For Immediate Release

Contact:
Carrie Blewitt
cblewitt@qorvis.com
(703) 744-7816

Twelve Fort Worth, Texas Students Awarded the Prestigious Horatio Alger State Scholarship

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation Provides $5,000 Scholarships to Teens for Overcoming Adversity

Washington, D.C. (April 23, 2008) – The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is proud to announce that it has awarded twelve scholarships to deserving high school students in Fort Worth, Texas. Each scholar will receive $5,000, made possible by The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation, to fund their college education. The state honorees were selected for the Horatio Alger State Scholarship Program because they have put academics first while facing and overcoming great obstacles in their young lives.

Horatio Alger Association Immediate Past Chairman Dennis R. Washington said, "We are proud to present this award to the students of North Dakota who have demonstrated integrity and determination despite significant challenges. We envision great futures for these teens."

The State Scholarship Programs, ranging from $2,500 to $10,500, are sponsored by Horatio Alger Members and friends of the Association. In 2008, the program awarded more than 900 state scholarships to students throughout the country

The Texas - Fort Worth scholarships are made possible by The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation, which has supported the community with scholarships through the Horatio Alger Association for two years.

"With the help of The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation, more young people will have a real chance at success beginning with a higher education," Washington added.

The Horatio Alger scholars receive many benefits beyond just a one-time recognition. Each scholar receives:

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

Each scholar is encouraged to remain connected with the Association throughout their lifetime.

The Association's goal is to create scholarships in all 50 states, and currently there are Horatio Alger State Scholarship Programs in 29 states.

The 2008 Texas-Forth Worth scholarship recipients are:

• Frank Aboytes of Carter-Riverside High School
• Joe Almaraz of Northside High School
• Courtney Bohannon of North Crowley High School
• Jesus Coronado of Trimble Technical High School
• Johnny Escamilla of Castleberry High School*
• Kimberly Gatson of Dunbar High School
• Brett Harper of Western Hills High School
• Kaneisha Jackson of Northside High School
• Cindy Munoz of North Crowley High School
• Maria Rico of Carter-Riverside High School
• Christopher Trinh of Southwest High School
• Victor Walker of Trimble Technical High School

*Available for interviews. See contact information above.

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 and state scholarship programs for high school seniors and the Horatio Alger Military Veterans Scholarship Program for U.S. veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. The Association awards more than $12 million annually in college scholarships and has given over $52 million to deserving students in recent years. For more information about the scholarships, please visit www.horatioalger.org

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