FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03/07/2008

Bridgewater College Wins VFIC/Verizon Digital Age Grant

BRIDGEWATER, Va. — Bridgewater College has been awarded a $22,500 "Digital Age Initiative" grant from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) and the Verizon Foundation.

The grant will help the college provide incoming freshmen from challenged backgrounds with instruction and assistance in developing the computer skills they need to succeed in their academic careers. Every year, five VFIC colleges are selected to received the grant and to use the money to provide students with personalized instruction.

Founded in 1952, the VFIC is a nonprofit fund-raising partnership supporting the programs and students of 15 leading private colleges in the commonwealth: Bridgewater College, Emory and Henry College, Hampden-Sydney College, Hollins University, Lynchburg College, Mary Baldwin College, Marymount University, Randolph-Macon College, Randolph College, Roanoke College, Shenandoah University, Sweet Briar College, University of Richmond, Virginia Wesleyan College, and Washington and Lee University.

The Verizon Foundation is one of the VFIC's most distinguished corporate partners, contributing more than $3 million to the VFIC cause over the course of 52 years.

Bridgewater College, a private, four-year liberal arts college, enrolls more than 1,500 students. Founded in 1880 and located in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, it was the state's first private, coeducational senior college.

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