EVERETT — A beekeeper, a stroke survivor, a cheerleader, a translator and a husband.
These are just a few of the 54 recipients of the 2014 Rotary Club of Everett Scholarships, in all worth $138,750.
At a ceremony Tuesday night at the Everett School District headquarters, there were tears, gasps of joy and whispers of “wow.” Faculty members and counselors showered the recipients with deserved praise and highlighted their achievements.
After Katherine Gwyn received the Steve and Jo Saunders Scholarship, the presenter, Rotary member Randy Hansen, snapped a “selfie” with the accomplished student.
The recipients of the scholarships have not only reached the highest echelons of high school academia, they have participated in athletics, volunteered, mentored, participated in clubs or worked part-time jobs.
For Hannah McCollum, the recipient of the Evelyn Hoffman Scholarship, awarded to a student who excels in the fields of English literature and writing, her ultimate dream is to become an author. During her free time, she helped her dad build a motorcycle. McCollum plans to study writing and Spanish at Whitworth University.
Karen Rodriguez, a scholarship recipient from Everett High School, could not stop smiling.
“I just feel really happy and accomplished,” she said.
Josh Schneider, an Everett Community College student who was awarded the Botesch Nash Hall Scholarship, could not attend the event. He was busy at a nursing clinical shift during ceremony. His wife, Julie, accepted the award on his behalf.
Throughout the ceremony, parents and families swelled with pride and captured multiple photos. Many had tears in their eyes.
Te’ya Johnson, who was awarded an AVID scholarship at the ceremony, stayed stoic throughout the event and photo shoot. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, a program of the Everett School District.
“I’m emotional, but I’m not really showing it,” said Johnson.
Johnson hopes to attend college at Central Washington University and become a veterinarian.
The honored students aspire to a variety of professions: kindergarten teacher, nurse, biomedical engineer, physician, missionary and artist, to name a few.
Students are nominated by school counselors or scholarship committees. They are interviewed and selected by Rotary members who are part of the Everett club’s Youth Foundation Education Committee.
“You are our future,” said Maddy Metzger-Utt, the president of the Everett Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club of Everett is one of three clubs in Everett and more than 30,000 Rotary clubs in 162 countries. Everett’s chapter will mark its centennial in 2016. The club’s primary focus in recent decades has been the elimination of polio. As of late, the club has found another cause, according to Rotary member Walt Greenwood.
“One of our club’s primary focus is supporting youth,” said Greenwood.
The Next Generation project of Rotary works with the Everett School District’s AVID program, which targets students in grades three through 12. It is dedicated to preparing students who need some help to get to and succeed in college.
Anthony Johnson, a student at Everett High School, received AVID College Essentials scholarship — a $500 shopping spree at Fred Meyer to purchase necessities such as printers, school supplies and bedding for freshman year.
“It was great,” he said. “When I went shopping, I got most of the clothes I’m wearing tonight.”
Johnson is to attend Washington State University and major in electrical engineering.
As Karen Rodriguez looks to the future at Washington State University, her goals are simple.
“I just want to succeed and keep a positive mind,” she said.
Over the years, the Everett Rotary Club has donated more than $3.4 million in scholarships.
Winners by school
Archbishop Murphy High School: Vienna Krumwiede, Pat Miller Scholarship, $2,500; Riley Todd, Moss Adams Scholarship, $1,000; Allison Stransky-Istrate, Puget Sound Kidney Center Scholarship, $2,500.
Cascade High School: Shelly Dang, AVID Scholarship, $500; Jessica Do, AVID Scholarship, $500; Paris Flenoy, AVID Scholarship, $500; Vinh Luu, AVID Scholarship, $500; Jonathan Parker, AVID Scholarship, $1,000, and AVID College Essentials, $500; Jessica Valencia, AVID Scholarship, $2,500, and AVID College Essentials, $500; Samady Del Angel, AVID Scholarship, $1,000, and AVID College Essentials, $500; Kianna Estenson, Hol Mabley/Kay Lyons Scholarship, $3,000; Edelia Babak, Rubatino Refuse Removal, $3,000; Bryan Gonzalez, AVID Scholarship, $5,000, and AVID College Essentials, $500; Natalie Watson, Loren R. Baker, $11,000; Ashley Sarah Carlson, Anthony G. Bozich Scholarship, $14,250; Rachel Straughn, Anthony G. Bozich Scholarship, $14,250.
Everett Community College: Joshua Schneider, Botesch Nash Hall Scholarship, $1,000; Inna Pryt, Everett Clinic Scholarship, $2,500; Amanda Davidson, EverTrust Foundation Scholarship, $4,000.
Everett High School: Jacob Segner, AVID College Essentials, $500; Hailey Brooker, AVID College Essentials, $500; Anthony Johnson, AVID College Essentials, $500; Alyssa Morris, AVID College Essentials, $500; Karen Rodriguez, AVID Scholarship, $500; Yasmin Thalib, AVID Scholarship, $500; Te’ya Johnson, AVID Scholarship, $500; Eduardo Botello, AVID Scholarship, $500; Austin Temple, AVID Scholarship, $1,000; Megan Canonica, AVID Scholarship, $1,000; Lauren Barrios, AVID Scholarship, $1,000; Tatyana Pisarenko, AVID Scholarship, $1,000; Ngoc Tuyen T. Van, AVID Scholarship, $5,000; Hannah McCollum, Evelyn Hoffman Scholarship, $1,500; Juliana Ramirez, Providence General Foundation Scholarship, $2,000; Hannah Del Rosario, Adelaide Dykstra Scholarship, $1,000; Katherine Gwyn, Steve and Jo Saunders Scholarship, $3,750; Melanie Lane, Anthony G. Bozich Scholarship, $14,250.
Henry M. Jackson High School: Nikole Hovland, Centers Scholarship, $1,500; Justin Cho, Brett Akio Jensen Scholarship, $6,000; Anna Pischer, Anthony G. Bozich Scholarship, $14,250.
Sequoia High School: Elizabeth Colling, AVID College Essentials, $500; Kiegin Evertz, AVID College Essentials, $500; Beatrice Genato, AVID Scholarship, $500; Kira Rodgers, AVID Scholarship, $500; Tyler Kemp, AVID Scholarship, $1,000; Rainee Lundquist, Fred Sjoholm Scholarship, $1,000; Cody Stearns, AVID Scholarship, $1,000, and AVID College Essentials, $500.
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