Horatio Alger Association of Canada announces Ontario scholarship winners

MONTREAL, March 19, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Horatio Alger Association of Canada is pleased to announce that 20 Ontario students have been awarded $5,000 scholarships as part of the Horatio Alger Ontario Scholarship Program.

The Association offers university scholarships to full-time high school students in Ontario who have a critical financial need and have demonstrated integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity, as well as strength of character, a good academic record, a commitment to pursue a university education, and a desire to contribute to society.

"We are so pleased to help deserving Ontario students earn a post-secondary education," said Dominic D'Alessandro, the President of the Horatio Alger Association of Canada. "These students have demonstrated great courage and resolve in the face of difficult circumstances, and it is an honour for the Association to support them."

This year's winners are:

Hafsa M. Arslan, Forest Heights Collegiate Institute, Kitchener
Rachel Clemens, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, St. Catharines
Brittany Danishevsky, Newtonbrook Secondary School, Toronto
Philippe R. Fournier, Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School, Ridgeway
Hinna Hafeez, Langstaff Secondary School, Richmond Hill
Miranda Hersco, Lakefield College School, Lakefield
Nousin S. Hussain, Bloor Collegiate Institute, Toronto
Joseph Le, George Harvey Collegiate Institute, Toronto
Jacqueline Y. Leung, Oakridge Secondary School, London
Seungyuk Lim, Abbey Park High School, Oakville
Cindy Ma, Unionville High School, Unionville
Jotvarinder K. Mann, North Park Secondary School, Brampton
Saranyah Ravindran, Lester Pearson Collegiate Institute, Scarborough
Jack A. Schoner-Saunders, White Oaks Secondary School, Oakville
Vivian Tan, Catholic Central High School, London
Simone Valade, Westmount Secondary School, Hamilton
Aimee Wu, Victoria Park Secondary School, Don Mills
Wan Ching Wu, East Northumberland Secondary School, Brighton
John X. Xu, Moira Secondary School, Belleville
Tasti Zakarie, Riverdale Collegiate Institute, Toronto

The Association received 561 applications this year for its Ontario Scholarship Program. Applicant profiles demonstrated the critical need for these needs-based scholarships. The average annual family income of applicants was $17,287; 55% had experienced death, incarceration or abandonment of a parent or guardian, and 25% had been physically and/or mentally abused. At the same time, applicants had an average high school grade of 91%; 100% had been involved in community service activities, and 55% worked during the school year.

"The numbers show that despite the odds and obstacles, these students are determined to succeed. They are Ontario's future leaders," added Mr. D'Alessandro.

About the Horatio Alger Association of Canada
The Horatio Alger Association of Canada, the Canadian affiliate of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. The Association honours the achievements of outstanding individuals in our society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and who encourage young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. The Horatio Alger Association of Canada currently awards scholarships annually to deserving young people in Ontario and Quebec and will expand its scholarship giving across Canada by 2015.

SOURCE: Horatio Alger Association of Canada

For further information:

Adam Daifallah, HATLEY Strategy Advisors, 514.316.7089 [e-mail]