Nebraska Alumni Association names RED scholars

Three Nebraska high schools seniors are recipients of 2008 RED Scholars Fund scholarships. The scholarship recipients will be introduced Jan. 18 at the Nebraska Alumni Association's annual RED Gala in Omaha.

Now in its fourth year, the RED Gala was developed with the assistance of university administrators, alumni and friends as a way of generating additional scholarship dollars to encourage Nebraska's best high school scholars to attend UNL. In its first three years, the Gala raised more than $100,000 and granted UNL scholarships to six Nebraska high school graduates. At least 50 percent of the proceeds fund university scholarships for Omaha-area (Douglas and Sarpy counties) high school students, with the rest earmarked for other high-achieving students.

Recipients of the 2008 scholarships are Amy Lester, a senior at McCook High School; Lauren Long, a senior at Platteview High School; and Richard Page, a senior at Omaha North High Magnet School.

Lester is a three-year member of the student council, currently serving as chair of the leadership committee and president of Mu Alpha Theta, a mathematics honor society. She is section editor of the school newspaper and has participated in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for the past four years. Lester has participated in both varsity choir and varsity show choir at high school and in musical productions at her church. As a member and now vice president of National Honor Society, Lester was instrumental in a project to collect used athletic shoes for the Nike recycling program. Additionally, Lester is active in other civic and church activities, including tutoring children, ringing bells for the Salvation Army, and collecting food items for a food pantry. Lester plans a career as a physical therapist.

Long has been a member of the Platteview High School student council for two years, National Honor Society for two years, the girls' letter club for three years, the soccer team for four years and the golf team for two years. She also has served as co-managing editor and co-editor of the yearbook, was a homecoming candidate and serves as a teacher's aid. Active in the 4-H Youth Development program, Long has volunteered for four years at the Sarpy County Extension office during summers, participated in community cleanup, assisted with kids soccer camp, and served as 4-H beef junior superintendent and as a 4-H junior leader. She plans to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine, specializing in large animals.

Page has served as an assistant counselor at a summer technology camp at Omaha North, worked part time, and participated in Spanish Club and football for two years. Additionally, he is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, the Magnet Scholars, Multicultural Club, Student Council and Groit Mentoring Club. He has been awarded the National Honor Society Letter, an academic letter, a student council letter and Golden Achievement Honor Roll. Page also has participated in the Urban League of Nebraska Black College Tour, Bridge to Success, and the Nebraska Math Engineering Science Achievement program at UNL. He has tutored at an elementary school, served meals at Immanuel Assisted Living and volunteered at the NAACP. He plans to major in electrical engineering.

For more information about the event or to register, visit http://red.HuskerAlum.com.