FAYETTEVILLE,
Ark. — The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation’s Dell Scholars Program awarded
254 new Dell Scholars this month with $5 million in scholarship funds. Three local
participants in the University of Arkansas Upward Bound programs will receive
part of that money. They are Jennifer Garcia of Rogers High School; Maegan
Huffman of Lincoln High School; and Sierra McCabe of Van Buren High School.
“We are so proud
of Jennifer, Maegan and Sierra for this exciting recognition from a
prestigious, national scholarship program,” said Keith Brink, senior director
for residential programs. “These three students are remarkable young women who
have not only the commitment to participate in the Upward Bound programs, but
whose drive and determination will lead them to great success in college and
beyond.”
Sierra McCabe
will be attending the University of Arkansas this fall. Maegan Huffman will be
attending Northeastern Oklahoma State University in Talequah, Okla., while
Jennifer Garcia will attend Scripps College in Claremont, Calif.
Dell Scholars
will receive $20,000 each to continue their higher education for the next six
years. In addition, the Dell Scholars program provides its students with
technology, resources and mentoring to ensure they have the support they need
to obtain a college degree. The additional resources have contributed to the
program’s retention rate of 89 percent, well above the national average of 22 percent
for students who are the first in their families to attend college.
Most of the Dell
Scholars are first-generation college students, and are chosen because they
participate in an approved college readiness program, such as Upward Bound, and
maintain at least a 2.4 grade point average on a 4.0 scale while dealing with
personal responsibilities at home or in their communities. For a complete
listing of the 2008 Dell Scholars or to find out more information about the
program, go to http://www.dellscholars.org.