CINCINNATI -- Fifth Third Bank today announced winners of the 2013 Fifth Third Scholarship Program. Since 2005, the Fifth Third Foundation has annually awarded one-time $2,500 scholarships to children of Fifth Third employees. It has awarded more than 150 scholarships since its inception.

Chosen and administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the Fifth Third Scholarship Program recognizes the academic achievements of the following students listed with their employee parent and parent’s work location:

• Julia E. Behrend, daughter of William Behrend, Indianapolis, IN
• Jacob D. Bollman, son of Beth Bollman, Cincinnati, OH
• Sophia G. Erhardt, daughter of Joan and Mark Erhardt, Cincinnati, OH
• Cheyenna M. Espinoza, daughter of Eva Espinoza, Ormond Beach, FL
• Benjamin R. Hovey, son of Paul Hovey, Cincinnati, OH
• Kelly L. Kaes, daughter of Ronald Kaes, Cincinnati, OH
• Kristin J. Klocke, daughter of Dennis Klocke, Cincinnati, OH
• Haydyn M. Meythaler, daughter of Bruce Meythaler, Evansville, IN
• Nicholas M. Natale, son of Elaine Natale, Southfield, MI
• Alexa Nicole Radson, daughter of Darren Radson, Charlotte, NC
• Meghan E. Ray, daughter of James Ray, Jr., Naples, FL
• Daniel A. Sharp, son of Lisa Sharp, Grand Rapids, MI
• Katherine G. vonErden, daughter of Paul vonErden, Cincinnati, OH
• Kennedy J. Wilson, stepson of David Siegrist, Jackson, MI

Fifth Third Bancorp Vice Chairman & CEO Kevin T. Kabat said, “I extend my sincere congratulations to these students and their parents. Our scholarship program enables the Bank to support the higher education of these deserving students and to give back to their parents, who are valued members of our employee family.”

“Education is a primary focus area of the Fifth Third Foundation and the Bank’s scholarship program has enabled us to contribute nearly $400,000 to students and their families since the program’s inception,” said Heidi Jark, vice president and managing director of the Fifth Third Foundation. “I wish this latest class of scholars the best of luck and continued success as they begin college.”

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) is an independent not-for-profit organization. The National Merit Scholarship Program was designed to identify and honor exceptionally able high school students, and to provide a system of services for corporations, foundations and other organizations that wish to sponsor college undergraduate scholarships to students who interest them. All aspects of the selection of winners and the administration of their awards are handled by the NMSC.

Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Company has $121 billion in assets and operates 18 affiliates with 1,326 full-service Banking Centers, including 104 Bank Mart® locations open seven days a week inside select grocery stores and 2,433 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Investment Advisors. Fifth Third also has a 28% interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of March 31, 2013, had $318 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $27 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq® National Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Member FDIC.