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Twenty-Six Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia Students Awarded Esteemed Horatio Alger State Scholarship
Anthony Welters Provides $65,000 in Scholarships to Teens for Overcoming Adversity

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2011 – The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is pleased to announce that it has awarded scholarships to 26 outstanding high school students in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Each scholar will receive $2,500 toward their college education. The students were selected for the Horatio Alger District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Scholarship because they persevered in overcoming adversity while succeeding academically, contributing to the community and exhibiting exemplary character.

“We are privileged to provide scholarships to the deserving students from the greater Washington, DC area to attend college and achieve the American dream,” said Tony Novelly, president and chief executive officer of the Horatio Alger Association. “These students have overcome significant challenges in their lives and have become stronger, more determined people because of it.”

The D.C., Maryland and Virginia scholarships are made possible by Anthony Welters who has sponsored the Horatio Alger scholarship for seven years.

The scholarships provided by the Horatio Alger State Scholarship Programs range from $2,500 to $20,000 and are sponsored by Horatio Alger members and friends. In 2011, the programs are awarding more than 850 state scholarships to students throughout the country. This marks the first year that the state scholarships are assisting students in all 50 states.

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 website, 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 2011 District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia recipients are:

• Yasmine Arrington, Banneker High School, Washington
• Eyob Ayalew, Annandale High School, Annandale
• Bria Bryant, Glen Burnie Senior High School, Glen Burnie
• Imani Bryant, Wilson High School, Washington
• Cadence Crone, Home School Clearing House, Princeton
• Sesia Cruz, Albert Einstein Senior High School, Kensington
• Tsiyon Gurmu, South Lakes High School, Reston
• Micky  Hagos, Albert Einstein Senior High School,   Kensington
• Maurquise Hall, Luke C. Moore Academy High School, Washington
• Rachelle Harrison, Booker T Washington Public Charter School, Washington
• Chadalena Hart, Coolidge Senior High School, Washington
• Mahimmud Ibrahim, Wheaton High School, Wheaton
• Markela Izlar,  F.W. Ballou High School, Washington
• Derrica Kearney, Duke Ellington School of Arts, Washington
• Jennifer Lien, James Hubert Blake High School, Silver Spring
• Barbara Medrano, Centreville High School, Clifton
• KeAira Mickle, McKinley Technology High School, Washington
• Brendan Milligan, South County Secondary, Lorton
• Joshua Montgomery, Hammond High School, Columbia
• Nevasha Noble, Central Senior High School, Capitol Heights
• Benjasmina Reyes, Osbourn High School, Manassas
• Carlos  Riveros Jr., Oakland Mills High School, Columbia
• Esteban Trochez, Wheaton High School, Wheaton
• John Tucker, Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School, Washington
• Fatoumatta Tunkara, Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, Bethesda
• Frank Ugboh, Laurel High School, Laurel

To view the complete list of Horatio Alger scholars and members, visit our website at www.horatioalger.org. The 2012 Horatio Alger Scholarship Application will be available beginning August 1 – October 30, 2011 at www.horatioalger.org/scholarships.

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. The association will have awarded more than $87 million in scholarships through 2012 to deserving young people determined to earn college degrees. The association is a Combined Federal Campaign participant; # 77062. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org

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