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Forty-Seven Nebraska Students Awarded Esteemed Ak-Sar-Ben Scholarship
The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation Provides $235,000 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 47 outstanding high school students in Nebraska. Each scholar will receive $5,000 toward their college education. The students were selected for the Ak-Sar-Ben Scholarship Program, a partnership with Horatio Alger, Ak-Sar-Ben and Teammates 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 Nebraska 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 ASB scholarships are made possible by the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation which has sponsored the Horatio Alger scholarships five 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 Ak-Sar-Ben recipients are:

• Shannon Beed, Aurora High School, Aurora
• Kyle Berger, Spalding Public School, Spalding
• Justy Bullington, Mullen High School, Mullen
• Angela Burkey, Elm Creek High School, Elm Creek
• Megan Buss, Cozad High School, Cozad
• Brianne Cavanaugh, Burke High School, Omaha
• Vanessa Corral, Holdrege High School, Holdrege
• Breanne Crow, Grand Island Senior High School, Grand Island
• Deborah Dennis, Benson High School, Omaha
• Isabelle Edson, High Plains Community School, Polk
• Whitney Engel, High Plains Community School, Polk
• Maureen Estropia, Lawrence/Nelson Community School, Nelson
• Brandi Feldmann, Battle Creek High School, Battle Creek
• Rachel Frazier, Lawrence/Nelson Community School, Nelson
• Kimberlie Gaffney, Arlington Public School, Arlington
• Leanna Gubbels, Laurel-Concord High School, Laurel
• Kassie Guenther, Johnson County Central High School, Tecumseh
• Brittney Hensley, Westside High School, Omaha
• Elizabeth Hilderbrand, York High School, York
• Kateri Hinman, Mercy High School, Omaha
• Kiesha Hollman, Southern High School, Wymore
• Taylor Horst, Wisner Pilger Junior-Senior High School, Wilsner
• Karrah Johnson, Bloomfied High School, Bloomfield
• Kassandra Jordan, Omaha North High School, South Sioux
• Kaleb Kenyon, South Sioux City High School, Pierce
• Elyssa Leach, Pierce Public High School, Pierce
• Britnee Lovell, Palmyra High School, Palmyra
• Sara Mann, Minatare High School, Minatare
• Saleasha McClurge, Millard South High School, Omaha
• Molly McFeely, Papillion-LaVista South High School, Papillion
• Daniel McKenzie, Fullerton High School, Fullerton
• Amanda McLaughlin, Omaha North High School, Omaha
• Alyssa Meyer, Bellevue East High School, Bellevue
• Elizabeth Miller, Pawnee City Public School, Pawnee City
• Heather Moore, Burke High School, Omaha
• Shauna Parker, Yutan Junior-Senior High School, Yutan
• Kortnie Ravenscroft, Grand Island Senior High School, Grand Island
• Kristina Redwine, Kearney Catholic High School, Kearney
• Catherine Ripp, Ravenna High School, Ravenna
• Melena Russell, William Jennings Bryan High School, Omaha
• Levi Schlick, Sandy Creek Junior-Senior High School, Fairfield
• Mara Seifer, Mcpherson County High School, Tryon
• Lindsey Toman, Lincoln High School, Lincoln
• Marry Tran, Lincoln High School, Lincoln
• Briar Watson, Mercy High School, Omaha
• Kelsey Whiteley, Omaha North High School, Omaha
• Katelyn Woodrum, Sioux County High School, Harrison

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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