Scholarship America® Recognizes Volunteers, Student with National Awards and Scholarships

MINNEAPOLIS, July 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Scholarship America^® is pleased to announce the national winners of the Dollars for Scholars^® Chapter of the Year, New Chapter of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Awards, as well as the winner of the Student Volunteer of the Year Award.  

The National Chapter of the Year Award was given to Jefferson Dollars for Scholars, New Orleans; National New Chapter of the Year was awarded to Chicago HOPE Dollars for Scholars, Chicago; and Lorraine Balske of Fairmont Dollars for Scholars, Fairmont, Minnesota, was named National Chapter Volunteer of the Year. Each of the chapter award winners, as well as the National Chapter Volunteer of the Year, received $1,000 awards.

"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, Scholarship America. "On behalf of everyone at Scholarship America, I would like to personally thank these chapters and volunteers for their 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 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.

Elizabeth Naameh of Riverside, California, was named National Student Volunteer of the Year and was awarded $6,000 in scholarships. Nominated by her local Dollars for Scholars chapter, Riverside Dollars for Scholars, Elizabeth was chosen for her dedication and service to her community, as well as strong academic achievement at La Sierra High School in Riverside. Elizabeth will begin attending UCLA this fall. She hopes to eventually earn a Medical Degree from Harvard Medical School and become a pediatrician.

In order to be eligible for the National Student Volunteer of the Year, students from Dollars for Scholars' communities first applied to receive a Community Volunteer Service Award. Fifty-three students were chosen to receive a $500 scholarship based on volunteerism, community service and academics. The top applicant was chosen as the National Student Volunteer of the Year and received an additional $5,500 scholarship, made possible through Scholarship America's participation in Best Buy's @15 Exchange.

"It is an honor to award such a talented and giving young woman with this scholarship. Elizabeth 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 Chapter of the Year Selection Committee were Susan Weinberger, Scholarship America Honor Roll Trustee, Chapter member, and Dollars for Scholars Advocate; Dave Blake, Director of Marketing for Zinch Incorporated; Joseph Russo, Director of Financial Aid, University of Notre Dame; and Barbara Burnette, Executive Director, Corporate Alliances - Kaplan University.

About Dollars for Scholars®

Dollars for Scholars^®, a program of Scholarship America^®, is a national, community-based, volunteer-driven network of more than 1,140 grassroots scholarship foundations in 39 states and the District of Columbia that raise funds and provide financial and academic support to local students seeking postsecondary education.

About Scholarship America®

Scholarship America^® is a national education service organization that mobilizes support for students getting into and graduating from college. Since 1958, Scholarship America has awarded more than $2 billion in scholarship assistance to more than 1.7 million students through three programs: Dollars for Scholars^®, Scholarship Management Services^®, and Dreamkeepers. More information is available at www.scholarshipamerica.org.

SOURCE Scholarship America