FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2019

CONTACT:
McKenna Young
484-385-2913 (office)
[email protected]

8 Outstanding Students Awarded 2019 Horatio Alger Gibson Dunn New York State Scholarships Worth $10,000 

Through the generosity of international law firm Gibson Dunn, the Association awards undergraduate college scholarships to young men and women in the State of New York  

 WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 31, 2019) – Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education, today announced that 8 students will receive the prestigious inaugural 2019 Horatio Alger Gibson Dunn New York State Scholarship in the amount of $10,000. Generously funded by a $320,000 commitment from international law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and its partners in 2018, these scholarships recognize young men and women from New York state who wish to continue their education and serve their communities, despite facing adversity. 

 The gift from Gibson Dunn – a four-year commitment – was given in honor of 2018 Horatio Alger Award recipient, Gregory E. Abel, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Energy and vice chairman of non-insurance businesses, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The scholarship, which is specifically for high school students residing in the state of New York, requires a minimum GPA of 2.5. In addition, each applicant must demonstrate continuous engagement in their respective communities through service, and integrity in overcoming challenging circumstances. 

  “We extend our deepest gratitude to Gibson Dunn for their generous gift and belief in our mission of helping deserving young people obtain college degrees,” said Matthew Rose, chairman, Horatio Alger Association and 2013 Horatio Alger Award recipient. “Their contributions will help to create educational possibilities for groups of future professionals, and we look forward to the inaugural year of our new partnership.” 

 The 2019 Gibson Dunn New York State Scholarship recipients have maintained an average GPA of 3.70 and an average SAT score of 1246, while coming from households with an average annual income of $11,600. 

 “When our friend Greg Abel was inducted to the Horatio Alger Association in 2018, we saw it as an opportunity to partner with a renowned organization in support of a great cause,” said Ken Doran, Chairman and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “Horatio Alger Scholars have the talent and the determination needed to succeed and we look forward to witnessing all that they will accomplish.” 

 “My first year as a Horatio Alger Member has been both exciting and rewarding,” said Abel. “To help young students as they navigate their way to higher education is a true gift. Gibson Dunn shares my passion to make higher education accessible to all young people, and I’m grateful for their continued support.” 

 Since the establishment of its scholarship programs in 1984, more than 25,000 students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada have received more than $175 million in undergraduate, graduate and specialized scholarships. In 2000, 16 years after the establishment of its National Scholarship Program, Horatio Alger Members began funding scholarships concentrated in each state to further the Association’s mission of helping deserving young people pursue their collegiate goals. 

 For more information about Horatio Alger Association and the Gibson Dunn New York State Scholarship Program, please visit www.horatioalger.org, or follow the organization on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #HoratioAlgerScholar. 

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 About Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans:  

Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. is dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. The Association honors the achievements of outstanding leaders who have accomplished remarkable successes in spite of adversity by bestowing upon them the Horatio Alger Award and inducting them as lifetime Members. Horatio Alger Members support promising young people with the resources and confidence needed to overcome adversity in pursuit of their dreams through higher education. Through the generosity of its Members and friends, in 2018, the Association awarded more than $16 million in undergraduate and graduate need-based scholarships across the United States and Canada, and also provided college support and mentoring services to its Scholars. Since 1984, the Association has awarded more than $175 million in college scholarships to more than 25,000 deserving young people. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org. 

 About Gibson Dunn: 

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is a leading international law firm.  Consistently ranking among the world’s top law firms in industry surveys and major publications, Gibson Dunn is distinctively positioned in today’s global marketplace with more than 1,200 lawyers and 20 offices, including Beijing, Brussels, Century City, Dallas, Denver, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Orange County, Palo Alto, Paris, San Francisco, São Paulo, Singapore, and Washington, D.C.  For more information on Gibson Dunn, please visit our website.