Regions Bank Announces 32 Recipients of Riding Forward Scholarships

Regions Bank has announced the 32 winners of its 2015 Regions Riding Forward^® Scholarship Essay Contest.

Now in its fourth year, the Regions Riding Forward^® Scholarship Essay Contest is the centerpiece of Regions’ Black History Month celebration and is based on the submission of a competitive essay about an inspirational African-American of the applicant’s choosing. Nearly 7,000 completed entries were submitted, the most since the program began in 2012.

High school seniors were eligible to compete for a $5,000 scholarship while college freshmen, sophomores and juniors were eligible to compete for a $3,500 scholarship. Once the scholarships are awarded in 2015, Regions will have provided more than $500,000 in scholarships through this program.

“At Regions, we are thrilled to not only recognize the achievements of this year’s winners, but also to honor the great African-American men and women who have been their inspiration,” said Michele Elrod, head of Regions Marketing. “Now in its fourth year, the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship program reached the milestone of investing $500,000 in the college educations of more than 120 students across our footprint. We wish them all continued success in their collegiate journey and look forward to seeing all that they will accomplish.”

In each of the 16 states with Regions branches, Regions awarded a college scholarship to one high school student and to one college student. Contest winners, and their hometowns and schools, are:

High School

• Dominique Bryson – Arlington, Tenn. (will attend University of Tennessee)
• Danielle Campbell – Indianapolis, Ind. (will attend Ball State University)
• Carson Cary – Des Moines, Iowa (will attend Grinnell College)
• Robin Gericke – West Paducah, Ky. (will attend Asbury College)
• Alexis Haines – Palm Coast, Fla. (will attend Florida State University)
• Amber Jackson – Madisonville, La. (will attend Mississippi State University)
• Samantha Nelms – Birmingham, Ala. (will attend Baylor University)
• Elizabeth Nowlin – Jacksonville, N.C. (will attend Duke University)
• Tabor Oliver – Kansas City, Mo. (will attend Kent State University)
• Sara Pilling – Mount Pleasant, S.C. (will attend Sewanee: The University of the South)
• Caroline Piper – Chesapeake, Va. (will attend University of South Carolina)
• Jada Pruitt – Marietta, Ga. (will attend Savannah College of Art and Design)
• Danielle Randall – Chicago, Ill. (will attend Syracuse University)
• Derek Sysavath – Dallas, Tex. (will attend Texas Tech University)
• Chrishai Thrower-Rahmaan – Little Rock, Ark. (will attend University of Central Arkansas)
• Lauren Toomey – Waveland, Miss. (will attend University of Mobile)

College

• Emily Anderson – Iowa City, Iowa (attends University of Iowa)
• Ariel Beavers – Decatur, Ga. (attends Savannah State University)
• Kaitlyn Blasingim – Murfreesboro, Tenn. (attends University of Tennessee)
• Maya Brooks – Zionsville, Ind. (attends North Carolina A&T State University)
• Cecilia Cerja – Virginia Beach, Va. (attends James Madison University)
• Starion Cuka – St. Louis, Mo. (attends Harris-Stowe State University)
• Adrianna Dodson – Jonesboro, Ark. (attends University of Arkansas at Little Rock)
• Klaryce James – Baton Rouge, La. (attends Southern University and A&M College)
• Adrianna Ladner – Des Plaines, Ill. (attends Oakton Community College)
• Julia Mays – Hilton Head Island, S.C. (attends University of South Carolina Beaufort)
• Leah Osae – Cary, N.C. (attends University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
• Joseph Pryor – Laurel, Miss. (attends Copiah-Lincoln Community College)
• Isaiah Pursel-Lacasse – St. Petersburg, Fla. (attends Eckerd College)
• Caroline Russell – Birmingham, Ala. (attends Jefferson State Community College)
• Jessica Sanchez – Rosenberg, Tex. (attends Our Lady of the Lake University – San Antonio)
• Sydney Taylor – Owensboro, Ky. (attends University of Louisville)

In addition to the scholarship program, Regions is continuing to offer a unique online learning experience about African-American history, “306: African-American History™,” in select high schools in markets served by the company. The online module was developed by EverFi, a leading education technology company focused on teaching, assessing, and certifying students in critical skills.

For more information on the Regions Riding Forward Essay Contest or to see the award winning essays, visit www.regions.com/ridingforward.

About Regions Financial Corporation

Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $122 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, mortgage, and insurance products and services. Regions serves customers in 16 states across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank operates approximately 1,650 banking offices and 2,000 ATMs. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at http://www.regions.com.

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