[June 05, 2009] Jessica Prowell Selected as Derek Owens Scholarship Recipient Tweet CLEVELAND, June 5, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- University of Phoenix Cleveland Campus Awards Winner with Full-Tuition Scholarship University of Phoenix Cleveland Campus announced today that it has selected Jessica Prowell as its 2009 Derek Owens Scholarship recipient. The scholarship was created to honor the memory of Cleveland police officer, Derek Owens. Owens, a University of Phoenix Cleveland Campus MBA candidate, was slain while on duty in March 2008. He served the Cleveland community for 10 years and is survived by his wife and two children. In Owens' honor, University of Phoenix Cleveland Campus awarded one full-tuition scholarship toward an associate's degree. This scholarship will cover all tuition and fees, and was designated for a deserving Cleveland Municipal School District high school senior graduating in 2009. University of Phoenix has three Cleveland campuses -- Beachwood, Independence, and Westlake/Crocker Park. Prowell, a 2009 graduate from John Adams High School, is a special needs student with a 3.89 G.P.A. overall. She remains active in school playing tenor drum in the school band, participating as lead attorney for the John Adams Mock Trial Team for the Cleveland Bar Association, volunteering as an administrator for the ninth grade Unit Principal, and serving her class as a Homecoming court princess. Outside of school, Prowell is a drummer, choir member, and praise dancer at Emmanuel Christian Church and has been a volunteer at Playhouse Square Center for the past five years. In addition, Prowell's outstanding accomplishments were recognized by the Who's Who Among America's Outstanding High School Students. To be considered for this scholarship, Prowell submitted an essay showcasing her desire for a higher education and her passion for continuing to serve her community. Her essay was accompanied by a recommendation by one of her teachers. "Jessica brings with her a tremendous level of determination to succeed in an environment, which has been extremely challenging, to say the least," said Gregory P. Archer, M.Ed. "The challenges she has faced range from scarce academic resources to environmental elements that would distract most." Mr. Archer praises Prowell for her dedication. "This student is one of the few who seems to succeed against odds which hinder many students in the urban setting." Prowell will be honored at University of Phoenix Cleveland Campus' graduation ceremony, June 14, 3:00 p.m. at Severance Hall. University of Phoenix Cleveland Campus chose Prowell from an impressive pool of applicants, each exemplifying the character Derek Owens showed to his community. The selection committee consisted of various faculty and staff from University of Phoenix Cleveland Campus, as well as Owens' mother, Barbara, Michael McGrath, Chief of Police, Cleveland Police Department, and Marcus Saffo, President, BSPA, Cleveland Police Department. "Officer Owens was a role model to the Cleveland community and a valued member of the University of Phoenix family," said Gina Cuffari, University of Phoenix Vice President, Ohio Campuses. "We wanted to go the extra mile in honoring his memory with a full scholarship, rather than a partial award, in order to make a true difference in someone's life. That's the impact Derek had on those around him, and we wanted to create a scholarship consistent with his high ideals." About University of Phoenix-Cleveland Campus: University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Through flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning, students achieve personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. As of November 30, 2008, 384,900 students were enrolled at University of Phoenix, the largest private university in North America. University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. University of Phoenix-Cleveland Campus serves students online and at locations in Independence, Beachwood and Westlake/Crocker Park. To learn more, contact University of Phoenix at 216-447-8807, or 800-MY SUCCESS, or www.phoenix.edu. Contact: Rebecca Suhy 216.401.2253 (cell) [email protected] SOURCE University of Phoenix http://www.phoenix.edu [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]