Alger awards mean $6,000 for several local students

Five Northwest Montana students have been named Horatio Alger Montana Scholarship recipients.

The Horatio Alger Scholarship program recognizes outstanding students’ commitment to continuing their education and serving their communities while facing adversity.

Jasmyn Burdsall and Elise Byle of Glacier High School, Cheyanne Flickinger of Columbia Falls High School, Christopher Gieber of Polson High School and Jeremiah Hashley of Stillwater Christian School are among 50 students statewide to receive the $6,000 scholarships funded by the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation. 

The University of Montana and Montana University System will provide additional $5,000 awards, bringing the total amount to $11,000, which will be disbursed over the course of the students’ college careers. 

Scholarship recipients will have access to a variety of resources including college preparatory support, access to guidance and crisis counselors as well as mentoring programs.

To be considered for the Horatio Alger Montana Scholarship, students must be committed to obtaining bachelor’s degrees, show perseverance in overcoming adversity, maintain 2.0 minimum grade-point averages and demonstrate financial need.

Collectively, the 2014 Horatio Alger State Scholarship recipients have maintained  grade point averages of 3.6 and mean SAT scores of 1,593, while coming from households with average annual income of $21,482.

For more information about Horatio Alger Association and its 2014 Scholars, visit https://www.horatioalger.org.