ARLINGTON, Texas - Twelve United States Bowling Congress Youth members have been selected to receive a USBC Gift For Life Scholarship.

The USBC Gift For Life Scholarship annually is awarded to USBC Youth members who are in high school, have a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale), and have demonstrated financial need. Each recipient receives a $1,000 scholarship managed through the SMART program.

The recipients for 2012 are:
* Justice April, Columbia, S.C.
* Audra DiGangi, Manitou Beach, Mich.
* Tessa Friason, Vancouver, Wash.
* Jacob Garris, Greensburg, Pa.
* Ariana Goldsby, Prattville, Ala.
* Tammy Knapp, Greeneville, Tenn.
* David Rodriguez II, Jackson, Mich.
* Erin Shortell, Pearl River, N.Y.
* Stephanie Sims, Garland, Texas
* Riley Smith, Kenosha, Wis.
* Arianna Toth, Niles, Ohio
* Jamel Wheeler-Burton, New York, N.Y.

"The USBC Gift For Life Scholarship program, and the other scholarship programs of USBC, are in place to help deserving students in the bowling community," USBC Executive Director Stu Upson said. "We hope the scholarships will help them as they take the next step in their educations."

Each year, 12 Gift For Life scholarships are awarded to USBC Youth members in need of financial help to obtain a college education. In honor of the September 11th heroes, at least two of the scholarships awarded each year are reserved for the children of fire department, police or emergency rescue personnel. This year, those awards went to Garris, Knapp and Shortell.

Go to BOWL.com/scholarships to learn more about scholarship opportunities for youth bowlers.