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Qorvis Communications
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Forty-Eight Nebraska Students Awarded Prestigious Horatio Alger State Scholarship
Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation Provides $5,000 Scholarships to Teens for Overcoming Adversity

Washington, D.C. (May 29, 2008) – The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is pleased to announce that it has awarded 48 scholarships to deserving high school students in Nebraska. Each Scholar will receive $5,000 to fund their college education. The state honorees were selected for the Horatio Alger State Scholarship Program because they made academics a priority 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 Nebraska 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 scholarships to students throughout the country.

The Ak-Sar-Ben scholarships are made possible by the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation, which has supported students in Nebraska with scholarships through the Horatio Alger Association since 2006.

“With the help of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation, more young people will have a real chance at success beginning with a higher education,” Washington added.

Horatio Alger Scholars are provided with numerous resources to ensure a successful college career. Each student 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.
• Access to a toll-free information line to speak to program coordinators for assistance with questions about their scholarships and other educational programs.

The 2008 Ak-Sar-Ben scholarship recipients are:

• Mickey V. Alder of Henderson, Heartland Community School
• Lisa M. Anderson of Pleasanton, Pleasanton High School
• Deborah A. Anderson of Loomis, Loomis Public School
• Samantha C. Bates of Ogallala, Ogallala High School
• Amanda R. Broxterman of Fairbury, Fairbury Jr-Sr High School
• Samantha  R. Bryant of Cody, Cody Kilgore Unified School
• Chelsea N. Christensen of Johnson, Johnson-Brock Public School
• Molly A. Clark of Aurora, Aurora High School
• Paige  R. Connell of Stapleton, Stapleton Public School
• Ashley M. Cummings of Humphrey, Humphrey Jr-Sr High School
• Jennifer A. Duff of Clearwater, Clearwater High School
• Jason M. Epp of De Witt, Tri-County High School
• Katherine R. Erickson of Palisade, Wauneta Palisade High School
• Virginia R. Fleer of Winside, Winside High School
• Valyn N. Gipson of Omaha, Omaha North High School
• Allyn  D. Gonsor of Fremont, Fremont Senior High School
• Tyler Q. Gooch of Howells, Howells High School
• Molly  R. Hinrichs of Fairfield, Sandy Creek Jr-Sr High School
• Steven E. Hisel of Dunning, Sandhills High School
• Kelsey J. Kallhoff of Neligh, Neligh Oakdale Public School
• Rebecca M. Kathman of Nelson, Lawrence/Nelson Community School
• Amanda Keeling of Omaha, Omaha North High School
• Hannah E. Kelsey of Omaha, Central High School
• Jessica  L. Kuhr of Columbus, Lakeview High School
• William E. Mausbach of Orchard, Orchard Public School
• Elizabeth T. McCance of Chadron, Chadron High School
• Desarae S. Messersmith of Maywood, Maywood High School
• Dani M. Michaelis of Wymore, Southern High School
• Cassandra M. Miller of South Sioux City, South Sioux City High School
• Hoa H. Nguyen of Lincoln, Lincoln North Star High School
• Amber M. Nightingale of Morrill, Morrill High School
• Ellen P. Norton of Firth, Norris High School
• Brittany M. Pengra of Rushville, Rushville High School
• Katie M. Penner of Arthur, Arthur County High School
• Alexandra C. Penny of Gretna, Gretna High School
• Judy L. Radloff of Omaha, Millard North High School
• Jonathan J. Reigenborn of Gretna, Gretna High School
• Laura D. Robbins of Sumner, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller School
• Katiamari Roman of York, York High School
• Tanya J. Severn-Myrick of Lincoln, Lincoln Northeast High School
• Cheyenne C. Shaw of Harrison, Sioux County High School
• Shacoya  D. Smith of Omaha, Burke High School
• William H. Smith of Wayne, Wayne High School
• Zachery B. Tietz of Bancroft, Bancroft Rosalie High School
• Matthew J. Voichahoske of Fullerton, Fullerton High School
• Amy L. Watson of Alliance, Alliance High School
• Tiffany A. Zelinski of Aurora, Aurora High School
• Lisa M. Zilli of Bellevue, Bellevue West Sr High School

Scholars are encouraged to remain connected with the Association throughout their lifetime.

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 available to high school seniors in all 50 states, 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 $62 million to deserving students since 1984. For more information about the scholarships, please visit www.horatioalger.org.

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