EHS senior welcomed into Daniels Scholarship Program

Encampment High School senior Waddie Love recently received a four-year college scholarship from the Daniels Scholarship Program, which awards students for their character, leadership and commitment to giving back to the community.

Love was one of 21 high school seniors from across Wyoming who earned a place in the Daniels Scholarship Program for their exceptional traits. The Daniels Fund announced the names of the student recipients last month. Love said he heard about the scholarship program through Encampment High School Guidance Counselor Deb Burke, and was honored to be chosen out of the thousands of students who applied.

“I’m really honored because this opens up a lot of opportunities for me that I might have never seen before, and it gives me a whole new idea of how to go about education,” he said. “I applied for the program myself and sent in essays and questionnaires, and teachers helped me with the scholarship application process and confidence needed for my personal interview. Once I was selected as a semifinalist, I had to do a personal interview at the University of Wyoming and was then selected as a finalist.”

Daniels Scholars may also attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States, and the program covers the expenses that remain after all other scholarships and financial aid have been applied. Funding covers all or part of a student’s required college expenses, such as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and other educational expenses. Students also receive a laptop computer.

“I can go anywhere I want and plan to go to the University of Wyoming for my first year, but I might transfer depending on what I end up going into,” Love said. “I’d like to go into early or elementary education, but depending on where my paths take me that could change.”

Encampment High School basketball coach Dan Kraft said he was quite proud of Love and thought he was clearly deserving of the scholarship. Quite the athlete, Love had participated in basketball, football and track while in high school.

“He is a super great kid who is hard-working to the max, and he deserves a lot of praise,” Kraft said. “He is one of the hardest-working kids I have coached, and he is intense and plays hard. He is also a great team leader whom everyone wants to follow.”

The new class of Daniels Scholars includes 177 from Colorado, 42 from New Mexico, 16 from Utah and 21 from Wyoming. The percentages of scholarships awarded in each state were established by Bill Daniels, founder of the Daniels Fund. Each year, the Daniels Fund awards more than $13 million in funding through the Daniels Scholarship Program, and more than $95 million in scholarships have been awarded since the program was launched in 2000. The funding received by each Daniels Scholar varies depending on the college or university they attend.

With this year’s announcement, more than 2,762 students have received the Daniels Scholarship. Since it is a four-year scholarship, there are approximately 1,000 Daniels Scholars attending some 214 colleges and universities in 44 states.

“We provide Daniels Scholars with resources, encouragement, and support far beyond financial assistance to help them earn a college degree,” said Linda Childears, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund. “We provide personal and professional development through leadership programs, and networking opportunities to help them succeed and thrive in life. We set high expectations and emphasize personal accountability for our Daniels Scholars, and this year’s recipients will be welcomed into a community of like-minded peers united in their commitment to character, leadership, and service.”

Daniels Scholars benefit from tools such as an online curriculum, which provides training and guidance from top business and community leaders, in subjects that range from securing internships, civic engagement and the importance of a strong work ethic. Bill Daniels, a pioneer in cable television who owned the American Basketball Association’s Utah Stars, established the Daniels Fund to provide grants and scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. His estate transferred to the Daniels Fund when he died in 2000, making it one of the largest foundations in the Rocky Mountain Region.

Rising high school seniors graduating in 2014 are encouraged to visit the Daniels Fund website between mid-September and late-November this year to apply online for the Daniels Scholarship Program. Visit http://www.DanielsFund.org for more information.