Yarbrough receives prestigious scholarship

Hot Springs County High School senior, Andrew Yarbrough, was recently named one of 615 students across the country that are recipients of the 2018 Horatio Alger State Scholarships. Recipients are each awarded up to $10,000 to apply toward the tuition of their selected college or university, and Yarbrough recently signed to play football at Mayville State in North Dakota.

Providing individual scholarships valued at up to $10,000, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. recognizes young men and women who demonstrate exceptional perseverance and commitment to achieving educational success.

The Horatio Alger Association is a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education. The recipients are recognized for their admirable commitment to continuing their education and serving their communities, despite facing significant adversity.

Yarbrough said he wanted to continue his athletic career following his senior year of football as a Bobcat. In his research to find a school associated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics that was somewhat close to home, Mayville State fit the bill well. It was also important, Yarbrough noted, that the school had a major program in K-12 Physical Education.

“More important than being an athlete,” he said, “is getting a degree. I’m able to get my K-12 there, and play a little ball.”

Yarbrough noted the Horatio Alger is a big adversity scholarship, and he faced much adversity while growing up. He presented some of his life story to the selection committee in an essay in October, and found out he was awarded the $10,000 scholarship on Feb. 2. “I’m pretty blessed to have that.”

He further added that among the things that have helped him stay in school through hard times has been some of the teachers he’s had in Hot Springs County. “Growing up,” he said, “I didn’t have a good father figure. My freshman year I met CJ Scholl who is over at the elementary currently. He was my wrestling coach and football coach throughout high school. He’s inspired me to go above and beyond with children, so my aspiration is to become a successful physical education teacher and be able to form relationships with children that they may not have at home and inspire them to become great, like he (Scholl) has done for me.”

In addition to Scholl, Yarbrough expressed his appreciation to his other coaches as well as his family.

As for advice for up and coming students, Yarbrough encourages them to stay dedicated with it.

“I’ve had a lot of family issues in my life that throw me off course, but the biggest thing is you’ve just got to stay on that railroad, just keep chugging. “I believe everything happens for a reason, and everything will work out in the end. You’ve just got to trust the process.”

Since the establishment of its scholarship programs in 1984, more than 25,000 students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada have received more than $125 million in undergraduate, graduate and specialized scholarships.