The scholarship has awarded more than $5.7 million over the past 21 years to Boys State and Girls State attendees.
Out of more than 5,300 applicants, the Samsung American Legion Scholarship for 2017 awarded 10 national scholars with $10,000 and 10 runners-up with $5,000 for undergraduate study. And 79 department finalists each received $1,250.
The recipients earned the award based on several criteria, including participation in American Legion Boys State or Auxiliary Girls State and being a direct descendant of a wartime veteran eligible for American Legion membership.
The recipients were announced during the Legion's annual Fall Meetings in Indianapolis on Oct. 11.
The 10 national scholars are:
Jack Gardner of California
Heather Stout of Utah
Grayson Stinger of Kentucky
Claire Seibel of Virginia
Connor Wagaman of Delaware
Krista Flinkstrom of Massachusetts
Daniel O'Hara of Iowa
Margaret Kleiman of Minnesota
Nathan Alvarez of Louisianna
Lindsay Fincher of Alabama
The 10 runners-up are:
Michael Zendejas of Washington
Trevor Goldsmith of Nevada
Nathaniel Boerner of Ohio
Jerry Lacy of West Virginia
Cormac Mahoney of New Hampshire
Jennifer Magnoli of Connecticut
Lauren Gateley of Missouri
Ryan Albrecht of Minnesota
Alexa Lowman of Florida
Luke Long of Arkansas
Since Samsung bestowed an endowment to the Legion in 1995 for the establishment of a scholarship fund for family members of U.S. citizens who are war veterans, more than $5.7 million has been awarded. The gesture was inspired by the support of the U.S. troops that came to the aid of South Korea while defending themselves against opposing Chinese and North Korean forces.
The Samsung American Legion Scholarship is available for high school juniors who participate in the current session of Boys State or Girls State and are direct descendants (or legally adopted children) of wartime veterans eligible for American Legion membership. The Samsung scholarship supports undergraduate studies (e.g., room and board, tuition and books), and each applicant is selected according to his or her involvement in school and community activities, academic record and financial need.
For more information about the scholarship, visit www.legion.org/scholarships/samsung.
- Scholarships