College aid piles up for LV student

Friday, July 9, 1999 | 9:45 a.m.

At the age of 18, Erin Armstrong's resume is four pages long.

It lists 10 years of piano lessons and league soccer.

It tells of honors and advanced placement classes and various student offices she has held.

Her church activities span 10 years, including youth programs, choirs and Bible school teaching.

She has participated in nearly 30 community activities and has received more than 80 honors and awards and ranks No. 12 in a class of 452.

So it should come as no surprise that the dollar figures in Armstrong's scholarship fund have risen nearly as fast as Megabucks, topping off at $35,000.

The 13 scholarships the Bonanza High School graduate received came completely as a surprise to her.

Armstrong said she laughed at the overwhelming odds when she filled out the "Got milk?" Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year Award Program -- 25 students selected out of more than 40,000 entries.

She ended up as one of the 25, selected for her academic performance, athletic excellence, leadership and community service.

Armstrong just returned from an all-expense-paid trip for the awards weekend in Washington, where she received $7,500 to be forwarded to the college of her choice.

Other scholarships include Coca-Cola, Clark County Education Association and Lutheran Brotherhood to name a few.

Her scholarships will pay for her first year's tuition at a university in San Diego, where the out-of-state tuition is more than $25,000 a year. The remaining funds will be directed toward her second year.