Page 7 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Summer, 2024

PENN awards thousands in scholarships to students
MISSISSIPPI — PENN Entertainment announced recipients of its Diversity Scholarship Program. The program provides scholarships for the children of its team members, which reflects the company’s commitment to equity in post-secondary education opportunities for students. Penn National partners with The Public Education Foundation (PEF) and has committed $1 million annually to fund the program. Last year, 57% of the recipients were first generation college bound.
John Goings III, pictured with his mother, was one of five students nationwide to get the top scholarship amount of $40,000.
• Paige Cucurullo, daughter of Troy Cucurollo, table games assistant floor manager, received $20,000.
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• Kaelyn Welch, daughter of Lydonyial Welch, player development manager, received $20,000.
The Diversity Scholarship Program includes two-year and four-year scholarship awards ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 annually. Dependent children of any team members who are director-level or below with a minimum
This year, 52 recipients were awarded throughout the entire enterprise with overall scholarship awards equaling $1,060,000. PENN Entertainment scholarship recipients at its four Mississippi properties were:
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• Lee Stokes, son of Latrice Davis, multi-property player
services manager, received $20,000.
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• John Goings III, son of Princess Goings, surveillance, received
$40,000, one of five students nationwide to get this top amount. • Aurionna Mendenhall, daughter of Lakesha Hodge, director of human resources, received $20,000.
• Eriana Good, daughter of Sherika Davis, table games dealer, $20,000.
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of one-year of tenure at the company are eligible to apply. Scholarship awards are decided by PEF’s Scholarship Selection Committee, comprised solely of individuals who are entirely independent of PENN Entertainment.
(Left) Scholarship recipient Lee Stokes with family and Hollywood Tunica executives. (Right) Paige Cucurullo surprised by her father at Boomtown Biloxi.
SUMMER 2024 MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS 7