MISSOULA –

University of Montana Presidential Leadership Scholarships have been awarded to 42 exceptional incoming UM freshmen. The scholarships recognize outstanding talent, academic performance, leadership and contribution to the community.

This year’s scholarship winners were chosen from a field of more than 300 qualified applicants. Scholarship recipients become members of UM’s Davidson Honors College and receive a four-year tuition waiver and an additional $5,000 to $7,500 per year.

“We have recruited an impressive group of students for this prestigious scholarship program,” said James McKusick, dean of UM’s Davidson Honors College. “These students will contribute to the entire campus in many and varied ways, and we expect tremendous accomplishments from them.”

Montana’s crop of 2012 Presidential Leadership Scholars are Mariah Forbes, Avon; Mercedes Becker, Belgrade; Justin Stevens, Big Sandy; Michela Jacobson, Billings; Margrethe Boyd, Claire Chandler, Joseph Desch and Caelan Simeone, Bozeman; McKinley Sangwin, Chester; Mikaela Koski, Columbus; Casey Shifflett, Corvallis; Brady Baughman, Frenchtown; Peter Breigenzer, Glasgow; Morgan Clapshaw, Jordan Frotz, Brianna McLean, Cecily Meade, Olivia Moulton and Meg Smith, Great Falls; MaryAnn Beach, Greta Hoffman and Miriam Krainacker, Helena; Jacob Kreamer, Jefferson City; Benjamin Mason, Kalispell; Morgan Luce, Laurel; Sydney Stivers, Lewistown; Michelle Nemetchek, Gilia Patterson, Tessa Richards, Lindsey Trent and Jenae White, Missoula; and Mary Mikeson, Stanford.

Eight Presidential Leadership Scholars will come to UM from other states. They are Alexandra Green of Clovis, Calif.; Simon Coffin of Los Gatos, Calif.; Cassidy Grotte of Sacramento, Calif.; Jeanette Murnane and Hope Radford of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Rennie Winkelman of Fort Collins, Colo.; Ian Anderson of Divernon, Ill.; Rebecca Collins of Cornelius, Ore.; Claire Robertson of Boerne, Texas; and Byron Boots of Shelton, Wash.

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JM/js

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