Horatio Alger Association Awards 10 Annual Dennis R. Washington Achievement Graduate Scholarships

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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 the 10 recipients of the 2014 Dennis R. Washington Achievement Graduate Scholarship.  Endowed in 2008 and funded by the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, this scholarship provides financial assistance to National and State Horatio Alger Association Alumni Scholars who aspire to pursue graduate degrees.

Since its inception in 1988, the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, established by Dennis and Phyllis Washington, has donated more than $150 million to charitable causes.  The Foundation, which supports deserving individuals in an effort to better society as a whole, established its Achievement Graduate Scholarship program to provide financial assistance to Horatio Alger undergraduate scholarship recipients who wish to further their education by pursuing a graduate degree.  Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and have demonstrated leadership experience, integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity.  They should also exhibit sound entrepreneurial and leadership skills and strong community involvement.

"We are proud to partner with Horatio Alger Association to reward outstanding students who show great academic promise and resilience with the financial assistance needed to pursue graduate studies," said Dennis Washington, co-founder, the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation and chairman emeritus, Horatio Alger Association.  "When faced with difficult circumstances, many are inclined to give up, but our scholarship recipients have used their experiences as a springboard to success."

The following individuals will receive up to $90,000 from the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation for a master's, doctoral or professional degree:

• Daniel Chahla, University of Minnesota, 2008 National Scholar
• Emanuel A. Edwards, Florida Institute of Technology, 2007 Alabama State Scholar
• Andre Hawks, Missouri University of Science & Technology, 2002 California State Scholar
• La'toya James, Medical University of South Carolina, 2007 Texas State Scholar
• Bridget Martinez, UC Merced, 2007 California State Scholar
• Alex B. Miller, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009 Georgia State Scholar
• Nicole E. Tichenor, Tufts University, 2005 Missouri State Scholar
• Keiko M. Wadsworth, Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2009 National Scholar
• Daniel Wu, Harvard College, 2006 California-Orange County Scholar
• Dian Yu, New York University School of Law, 2007 Franklin Scholar

For more information about Horatio Alger Association or to apply to one of its scholarship programs, 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 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.

About Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation:

Founded in 1988, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation is the major philanthropic organization for The Washington Companies and the Washington family. Funding for the Foundation comes from the profits of The Washington Companies and personal contributions from the Washington Family. The Foundation focuses in the areas of education, arts and culture, health and human services, and community services. Since its inception, Foundation giving and the Washington family's personal contributions and pledges to charitable causes total more than $130 million. The Foundation website is located at http://www.dpwfoundation.org.

CONTACT:
Nikki Elkins
484-385-2958 (office)
[email protected]

SOURCE Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc.