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May 03, 2004
Guardian Life Insurance Announces Winners of Fourth Annual Girls Going Places College Scholarship Program
New York, May 3, 2004 -The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America announced today that it has selected 15 outstanding girls as winners and finalists in its 2004 Girls Going Places College Scholarship competition, a national program that recognizes and rewards teen-aged girls who demonstrate exceptional entrepreneurship.
Selected from more than 2,000 nominations, this year's winners come from all corners of the United States. The young entrepreneurs, ranging in age from 13 to 17, are being recognized for their business achievements and community service.
Guardian has awarded the 15 girls a total of $30,000 to be used toward their college education. The first, second and third place winners received scholarship prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000, respectively, and 12 finalists were granted prizes of $1,000 each. Each girl will be awarded her prize during a ceremony in her hometown with Guardian representatives.
"Now in our fourth year of the Girls Going Places program, we have seen thousands of nominations for extraordinary young women who excel as entrepreneurs," says Emily Viner, Director of Agency Distribution & Development, Individual Markets, Guardian, New York. "We are absolutely thrilled with the 2004 winners. At such a young age, they are already contributing to the $2.3 trillion in revenue that female entrepreneurs are contributing to the U.S. economy."
The First Place winner in the 2004 competition is Laima Tazmin, a 15-year-old from New York City, NY who founded LAVTweb, a website development business. The Second and Third Place winners are Kenya Jordan James, 13, from East Point, GA, founder of Blackgirl Magazine, and Meredith Bayse, 16, from Summit, NJ, who started Meredith Bayse, LLC, an accessory design company.
The 12 finalists in the 2004 Girls Going Places College Scholarship Competition are:
 | Makenzie Snyder, 13, Bowie, MD - created the Children to Children organization, which donates duffle bags and stuffed animals to children in foster care |
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| Kayla Ann Maxwell, 13, East Amherst, NY - started the Posted Pines Neighborhood Newsletter |
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| Geneva Johnson, 15, Bronx, NY - developed the Hamilton Art Gallery website and newsletter |
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| Pamela Ashley Timmerman, 15, Austin, TX - established Bead Expressions, a jewelry design company |
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| Alexis Leigh Petrovich, 16, Allentown, PA - started Lex Wear, a jewelry design company |
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| Sarah Travers, 16, St. Louis, MO - started Sarah Bead, a jewelry design company |
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| DeVonna Jones, 16, East Palo Alto, CA - founded Jammer Productions, a marketing and event planning company |
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| Alicia M. Williams, 16, West Jordan, UT - creator of photography backdrops |
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| Emma Lawrence, 17, Shaker Heights, OH - established a field hockey camp |
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| Heather Carter, 17, Rowlett, TX - founded A Little Ray of Sunshine, which creates comfort kits for hospital patients |
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| Jean Wang, 17, Clifton Park, NY - developed Jeanie Wang Designs, a fashion design company |
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| Stephanie A. Weber, 17, Glen Allen, VA - created Comfort Bags, which develops bags that help heal sore muscles |
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Guardian designed the annual Girls Going Places program to help women create, invest and protect wealth by honoring girls between the ages of 12 and 16 who are taking the first steps toward financial independence. Adults are asked to nominate girls - who could be their daughter, niece, neighbor or student - by submitting a 1,000-word essay on why the nominee deserves a Girls Going Places award. A panel of judges reviews the essays and picks finalists who demonstrate budding entrepreneurship, make a difference in their school or community and show potential for future success by initiating a new business. This year's judges were Joanne Mack, President of Park Avenue Securities, Guardian; Barry Drogy, President of Guardian Trust Services, Guardian; Suzanne Pease, President of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO); Dr. Amelia Augustus, President of the Women's Economic Roundtable; and Phyllis Swersky, President of the Meltech Group.
About Guardian Founded in 1860, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY (Guardian) is the fourth largest mutual life insurance company in the United States. As of December 31, 2003, Guardian and its subsidiaries had $37.2 billion in assets. With more than 5,000 employees, over 2,800 financial representatives and nearly 100 agencies nationwide, Guardian and its subsidiaries protect individuals, businesses and their employees with life, disability, health and dental insurance products, and offer 401(k), financial products and trust services. More information on Guardian can be obtained at: www.guardianlife.com. | |
