(San Diego)  July 22, 2008 – Saynab Dahir has seen her share of tragedy when her home country of Somalia was plunged into civil war. She remembers the bombs, how her father would walk miles to get a gallon of clean water for her family of 11 to share, the lack of food, the refugee camp in Kenya and the serious illness she faced. A graduate of Kearny High Educational Complex School of International Business, Saynab was inspired by her doctors in America and plans to attend San Diego State University to study nursing with her $2,500 Cox Hero scholarship.

Saynab is one of 12 high school students chosen by the Cox Kids Foundation as a 2008 “Cox Heroes” scholarship recipient for their commitment to education in the face of adversity. This year, the Cox Kids Foundation awarded a total of $43,750. The winners were honored on the baseball field at Petco Park prior to the Padres game on Friday, July 11, 2008.

The philanthropic arm of Cox Communications, the Cox Kids Foundation is funded by nearly 1,000 employees whose payroll contributions are matched 100% by the company. Cox Heroes scholarships recognize the hard work and commitment of high school seniors and who have had to overcome personal challenges while pursuing educational advancement. Cox Heroes scholarships also are available to adults re-entering school who have overcome personal challenges while pursuing educational advancement. Since 1999, Cox Communications and its employees have raised more than $2.7 million to help local children and families in need.

The 2008 Cox Heroes scholarship recipients were selected based on their personal commitment to scholastic achievement; all winners will attend a school or university in San Diego.

The 2008 Cox Heroes Scholarship Recipients are:

East County

Dominick Avera $2,500, Granite Hills High School
Dominick Avera loves to play video games, and his dream is to design creative, challenging and entertaining video games that do not rely on violence. He has seven brothers and sisters and comes from a single-parent household where money is extremely tight. He plans to attend DeVry University.

South Bay

Christopher Arcitio, $2,500, Sweetwater Union High School
Christopher Arcitio defines success as being all you can be, and says, “It’s not about the amount of money you make, it’s having the dreams to do something with 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration.” Growing up in a single-parent home, Chris has turned his hardships into motivators that drive him to excel. He plans to attend the University of San Diego to study law.
 
Dari “Hazel” Joy Maristela, $2,500, The Preuss School UCSD (Lives in national City)
Three personal events in Hazel Maristela’s life have influenced her decision to study nursing: being admitted to the hospital for exposure to second hand smoke and food poisoning; and for a torn ligament in her knee. Hazel believes she is destined to help children have a positive hospital experience even though they may not be feeling well. She plans to attend Point Loma Nazarene University.

Jasmine Manubay, $2,500, Southwest High School
Growing up in an economically depressed area, Jasmine Manubay understands how important an education can be in one’s life. A straight-A student, Jasmine is a member of the Pan Asian Association, Varsity Academic League and Academic Decathlon and California Scholarship Federation. She also takes time to mentor her peers and volunteers at community events. She plans to study biology at the University of California San Diego.

North County

Hayden Hill, $2,500, Sunset High School
Life for Hayden Hill has not been easy: His father died when he was nine months old, and he was raised by his mother, a drug addict and alcoholic. Hayden credits his seventh-grade teacher for caring about his education and helping him find the courage to look beyond his hardships. Hayden, who says, “Happiness should be the prerequisite for success in all cases,” wants to pursue a career in teaching, psychology, and counseling that will enable him to help teens between the ages of 10 and 17. Hayden plans to attend Palomar Community College.

Lacey Jae Buquet’s, $1,250, Escondido Charter High School
Lacey Jae Buquet’s life was changed forever when she learned that her sister had been diagnosed with Grave’s disease. Because she spent countless hours at the hospital, she began observing the doctors, to get a better understanding of the medical profession. After her sister took a turn for the worse, she witnessed how the
doctors fought to keep her sister alive. She plans to attend University of California, San Diego to major in science/pre-med.

Neptali Piñon, $2,500, Oceanside High School
Neptali Pinon began his career in high school by taking English Language Development classes and says that moving out of the ELD classes was one of his greatest accomplishments. A well-rounded individual who finds beauty in technology, Neptali defines success in one word: independence. The first in his family to attend college, Neptali, who grew up in a small village in the state of Michoacan in Mexico, plans to attend San Diego State University and major in civil engineering.

Myriam Rodriguez, $2,500, Carlsbad High School
Myriam Rodriguez has set a goal to pay for her college education without the help of her parents and to graduate with honors in 2012. She has always wanted to learn about other cultures and travel the world, and she intends to major in international business.  Myriam wants to prove to her parents that they made the right decision by coming to this country. She plans to attend San Diego State University and can’t wait to become a successful businesswoman.

San Diego

Zaynab Elmi, $10,000, Crawford High Educational Complex, School of Community Health and Medical Practices (CHAMPS)
Zaynab Elmi arrived in the United States with her family from the war-torn nation of Somalia, where the focus was not on education but survival. Once here, Zaynab’s  family suffered another devastating experience: severe poverty. Her father left, leaving her mother to raise five kids on her own. She plans to attend San Diego State University to major in liberal studies and become a teacher.

Andrea McCorley, $10,000, Crawford High Educational Complex, School of Community Health and Medical Practices (CHAMPS)
Andrea McCorley knows exactly what she wants, but she doesn’t have the means to get there. She wants to give back to her community and the world, and she genuinely cares about the fate of people across the globe. Andrea would like to study to become an International Traveling Nurse. Andrea plans to attend the University of San Diego.
 
Ana Tobon, $2,500, Crawford High Educational Complex, School of Community Health and Medical Practices (CHAMPS)
Ana Tobon’s family of seven shares a three-bedroom apartment, and they live in extreme poverty. Ana’s dream is to become an obstetrician/gynecologist because she is passionate about helping women take care of their health. As an intern at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women, Ana was able to job shadow with a nurse, an experience that gave her valuable insight. Ana plans to attend the University of California San Diego and is the first member of her family to graduate from high school.

About Cox Communications
Operating in San Diego County since 1961, Cox Communications is a full-service telecommunications provider of voice, video and data services including digital and high definition cable television, high speed Internet, local, long distance telephone service, digital video recorder service, On Demand programming, commercial voice and data services via Cox Business Services, and advertising and promotional opportunities through San Diego Interconnect Operated by Cox Media. Cox Communications also owns and operates the Travel Channel and award-winning Channel 4 San Diego, television home of the San Diego Padres and award-winning local programming. Cox Communications serves 537,000 basic cable customers and 2,300 employees countywide. For more information, visit www.coxsandiego.com.