[Archived] Nominations Are Being Accepted for 2007 Beat the Odds Scholarship Awards

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	February 28, 2007 PIO# 052-07/rdo	Steve Mason, Director of Communications, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

Nominations Are Being Accepted for 2007 Beat the Odds Scholarship Awards
Alexandria Bar Association and City Agencies Help Youth
Achieve Educational and Life Goals

The Alexandria Beat the Odds Program is using the power of collaborative effort and a good cause to support youth who have overcome difficult situations to achieve educational or vocational goals. The Beat the Odds Scholarship Program Steering Committee is accepting nominations for its 2007 awards. Through these scholarships and grants, the committee will recognize Alexandria youth, ages 13 to 21, who have achieved academic and other goals despite a history of involvement with the local court, mental health or social services systems. Nominations and applications for the awards must be submitted by Friday, March 30, to the Alexandria Bar Association, 520 King Street, Room 202, Alexandria, VA 22314.

The program is sponsored by the Alexandria Bar Association in partnership with several Alexandria City agencies including the Alexandria Police Department, the Department of Human Services, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Office of Juvenile Court Services, and the Alexandria City Public Schools. Last year, the program awarded $18,000 in scholarships and grants in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to Alexandria youth.

The Alexandria Beat the Odds Program, modeled after the Children’s Defense Fund Program, was created by the Alexandria Bar Association and the Alexandria Bar Foundation to engage the community in recognizing and valuing youth who are excelling despite adverse life situations.

Nomination forms for the Beat the Odds Scholarship Awards can be obtained from the Alexandria Bar Association, the City’s Human Services and Juvenile Courts offices and the Alexandria City Public Schools.

For more information on the Beat the Odds Scholarship Program, call Mary McElveen or Sidoux Mitchell of the Alexandria Bar Association at 703-548-1106, or Jean Kelleher Niebauer, Chair of the Beat the Odds Scholarship Program Steering Committee, at 703-838-6390.

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