2 BHS students credit Alworth Memorial Fund

The Marshall H. and Nellie Alworth Memorial Fund celebrates its 60th year of awarding scholarships to students with promising talent in the fields of math or science.

The fund has granted $38,371,150 to 3,979 individuals pursuing bachelor's, doctorate or master's degrees, including two Brainerd High School graduates - Tori Bahr and John Valesano.

High school seniors throughout northeastern and north-central Minnesota who will graduate in 2009 may apply for their share of up to $2 million in scholarships that will be awarded in April 2009. Students selected will be offered a $20,000 four-year renewable scholarship provided they continue to meet the criteria. The application period begins Nov. 1 and ends Jan. 15. Applications may be completed online at www.futurestakeflight. org.

To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must be graduating from a high school in one of the following counties: Aitkin, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Clearwater, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Hubbard, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Pine and St. Louis; have a composite score of 25 or higher on the American College Test; commit to a major in a math or science-related field; have demonstrated qualities of character, perseverance and ambition; and be from a family whose taxable income is less than $100,000.

Bahr will graduate in May 2009 from Augsburg College with degrees in biology and chemistry and a minor in math. Her plans include Teach for America and then medical school, both of which wouldn't have been possible without the financial support of the Alworth Scholarship, Bahr said in a press release.

Valesano has received $12,500 from the Alworth Foundation and is in his third year at the University of Minnesota, majoring in genetics. Valesano said in a press release that the scholarship has allowed him to worry less about financing his education and to focus on school and life outside the university walls. Valesano plans on attending medical school upon graduating in 2010.