$1.5 Million from Horatio Alger-Denny Sanford Scholarship Program to Help Extraordinary Students Attend USF
High school students looking to attend the University of Sioux Falls could benefit from today’s announcement of the creation of the Horatio Alger-Denny Sanford Scholarship Program. The program was created as a result of the largest single gift ever made to the Horatio Alger Association, a nonprofit educational organization – $30 million to its endowment from Horatio Alger Member, philanthropist and chairman of the board for United National Corporation, T. Denny Sanford.
The generous donation totals $1.5 million over the course of 10 years for the University of Sioux Falls. That’s $150,000 per year for students who might not otherwise be able to pursue higher education.
“Denny Sanford has helped so many people, and we’re humbled by his confidence in our institution to do good in the world with his philanthropic dollars,” said Dr. Brett Bradfield, President of USF. “We’re proud to be a part of transforming people’s lives for the better through this incredibly generous gift. And the focus of the dollars aligns well with our university’s service-oriented mission, given the focus is on students who give back to their communities and who likely would not be able to afford higher education otherwise.”
The scholarships are for students who have financial need and have exhibited integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity.
“Denny Sanford has been generous supporter of the Horatio Alger Association and a wonderful champion of the American Dream,” said Terrence J. Giroux, executive director, Horatio Alger Association. “His commitment to our Scholars is powerful and his decision to support so many universities, including the University of Sioux Falls, will create wonderful opportunities for deserving young men and women across South Dakota and beyond. We are grateful to Mr. Sanford for his vision in making such an exceptional gift.”
Two routes to receiving this new specialty scholarship award exist. Students may apply directly to the Horatio Alger National and State Scholarship Programs and, if selected, enroll at USF qualifying them for the Horatio Alger-Denny Sanford Scholarship, or students may apply to USF and subsequently be identified by admissions counselors—in collaboration with the Association—as being eligible for the scholarship program’s criteria.
“What an extraordinary blessing this generosity is from Denny Sanford to USF and to students with resilient hearts and minds who just need an opportunity to achieve their dreams of higher education,” said Julie J. Iverson, director of institutional advancement at USF. “Together we can help transform the lives of these students in such a significant way.”
Horatio Alger Association aims to educate young people about the limitless opportunities afforded to them by the free-enterprise system. To further this goal, the organization awards scholarships to outstanding high school students who are committed to pursuing higher education and giving back to their communities. Like Association Members, Horatio Alger Scholars have faced great adversity and have displayed unmatched resilience in overcoming them. Since the scholarship program was established in 1984, Horatio Alger Association has provided more than $125 million to students in need to further its mission of assisting deserving young people to pursue higher education. Scholarships are funded solely through the generosity of Association Members and friends.
The Horatio Alger-Denny Sanford Scholarship Program will benefit Horatio Alger Scholars beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year. For more information regarding Mr. Sanford’s landmark gift to the Horatio Alger Association, please visit www.horatioalger.org. For more information on scholarships at USF, visit our scholarships page.