Nov. 7, 1997 Contact John R. Crosiar (541) 346-3135 EUGENE--Twenty-nine University of Oregon freshmen from northwestern Oregon are among 61 new recipients of $3,000 Presidential Scholarships for the 1997-98 academic year. The students were awarded the scholarships for their academic achievement, leadership and participation in community and school activities. "Presidential scholars, Oregon's top high school graduates, often become the UOs top scholars and graduates, setting the standard for outstanding achievement," says UO President Dave Frohnmayer. "We're delighted to announce 61 new recipients have chosen to accept the UO's academic challenge this year." The Presidential Scholarship Program began 13 years ago as a way to encourage Oregon's best and brightest high school students to continue their education in the state. The grants are renewable for up to four years for students who maintain a minimum grade-point average and make satisfactory academic progress toward earning their degrees. New and returning Presidential Scholarship recipients--and the donors who fund the program--were recognized at an Oct. 1 reception. Currently, 180 Presidential Scholars are attending the University of Oregon. "The participation of these students at the University of Oregon raises the quality of the classroom experience for every student and enhances the pleasure of high-quality undergraduate teaching for the faculty," says Frohnmayer. "It is a program that in some way touches everyone--the presidential scholars themselves, their fellow students, the faculty and staff and those whose generosity makes the program possible. "The university is fortunate that so many generous people understand the significance of this program to the overall quality of this institution's educational mission," the UO president says. Each year, the scholarship winners are selected by the University Scholarship Committee from among Oregon's top graduating high school seniors. The panel considers exceptional grade-point averages, Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) scores, courses taken in high school, extracurricular activities, awards and honors, and an essay by each candidate. Although an outstanding academic record counts for 50 percent of the scholarship selection score, community involvement and extracurricular activities, the essay and the overall impression of the candidate also weigh heavily in the panel's deliberations. If a candidate does not have an exceptionally high GPA, she or he can get a scholarship with a noteworthy record in the other areas of consideration. Money for the UO Presidential Scholarships is raised privately through the University of Oregon Foundation, an independent nonprofit corporation organized to solicit and manage gifts for the university. More than 200 individuals, family donors, local businesses and corporations provide the funds needed to award the scholarships. By school, the northwestern Oregon recipients of 1997-98 UO Presidential Scholarships are: ALOHA HIGH SCHOOL--Jeremia D. Bernhardt, an undeclared major, 21215 S.W. Murphy Lane, Aloha. BEAVERTON HIGH SCHOOL--Shannon J. Curnutte, a biology major, 13707 S.W. Jenna Court, Tigard, and Erin M. Jones, a business administration pre-major, 5420 S.W. Elm Ave., Beaverton. BENSON POLYTECHNIC HIGH SCHOOL, Portland--Peter V. Nguyen, an architecture major, 3812 S.E. Insley, Portland. CLACKAMAS HIGH SCHOOL--Caitlin A. Perdue, an education pre-major, 14039 S.E. 116th Court, Clackamas. CRESCENT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL, Corvallis--Jenny M. Riker, an undeclared major, 1215 N.W. Overlook Dr., Corvallis. FOREST GROVE HIGH SCHOOL--Ian T. O'Banion, an architecture major, 56145 N.W. Old Wilson River Rd., Gales Creek. HILLSBORO HIGH SCHOOL--Cynthia Hendrickson, a communication disorders and sciences major, 175 S.E. Crestview Dr., Hillsboro. JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, Portland--Frank E. Gallimore, an English major, 4548 Fox Lane, Salem. LAKE OSWEGO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL--Amanda K. Conner, an undeclared major, 5225 Jean Rd. Apt. 107, and Alice Y. Lee, a biology major, 5012 Greensborough Court, both of Lake Oswego. LAKERIDGE HIGH SCHOOL, Lake Oswego--Laura E. Hines, a journalism pre-major, 7122 S.W. Montauk Circle, and Charles A. Kosydar, an undeclared major, 18411 Deer Oak Circle, both of Lake Oswego. LaSALLE HIGH SCHOOL, Milwaukie--Marian G. Fowler, an education pre-major, 15363 S. Clackamas River Dr., Oregon City. McKAY HIGH SCHOOL, Salem--Hannah J. Grubb, a chemistry major, 4474 Fuhrer St. N.E., and Monica L. Neukomm, a business administration pre-major, 6143 Sunnyview Rd. N.E., both of Salem. McMINNVILLE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL--Derek R. Budzik, a journalism pre-major, 15090 Woodland Heights Rd., Amity. NORTH SALEM HIGH SCHOOL--Erika N. Webright, an undeclared major, 870 Jew Court N.W., Salem. PHILOMATH HIGH SCHOOL--Kristen M. Blair, a journalism pre-major, 335 Benton View Dr., Philomath. RAINIER HIGH SCHOOL--Lee M. Kearcher, an undeclared major, 23619 Spady Way, Clatskanie. REYNOLDS HIGH SCHOOL, Troutdale--Erica L. Munson, an education pre-major, 19402 N.E. Irving Court, Portland. SOUTH ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL--Christopher R. Ouellette, a political science major, 1950 Main St. S.E., Albany. SOUTH SALEM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL--Charissa M. Martin, a general science major, 2530 Alvarado Terrace S., Salem. SPRAGUE HIGH SCHOOL, Salem--Berkeley A. Williamson, a biology major, 2080 Davis Rd. S, Salem. TAFT HIGH SCHOOL, Lincoln City--Katerine J. Papadopoulos, a biology major, 2714 N.W. Keel, Lincoln City. TIGARD HIGH SCHOOL--Melissa D. Krueger, a biology major, 10582 S.W. Titan Lane, Tigard. U. S. GRANT HIGH SCHOOL, Portland-- Evan J. Tupper, a biology major, 2627 N.E. 13th, Portland. WESTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL, Beaverton--Lan T. Hoang, an undeclared major, 2934 N.W. Telshire Terrace, Beaverton. WOODROW WILSON HIGH SCHOOL, Portland--Winifred M. Smith, an English major, 20 Oswego Summit, Lake Oswego. -30- #H-2075a/Hometowns/eb