. Through its subsidiaries, Borders Group has more than 32,000 employees and operates over 1,200 stores worldwide. More information on Borders Group is available at http://www.bordersgroupinc.com/.
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