LAUREL,?Md., Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Verizon Wireless, provider of America's largest 4G LTE network, announced today that is has launched "A Day in the Life of a History Maker" program to celebrate Black History Month. The program, a partnership with the UNCF, Teacher Planet, and Get Schooled, was developed to inspire and motivate high school students across the Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia region by highlighting some of today's most influential African American history makers.?

Students in the Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia region are encouraged to participate in the program by submitting a 500 word essay about how they plan to make history.? Entries will be accepted through March 31, 2012, at the Verizon Insider website. Five lucky winners will receive a chance to meet and spend an afternoon with Amber Riley, star of the hit TV series Glee, in New York City.

Students can also nominate their high school through February 29, 2012, to win a special visit from Ms. Riley. Voting is unlimited and the school with the most votes wins. Additionally, the actress is scheduled to star in five webisode vignettes on topics like education, empowerment, innovation, leadership and inspiration. The vignettes will coincide with themed Lesson Plans of past and present history makers that teachers will be able to download for use in their classrooms.

To further support the program, Terrence J., the star of BET's 106 & Park, will be participating in a meet and greet on Thursday, February 23, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless retail store in Catonsville, 6220 Baltimore National Pike, Baltimore, Md.

"Verizon Wireless is proud to celebrate Black History Month 2012 through the launch of this exciting and multifaceted program," said Mike Maiorana, president of the Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia region.? "We hope that it inspires them to become great history makers themselves."?

More than 1,000 schools are expected to participate, with more than 1.4 million students and 328,000 educators.? Verizon Wireless will also support this program on Facebook and Twitter.? Students are encouraged to visit http://www.verizoninsider.com/blackhistory for complete details on the essay contest and school voting.

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About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 108.7 million total wireless connections, including 92.2 million retail customers. ?Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).? For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless