Clarence Otis Recognized with the Horatio Alger Award for Overcoming Adversity
The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc. has announce that Clarence Otis, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Darden Restaurants has been selected as one of the 2007 recipients of the Horatio Alger Award, given to those who have overcome adversity to achieve great success through the American free enterprise system.
Among the Association's 300 Members are well known Americans including the noted poet Maya Angelou, author and broadcaster Lou Dobbs, evangelist Billy Graham, entrepreneur H. Wayne Huizenga, former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, and television personality Oprah Winfrey. Joining that prestigious list are this year's recipients of the Horatio Alger. Distinguished individuals have been inducted as Members of this organization annually since 1947.
"Through their personal trials and ultimate triumphs the new Members of the Horatio Alger Association demonstrate to all Americans, especially to young people, that this continues to be a land filled with boundless opportunities and hope," noted Joseph Neubauer, President & CEO of the Horatio Alger Association and Chairman and CEO of the ARAMARK Corporation.
Mr. Otis is joined by Craig R. Barrett, Chairman of the Board, Intel Corporation; Thomas "Tom" J. Brokaw, Former Anchor and Managing Editor, NBC Nightly News; Jenny & Sid Craig, Co-Founders, Jenny Craig International; Craig Hall, Chairman and Founder, Hall Financial Group; Richard M. Rosenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Retired), Bank of America; David M. Rubenstein; Co-Founder and Managing Director, The Carlyle Group; Howard Schultz, Chairman, Starbucks Coffee Company; Roger T. Staubach, Chairman and CEO, The Staubach Company and Chris Thomas Sullivan, Founder and Chairman, OSI Restaurant Partners Inc.
These individuals were chosen for having overcome adversity and humble beginnings to achieve success through the American free enterprise system.
In April 2007, the 60th Annual Horatio Alger Awards events are scheduled in Washington, D.C., to honor and induct the Horatio Alger Award recipients as the newest Members of the Association. During the Awards events, the Horatio Alger Award winners will meet with 106 high school seniors from around the nation who have been selected to receive Horatio Alger National Scholarships, each valued at $20,000. The events provide an opportunity for some of the nation's most impressive and determined young people to learn firsthand about the philosophies and experiences that helped the 2007 Horatio Alger Award recipients surmount significant obstacles to achieve successful lives.
Members of the Association mentor young people and provide more than $11.5 million in Horatio Alger need-based college scholarships annually for high school seniors who have proven their ability to overcome adversity and who want to pursue higher education.
