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Vale student receives prestigious college scholarship

Vale High School student Josh Andersen during graduation. (Malheur Enterprise / Jayme Fraser)

Josh Andersen has seen firsthand that hard work pays off.

Recently, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute awarded a $40,000 college scholarship to the Ontario teen who graduated in May from Vale High School.

Andersen was among the 20 students across the country to receive the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship, which was cited by U.S. News and World Report as one of four “Huge Scholarships Worth $10,000 or More” worth winning.

For the past eight years, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation has offered scholarships to exceptional graduating high school students for their leadership, drive, integrity and citizenship. Those are the qualities that the foundation said characterized “the vision and values” of Reagan.

In a statement from the foundation, Vale High Principal Mary Jo Sharp said that Andersen “freely and willingly gives of his time and energy to see to the needs of others.”

Over his high school career, Andersen has been involved with a number of programs, including the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership, National Honor Society, student council, wrestling, cross country and track. He also traveled to Mongolia to advise on agricultural practices, which he learned from his family’s roots in farming and ranching.

In the fall, Andersen will attend the College of Idaho in Caldwell.

Reporter Kristine de Leon: [email protected] or 541.473.3377.