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Virginia College News

When Tonya Nixon of Cedar Creek, Texas, received a call from the producers of the nationally-syndicated TYRA BANKS SHOW, she was told she was one of the finalists for a full-ride scholarship to Virginia College.  They invited her to be their guest for a trip to New York and an appearance during a taping of the show.  Like more than a quarter of a million others, Tonya submitted an application for a scholarship as part of the "Project Working Moms...and Dads, Too" promotion, sponsored by eLearners.com, Virginia College, and four other schools.  Personality Tyra Banks was also a part of the promotion, designed to encourage working mothers and fathers to consider returning to school to continue their education.

Nixon was one of five "finalists" who appeared on THE TYRA BANKS SHOW, which aired in most markets on April 20.  Each person had been told she was still in the running for a scholarship.  However, after Tyra interviewed each of them and asked them what the scholarship would mean to them--if they should receive one, she surprised them all by telling them they were not simply in the running, but that they would all receive full-ride scholarships.  Their reaction made for great television!

In the audience for the taping of the show--and in on the surprise--were Hugh Jensen, Virginia College Director of Admissions for online programs, and Don Keith, Senior Vice-President of Marketing Communications for Virginia College's parent company, Birmingham-based Education Corporation of America.  They had the opportunity to visit with Ms. Nixon and give her their personal congratulations.

After the taping at Manhattan's Chelsea Studios, those involved enjoyed a late lunch at Carmine's, a dining fixture in the city's Times Square area.  Ms. Nixon has already enrolled in the online Criminal Justice program at Virginia College and will begin classes in June.  In all, Virginia College will award fifteen full-ride scholarships based on essays submitted and other criteria from the applications.  The five colleges sponsoring the project will, in total, give more than $2 million in scholarships to deserving recipients.

Essays and applications may still be submitted through Thursday, April 30.  Visit the "Project Working Moms...and Dads, Too" web site for more information.

Tonya Nixon Keith Jensen: Virginia College scholarship recipient Tonya Nixon, just outside Chelsea Studios in New York City where THE TYRA BANKS SHOW is taped. Also pictured: Virginia College Director of Admissions for Internet-delivered programs Hugh Jensen (left) and Senior Vice-President of Marketing Communications for Education Corporation of America, Don Keith.

Tonya Nixon Other Winners: Tonya Nixon (second from right) and other scholarship winners at Carmine's Restaurant in New York's Times Square. They had just learned--during a live taping of THE TYRA BANKS SHOW, which aired nationally on April 20--that they had received full college scholarships as part of "Project Working Moms...and Dads, Too."