CenturyLink Arizona

PHOENIX SUNS AND QWEST COMMUNICATIONS NAME WINNERS OF SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION AMONG ARIZONA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES

Second Annual Statewide Program Promotes Service and Leadership Activities for High School Athletes Throughout Arizona Communities

PHOENIX, April 04, 2008 – CenturyLink International, Inc. (NYSE: Q), and the Phoenix Suns today announced the winners of the second annual CenturyLink Leadership Challenge. Two Arizona high school student athletes received $5,000 scholarships to further their education. The CenturyLink Leadership Challenge invites male and female student athletes from each of Arizona’s 241 high school basketball programs to volunteer in their community.

This year’s winners are Cameron David Hollarbach from St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix and Sarah Blakeley from Wickenburg High School. Cameron volunteered at the Tommy Nunez Foundation which focuses on the needs of Hispanic youth. In completing more than 60 hours of volunteer service, Cameron assisted with the annual charity basketball tournament for local club basketball teams to help ensure it ran smoothly. Sarah developed the “Loan” Ranger fundraising project for the Wickenburg School District. By creating a non-profit organization, the school was able to take advantage of the Arizona State Tax Credit Program by using payroll deductions of Arizona state taxes to go directly toward supporting the Wickenburg School District. This credit helped provide more competitive salaries and programming.

“The Phoenix Suns are excited to continue its partnership with CenturyLink to encourage student athletes to give back to their communities,” said Phoenix Suns President Rick Welts. “Our fans and our community are so important to us. We’re proud to be a part of the CenturyLink Leadership Challenge, which will improve the lives of some of our biggest fans and the people of the communities they touch.”

In Arizona, the project generated more than 450 volunteer hours of service. Each non-profit received $500 contributions and the two winners received their individual $5,000 scholarships at halftime of the game between the Phoenix Suns and the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 4.

 “CenturyLink is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where employees live and work, and this volunteer program challenges high school athletes to inspire their teammates, classmates and community members to promote activism and service,” said Pat Quinn, CenturyLink president for Arizona.”

To learn more about the program and how to participate in future years contact Devney Preuss, Phoenix Suns Partnership Activation Specialist, at (602) 379-7987 or dpreuss@suns.com, or by logging onto Suns.com.