Chevrolet, Michelle Kwan Reward 10 College-Bound Female Athletes With Scholarships
FOR RELEASE: June 27, 2001Chevrolet, Michelle Kwan Reward 10 College-Bound Female Athletes With Scholarships
LOS ANGELES - The inaugural Chevrolet/Michelle Kwan REWARDS Scholarship Program today named the first 10 winners of its college scholarship totaling $50,000. REWARDS recognizes and assists outstanding college-bound female athletes from across the country.
Of the 5,000 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 are being honored in Los Angeles on June 27 and will meet Michelle for the first time at a "beach party" in Santa Monica, followed by a formal awards presentation at Disneyland in Anaheim later that evening. "Chevrolet would like to congratulate these young women for both their academic and athletic achievements," said Kurt Ritter, Chevrolet general manager.
"Chevrolet is proud to work with Michelle Kwan on this scholarship program which will help these young, inspirational women fulfill their goals and aspirations."
"I'm delighted that my partnership with Chevrolet will help these young women achieve their dreams," said Michelle Kwan, who last year signed a multi-year agreement with Chevrolet that includes advertising, marketing and promotional activities. "I'm a strong believer that the combination of education and athletics provide a solid foundation for success in life."
The following are this year's winners of the Chevrolet/Michelle Kwan REWARDS Scholarship:
| Name | Hometown | College/University | Major | Primary Sport |
| Keiko Booth | Vicksburg, Miss. | Spring Hill College | Emergency Management | Softball |
| Cassandra Ficken | Conifer, Colo. | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Engineering | Cross-Country/Track & Field |
| Sharon Furiness | Willamsburg, Va. | College of William and Mary | Biological Related Field | Soccer |
| Tasha Hopper | Roswell, N.M. | New Mexico State University | Sports Medicine | Basketball |
| Evelyn Laycock | St. James, Mo. | Washington University in St. Louis | Political Science | Basketball |
| Marissa Mike | Burbank, Calif. | Harvard University | Economics | Track & Field/Tennis |
| Lindsey Pleuss | Boone, Iowa | Waldoff College | Mathematics | Basketball |
| Audrey Sato | Honolulu, Hawaii | Brown University | Studio Art/Film | Canoe/Kayak |
| Katrina Wilkin | Rumney, N.H. | Stonehill College | Accounting | Equestrian |
| Mari Yamaguchi | Indianapolis, Ind. | Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) | Biology/Medicine | Figure Skating |
Michelle is a four-time world figure-skating champion and a second-year student at UCLA. She divides her time between late-night study sessions and the intense practice schedule of a world-champion skater with her sights set on the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games.
Known for her elegant skating style and competitive spirit, Michelle has won an unprecedented 36 championships, including five U.S. national championships in addition to her four world titles. She also won a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
Chevrolet's relationship with Michelle Kwan is part of its ongoing partnership with the United States Figure Skating Association, which dates from 1995 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.
For more information on the Chevrolet/Michelle Kwan REWARDS scholarship program, please go to www.chevrolet.com/rewards.