20 youth nationwide receive Samsung American Legion Scholarship

20 youth nationwide receive Samsung American Legion Scholarship

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.