For Immediate Release
Wednesday, April 21, 2015
For More Information Contact:
Renuka Mayadev
rmayadev@childrensdefense.org
614.221.2244
PRESS ADVISORY
Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio Beat the Odds® Awards Celebrate
Outstanding Achievements of Five High School Seniors
Columbus, Ohio – Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22, the Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio will honor five youth from across the state at the 2015 Beat the Odds Awards Ceremony in Columbus at the Hilton Columbus Downtown at 6pm. Five high school seniors who have overcome tremendous adversity to excel academically and give back to their communities will share their extraordinary stories and receive a $5,000 scholarship, a laptop computer, and be welcomed into the Children’s Defense Fund’s network and youth leadership development programs.
The 2015 Beat the Odds® Honorees are:
- Alberto Jones, Huber Heights, Ohio (Wayne High School)
- Britiny Lee, Cleveland, Ohio (Cleveland School of Science and Medicine)
- Kaylyn Sigman, Albany, Ohio (Alexander High School)
- Ayriq Sims, Cincinnati, Ohio (Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School)
- Walter Thompson, Columbus, Ohio (Walnut Ridge High School)
Renuka Mayadev, Executive Director, Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio will celebrate the students’ achievements. Frances Strickland will open the evening with remarks as the Beat the Odds Civic Selection Committee Chair. Event emcee will be Jerry Revish, WBNS 10TV.
Press Interviews: The honorees will be available to speak with the media on Wednesday, April 22 from 3:00- 4:00 pm at the Hilton Columbus Downtown in the Bellows Ballroom reception area.
For more information about the Beat the Odds event or honorees, please contact the Children’s Defense Fund Ohio.
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The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.