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This is the 19th year the Sanilac County News will award the scholarship, which honors Robert Patten, founder of the News who died in 1988 after a long battle with cancer.

Each year the seven high schools in the county nominate one of their seniors for the $500 scholarship. The winner will be announced in the paper next week. In addition to the monetary award, the recipient's name will be engraved on the Patten traveling trophy, which will be on display at the winner's high school during the 2008-09 school year.

To qualify for the honor, students must excel academically and stand out in sports. Nominees must also demonstrate leadership, sportsmanship, fairness, perseverance, integrity and moral character. Publisher Jane Vanderppoel, Editor Eric Levine and Sports Editor Dale Ball will select the winner.

Jordan M. Alexander

Jordan Alexander, 17, is the daughter of Steve and Lisa Alexander of Carsonville. She is ranked third in her class at Carsonville-Port Sanilac High School, with a 3.91 grade point average.

Leadership roles: Captain varsity basketball, cross country, softball and volleyball teams; freshman thru junior class president freshman; National Honor Society treasurer; student council vice president.

School activities: Basketball, cross country, softball, track, volleyball; student council; National Honor Society; after school volunteer tutor.

Community involvement: Sanilac County Youth Advisory Council; Cardboard City; St. John Lutheran Youth Group Easter Breakfast and Youth Group volunteer annual church dinner; Huronview 4-H club; Carsonville Project Blessing volunteer; Great Diary Adventure volunteer.

Goals: Bachelor of Science pre-veterinary medicine from Saginaw Valley State University; Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University; open veterinary practice.

Jose Cardenas

Jose Cardenas, 18, is the son of Joselito and Luisa Cardenas of Sandusky. He is the 2008 Class Valedictorian at Sandusky High School, ranked number one with a grade point average of 3.969.

Leadership roles: captain varsity soccer and tennis teams; co-captain Mathematics Academic Games Team; student council president; National Honor Society treasurer; captain Relay for Life Sandusky Team; STATIC officer.

School activities: soccer, tennis; Academic Games; National Honor Society; STATIC - Students Taking Action Toward Improving Communications.

Community involvement: Relay for Life; set up blood drives; piano -- 12 years.

Goals: Major in business and mathematics at Michigan State University to become an actuary, accountant or some profession dealing with business and mathematics; own a company or have upper management position in prestigious company.

Jenna Lange

Jenna Lange, 17, is the daughter of Duane and Sue Lange of Marlette. She is ranked ninth in her class at Marlette High School, with a grade point average of 3.7.

Leadership roles: captain volleyball, basketball, softball teams.

School activities: National Honor Society; volleyball, basketball, softball.

Community involvement: volunteer at local blood drives and White Cane drives; volunteer coach and referee pee-wee basketball and volleyball camps; lifeguard at Marlette community pool.

Goals: Attend Oakland University to become a teacher and counselor.

Nicholas Lazurka

Nicholas Tripp Lazurka, 18, is the son of Daniel and Linda Lazurka of Croswell. He is ranked number 14 in his class at Croswell-Lexington High School, with a grade point average of 3.94.

Leadership roles: captain football, basketball, tennis teams.

School activities: National Honor Society; football, basketball, tennis; office aide; stats keeper varsity baseball team.

Community involvement: Red Cross blood drive worker and donor; Junior Pioneer basketball assistant coach; Sanilac County Humane Society volunteer; Swinging Bridge Festival Cardboard Boat Regatta volunteer worker; Thumb Area Football League chain gang worker; concession stand worker during youth wrestling; Croswell Wesleyan Church.

Goals: career in nursing or other medical field, possibly anesthesiology or physician. Attend St. Clair County Community College for one year then transfer to a university.

Michael Mann

Michael Mann, 18, is the son of Lawrence Mann of Speaker Township. He is a 2008 Class Salutatorian at Peck High School, ranked number two with a grade point average of 3.9.

Leadership roles: captain of junior varsity and varsity football teams, captain of varsity basketball team.

School activities: football, basketball, baseball, track; Big Brothers Big Sisters Lunch Buddy Program; National Honor Society.

Community involvement: food drives, fish fries, youth football and basketball camps; elementary basketball tournaments; Saturday elementary basketball practices; canned food drives; spaghetti benefit dinners.

Goals: major in business administration and international business in college, in order to handle business anywhere from a local bank to international corporations.

Andre Sanson

Andre Sanson, 17, is the daughter of Lisa and Cornelio Sanson of Brown City. He is ranked number 10 in his class at Brown City High School, with a grade point average of 3.78.

Leadership roles: captain wrestling and baseball teams.

School activities: football, baseball, wrestling; senior court.

Community involvement: elementary clinics for baseball, wrestling, football; helped with Little League baseball -- umpire, practices, field maintenance.

Goals: attend Oakland University with plans to obtain a doctorate in physical therapy.

Ashley Szymanski

Ashley Lynn Szymanski, 18, is the daughter of John and Carol Szymanski of Snover. She is ranked fifth in her class at Deckerville High School, with a grade point average of 3.767.

Leadership roles: captain volleyball team; co-captain basketball team; yearbook editor; National Honor Society vice president; student council secretary.

School activities: basketball, volleyball, track; Thumb Elite Volleyball Club; AAU basketball; student council; National Honor Society; drama; Big Brothers Big Sisters Lunch Buddy Program.

Community involvement: 4-H; Cardboard City; Adopt-A-Highway; Adopt-A-Family; blood drive volunteer; Senior Citizen Prom; church brunch volunteer; girls youth basketball volunteer; can drives; United Hospice walk; tutor; homecoming raffle ticket sales; straw raffle; Christmas Bazaar volunteer; Support the Troops; clerk at Junior High DARE meet; track meet volunteer; gardening and trash can painting at 4-H fairgrounds; Elementary Career Day volunteer.

Goals: graduate college; get a good job; raise a family.