Voting Is Open for Finalists of Verizon Wireless/Newark Innovation Academy Career Development Program

WARREN, NJ--(Marketwire - Jun 15, 2011) -

• Program designed to empower high school students for college, career success
• First place winner to receive $5,000 scholarship
• Verizon Wireless to fund a Wireless Technology Lab at the Newark Innovation Academy

Verizon Wireless, provider of the fastest and most advanced 4G LTE network in America, announced that a six-month career development program in partnership with the Newark Innovation Academy (NIA) has been completed and is now asking the public to help select the winners of the competition. Anyone wishing to participate will be able to see and vote on the entries from June 13^th through June 24^th, 2011 by visiting the company's Northeast Tumblr page.

Since January, several Verizon Wireless employees have been teaching two-hour workshop sessions with the goal of educating students about higher education options, financial aid and the importance of following a career path. As part of the program, the students were also tasked with creating a commercial and a marketing program for the Samsung Galaxy Tab. A panel of judges evaluated each project based on its creativity as well as the quality of the content and presentation. Three finalists were selected and now the public has the opportunity to choose the winner.

"We were very impressed by the quality and content of each entry," said Fernando Molinar, associate director of multicultural marketing for Verizon Wireless, Northeast. "It was clear that every student who participated in the program put a sincere effort into their project. This program is a great example of how wireless technology can assist both students and teachers in the classroom."

Winners will be announced on June 29^th during a special presentation at the Newark Innovation Academy's commencement ceremony. All three finalists will receive a Samsung Galaxy Tab for their efforts and the Newark Innovation Academy will receive a donation of 20 Samsung Galaxy Tabs that will help establish a Verizon Wireless Technology Lab on their campus. The first place winner will also receive a $5,000 scholarship and a temporary employment opportunity at a Verizon Wireless store location.

"We would like to thank Verizon Wireless for choosing the Newark Innovation Academy for this competition and for giving our students the opportunity to learn and test the new skills they have acquired during this program," said Wendy Cubano, services coordinator, Newark Innovation Academy. "Once again, Verizon Wireless has shown business and community leadership by teaching our students real world business skills and demonstrating the benefits of wireless technology in the classroom."

Participants in the six-month program have been focusing on career development and technology education that helped them develop real-life experience and understanding about pricing, promotion and the importance of creating a positive customer experience. Samsung Mobile provided a Galaxy Tab to each student during the course of the program and Verizon Wireless provided free service. The project was performed using Edmodo's Android App and online social learning network which offers a secure place where educators and students can collaborate and share digital content such as documents, presentations, pictures and video.

For more information on Verizon Wireless 3G and 4G LTE networks, products and services, visit www.verizonwireless.com or call1-800-2 JOIN IN. Follow Verizon Wireless on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

About Edmodo
With more than 1 million users and growing, Edmodo is the world's fastest growing social learning network, providing a free and secure social networking platform for teachers, students and school administrators. Edmodo offers schools a safe and easy way to connect and collaborate, offering a real-time platform to exchange ideas, share content, and access homework, grades and school notices. Accessible from any networked or mobile device via free smart phone applications, Edmodo is the social learning network made for teachers by teachers.