Scholarship recipients will receive up to $15,000 over 4 years.
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 generosity of Dennis and Phyllis Washington in partnership with the Horatio Alger Association. 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.
This program, administered by the Horatio Alger Association, is specifically aimed at students who have confronted and overcome adversity in their young lives. Students from across Montana will be selected to each receive a $15,000 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, Missoula College – University of Montana, Helena College – University of Montana, Montana Tech, Montana State University, Montana State University Billings, Montana State University Northern and Great Falls College – Montana State University. In addition to the scholarship, students selected as scholars may access educational and financial counseling from the Horatio Alger Association.
The deadline for application submissions is March 15 annually, and all applications must be submitted via the Horatio Alger Association’s application website during the open application period of January 15 to March 15. Applications received any other way will not be considered. If you previously submitted an application to Horatio Alger for the National Scholarship, your application will automatically be considered for the Montana Undergraduate Scholarship. Integrity, perseverance, initiative in overcoming adversity are foremost among the qualifications used to select the students who will receive the scholarships. Other criteria include critical financial need, community and public service, and academic achievement. Students must also be a resident of Montana 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 and graduate scholarships to eligible Horatio Alger Undergraduate Scholars desiring to pursue advanced degrees through the Dennis R. Washington Leadership Scholarship.

Recipients
- 2016 – 2017 Recipients
- 2015 – 2016 Recipients
- 2014 – 2015 Recipients
- 2013 – 2014 Recipients
- 2012 – 2013 Recipients
- 2011 – 2012 Recipients
- 2010 – 2011 Recipients
- 2009 – 2010 Recipients
- 2008 – 2009 Recipients
- 2007 – 2008 Recipients
- 2006 – 2007 Recipients
- 2005 – 2006 Recipients
- 2004 – 2005 Recipients