Bethany Catron, a member of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts Class of 2023, was selected as a Horatio Alger State Scholarship recipient.
As a State Scholar, Catron received a $10,000 scholarship from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. The program specifically assists high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives, according to the organization’s website. The scholarships are funded by Horatio Alger Members who have overcome similar challenges and are awarded to eligible students in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree, demonstrate critical financial need (family gross income must be $55,000 or less a year), be involved in co-curricular and community service activities, display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity, maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average and be a U.S. citizen.
The association has funded need-based college scholarship for low-income youth for 76 years. It is named for Horatio Alger Jr., an author in the 19th century whose books shared how a “can-do spirit” and individual initiative can allow people to achieve their dreams regardless of circumstances.
Catron said she was thankful for both the monetary award as well as the interaction with other State Scholars.
“Coming from a low-income family, the more money for college the better. I will be studying health sciences to go pre-med at Boston University. I am really excited and thankful to be a State Scholar. It has also let me meet and engage with other states’ scholars in our monthly college prep Zooms,” she said.