Governor's Cup Scholarship Recipients Announced

Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter today announced the 22 recipients of the 2012 Governor’s Cup Scholarships to Idaho colleges and universities.

Recipients were chosen from among more than 500 applicants by the Idaho Governor’s Cup Scholarship Fund Inc.’s 17-member board of directors. Selections were based on each applicant’s commitment to public service, academic achievement, and community involvement.

The award is $3,000 per year, renewable for up to four (4) years, or two to three years for professional-technical programs, contingent upon the availability of funds. A total of 98 students now have been awarded scholarships through the program during Governor Otter’s administration.

Here are this year’s recipients, along with their high schools and the schools that they will attend in the fall:

Academic Scholarships – Four-Year Programs

Erica Albertson
Borah High School, Boise – attending the University of Idaho

Nikkaila Bain
Moscow High School – attending the University of Idaho

Demsie Butler
Bliss High School – attending Lewis-Clark State College

Kara Fleming 
Meridian High School – attending Northwest Nazarene University

Brandon Garner 
Sugar-Salem High School, Sugar City – attending BYU-Idaho

Matthew Greer 
St. Maries High School – attending Lewis-Clark State College

Roxanne Hill 
Castleford High School – attending Northwest Nazarene University

Shara Kehrer 
Payette High School – attending Idaho State University

Katie Keller 
Bishop Kelly High School, Boise – attending the University of Idaho

Amanda Kleist  
Century High School, Pocatello – attending Idaho State University

Argia Larrocea-Phillips 
Meridian High School – attending Northwest Nazarene University

Taylor Maloney 
Weiser High School – attending the University of Idaho

Amanda Michaels 
Centennial High School, Meridian – attending the College of Western Idaho

Demetria Riener 
Prairie High School, Ferdinand – attending Lewis-Clark State College

Michelle Robinson 
Caldwell High School – attending BYU-Idaho

Ivan Esparza 
Nampa High School – attending the College of Idaho

Tayler Schvaneveldt 
Grace High School – attending Idaho State University

Katie Vandenberg 
Middleton High School – attending the University of Idaho

Sarah Walsh 
Meridian High School – attending the College of Idaho

Professional-Technical Scholarships – Two-or-Three-Year Programs

April Hillestad 
Columbia High School, Nampa – attending the College of Western Idaho

Edwin Lopez 
Vallivue High School, Caldwell – attending the College of Western Idaho

Rafe Williams 
Clearwater Valley High School, Kooskia – attending Lewis-Clark State College

“It’s an honor to help in some small way to ensure our most deserving students get the financial assistance they need to prepare for a brighter future right here at home,” Governor Otter said. “The generosity of our sponsors and the passion that these young people show for learning and giving back to their communities is matched only by the commitment of everyone involved to making Idaho an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”

The 2011 event’s “premier” sponsors of the Governor’s Cup Scholarship Fund, with $35,000 donations, were:

• CenturyLink
• Mountain View Hospital.

The 2011 event’s “major” sponsors, with $25,000 donations, were:

• J.R. Simplot Co.
• Potlatch
• Micron Technology Foundation
• Blue Cross of Idaho
• Agrium
• AREVA
• Paris Hills Agricom
• Premier Technology
• Sun Valley Co.                       

A reception for this year’s scholarship recipients is scheduled for Tuesday, June 19, from 4-6 p.m., at the Idaho House (formerly the home of J.R. and Esther Simplot). The students will receive certificates and have a photo opportunity with Governor Otter and First Lady Lori Otter.

The 2012 Idaho Governor’s Cup event is scheduled for August 23-25 in Coeur d’Alene.