Death Valley, Calif. -- Autumn Leikam of Charleston View, Calif. and Jennefer Warner of Tecopa, Calif have been awarded the 2008 Death Valley '49er scholarships.

Each will receive $16,000 over four years to support their continuing education at a college, university or technical school of their choice.

Autumn and Jennefer will graduate from Death Valley Academy in Shoshone, Calif., this June.

Autumn is student body president this year. She has excelled in sports: basketball, volleyball and track and is one of Death Valley Academy's best athletes.

She has volunteered many extra hours to act as manager for the boy's teams.

Autumn has been accepted at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, Calif., beginning with the fall term.

She expects to obtain a bachelor of arts degree and make a career as a wildlife photographer.

Jennefer has served on the student council since junior high and has been treasurer for the past two years.

She has excelled in math and English and has been a teacher's aid in math.

She has tutored other students in math for three years.

Jennefer has received awards for academic excellence throughout her high school and junior high school career. She was named student of the year in her junior year.

Jennefer expects to obtain a bachelor of fine arts degree in interior design or architecture.

The Death Valley '49er Scholarship was inaugurated in 1976 and 37 scholarships have been awarded.