Contact: Horatio Alger Association
(301) 392-6053

Life's Hardships Yield Special Scholarships For 100 Florida High School Seniors

April 27, 2006/Washington, D.C. - Poverty, disability, foster care, parental substance abuse, and physical abuse are among the adversities that could not prevent one hundred outstanding high school seniors from throughout Broward, Martin and St. Lucie counties in Florida from wanting to live out their American dream and have more for themselves. Each is now the recipient of a 2006 Horatio Alger Florida Scholarship of two thousand five hundred dollars for their college education. (A complete list of the 2006 Horatio Alger Florida Scholars immediately follows this release).

All of the 2006 Horatio Alger Florida Scholars have demonstrated success in academics, co-curricular activities and community service while taking on some of life's most difficult challenges. Each of these young people possess the aspirations and potential to make important contributions in Florida and throughout the world. The scholarship may be used to attend any college or university within the United States.

"This scholarship recognizes need and adversity as its primary criteria. Not only have these students worked hard in school to get to college, they have done so in spite of some incredible circumstances. Marti and I are glad to offer them some assistance and encouragement", notes Wayne Huizenga. The Horatio Alger Florida Scholarship program was initiated in 2003 and is funded through the generosity of Marti and Wayne Huizenga, each year they have provided two hundred fifty thousand dollars in scholarships for young people selected as Horatio Alger Florida Scholars. Mr. Huizenga is a Member of the Horatio Alger Association, an organization composed of individuals who have overcome adversity to achieve success.

Since 1984 the Horatio Alger Association's need-based scholarship programs have helped hundreds of deserving students across the nation pursue their dreams of a post secondary education through their unique scholarships that recognize the circumstances and hardships of students as well as their achievements. Mr. Huizenga continues, "The Horatio Alger Association's experience working with students of limited financial means who want to obtain a college education is unmatched."

The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is a nonprofit educational association. Through the generosity of its members, more than $8.5 million in need-based college scholarships will be awarded this year to young people nationwide. For more information about the Association's scholarships and programs please visit www.horatioalger.org.

Applications for consideration as a 2007 Horatio Alger Florida Scholar are available June 1 through October 15, 2006 at www.horatioalger.org/scholarships.

2006 Florida Scholarship Winners

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