Rent-A-Center Sends 60 Students Back to School with Google Chromebooks and $60,000 in Scholarships

August 21, 2018 at 3:53 PM EDT
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PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 2018-- Rent-A-Center, Inc. today announced the recipients of its Make-A-Difference Scholarship, in which $60,000 was awarded to 60 students going back to school this semester to pursue an undergraduate degree.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180821005672/en/

Rent-A-Center understands the importance of arming students with the tools needed to succeed, so RAC is additionally providing each recipient a new Google Chromebook. Others seeking tools to make their educational journey a little easier this semester can take advantage of Rent-A-Center’s flexible options as a way to get a laptop, tablet or desktop for back to school.

Scholarship recipients were selected based on their academic and non-academic accomplishments, community activities, work experience, and educational goals. 20 recipients were dependents of Rent-A-Center employees, while the remaining 40 were either customers of Rent-A-Center or their children.

LeKendric Castion, the son of a Rent-A-Center store credit manager in Cordova, Tenn., was excited about receiving the award.

"Being the first of seven siblings to graduate high school and attend college is one of my major accomplishments. Receiving this scholarship will greatly assist me with college expenses,” wrote Castion. “Education is the art of success. This scholarship allows me to show the world what I am capable of."

Banisha Blake, a customer from Pensacola, Fla., knows that she has tremendous opportunities because of this award. Blake wrote, “As a mother of identical twin boys, one of whom has autism, this scholarship will assist me with my education. It will pave the way not only for me, but especially my boys. I’m thankful and humbled by this opportunity.”

Sonia Holland, Rent-A-Center’s senior director of communications, said, “At Rent-A-Center, we have a passion for helping make good things happen so we are delighted to play a role in helping give these students the opportunity to succeed.”

Since 2004, Rent-A-Center has donated more than $790,000 to students through the Make-A-Difference Scholarship. The following is a list of recipients who have given permission for their names to be used in media:

         
Abbigale Daughtery, New London, Mo. Jorge Vega, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Alexandra Villalon, McKinney, Texas Jose Ivan Rios Arroyo, Mayagüez, P.R.
Alyssa Rodriguez, Celina, Texas Julia Vasilyev, Frisco, Texas
Amanda Riffe, Ada, Mich. Kaitlynn Miller, Wingo, Ky.
Austin Gent, Davin, W.Va. Kelsey Osborne, Smyrna, Tenn.
Banisha Blake, Pensacola, Fla. Kyla Ibarra, Muskogee, Okla.
Brandon Loftis, Webster Springs, W.Va. Landon Mapes, Belmont, N.Y.
Brianna Meinecke, Frisco, Texas Laura Walsh, Hominy, Okla.
Brighton Garner, Dallas, Texas LeKendric Castion, Cordova, Tenn.
Brittainy Carrell, Spring, Texas Makaela Zuege, Gulfport, Miss.
Caden Perreira, Honokaa, Hawaii Matthew Boensch, Frisco, Texas
Cailey Garner, Dallas, Texas Michael Vasilyev, Frisco, Texas
Courtney Byrnes, Duncansville, Pa. Mikayla Bird, Liverpool, N.Y.
Dalton Byrnes, Duncansville, Pa. Nautica Young, Centreville, Ill.
Dewintheria Wint, Lauderhill, Fla. Rosalynne King, Oroville, Calif.
Eric Welch, Cochranville, Pa. Sergio De La Torre, Bakersfield, Calif.
Erin Conachen, New Baltimore, Mich. Shailyn Saito, Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Hope Gift, Chambersburg, Pa. Stephanie Cervantes, Bakersfield, Calif.
Imane Bouzit, Somerville, Mass. Stephanie McGary, Central Point, Ore.
Jacob Furtney, Sterling Heights, Mich. Taeleasha Jones, Wake Forest, N.C.
Jada Solomon, Newark, N.J. Tela Todd, Houston, Texas
Jade Turner, Wyncote, Pa. Trinity Oliver, Memphis, Tenn.
Jayla North, West Palm Beach, Fla. Tyanna Livingston, Pensacola, Fla.
Jessica Lanthrip, Warren, Ark. Tyra Johnson, Cordova, Tenn.
Jessica Murdock, Colville, Wash. Tyshaia Zekena Earnest, Mount Morris, Mich.
Jessica Trosper, Northwood, Iowa William McCoy, Stevensville, Mich.
Jordan Burkhardt, Carneys Point, N.J. Zachary Campbell, Warren, Ohio
 

A rent-to-own industry leader, Plano, Texas-based, Rent-A-Center, Inc. is focused on improving the quality of life for its customers by providing them the opportunity to obtain ownership of high-quality, durable products such as consumer electronics, appliances, computers, furniture and accessories, under flexible rental purchase agreements with no long-term obligation.

Source: Rent-A-Center, Inc.

Rent-A-Center, Inc.
Sonia Holland, 972-801-1481
Sr. Director, Communications
sonia.holland@rentacenter.com