Seventy-Five High School Seniors Chosen from More Than 150,000 Applicants To Win Scholarships from KFC's 2009 Colonel's Scholars Program

LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The fourth class of KFC Colonel's Scholars(R), 75 talented and ambitious incoming college freshmen, will attend colleges and universities across the country this fall, thanks to scholarships provided by the Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation.

More than 150,000 graduating high school seniors who excelled in and out of the classroom applied for the scholarships this year. The KFC Colonel's Scholars program awarded 75 scholarships based on financial need and the impact of students on their schools and communities. Each award winner is eligible to receive up to $20,000 during the next four years to pursue a bachelor's degree at an accredited public university within his or her home state.

The members of this year's class of KFC Colonel's Scholars have demonstrated a wide range of talents and represent a diverse group of backgrounds. One Scholar maintained a 4.0 grade-point average while working as a co-owner of a dairy farm. Another Scholar launched a nonprofit organization, which provides services for homeless mothers in Orlando who were victims of domestic violence. This organization has helped many families find housing and taught them how to be self-sufficient.

"These students have proven that they are completely committed to both their education and enriching and supporting their schools and communities," said Roger Eaton, president of KFC. "Because of this commitment, we are dedicating ourselves to helping them pursue their dreams and realize their goal of a college education."

"As a KFC Franchisee and a donor assisted scholarship sponsor, I am honored to help carry on Colonel Sanders' commitment to education by supporting the fourth class of KFC Colonel's Scholars," stated Darlene Pfeiffer.

KFC Colonel's Scholars, now in its fourth year, is an annual program of the Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation, an independent charity supported by KFC, its employees and franchisees, and KFC patrons. The KFC Colonel's Scholars' mission is to empower students to improve their lives with scholarship resources. The program has awarded more than $5 million in scholarships since its inception.

For more information on KFC Colonel's Scholars and the Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation, visit www.KFC.com or www.KFCscholars.org.

About KFC Colonel's Scholars

KFC Colonel's Scholars is a program of Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation, an independent 501c3 charity funded by KFC, its employees, franchisees and KFC patrons, and seeks to help provide high school students scholarship resources to attend public post-secondary schools within their states of residence. Colonel's Scholars is a registered trademark of KFC Corporation.

About KFC

KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world's most popular chicken restaurant chain specializing in Original Recipe(R), Extra Crispy(TM), Kentucky Grilled Chicken(TM) and Original Recipe Strips with home-style sides, Honey BBQ Wings, and freshly made chicken sandwiches. There are more than 15,000 KFC outlets in more than 80 countries and territories around the world, serving some 12 million customers each day. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM).

Colonel's Scholars Class of 2009


    Alabama
    Kayla Harris (Wetumpka, Ala.)
    Mashika Tempero (Vredenburgh, Ala.)

    Arkansas
    Vence Johnson (Pine Bluff, Ark.)
    Amanda Mckibben (Oiltrough, Ark.)

    California
    Terry Allen (Vallejo, Calif.)
    Geobio Boo (Simi Valley, Calif.)
    Fallon Griffin (Los Angeles, Calif.)
    Ashley Hebert (Oakland, Calif.)
    Rothpanhar Ross (Stockton, Calif.)
    Casandra Vann (Los Angeles, Calif.)

    Delaware 
    Shoaib Baqi (Smyrna, Del.)

    Florida 
    Shardy Camargo (Orlando, Fla.)
    Tomilee Dowden (Carrabelle, Fla.)
    Amirica Nicholson (Avon Park, Fla.)

    Georgia 
    Bianca Ficklin (Warrenton, Ga.)
    Scott Rowland (Cleveland, Ga.)
    Ashley Hutchinson (Atlanta, Ga.)

    Idaho 
    Kelsey Bernstein (Idaho Falls, Idaho)

    Illinois
    Lace Bailey (Chicago, Ill.)
    Ashley Kloth (Ellis Grove, Ill.)

    Indiana
    Cameron Brown (Gary, Ind.)
    Kylee Proctor (North Judson, Ind.)
    Brandon Lopez (Munster, Ind.)
    Jonathan Sobilo (Munster, Ind.)

    Iowa 
    Stephanie Venenga (Dike, Iowa)

    Kansas
    Ashley Arenholz (Olathe, Kan.)
    Lauren Johnson (Waverly, Kan.)
    Heather Reynolds (LaCygne, Kan.)

    Kentucky 
    Jessika Turner (Paris, Ky.)

    Louisiana
    Jerome Spann (Baton Rouge, La.)

    Michigan
    Kate O'Connor (Plymouth, Mich.)
    Sade Turner (Detroit, Mich.)
    Jessica Orr (Atlanta, Mich.)

    Minnesota 
    Adam Jensen (Faribault, Minn.)
    Valerie Speedling (Kellogg, Minn.)
    Neil Turner (Ashby, Minn.)
    Blai Vue (St. Paul, Minn.)

    Missouri
    Elaine Gibson (Sikeston, Mo.)
    Melanie Gilmore (Brentwood, Mo.)

    Montana 
    Hannah Johnson (Victor, Mont.)

    Nebraska 
    Michelle Pineda (Humboldt, Neb.)
    Jessica Arias (Lincoln, Neb.)

    Nevada
    Courtney Sharp (Fernley, Nev.)

    New Jersey
    Victor Espinoza (Union City, N.J.)
    Sarah Lee (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.)

    New York 
    Corinne McGuirk (Douglaston, N.Y.)
    Benjamin Hall (Kingston, N.Y.)

    North Carolina 
    Sarah Gambrel (Red Sprigs, N.C.)

    Ohio
    Madalynn Priskorn (Hillsboro, Ohio)
    Shari' Thomas (Steubenville, Ohio)
    Heather Brewer (Hillsboro, Ohio)

    Oklahoma
    Leslie Barcenas (Muldrow, Okla.)
    Brittney Wilson (Claremore, Okla.)

    Oregon 
    Megan Taylor (Hebo, Ore.)
    Alyssa Warren (Merlin, Ore.)

    Pennsylvania 
    Victoria Ammermann (Beach Lake, Pa.)
    Trent Gray (Harrisburg, Pa.)
    Rachel Solomon (Atglen, Pa.)

    Rhode Island 
    Kimberly Leonard (West Warwick, R.I.)

    South Carolina 
    Megan Garland (North Augusta, S.C.)
    Michelle Robles (Fort Mill, S.C.)

    Tennessee 
    Merita Pierce (Winfield, Tenn.)

    Texas 
    Hannah Daniel (Kountze, Texas)
    Owais Durrani (Houston, Texas)
    Michelle Quinones (El Paso, Texas)
    Rigoberto Soto (Houston, Texas)
    Uriel Uranga (Presidio, Texas)

    Utah 
    Elisabeth Jessop (Ogden, Utah)

    Virginia 
    TeAirra Brown (Portsmouth, Va.)
    Melanie Rogers (Alexandria, Va.)

    Washington 
    Tiya Tuffa (Seattle, Wash.)

    Washington, D.C. 
    Ashley Pierce (Washington, D.C.)

    Wisconsin 
    Bradley Beaumier (Lena, Wisc.)
    Dawn Henn (Milwaukee, Wisc.)
    Michael Muir (Kenosha, Wisc.)

SOURCE KFC Corporation