EUGENE–Twenty-nine University of Oregon freshmen from northwestern Oregon are among 55 new recipients of Presidential Scholarships for the 2000-2001 academic year.

The scholarships, which cover full tuition costs of each recipient, totaled $4,269 this year and were awarded to students for their academic achievement, leadership and participation in community and school activities.

"Being selected as a presidential scholar is a predictor and motivator in pursuing a life-long path of excellence," says UO President Dave Frohnmayer. "It is a recognition of achievement at an early age."

The Presidential Scholarship Program began 15 years ago as a way of encouraging 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 progress toward earning their degrees.

Frohnmayer says the parents and families of the students feel a real sense of pride and accomplishment.

"That’s because it’s based on merit," he says.

According to Frohnmayer, based upon past performance, these students emerge in key leadership positions, not only in academics but also in student activities.

"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 UO president says.

Each year, the scholarship winners are selected by the University Scholarship Committee from Oregon’s top graduating high school seniors. Although an outstanding record counts for 50 percent of the scholarship selection score, the panel’s deliberations are also influenced by an essay, the career aspirations of the candidate, community involvement and extracurricular activities.

The money for UO Presidential Scholarships is raised privately through the university’s Development Office and managed by the University of Oregon Foundation, an independent nonprofit corporation organized to receive and administer gifts to the university. More than 200 individuals, family donors, local businesses and corporations provide the funds needed to award the scholarships.

By city, the northwestern Oregon recipients of 2000-2001 UO Presidential Scholarships are:

ALBANY–Shasta Spaulding, a sophomore pre-business administration major, 3242 19th Ave. S.E.

ALSEA–Kerry O’Connell, a freshman biology major, P.O. Box 286.

ASTORIA–Emily Fagin, a freshman undeclared major, 265 Waldorf Circle.

BEAVERTON–Jade Bunker, a freshman biology major, 5365 S.W. 209th Ave.; Celia Cheung, a freshman computer and information science major, 10600 S.W. 135th Ave.; and Kevin Kim, a freshman pre-business administration major, 16335 N.W. Paisley Dr.

CORVALLIS–Zachary Mull, a freshman undeclared major, 1132 S.W. Sunset Dr.; and Jesse Zaneveld, a freshman biology major, 2265 N.W. Estaview Circle.

DEPOE BAY–Nicholas Kucha, a freshman economics major, 3673 Otter Crest Loop.

FOREST GROVE–Carolyn Feik, a sophomore chemistry major, 3363 Lavina Dr.

GRESHAM–Sarah Skillingstad, a freshman undeclared major, 2996 S.E. 26th St.

HILLSBORO–Stacy Hunter, a freshman pre-business administration major, 450 S.E. 3rd Ave.

LAKE OSWEGO–Ryan Earley, a freshman pre-journalism major, 16540 Astor Ave.; and Ann Le Chevallier, a freshman pre-journalism major, 1570 Bonniebrae Dr.

PORTLAND–Nora Ahmed, a freshman pre-journalism major, 3185 S.W. Garden View Ave.; Marc Montanaro, a freshman biology major, 6206 S.E. 30th Ave.; Colleen Mortland, a freshman pre-education major, 5731 S.W. Windsor Court; Stephanie Schwenger, a freshman German major,
2807 N.E. 20th Ave.; and Amy Seely, a freshman biology major, 6806 S.W. Virginia Ave.

SALEM–McKenzie Wood, a freshman undeclared major, 5897 Flairstone Court S.E.

SWEET HOME–Abigail Dalton, a freshman mathematics major, P.O. Box 263.

TIGARD–Andrea Bloom, a freshman pre-journalism major, 12530 S.W. Glacier Lily Circle; and Jeremy Zander, a freshman music major, 10925 S.W. 108th Ave.

TUALATIN–Cory Portnuff, a freshman communication disorders and sciences major,
19552 S.W. 57th Ave.

WEST LINN–Erin Eddy, a freshman history major, 2244 S.W. Advance Rd.; Christopher Flanagan, a freshman undeclared major, 22185 S.W. Ribera Lane; Kristoffer Frydenlund, a freshman mathematics and computer science major, 3345 Barrington Dr.; Katherine Hamm, a freshman undeclared major, 31282 S.W. Riverwood Dr.; and Alyce Prentice, a freshman undeclared major,
2434 Sunset Ave.

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