Seniors at Montana high schools who want to go to college now have more help in reaching that goal. This scholarship program is made possible through the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation and the generosity of Dennis and Phyllis Washington. Mr. Washington is a member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc, an organization of Americans who have overcome adversity and humble beginnings to achieve professional and personal success.
Beginning in 2004, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation partnered with The University of Montana to fund the Horatio Alger Montana Undergraduate Scholarship Program. Beginning in the Fall of 2012, the undergraduate scholarship program was expanded to Montana State University and its affiliates. These four-year scholarships are now valued at $10,000.
This program is specifically aimed at students who have confronted and overcome adversity in their young lives. 50 students from across Montana will be selected to each receive a $10,000 scholarship and have the honor of being named as a Horatio Alger Montana Scholar. The scholarships can be utilized to pursue higher education at The University of Montana, The University of Montana-Western, The University of Montana – Missoula College of Technology, Helena College of Technology of The University of Montana, or Montana Tech of The University of Montana, Montana State University, Montana State University – Billings, Montana State University – Northern and Montana State University – Greats Falls College of Technology. In addition to the scholarship, students selected as scholars are entitled to educational and financial counseling from the Horatio Alger Association.
The deadline for application submissions is April 15. Integrity, perseverance, initiative in overcoming adversity are foremost among the qualifications used to select the students who will receive the scholarships. Other criteria to renew the scholarships include critical financial need, community and public service, and academic achievement. Students must also be a resident and attend a high school within Montana.
The Horatio Alger Association is a non-profit educational association providing millions of dollars a year in need-based college scholarships across the nation to deserving high school seniors.