WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education, today announced 606 students from across the nation will receive its prestigious 2014 Horatio Alger State Scholarship. These young men and women are recognized for their admirable commitment to continuing their education and serving their communities, despite facing and overcoming adversity.

Horatio Alger Association was founded in 1947. Since 1984, it has administered one of the nation's largest privately-funded, need-based scholarship programs, having awarded more than $100 million in undergraduate, graduate and specialized scholarships to students from across the United States, including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada. In 2000, 16 years after the establishment of its national scholarship program, Horatio Alger Members also began funding scholarships concentrated in each state to further its mission to offer deserving young people across the nation support to pursue their collegiate goals.

"For many of our Scholars, pursuing a college degree may be an unrealistic goal as a result of their family's financial situations," said David Sokol, chairman of Horatio Alger Association. "It is reassuring to know that Horatio Alger Association can offer assistance to deserving students who, despite facing both economic and personal hardships, have an unwavering desire to pursue higher education. The 2014 Horatio Alger State Scholars are a commendable group of young people who have wholly devoted themselves to achieving their goals."

Collectively, the2014 Horatio Alger State Scholarship recipients have maintained an average GPA of 3.6 and a mean SAT score of 1,593, while coming from a household with an average annual income of $21,482. Through the scholarship program, each recipient is awarded an average of $6,000 to apply toward the tuition of their selected college or university. Additionally, State Scholars will have access to a variety of resources including college preparatory support, access to guidance and crisis counselors as well as mentoring programs.

For a complete list of the2014 Horatio Alger State Scholars, please visit www.horatioalger.org/scholarships. State scholarships are funded through the generosity of the following organizations/individuals:


    --  Al and Cathy Annexstad Horatio Alger Scholarship Fund (Minnesota)
    --  Bob Hudiburg, in memory of his son, John Hardin Hudiburg (Texas)
    --  BNSF Railway (North Dakota and Texas-Fort Worth)
    --  Carlyse and Arthur Ciocca Charitable Foundation (California)
    --  Crown Equipment Corporation (Ohio)
    --  Ebby Halliday Scholarship Fund (Texas)
    --  Friend of Distinction Francis Nichols (Vermont)
    --  Horatio Alger Association Board of Directors (Alaska, Missouri, New York
        and Wisconsin)
    --  Joe Robert Scholarship Fund in memory of Association Member Joe Robert
        (Washington, D.C.)
    --  Horatio Alger Association Member Anthony Welters and his wife,
        Ambassador Beatrice Welters (Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia)
    --  Horatio Alger Association Member John A. Moran (Florida and Utah)
    --  Horatio Alger Association Member John Pappajohn (Iowa)
    --  Horatio Alger Association Member Joseph Clark (Washington)
    --  Horatio Alger Association Member Philip Anschutz (Colorado)
    --  Horatio Alger Association Member Sidney D. Wolk (Massachusetts)
    --  Horatio Alger Association Member Stephen A. Wynn (Nevada)
    --  Hormel Foundation and Horatio Alger Association Member Richard L.
        Knowlton (Minnesota)
    --  MidAmerican Energy Foundation (South Dakota)
    --  Mrs. Michele Rollins and the Rollins Family, in honor of Horatio Alger
        Association Member
    --  John W. Rollins, Sr. (Delaware)
    --  Neubauer Family Foundation and Horatio Alger Association Member Alan B.
        Miller (Pennsylvania)
    --  O. Wayne Rollins Foundation (Georgia)
    --  Ronald C. Waranch Foundation (California and Texas)
    --  Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas,
        Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, New
        Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island,
        South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming)

Later this year, the Association will also award scholarships in Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana and Nebraska.

"Horatio Alger Association is built on the notion that one can turn struggle into success through hard work and dedication," said Tony Novelly, president and CEO of Horatio Alger Association. "Our 2014 State Scholars are proof that with great resilience, one can overcome all odds. We are proud to support these young men and women as they further their education and strive to achieve more than they ever thought possible. With help from the Association, these admirable young students will have the opportunity to change the course of their futures. "

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

About Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans:
 Founded in 1947, the 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 students through annual undergraduate and graduate need-based scholarships and mentoring programs across the United States and Canada. Since 1984, the Association has awarded more than $100 million in college scholarships to deserving young people. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org.

CONTACT:
Nikki Elkins
484-385-2958 (office)
nelkins@briancom.com

SOURCE Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc.