Whether she spends it on books or tuition, the $5,000 scholarship she has received from the Horatio Alger Association will make things a little easier for Samantha Fuller as she begins university in the fall.
The Armstrong resident is one of 85 students from across Canada chosen by the association to receive one of its post-secondary scholarships, which are awarded annually to deserving high school students in financial need who have overcome significant adversity while demonstrating strength of character, strong academics, a commitment to pursuing higher education as well as a desire to contribute to society.
“The things in my application were quite personal, but all in all, the award is for young adults who have been successful amidst the challenges in their lives,” said Fuller, a Grade 12 student at Salmon Arm Senior Secondary. “Aside from the basic information I was asked, such as extra-curriculars and academics, the association asked me to display my adversity with a questionnaire and an essay, which included the impacts of adversity on my life and development, how I have coped and overcome challenges, how mentors have helped me to overcome diversity, what lessons and skills I have learned from the events in life and what skills and insights I have gained that help me prevent the negative impacts of adversity.
“The last part of the application asked me to read the biographies of Horatio Alger members and choose one to reflect my journey. I was supposed to use the principles of the member to describe myself.”
Horatio Alger, Jr., was a prolific author in the 19th and early 20th centuries whose books inspired readers to work hard and persevere through adversity. The association received thousands of applications from coast to coast, with each submission confirming the necessity of these needs-based scholarships. The average annual family income of the recipients was $22,297, and the adversities faced by these applicants include death of a parent or guardian, incarceration of a parent or guardian, abandonment by a parent or guardian, living in foster care, various forms of abuse, and physical or mental disabilities. At the same time, recipients maintain exceptionally high grades, with many of them still finding the time to work during the school year.
Fuller plans to pursue a bachelor of science degree and has been accepted into a program for the fall, but has not made her final decision on where she will study.
“I want to study biology, in particular wildlife biology, and my end goal is to research wildlife, ecosystems and the effects of climate change,” she said, adding that the $5,000 she has been awarded will be given annually in $1,250 intervals and can be spent on books, tuition, fees, and on-campus room and board.
Although Fuller maintains top marks at school, she still finds time to spend with animals and hike in the outdoors, and is a member of 4-H.
“Each year, our association looks for the hardest working, most deserving Canadian students to award our post-secondary scholarships,” said Prem Watsa, president of the Horatio Alger Association of Canada and a member of the organization since 2012. “Our 85 scholarship recipients for 2017 make us proud, and we are honoured to help them as they strive to overcome adversity. On behalf of the members of the Horatio Alger Association, I want to congratulate them on their inspiring achievements.”
