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Thirty-Six California Students Awarded Prestigious Horatio Alger State Scholarship
Arthur Ciocca Provides $160,000 in Scholarships to Teens for Overcoming Adversity

WASHINGTON, July 19, 2010 – The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is pleased to announce that it has awarded scholarships to 40 deserving high school students in California. Each scholar will receive $4,000 to assist in funding their college education. The students were selected for the Horatio Alger California Scholarship because they persevered in overcoming adversity while also demonstrating excellence in academics, admirable character and community contributions.

“We are happy to help the deserving scholars from California attend college and achieve the American dream,” said Tony Novelly, president and chief executive officer of the Horatio Alger Association. “These scholars have exemplified the Horatio Alger ideals by using their challenges in life as a motivator for success.”

The California scholarships are made possible by Arthur Ciocca who has supported the state with scholarships through the Horatio Alger Association for eight years.

The Horatio Alger State Scholarship Programs range from $2,500 to $10,500 and are sponsored by Horatio Alger members and friends. These scholarships are offered in 23 states. In 2010, the programs are awarding more than 675 state scholarships to students throughout the country.

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 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 2010 California recipients are:

• Lance P. Benavides, Upper Lake High School, Nice
• Musadiq Bidar, Athenian School, Concord
• Darlene A. Carranco, Lodi High School, Lodi
• Celia Halsted, Mountain View High School, Mountain View
• Raven M. Kapphahn, Porterville High School, Porterville
• Amanjit Lasher, River Valley High School, Yuba City
• Zoua Lee, Atwater High School, Winton
• Melissa D. Lewelling, Henry T. Gunderson High School, San Jose
• Jessica P. Lix, Las Plumas High School, Bangor
• Kevin M. Lynch, Nevada Union High School, Grass Valley
• Estefania D. Macias, Monache High School, Porterville
• Michelle F. Miller, Oakmont High School, Antelope
• Bryant Montalvo, Saint Francis High School, Saratoga
• Victor A. Morales, Golden Valley High School, Merced
• Jenny Ngo, Yerba Buena High School, San Jose
• Samantha Q. Nguyen, Foothill High School, North Highlands
• Gabrielle S. Noland, Trinity High School, Weaverville
• Stephanie A. Ortega, Angelo Rodriguez High School, Suisun City
• Carlos Ortiz, Madera High School, Madera
• Priyank Patel, Lodi High School, Lodi
• Johana Y. Pena, Saint Elizabeth High School, Oakland
• Nickole Rodriguez, Lodi High School, Lodi
• Phillip A. Sabedra, Vallejo Senior High School, Vallejo
• Nicole J. Sanderson, Summit Preparatory Charter High School, Redwood City
• Marisa Saucedo, Potter Valley High School, Ukiah
• Tiffany M. Selby, El Diamante High School, Visalia
• Dongeun Seo, Davis Senior High School, Davis
• Courtney D. Shipman, Kingsburg Joint Union High School, Kingsburg
• Wendy R. Suarez, Porterville High School, Terra Bella
• Veronica Torres, Porterville High School, Porterville
• Kerrisa Trader, San Lorenzo Valley High School, Felton
• Anita G. Truong, Valley High School, Sacramento
• Singel N. Vang, Theodore Roosevelt High School, Fresno
• Mai L. Vue, Golden Valley High School, Merced
• Brianne R. Wagner, Granite Hills High School, Porterville
• Audrey R. Weston, Mount Shasta High School, Weed

To view the complete list of Horatio Alger scholars and members, visit our Web site at https://www.horatioalger.org.  

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. Since 1984, the association has awarded over $70 million in college scholarships to deserving young people. The association is a Combined Federal Campaign participant; # 77062. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org.

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