172 student scholars honored by C Spire Wireless, Commercial Appeal Media during awards program in areas of achievement, leadership, good character and community service

Memphis, Tenn. (May 3, 2013) – Eleven students from Memphis area high schools have received the prestigious C Spire Wireless Academic All-Starts Award for excellence in academics, leadership and community service during the 2012-2013 school year.

The student-scholars were honored during an annual awards program at the Hilton Memphis sponsored by the Ridgeland, Miss.-based wireless provider and Commercial Appeal Media, owners of Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis. They were selected from among 172 students who received awards during the school year.

Overall winners in the 10 curriculum categories included:

• General Scholarship-private school: Andrew Renshaw, Memphis University School
• Music: Elijah Poston, St. George’s Independent School
• Social Sciences and History: Caroline Paxton, St. Mary’s Episcopal School
• Science: Ryan K. Hunt, Briarcrest Christian School
• Drama and Speech: Tiffany Brantley, Bolton High School
• Art: Flannery Harper, Central High School
• Career-Technical: Andrew Griggs, Marion High School
• General Scholarship-public school: Megan Lee, White Station High School
• English and Literature: Nathalie Vacheron, St. George’s Independent School
• Foreign Language: Bennett Mercer, Memphis University School
• Mathematics: Madison Brooks, St. Agnes Academy

This year’s recipients included National Merit Scholarship winners, Advanced Placement Scholars, and attendees to various Tennessee Governor’s Schools. Music winner, Elijah Poston, can play multiple instruments, has written more than 100 songs and recorded a musical CD. Megan Lee, general scholarship winner, has been accepted to Harvard, is a Presidential Scholar nominee and scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. Andrew Griggs, the career-technical winner, has been accepted into the United States Air Force, after serving his community as a member of the Civil Air Patrol.

The C Spire Wireless Academic All-Stars program was conceived to identify and recognize high school students for excellence in academics, school leadership and community service. “Our goal is to show these young people that their accomplishments, discipline, dedication and hard work make a difference and are important ingredients for growing a rich, thriving economy in this region,” said Jim Richmond, vice president of Corporate Communications for C Spire Wireless. “We want these high achievers to see Memphis and the Mid-South region as a place they want to live and begin their professional careers after college.”

Now in its seventh year, the C Spire Academic All-Stars Awards are presented weekly over 28 weeks during the academic year from nominations submitted by school administrators at 93 participating high schools in the Bartlett- Cordova, Germantown-Collierville, DeSoto County, Millington-Tipton areas and city of Memphis.

Judges include educators from Rhodes College, the University of Memphis, Le-Moyne Owen College and Christian Brothers University. Each Sunday during the year, C Spire Academic All-Stars are announced in The Commercial Appeal.

For more information about the C Spire Academic All-Stars program, go to Academic All-Stars.

About C Spire Wireless

C Spire Wireless is a diversified wireless communications company passionately committed to helping customers by personalizing wireless services designed just for them. The company is the first wireless provider in the U.S. to personalize customers’ experience by offering apps that fit who they are, services that anticipate their needs, and rewards for using their phone in new ways – all with seamless ease and at amazingly fast speeds. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire Wireless and its products and services, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire or Google + or www.pinterest.com/cspirewireless