FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2016

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

Horatio Alger Association Honors Dallas Businessman Kelcy Warren and Five National Scholarship Recipients from Texas

Mr. Warren and the Texas Scholars are recognized by the Association for their remarkable achievements in the face of adversity and their commitment to higher education

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 11, 2016) – 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, will induct Texas resident Kelcy Warren, chairman and CEO, Energy Transfer, as a lifetime Member at the annual Horatio Alger Award Induction Ceremonies in spring 2016. Concurrently, five outstanding Texas high school students will be awarded the prestigious Horatio Alger National Scholarship. Association Members and Scholars are selected based on their commitment to higher education and determination to succeed in the face of significant adversity. Members serve as mentors to this future generation of leaders.

Named for renowned author Horatio Alger Jr., who wrote about the merits of honesty, courage and perseverance as the means to success, Horatio Alger Association was established in 1947 to uphold these tenets, which are core to achieving the American Dream. To further its mission, individuals who have achieved great success despite difficult personal challenges and who also demonstrate initiative, resilience and excellence, such as Mr. Warren, are annually inducted into the Association as lifetime Members.

“Each year, the Horatio Alger Award is bestowed upon exceptional business and civic leaders who have triumphed over significant adversities,” said Byron Trott, president and CEO, Horatio Alger Association. “Mr. Warren learned the value of hard work from his parents, and has allowed that spirit to guide him throughout his professional career and his personal life. He is an outstanding executive who is deeply committed to giving back to higher education causes. I am certain that his business acumen and philanthropic nature will serve our Association well.”

Since 1984, Horatio Alger Association has administered one of the nation’s largest privately funded, need-based scholarship programs, which provides educational assistance to promising students with an admirable commitment to continuing their education and serving their communities. The Association has provided more than $125 million in undergraduate, graduate and specialized scholarships in just over 30 years. The following students from Texas have been recognized for their exceptional accomplishments with the 2016 Horatio Alger National Scholarship in the amount of $22,000 per student:

* Tiffany Benavides, Johnny Economedes High School, Edinburg, TX
* Drew Bernard, Alief Early College High School, Houston, TX
* Esther Brown, Bellaire High School, Bellaire, TX
* Jiovanni Briones, R.L. Turner High School, Carrollton, TX
* Rainee Thompson, Huntsville High School, Huntsville, TX

“The Association is proud to support talented young people who work tirelessly to overcome challenging obstacles as they travel their own paths to success,” said Tony Novelly, chairman, Horatio Alger Association. “This year, we have five 2016 National Scholars from the state of Texas, all of whom exemplify the values highlighted within Horatio Alger stories. On behalf of my fellow Members, I applaud these students for their outstanding efforts and I look forward to supporting them in the pursuit of future successes.”

Mr. Warren and his fellow new Members will be formally inducted into the Association at the 69th Horatio Alger Award Induction Ceremonies in Washington, D.C., from March 31-April 2, 2016. The annual three-day event honors the achievements of the Members and also recognizes the 2016 Horatio Alger National Scholars, affording both groups the opportunity to meet and interact, exchanging stories of hardships and triumphs. The National Scholarship Program is wholly funded through private donations from Association Members, Life Partners and Friends.

To view the complete list of Horatio Alger Members selected for the Class of 2016, please click here.

To view the complete list of 2016 Horatio Alger National Scholarship recipients, please click here.

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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, the Association awards more than $11 million annually in undergraduate and graduate need-based scholarships across the United States and Canada and provides college support and mentoring services to its Scholars. Since 1984, the Association has awarded more than $125 million in college scholarships to more than 22,000 deserving young people. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org.