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104 High School Students to Receive $20,000 Scholarships
The Horatio Alger Association Encourages the American Dream; Awards High School Seniors Across the Nation for Perseverance Through Adversity

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2010 – The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has awarded 104 high school seniors the National Scholarship to help fund their college education. Each student will receive a $20,000 scholarship and will be honored at the Horatio Alger Awards ceremony in Washington D.C., April 8-10, 2010.

These students were selected for the Horatio Alger National Scholarship Program because each has faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives while demonstrating strength of character, a commitment to pursue a college education, and a desire to contribute to society. The National Scholars are among the best and most determined youth in America.

"We are excited to welcome our 2010 National Scholars. These young men and women have exemplified the Horatio Alger ideals by using their challenges in life as motivators for success," said David L. Sokol, President and CEO of the Horatio Alger Association. "The Association is not just a check-writing organization. We are proud to focus on the whole scholar and to help the students find continued success in school and beyond."

Christopher J. Gray, Birmingham, Alabama Hillary K. Howze, Cullman, Alabama Joshua J. Lee, Anchorage, Alaska Jocelyn M. Baca, Goodyear, Arizona Eduardo Quinonez, Mesa, Arizona Chance Craig, Marvell, Arkansas Sedella S. White, Austin, Arkansas Christian E. Castaing, San Francisco, California Martin Chavez, Santa Maria, California Antonio J. Cienfuegos, Chula Vista, California Aaron Hsu, Fremont, California Benjamin Lee, Monterey Park, California Tina Y. Roh, Cerritos, California Valerie J. Vidal, San Diego, California Arnold G. Clarke, Florissant, Colorado Arnold D. Clem, La Junta, Colorado Domenia L. Dickey, Hamden, Connecticut Tabytha I. Simon, Beacon Falls, Connecticut Brandon Bell, Washington, D.C. Benjamin T. Patterson, Greenwood, Delaware Carlos D. Aramayo, Coconut Creek, Florida Kenneth W. Stack, Lisbon Falls, Maine Diana A. Nguyen, Silver Spring, Maryland Chana T. Zaks, Silver Spring, Maryland Dillon C. Cleary, Middleboro, Massachusetts Emmanuella Wagnac, Everett, Massachusetts Pecolia Dismuke, Benton Harbor, Michigan Myranda C. Morgan, Filion, Michigan Alex R. Ngo, Wyoming, Michigan Margaret F. Nietfeld, Interlochen, Michigan Dionne L. Griffin, St. Paul, Minnesota Jason E. Engel, Columbus, Mississippi Savana R. Heidelberg, Laurel, Mississippi Kelsey C. Guthery, St. Joseph, Missouri Zoe A. Lucas, St. Joseph, Missouri William E. Omholt-Montague, Great Falls, Montana Delores A. Brown, Stanton, Nebraska Sara M. Beckman, Reno, Nevada Shannon Lagasse, Atkinson, New Hampshire Danielle L. Cohen, Toms River, New Jersey Hillary R. Goldfine, West Long Branch, New Jersey    Marcella t. Worthen, Irvington, New Jersey Estevan R. Trujillo, Chama, New Mexico Christopher E. Almonte, Bronx, New York Kathy Edouard, Brooklyn, New York Natalie Perez, Ridgewood, New York Katherine Quezada, Bronx, New York Connor E. Brady, Asheboro, North Carolina Katherine A. Rodgers, High Point, North Carolina Ashley P. Weston, Cando, North Dakota Jeremy J. Barlage, Saint Henry, Ohio Zachary Steely, Tallmadge, Ohio

Christopher J. Bahamundi, Coconut Creek, Florida Fred E. Carriles, Hollywood, Florida Jessica L. Stone, Miramar, Florida Alex C. La Pierre, Forest Park, Georgia Yarkenda C. Payne, Adel, Georgia Christina L. Economy, Hilo, Hawaii Alycia R. Barrowcliff, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Michelle R. Galletto, Vandalia, Illinois Blake A. Sigler, Eldorado, Illinois Deanna J. Stepp, Romeoville, Illinois Julia A. Williamson, Eldorado, Illinois Kristin M. Caccavo, Indianapolis, Indiana Megan E. Kovach, New Palestine, Indiana Joanna L. Hodder, Keota, Iowa Austin G. Kazarian, Denver, Iowa Anthony N. Chapman, Washington, Kansas Michelle M. Diemer, Kansas City, Kansas William J. Kelley, Pleasureville, Kentucky Rebecca D. Martin, Livingson, Kentucky Antonio D. Roberts, Alexandria, Louisiana Jahquille T. Ross, New Orleans, Louisiana Shawn A. Wiler-Martin, Streetsboro, Ohio Madison L. Alexander, Moore, Oklahoma Mariel S. Colbert, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Jordan R. Magill-Starr, Springfield, Oregon Lindsey S. Verret, Butte Falls, Oregon Jessica L. Hayne, Greensburg, Pennsylvania Benjamin E. Livengood, Dunbar, Pennsylvania Cooper S. Obenreder, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania Valeria Hernandez, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico Anthony J. Federici, North Providence, Rhode Island Paul W. Critzman III, Lexington, South Carolina Aaron G. Fountain, Columbia, South Carolina William Massey, Menno, South Dakota Casey M. Crockett, Halls, Tennessee Joseph T. Proctor, Cookeville, Tennessee Victor A. Cardenas, Houston, Texas Shera D. Gary, Cross Plains, Texas Ursula Nguyen, Houston, Texas Jake M. Robinson, Lufkin, Texas Jacob W. Tynes, Waco, Texas Gary T. Crosgrove, Layton, Utah Luke G. Mirabelli, Salt Lake City, Utah Taylor L. Greenway, Montgomery Center, Vermont Lindsy C. Greene, Norfolk, Virginia Brenton E. Stokes, Suffolk, Virginia Agazit F. Tassaw, Seattle, Washington David P. Van Winkle, Sedro-Woolley, Washington Cody C. Swearingen, Parkersburg, West Virginia Carinda R. Larson, Brule, Wisconsin Tyler J. Sonsalla, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Ian L. Hitchcock, Dubois, Wyoming

The 2010 National Scholars will soon travel to Washington, D.C. for an all-expense paid trip to the National Scholars Conference. During the four-day event the scholars will attend college preparation sessions, listen to esteemed speakers, participate in ceremonies at the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Department of State and DAR Constitution Hall and meet with the 2010 Horatio Alger Award recipients who will be recognized for their success stories.

The Horatio Alger Scholarship Program is one of the largest need-based scholarship programs in the country and the association annually awards nearly $7 million in college scholarships in the United States. Each National Scholar award recipient receives $20,000 and is given access to tools specifically designed to help him or her prepare for college, perform better while in college, graduate at a higher rate, develop career skills, and build a lifetime relationship with the Horatio Alger Association.

In addition, the association named 11 Horatio Alger Award recipients for 2010. These members are outstanding individuals who have accomplished remarkable achievements through hard work, self-reliance and perseverance. The 2010 new members are:

• Albert T. Annexstad, Chairman, Federated Insurance Companies
• William Alfred Cook, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Cook Group Incorporated
• Tommy Ray Franks, Former Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Central Command, and Chairman,
• Franks & Associates
• Joseph M. "Jody" Grant, Partner and Senior Advisor, BankCap Partners, and Chairman Emeritus, Texas Capital Bank
• Jenard M. Gross, President, Gross Investments
• Lawrence Mead Higby, CEO (Retired), Vice Chairman and Advisor, Apria Healthcare Group Inc.
• Richard D. Holland, Philanthropist and Chairman (Retired), Rollheiser Holland Kahler Advertising
• Alan B. Miller, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Universal Health Services, Inc.
• Condoleezza Rice, Former Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State, and Provost, Stanford University
• James M. Seneff Jr., Founder and CEO, CNL Financial Group, Inc.
• Earl W. Stafford Sr., Chief Executive Officer, The Wentworth Group LLC, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Stafford Foundation, Inc.

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 more than $70 million in college scholarships to deserving young people. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org.

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