$250,000 in Scholarship Awarded by Wayne and Marti Huizenga at Ceremony at Miami Dolphins Training Center; Photo Advisory 5/6/2003
From: Anthony Hutcherson or Arnold Landers, 301-392-6053 both of the Horatio Alger Association WASHINGTON, May 6 -- A special ceremony was held to honor local students selected as 2003 Horatio Alger Florida Scholars on Monday, May 5, at the Miami Dolphins Training Center in Davie, Fla. The Horatio Alger Florida Scholars were hosted by Miami Dolphins' owner Wayne and Marti Huizenga. United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas delivered a special keynote address to the scholars. The young people also met Dolphin's President Eddie Jones and received a special tour of the facilities. "These students have come so far already. Marti and I want to provide an opportunity for young people who have triumphed over adversity to move from high school to college with a financial cushion that will assist them in realizing their dreams and goals," remarks Wayne Huizenga. The Horatio Alger Florida Scholarship program is funded through the generosity of Wayne and Marti Huizenga. Mr. Huizenga has been actively involved with the Horatio Alger Association since 1992 when he was inducted as a lifetime member of the organization. Wayne Huizenga currently serves as the Association's Chairman and was President from 2000 to 2002. In 1996 he was Chairman of Annual Horatio Algers Awards celebration in Washington, DC. This group of young people is the first to be awarded Horatio Alger Florida Scholarships through this newly initiated annual program. The scholarship is awarded to high school seniors in Broward, Martin and St. Lucie counties who have faced and overcome adversity in their lives. Additional qualifications for the scholarship include critical financial need, community service and academic success. Each student selected as a Horatio Alger Florida Scholar received a college scholarship of two thousand five hundred dollars. Student may utilize the scholarship to attend any college or university in the United States. Wayne Huizenga is founder, chairman and president of numerous companies including Waste Management Inc., AutoNation, Blockbuster Entertainment Corp., Republic Services Inc. and Extended Stay America. Mr. Huizenga is also owner of the National Football League team the Miami Dophins. He and his wife, Marti, have been active supporters of many charities including Boys and Girls Clubs, the Salvation Army, the Broward County African American Research Library and Women and Kids in Distress. The Horatio Alger Association is a non-profit educational association providing more than five million dollars a year in need based scholarships to deserving high school seniors. For more information about the Association or its programs visit http://www.horatioalger.org. ------ Photo Editors: A group photo from the event is available at http://www.wirepix.com/newsphotos/USN |