Horatio Alger Association Announces Class of 2027 National
Scholarship Recipients

105 Current High School Juniors Selected for Prestigious Scholarship Award to Pursue Higher Education

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2026—The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit that honors that honors leaders who have overcome adversity and supports young people in furthering their education, today announced the Class of 2027 recipients of its Horatio Alger National Scholarship Program. A total of 105 exceptional high school juniors from across the United States will each receive up to $25,000 to support their pursuit of the American Dream through higher education.

Horatio Alger National Scholarship recipients are selected for their academic achievement, leadership, integrity, commitment to community, and resilience in overcoming significant personal challenges. Since 1984, the Association has awarded more than $275 million in need-based scholarships to high school students who demonstrate determination in the face of adversity and a commitment to building brighter futures for themselves and their communities.

“We are honored to support these deserving young people, thanks to the tremendous generosity of our Members and the Horatio Alger community. These students have overcome extraordinary obstacles while remaining focused on their future goals, and we are proud to support them as they begin their journeys to higher education,” said Lesley Albanese, Chief Executive Officer of the Horatio Alger Association.

The Horatio Alger Association administers more than 70 scholarship programs nationwide, supporting students at different stages of their educational journeys. The National Scholarship annually awards 105 high school juniors with up to $25,000 in higher education funding.

In addition to financial assistance, Horatio Alger Scholars join a community committed to supporting them academically, personally, and professionally. That support begins with the Association’s 12-month College Success Program, which spans the Scholars’ senior year of high school and provides individualized coaching, workshops, and online resources to help them navigate college applications, financial aid, academics, time management, and more as they prepare for higher education.

The Class of 2027 National Scholars include:

Alabama
Eduardo Arteaga Valladares, Fort Payne
Brianna Bush, Montevallo

Alaska
Renee Brown, Nome

Arizona
Ashley Heap, Gilbert
Say Moo, Glendale

Arkansas
Naftalie Finer, Bentonville
Makenzie McAfee, Star City

California
Andy Cao, El Monte
Valeria Corcuera, Santa Ana
Joshua Her, Los Angeles
Christopher Ko, Irvine
Daniela Ladino, Arvin
Alexa Vitryanyuk, Los Angeles
Dylan Vuong, Rosemead

Colorado

Anime Hargis, Colorado Springs
Emmanuel Valdez, Colorado Springs

Connecticut

Samantha Garcia-Rodriguez, Bridgeport
Danny Yang, Waterbury

Delaware
Emma Leslie, Townsend

Florida
Angel Gomez-Gonzalez, Orlando
Irinee Makary, Hollywood
Samantha Mazerolle, Palm Bay
April Surac, Cocoa

Georgia
Elijah Parks, Atlanta
Lauren Pitts, Atlanta
Caroline Smyth, Atlanta
Michayla Stephens, Jonesboro

Hawaii
Jessica Rosado, Kihei

Idaho
Lucy Pacholuk, Boise

Illinois
Patty Braudy, Chicago
Molly Coffey, Milford
Dhruvil Shah, Chicago
Briella Thakkar, Elk Grove Village

Indiana
Doyinsolami Akande, Plainfield
Cole Homan, Westfield

Iowa
Cole Carrizales, Ely
Ayden Galindo, Harper

Kansas
Taryn Turnbull, Wichita
Arturo Zamorano, Wichita

Kentucky
Tyson Eden, Gamaliel
Emelia Singleton, Somerset

Louisiana
Braxton Martinez-Fry, Lake
Charles Brody Jarboe, Bourg

Maine
Nina He, Freeport

Maryland
Molly Foggo, Lutherville
Kylie Williams, Sykesville

Massachusetts
Ronehilly Guzman, Lawrence
Alvaro Gabriel Villas Boas, Waltham

Michigan
Mariana Cruz, Westland
Jacob Garrow, Elk Rapids
Paulina Moran-Sanchez, Detroit

Minnesota
Koehn Boyd, Ramsey
Erika Wiegand, Deer River

Mississippi
Isaiah Barbour, Tupelo
Jordan Pitchford, Canton

Mississippi
Isaiah Barbour, Tupelo
Jordan Pitchford, Canton

Missouri
Ingrid Pano, Kansas City
Yvette Yaroshenko, Ballwin

Montana
Nicolas Bench, Dutton

Nebraska
Ashley Martinez, Omaha

New Jersey
Elvyn Lim, Ridgefield
Kai Wang, Princeton
Esther Yoo, Ridgefield

New Mexico
Jayson Lano, Kirtland

New York
Brianna Alexandre, Brooklyn
Edwin Gelman, Forest Hills
Wenang Edward Kobarsih, Wappingers Falls
Ethan Unger, Woodbury

North Carolina
Sabrina Almaguer, Fairview
Ashlyn English, Charlotte

North Dakota
Rylee Anderson, Minto

Ohio
Baqer Alsajee, Galloway
Riley Gallimore, Hillsboro
Mariah Klopfenstein, Paulding

Oklahoma
Ava Aldridge, Krebs
Evelyn Mazariegos, Tulsa

Oregon
Jaella Hoffman, Redmond
Orin Patrick, Portland

Pennsylvania
Meredith McCommons, Ellwood City
Elena Morrison, New Bloomfield
Jaylyn Wentz, Waynesboro

Rhode Island
Chatham Wood, Hope

South Carolina
Winnie Jiang, Inman
Luna Rangel, Bluffton

South Dakota
Mystic Erickson, Mobridge

Tennessee
Landen Kolehmainen, Greeneville
Emily Zhong, Arlington

Texas
Ruben De Leon, Brownsville
Leslie DiCicco, Pearland
Elliott Harper, Murphy
Miranda Jimenez, San Antonio
Naomi Perez, Alamo

Utah
Koriann Dalton, Moab
Breanna Martinez, Salt Lake City

Vermont
ViennaEichwede-Wilde, Montgomery Center

Virginia
Victoria Cho, Springfield
Hind Mousa, Harrisonburg

Washington
Dalylah Mukai, Malaga
Sheila Trujillo Jasso, Seattle

Washington, D.C.
Saniyah Mozie, Washington, D.C.

West Virginia
Keston Rose, Shinnston

Wisconsin
Gaia Marshal, Cedarburg
Nathaly Rivera Mancilla, Ripon

Wyoming
Rebecca Dowd, Dubois

For more information about the Horatio Alger Association, please visit www.horatioalger.org and follow the organization on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

About the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans
Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. upholds the belief that hard work, honesty, and determination enable individuals to overcome adversity and achieve success. The Association honors exceptional leaders who exemplify this spirit by presenting them with the Horatio Alger Award and inducting them as lifetime members. Through the support of its members and friends, the Association helps promising students to pursue their dreams through higher education. In 2026, the Association has budgeted to award $19 million in need-based scholarships to up to 1,800 students across the United States and Canada, along with academic, personal, and professional support services. Over the past 41 years, the Association has awarded more than $275 million in scholarships to more than 38,000 deserving students. For more information, visit www.horatioalger.org.

CONTACT:
Melissa Ferdinand
[email protected]