For Immediate Release

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

Twenty Five North Dakota 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 25 scholarships to deserving high school students in North Dakota. 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 has awarded more than 900 state scholarships to students throughout the country.

The North Dakota 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 programs in 29 states.

The 2008 North Dakota scholarship recipients are:

• Dakota Anderson of Velva, Velva High School
• Heather Boisjolie of Fargo, South High School
• Courtney Breen of Dickinson, Dickinson High School
• Ioan Chitu of Grand Forks, Grand Forks Central High School
• Meghan Eiseman of Bismarck, Bismarck High School
• Christopher Ellingson of Heimdal, Maddock High School
• Desirae Finneman of Dickinson, Dickinson High School
• Sarah Frank of Dickinson, South Heart Public School
• Laura Geir of Edinburg, Edinburg High School
• Jenny Hieb of Medina, Medina Public School*
• Teresa Huck of New England, Trinity High School
• Benjamin Johnson of Crosby, Divide County High School*
• Tarren Jundt of Williston, Williston High School
• Ariel Kenny of Minot, Bishop Ryan High School
• Meredith Kuntz of Devils Lake, Devils Lake High School
• Benjamin Mertens of Devils Lake, Devils Lake High School
• Erna Nasic of Fargo, North High School
• Joshua Nelson of Des Lacs, Des Lacs-Burlington High School
• Cody Nuenthel of Great Bend, Wahpeton Senior High School*
• Lynae Rambousek of Dickinson, South Heart Public School
• Justin Schoepflin of Sharon, Finley Sharon High School
• Meghan Theil of Williston, Williston High School*
• Sonia Lyn Ulberg of Jamestown, Jamestown High School
• Katie Zent of Lefor, Richardton-Taylor High School
• Jie Zhang of Dickinson, Dickinson 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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