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(Sarasota, Fla.— July 9, 2018) — DutchCrafters, the largest online retailer of Amish Furniture at www.dutchcrafters.com is pleased to announce Urwa Hameed, Maly Sears and Tan Vu as the winners of its 2018 Heritage Scholarship. Selection criteria included grade point average, a statement of financial need, and a 750-word essay on how their heritage has shaped them and their aspirations. Urwa Hameed, Vernon, Conn., plans to attend Boston College to pursue a dual degree in political science and international relations on an advanced pre-law track. Inspired by her deceased father who was a lawyer, she was compelled during Ramadan activities in her community several years ago to invest in her neighborhood. “By receiving my help, my neighbors catalyzed intellectual and social growth within me,” she writes, leading her to pursue her studies “in a field which encompasses a heightened dedication to social work, advocacy, and social equity.” Maly Sears, Adrian, Mo., has chosen to major in landscape architecture thanks to the support of her adoptive parents, and a 2015 trip to her birth country, Vietnam, where a large, tree-filled park in the busy business district of Saigon full of people partaking in various activities captured her attention. “My dream is to design outdoor places where families and friends can make great memories together.” She will be pursuing her goal at Kansas State University. Tan Vu, Westminster, Calif., credits his mother for his determination, drive and career path. Immigrating to the United States when Vu was two years old, his family experienced many hardships, but he watched as his mother persisted. “She instilled in me the sense that I can always work harder, and there is never a time to give up,” Vu writes. The University of California, Berkeley undergraduate is double majoring in media studies and social welfare. He aspires to “create videos with narratives that are not often discussed” and influence future generations that anything can be accomplished with hard work. Established in 2012, the three annual recipients of the Heritage Scholarship receive $500 each to assist with the costs of their undergraduate tuition. In its sixth year, $10,500 has been awarded to driven, accomplished students attending colleges throughout the U.S. About DutchCrafters: Founded in 2003, DutchCrafters is the largest online retailer of Amish Furniture. Based out of Sarasota, Fla., where it opened a showroom in 2016, the company has been named Retail Business of the Year by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Top Furniture eTailer by Furniture Today, and made the Internet Retailer Second 500 and Inc. 5000 lists multiple years. Photo Caption: DutchCrafters Amish Furniture 2018 Heritage Scholarship Winners: (From left to right) Urwa Hameed, Maly Sears, and Tan Vu. For More Information: Milca Rivera Digital Marketing Specialist 941-377-5112 x 110