NEW YORK , April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, in association with U.S. News & World Report , announces the 2013 AXA Achievement(SM) Scholarship winners. AXA Equitable has awarded, through the AXA Foundation, $22.8 million in scholarships to more than 5,100 students since the program began 11 years ago.

As in previous years, 52 students – one from each state, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico – have been awarded college scholarships of $10,000 .  Of those 52 winners, 10 students have been chosen as national winners and will receive an additional $15,000 scholarship award.

"These dynamic young people represent America's future," said Mark Pearson , chairman and CEO of AXA Equitable. "We're proud to help make college a reality for this next generation of leaders."

All of the scholarship recipients are graduating high school seniors who demonstrated ambition and drive, determination to set and reach goals and the ability to succeed in college.

The 2013 national winners are:

• Colin Wells , Denver, CO
• Jonathan Cohen , Highland Park, IL
• Caleb Kumar , Blaine, MN
• Dylan Mahalingam , Derry, NH
• Christopher Rim , Paramus, NJ
• Alec Urbach , Roslyn Heights, NY
• Samantha Stoner , Mansfield, OH
• Maren Johnson , Watertown, SD
• Joel Bervell , Snohomish, WA
• Jordyn Schara , North Freedom, WI

Winners – known as AXA Achievers – are featured online at the U.S. News & World Report website. AXA Equitable is also proud to present a video highlighting their inspiring personal stories.

The scholarship is administered by Scholarship Management Services ^® , a program of Scholarship America ^® , one of the nation's largest nonprofit private sector scholarship and educational support organizations.

Through AXA Achievement , AXA Equitable is one of the nation's largest corporate providers of scholarships — awarding more than $1.3 million a year. In addition to the $670,000 in AXA Achievement(SM) Scholarships awarded annually through this national scholarship, the AXA Achievement(SM) Community Scholarship awards up to an additional $750,000 in annual scholarships. Through this program and the financial education services the company provides, AXA Equitable is a comprehensive resource for information to help students and parents with college planning . 

About AXA Foundation
The AXA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AXA Financial, one of the premier U.S. financial services organizations and a member of the global AXA Group, a leader in financial protection and wealth management. The Foundation directs the company's philanthropic and volunteer activities, working to improve the quality of life in communities across the country where AXA has a presence.  The AXA Foundation's multifaceted signature program, AXA Achievement, supports the company's strong commitment to Corporate Responsibility and AXA Group's flagship theme of "Risk Research and Education," by providing America's youth with the access and advice to help succeed in college and beyond.  Since its inception, AXA Achievement has awarded $22.8 million in college scholarships to more than 5,100 students, known as AXA Achievers. 

For more information go to www.axa-achievement.com or AXA Equitable's Facebook page .

About AXA Equitable
In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY) is a leading financial protection company and one of the nation's premier providers of  life insurance ,  annuity , and financial products and services. The company's products and services are distributed to individuals and business owners through its retail distribution channel, AXA Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) and to the financial services market through its wholesale distribution channel, AXA Distributors, LLC. Find AXA Equitable on  Facebook  and  Twitter  or visit www.axa-equitable.com .

AXA Equitable, a subsidiary of AXA Financial Inc., is part of the global AXA Group, a worldwide leader in financial protection strategies and  wealth management , with 102 million clients in 57 countries as of April 9 , 2013. "AXA Group" refers to AXA, a French holding company for an international group of insurance and financial services companies together with its direct and indirect consolidated subsidiaries.

SOURCE AXA Equitable