Contact: Maria Abad
Qorvis Communications
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Ten Students Receive Washington Horatio Alger State Scholarship
Joseph Clark Makes Scholarships Possible for Local Teens

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2011 – The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is pleased to announce that it has awarded scholarships to ten outstanding high school students in Washington. This is the first time the Horatio Alger Association has offered a state scholarship in Washington.

Each scholar will receive $5,000 toward their college education. The students were selected for the Horatio Alger Washington Scholarship because they persevered in overcoming adversity while succeeding academically, contributing to the community and exhibiting exemplary character.

“We are privileged to provide scholarships to the deserving students from Washington to attend college and achieve the American dream,” said Tony Novelly, president and chief executive officer of the Horatio Alger Association. “These students have overcome significant challenges in their lives and have become stronger, more determined people because of it.”

The Washington scholarships are made possible by Joe Clark, a member of the Horatio Alger Association.

The scholarships provided by the Horatio Alger State Scholarship Programs range from $2,500 to $20,000 and are sponsored by Horatio Alger members and friends. In 2011, the programs are awarding more than 850 state scholarships to students throughout the country. This marks the first year that the state scholarships are assisting students in all 50 states.

Horatio Alger scholars are provided with numerous resources to ensure a successful college career. Each student receives:

• Financial aid guidance to assist in the selection of, and preparation for, college.
• Access to the association’s website, where students can create online profiles, search for fellow scholars, update their personal information, submit disbursement requests and direct questions to the association.
• Access to a toll-free information line, to speak to program coordinators for assistance with questions about their scholarships and other educational programs.

The 2011 Washington recipients are:

• Dirir Abdullahi, Highline High School, Burien
• Rachel Chumley, Sequim High School, Sequim
• Fiona Clark, Tacoma School for the Arts, Tacoma
• Wendy Dimas, Toppenish High School, Toppenish
• Abraham Guadarrama, Royal High School, Royal City
• Kathryn Hemming, Woodrow Wilson High School, Tacoma
• Albert Kim, Decatur High School, Federal Way
• Daniel Lim, Newport High School, Bellevue
• Katrina Marriott, West Valley High School, Spokane
• Violet  Ponomarev, Hudson's Bay Senior High School, Vancouver

To view the complete list of Horatio Alger scholars and members, visit our website at www.horatioalger.org. The 2012 Horatio Alger Scholarship Application will be available beginning August 1 – October 30, 2011 at www.horatioalger.org/scholarships.

About the Horatio Alger Association:
Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans continues to fulfill its mission of honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals in our society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. The Horatio Alger Association offers three annual scholarship programs: the National Scholarship Program, state scholarship programs, and graduate grants. The association will have awarded more than $87 million in scholarships through 2012 to deserving young people determined to earn college degrees. The association is a Combined Federal Campaign participant; # 77062. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org

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