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Walter Scott, Jr. to Receive Recognition for Outstanding Humanitarian Efforts from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans
Philanthropist and Businessman Honored for his Extraordinary Leadership and Contributions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Feb. 9, 2009 – The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. is pleased to announce Walter Scott, Jr. of Omaha, Neb., as the recipient of the 2009 Norman Vincent Peale Award. Scott, chairman emeritus of the association, serves on the executive committee and board of directors.

The Norman Vincent Peale Award is annually conferred upon an association member who has made exceptional humanitarian contributions to society, been an active participant in the association, and continues to exhibit courage, tenacity and integrity in the face of great challenges. The award is named in honor of Dr. Peale, who was an outstanding leader of the association for more than 40 years. 

“We are delighted to honor Walter Scott, Jr. for his tireless leadership, dedication and support, which have proved invaluable to the association,” said Horatio Alger Association president and  chief executive officer David L. Sokol. “He not only represents the American Dream, but also sets an example of involvement and philanthropy for our members and scholars.”

Born in Omaha, Scott is the grandson of Scottish immigrants. Raised during the Depression, Scott learned the value of hard work at an early age. As he grew older, he worked on farms and ranches, and even hopped a train to work on a ranch in Oregon during one summer of his youth. He demonstrated this same drive in his education and earned an engineering degree from Colorado A&M, which is now Colorado State University.

Scott is chairman of the board of Level 3 Communications, Inc., one of the largest communications and Internet companies in the world.  He also serves on the board of directors of Berkshire Hathaway and Valmont Industries. Trained as a civil engineer, Scott is a board member and Chairman Emeritus of Peter Kiewit Sons’ Inc., the nation’s fifth largest general contractor and top ten producer of coal.

Scott and his wife, Suzanne, founded the non-profit Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation, which funded the Scott Atrium & Education Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Scott Technology Center in Omaha and the Scott Kingdoms of the Seas Aquarium at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo. As one of the most generous philanthropists in America, Scott has continuously supported efforts to provide more opportunities for America’s youth.

Since his induction in 1997, Scott has served the association as:

• Chairman emeritus (2006 – Present)
• Chairman (2004 – 2006)
• President and CEO (2002 – 2004)
• Senior executive vice president (2000 – 2002)
• Executive vice president (1999 – 2000)
• Board member  (1999 – Present)
• Awards Dinner chairman (1999)
• Contributor to the Annual Horatio Alger Awards events
• Member; Legacy of Achievement (for Endowment Fund Sponsors)
• Member; Awards Committee
• Current chairman; Nominating Committee
• Initiator of the association’s state scholarship programs with the sponsorship of the Horatio Alger Nebraska Scholarships (2000 – Present)

Scott will formally receive the award this spring in Washington, D.C., at the 2009 Annual Horatio Alger Awards. Festivities will commence on April 2 and include three days of meetings and celebrations in some of the nation’s most historic buildings. At these events, the association will also induct 11 individuals into membership; people who have demonstrated success and humility in spite of adversity. They are:

• James S.C. Chao, chairman, Foremost Group
• David Foster, producer, composer and arranger, Reprise Records & 143 Records
• Clayton Paul Hilliard, president and owner, Badger Oil Corporation
• Rebecca MacDonald, founder and executive chair, Energy Savings Income Fund (international recipient)
• Michael G. Morris, chairman, president & CEO, American Electric Power
• Indra K. Nooyi, chairman and CEO, PepsiCo Inc.
• Carl H. Ricker, Jr., founder, chairman and CEO, Azalea Holdings; partner, Campus Crest Communities; chairman, executive committiee,  Capital Bank Corp; co-founder and chairman, MXT Card Services, LLC
• Thomas Joseph Shannon, Jr., founder of the T-Bird Restaurant Group, Inc. and Village Development Company
• Denzel Washington, Academy Award-winning actor and director
• Robert L. Wright, Jr., chairman, FE Holdings, Inc.
• Stephen A. Wynn, chairman and CEO, Wynn Resorts

The Horatio Alger National Scholars, more than 100 remarkable high school seniors, are also formally honored during the three-day gathering.

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, and graduate grants. The association awards nearly $7 million annually in college scholarships and has given more than $63 million to deserving students since 1984. The association is a 2008 Combined Federal Campaign participant, ID# 77062. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org.

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