Olsen named 2016 Daniels Scholar

Hot Springs County High School senior Kameron Olsen is one of 226 students from Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah selected as Daniels Scholars.

The Daniels Scholarship Program is a four-year college scholarship for graduating seniors who demonstrate exceptional character, leadership and a commitment to serving their communities. While not providing “full ride” scholarships, the program does give “last dollar” scholarships intended to cover students’ unmet financial expenses.

Upon learning he was named a Daniels Scholar, Olsen said his reaction was one of pure joy, and “blissful as I have ever been.” It was something of a relief, as money is one of the primary concerns people worry about.

The application process was fairly lengthy, involving some questions regarding family finances, as well as five different essays and an interview at Cody. The whole process, Olsen said, took about eight hours. He noted he looked to his sister Kylie and brother Kaleb, who were also Daniels Scholars, for guidance.

Volunteer service is a big part of the application, and Olsen said in this arena he helps with the Special Olympics program and serves food at Pioneer Home.

As for extracurricular activities, Olsen is mainly involved in Speech and Debate, as well as Drama, though he’s also participated in Key Club, Student Council and Robotics in his high school year. He credits his time in Speech and Debate for preparing him for the scholarship interview.

Olsen plans to go to University of Wyoming, then transfer to the University of Texas in Austin or Reed College in Oregon. He will major in Business Communication or Political Communication.

He’s appreciative of the Daniels Scholarship Program, noting he’s a fairly average student, but Daniels looks more at the quality of a student.

“Daniels looks at character,” he said.