LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 20 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — 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