First Student Inc., the largest private operator of school buses in North America, awarded a total of $32,000 in college scholarships to students served by one of the company’s locations in Alaska.
Each of the four students received $8,000 from First Student to defer the cost of attending a university, college or vocational school. All four had utilized school bus service provided by the contractor to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, located about 35 miles north of Anchorage, for at least three school years. The students are Zena DeLoach of Su-Valley Senior High, Taylor Guthrie of American Academy Charter School, Ean Johnson of Burchell High School and Laci Player of Palmer High School.
First Student selected the four based on their GPAs and written essays focusing on how school busing helped them to obtain a good education. The students were also required to submit two letters of recommendation each from community members.
“We are proud to recognize these deserving students,” said Tom Hyatt, First Student area general manager. “Graduating from high school is quite an accomplishment, and we are happy to help these young men and women pursue their dreams through education.”
In 2013, First Student will award $12,000 in college scholarships to six local high school graduates, including two with special needs, the company stated.
