FORT WORTH, Texas, June 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Airlines Education Foundation yesterday awarded more than $750,000 in scholarships to 287 children of employees, an increase of 35 percent compared to 2015.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f91e5852-4705-4923-99d4-b45c7e5dedfa
Each recipient will receive a $2,500 scholarship and first generation college students will each receive an additional one-time award of $1,000. Scholarship recipients were honored at a reception at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas.
“I am very honored and grateful for the scholarships my three daughters have received from the American Airlines Education Foundation,” said Lisanne Reedy, a LaGuardia-based flight attendant. “I thank the American Airlines Education Foundation for their generous contribution to my daughters' education, enabling them to pursue their dreams.”
“We are thrilled the foundation is in a position to help nearly 300 students with their academic pursuits,” said Ron DeFeo president of the American Airlines Education Foundation Board and vice president – Global Communications for American. ““This year’s scholarship honorees are an impressive group and includes National Merit Scholars, Eagle Scouts, student athletes, licensed pilots and first generation college students The award ceremony is one of the best nights of the year at American and it’s a joy to see the accomplishments and passions of these students.”
The Education Foundation received more than 1,100 applications as a part of the competitive process. Managed by third-party scholarship experts, scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic achievement, extracurricular involvement and commitment to community service and volunteerism.
Four-time award recipient Kara Schell said, “I am so grateful that the Education Foundation has supported my academic goals for the past four years. Their generosity has opened many windows for me that would have never been a possibility without them. I never would have been able to study abroad if it were not for the scholarship I received last year.”
American Airlines Education Foundation will continue to support educational initiatives by funding college scholarships for dependents of airline employees. High school seniors and college undergraduate students are eligible to apply for the scholarships and they can receive the award for up to four years.
For more information about the ways American Airlines is giving back to the community, please visit AA.com/giving.
About American Airlines Group
American Airlines and American Eagle offer an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. American is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members and members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily flights to 150 countries. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. In 2015, its stock joined the S&P 500 index. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.