Scholarship America Recognizes Volunteers, Student With National Awards and Scholarships

MINNEAPOLIS, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Scholarship America^® is pleased to announce the national winners of the 2011 national awards of excellence to Dollars for Scholars^® chapters as follows: Dr. Irving Fradkin Chapter of the Year: South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars, Aurora, Indiana; Stuart and Marlys Johnson New Chapter of the Year: Sunnyside School District Alumni Association Dollars for Scholars, Tucson, Arizona; and Cy Seifert National Volunteer of the Year Award: Danuta Lysy, CSF Westfield Dollars for Scholars, Westfield, Massachusetts. All award winners received $1,000 awards, in addition to the $500 they received for winning the regional competitions.

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"We are thrilled to have such outstanding individuals sharing their time and talents with Dollars for Scholars, and it's with great pleasure that we honor them with these prestigious awards," said Lauren Segal, president and CEO of Scholarship America. "On behalf of Scholarship America, I would like to personally thank these chapters and volunteers and ask that they keep up the fantastic work that truly changes the lives of students everywhere."

Chapters and volunteers from any Dollars for Scholars chapter are eligible to apply for the awards. One applicant per category is chosen from each region as the Regional Volunteer, Chapter, or New Chapter of the Year and are automatically entered into the national competition. The awards honor chapters and volunteers for going above and beyond the call of duty in their work for students in their communities.

Benjamin Klontz of Auburn, Washington, was named National Student Volunteer of the Year and was awarded $1,500 in scholarships. Nominated by his local Dollars for Scholars chapter, Auburn High School Dollars for Scholars, Ben was chosen for his dedication and service to his community, as well as strong academic achievement at Auburn High School. Ben will begin attending Seattle University this fall and plans on majoring in mechanical engineering.

"It is an honor to award such a talented and giving young man with this scholarship. Ben embodies exactly what Scholarship America and our Dollars for Scholars program is about—serving communities at a grassroots level to improve the lives of local citizens," added Segal.

Members of the National Selection Committee were Lisa Conescu, Jefferson Dollars for Scholars (2010 National Chapter of the Year); Steve Dybsky, Chicago Hope Dollars for Scholars (2010 National New Chapter of the Year); Lorraine Balske, Fairmont Dollars for Scholars (2010 National Volunteer of the Year); Cy Seifert, Scholarship America Honor Roll Trustee; Carrie Warick, National College Access Network; Amy Weinstein, National Scholarship Providers Association; Marlys Johnson, Scholarship America (Retired); Ryan Munce, NRCCUA.

About Scholarship America

Scholarship America is a national education service organization that mobilizes support for students getting into and graduating from college. Scholarship America has distributed more than $2.5 billion in scholarship assistance to more than 1.7 million students over the last 50 years. Scholarship America's programs, which include Dollars for Scholars^®, help fund both entry-level and multi-year scholarships, as well as emergency financial grants. More information is available at scholarshipamerica.org.

SOURCE Scholarship America