Contact: Horatio Alger Association
(301) 392-6053

Life's Hardships Yield Special Scholarships For 42 Minnesota High School Seniors

June 1, 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 Minnesota from wanting to live out their American dream and have more for themselves. Each is now the recipient of a 2006 Horatio Alger Minnesota Scholarship of two thousand five hundred dollars for their college education. (A complete list of the 2006 Horatio Alger Minnesota Scholars immediately follows this release).

All of the 2006 Horatio Alger Minnesota 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 Minnesota and throughout the world. The students hail from high schools in Ramsey, Washington, Dakota, Scott, Carver or Hennepin counties and may use the scholarship to attend any college or university within the United States.

The Horatio Alger Minnesota Scholars Program is funded through the generosity of the Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation. Mr. Pohlad is President of Marquette Financial Companies, based in Minneapolis, MN. In 1989 Mr. Pohlad was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association, an organization comprised of Americans who have overcome adversity and humble beginnings to achieve success. Carl Pohlad currently serves on the Horatio Alger Association's Board of Directors.

"No child should be denied access to a higher education because of financial need. This program will provide the incredible young people here in Minnesota with the opportunity to achieve their goals by making a college education attainable for them", states Joseph Neubauer. 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. Neubauer 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 Minnesota Scholar are available June 1 through October 15, 2006 at www.horatioalger.org/scholarships.

2006 Minnesota Scholarship Winners

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