The Arizona Community Foundation recently announced the 2008-09 recipients of the prestigious Dorrance Scholarship. Twenty-seven Arizona students who are the first in their family to attend college will receive the scholarship, worth up to $45,000 for four years, to attend one of Arizona’s three universities.

Among them is Betty-Jean Smiley of Marcos de Niza High School, who will be attending Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

Community leaders and philanthropists Bennett and Jacquie Dorrance created the Dorrance Scholarship Programs in 1999. The Dorrances provide educational support to highly motivated high school students who demonstrate financial need.

In addition to receiving tuition assistance, Dorrance Scholars are required to live on campus during their freshman year, attend monthly meetings with fellow scholars, perform volunteer service, register for and complete at least 12 credit hours each semester and maintain a 3.0 grade-point average. Monthly programming explores the integration of learning through living, vocation, leadership and philanthropic effectiveness.

The program also supports a pre-college summer transition program, international travel, cultural enrichment opportunities, an innovative entrepreneurship experience and mentoring and tutoring opportunities. Recipients are assigned an advisor to assist them throughout their four years with the program.

The scholarship award is renewable for up to three years, for a total of eight semesters of full-time, undergraduate study. Scholarships are renewed based on participation in program events and activities, leadership development, volunteer participation and academic standing.

“This program affords students with financial need the opportunity to study at a university, study and travel abroad and graduate without debt,” said James Hensley, director of Dorrance Scholarship Programs at the Arizona Community Foundation.

“Students participate in community service projects at their universities and in the surrounding communities. The time and energy they donate to the causes that matter to them are a part of their educational experience. These are kids who will give back to their communities for the rest of their lives,” Hensley said.

To learn more about the Dorrance Scholarship Programs or other ACF scholarship opportunities, visit www.azfoundation.org/scholarships.