The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, a nonprofit educational organization, announced that it selected Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice among its 11 honorees for 2017.
Rice, a global expert in reproductive endocrinology, is the first female president and dean of Morehouse School of Medicine. The organization underscored her inspirational academic journey as an example for students in similar situations.
Raised by a single mother, Rice overcame medical issues that caused her to fall behind in school at an early age. She met those challenges head-on and graduated from Harvard Medical School.
“From a young age, I witnessed my mother’s strength and resilience in the face of great challenges,” Rice said. “She taught me to strive for the impossible and to never give up on my dreams.”
Rice wants to inspire young people and instill the value of perseverance: “I understand what it is like to experience hardships, and I look forward to working with these remarkable [Horatio Alger] Scholars, bearing witness to their achievement of big and bold dreams.”
The Horatio Alger Association honors the achievements of outstanding individuals and encourages young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. It bestows its prestigious award annually to individuals who succeeded despite adversity, and who are committed to education and community involvement.
SOURCE: Horatio Alger Association
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Morehouse Medical School Dean Receives Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award For Overcoming Obstacles was originally published on newsone.com
