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Qorvis Communications
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Fifty Montana Students Awarded Esteemed Horatio Alger State Scholarship
Phyllis and Dennis Washington Provide $250,000 in Scholarships to Teens for Overcoming Adversity

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2011 – The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is pleased to announce that it has awarded scholarships to 50 outstanding high school students in Montana. Each scholar will receive $5,000 toward their college education. The students were selected for the Horatio Alger Montana 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 Montana 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 state scholarships are made possible by Phyllis and Dennis Washington, which have sponsored the Horatio Alger scholarships 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 Montana recipients are:      

• Alejandro J. Acuna Padilla, Butte Central High School, Butte
• Makayla C. Becker, Thompson Falls High School, Thompson Falls
• Matthew R. Bohlken, Valley Christian School, Missoula
• Taymee A. Brandon, Charles M Russell High School, Great Falls
• Trail D. Bundy, Saint Ignatius High School, St. Ignatius
• Kayla L. Burns, Browning High School, Browning
• Caleb J. Carr, Bozeman High School, Bozeman
• Christa D. Carter, Dutton Public Schools, Dutton
• Amanda M. Dedmon, Great Falls High School, Great Falls
• Maegan D. Eldridge, Willow Creek High School, Willow Creek
• Chanel S. Elliott, Superior High School, Superior
• Blake A. Ereaux, Fort Benton High School, Ft Benton
• Jessica N. Ewing, Lima School District #12, Lima
• Kaci B. Felstet, Charles M Russell High School, Great Falls
• Jesse J. Flickinger, Columbia Falls High School, Columbia Falls
• Matthew Flink, Loyola-Sacred Heart High School, Missoula
• Amber Gauthier, Absarokee High School, Absarokee
• Dalton H. Gensch, Hellgate High School, Missoula
• Ashley T. Gostnell, Hellgate High School, Missoula
• Arayna N. Hardcastle, Butte High School, Butte
• Erik D. Hilety, Thompson Falls High School, Thompson Falls
• Samson A. Johnson, Sentinel High School, Missoula
• Brooke R. Johnston, Columbus High School, Columbus
• Cole H. Jones, Columbia Falls High School, Columbia Falls
• Lillian C. Kennard, Three Forks High School, Three Forks
• Ethan Kliewer, Glasgow Senior High School, Glasgow
• Dylan R. Kotecki, Cascade High School, Cascade
• Brenna R. Larson, Dutton Public Schools, Dutton
• Yolanda M. LeDuc, Hellgate High School, Missoula
• Austin T. McGill, Hellgate High School, Missoula
• Amanda J. Medina, Columbus High School, Columbus
• Lyann R. Miller, Plains High School, Plains
• Savannah Moore, Superior High School, Superior
• Montana M. Pedersen, Charles M Russell High School, Great Falls
• Kaycee D. Peterson, Denton High School, Denton
• KaLyn S. Plouffe, Superior High School, Superior
• Ashley M. Prouty, Hardin High School, Hardin
• Jessica M. Puryer, Glacier High School, Kalispell
• Dexter L. Reh, Big Sky High School, Missoula
• Rolisha M. Rhodes, Saint Regis High School, St. Regis
• Kylie Richter, Chester Senior High School, Chester
• Logan E. Rossmiller, Dutton Public Schools, Dutton
• Amanda L. Segar, Victor High School, Victor
• Shelby L. Skauge, Shepherd High School, Shepherd
• Alyssa A. Smith, Belt High School, Belt
• Jasmine Talbert, Geyser High School, Geyser
• William F. Thelen, Corvallis High School, Corvallis
• Tommy J. Thomas, Powell County High School, Deer Lodge
• Desarae A. Tully, Hellgate High School, Missoula
• Kayla C. White, Hobson High School, Hobson

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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