PETROSUN INDEPENDENCE BOWL NAMES TWO RECIPIENTS OF 2007 WILLIS-KNIGHTON COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP

November 30, 2007

Shreveport, La. – Niharika Jain and Sydney Rich have been named the two recipients of the 2007 “Willis-Knighton/PetroSun Independence Bowl Community Service Scholarships.

Jain, representing Caddo Parish public schools, attends Caddo Magnet High School in Shreveport, while Rich, of Bossier Parish public schools, is a student at Parkway High School in Bossier City. Both students will be recognized at this year’s Minuteman Luncheon, which will be held on Friday, Dec. 28 at 11:45 a.m. at the Shreveport Convention Center.

“ The Independence Bowl is not just a football game, it is a showcase for the good things that exist in Shreveport and North Louisiana,” said James K. Elrod, president and CEO of Willis-Knighton Health System. “Through this partnership, we support the bowl and reward outstanding students who have demonstrated a commitment to community service shared by both the Independence Bowl and Willis-Knighton.”

Jain ranks first in her class out of 301 students with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She is a National Merit semifinalist, an AP Scholar, serves as president of the National Honor Society, and is also president of the Science Olympiad Team. Jain is also a member of the Spanish National Honor Society and participates in the Academic Decathalon, in which her team placed first.

She is the founder and president of the YWCA Youth Board, a member of America’s Promise National Youth Team, directed by Colin Powell, vice-president of the Red Cross Club, and vice-president of the LSU Health Sciences Foundation. Jain has also been named a state honoree for the Prudential Spirit of the Community Award. Jain was also a member of the tennis team as a freshman and sophomore, and a member of the student council her first three years at Caddo Magnet. Jain also worked as a student researcher in the pathology laboratory at the LSU Health Sciences Center this past summer.

Rich ranks first in her class with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She is a member of the National Beta Club, National Honor Roll, and National Honor Society. She twice attended the Northwest Louisiana Scholastic Rally and was a Louisiana Girl’s State Delegate in 2007. She participated in the Bossier Youth leadership Program this past year, and has been named “Who’s Who Among American High School Students” the past three four years.

She is a member of Mu Alpha Theta and was recognized as a Taylor Audubon and Taylor New Orleans Museum Scholar. Rich made the district 1-4A All-District Team in both cross country and soccer and helped her cross country team to a runner-up finish at the state meet in 2006. She is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is president of Astra Club.

Rich serves as co-captain of the debate team, clerk of court on the Bossier City Teen Court, and is a member of the youth group at First Baptist Bossier church. She also serves as editor of the school yearbook.

Each recipient will receive $2,500 in scholarship money to go toward their college education, thanks to Willis-Knighton Health System.

PETROSUN INDEPENDENCE BOWL TICKET UPDATE
The 2007 PetroSun Independence Bowl will be played in primetime on Sunday, Dec. 30 as the game kicks off at 7 p.m. on ESPN from Independence Stadium. The PetroSun Independence Bowl is the only bowl game that day.

Tickets and corporate sponsorships are still available for the 2007 PetroSun Independence Bowl as well as the Minuteman Luncheon and FCA Breakfast, and can be obtained through a variety of methods. Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased by calling the Independence Bowl Foundation at (318) 221-0712 or toll free at 888-414-BOWL (2695) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or at www.independencebowl.org. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Bowl office located at 401 Market Street, Suite 120 on the main floor of the American Tower in downtown Shreveport.

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