Horatio Alger Association Sends 940 Promising Young Scholars to Several Notable Colleges and Universities Across the Country

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As the annual ritual of college "move in" begins, 940 recent high school graduates are entering their freshman year at notable colleges and universities across the United States after receiving financial assistance through the Horatio Alger Scholarship Programs. One of the nation's largest privately-funded, need-based scholarship programs, this remarkable initiative is administered by Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., honors the achievements of outstanding individuals and encourages youth to pursue their dreams through higher education.

With collegiate scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, Scholars from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are continuing the pursuit of higher education at 490 institutions nationwide ranging from leading liberal arts colleges, including Williams College and Swarthmore College, to nationally recognized universities, such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Chicago. Among the 940 recipients, six Scholars are beginning their college career at Yale University, five are attending Stanford University, while three are joining the University of Pennsylvania's Class of 2018. Even more noteworthy is the fact that 355 Horatio Alger Scholars – nearly 40% of the Association's 2013 undergraduate scholarship recipients – are first-generation college students.

"With the support of the Association, one of the nation's most promising group of individuals is one step closer to discovering and achieving the American dream for themselves," said David Sokol, chairman, Horatio Alger Association. "These outstanding young men and women have overcome personal obstacles while exhibiting the consummate commitment to advancing their education.  Each has demonstrated persistence and resilience and as our 2013 Scholars begin college in these next few weeks, we could not be more proud of their achievements or more confident that they will continue to live up to the principles of Horatio Alger."

Horatio Alger Association sponsors one of the nation's largest, privately-funded collegiate scholarship initiatives recognizing students who demonstrate integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity and hardships while exhibiting exceptional character and a commitment to higher education. Although most of the 2013 Horatio Alger Scholars come from households with an average income of less than $15,000 per year, these students average a 3.74 GPA and a mean SAT score of 1,684, which is more than 100 points above the national average. Additionally, 76 percent of Horatio Alger Scholars graduate from college despite the national graduation rate for low-income students being 23 percent. 

The programs, sponsored by Horatio Alger Association Distinguished Americans, Inc., were established in 1984 and, $100 million has been invested approximately to 20,000 undergraduate collegiate scholarships. The 2014 application process is currently open and will close on October 25, 2013.

For more information about the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., please visit https://www.horatioalger.org/scholarships.

About Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans:
Founded in 1947, Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. fulfills its mission of honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. Horatio Alger Association supports annual undergraduate and graduate need-based scholarship programs. Since 1984, the Association has awarded more than $100 million in college scholarships to deserving young people across the nation.  For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org.

CONTACT:
Abbey Anderson
484-385-2912 (office)
[email protected] 

SOURCE Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc.