Meet the 118 local students who won Rotary Club scholarships

EVERETT — Fanta Gibba is the first in her family to go to college.

The Rotary Club of Everett presented 56 students with $202,200 worth of scholarships Monday. Over the years the club has given more than $3.5 million.

Everett joins other rotary clubs in Snohomish County, including the Marysville Rotary Club, which gave scholarships to 62 students during its Rotary Education Foundation Scholarship Night on Wednesday. The awards totaled $136,500. That’s the largest amount the group has raised to date for scholarships through its November auction, according to a Marysville schools spokeswoman.

Gibba won two scholarships: $2,500 for tuition and $500 for school supplies. She has been accepted to Washington State University in Pullman, and plans to study civil engineering or medical technology. She moved here seven years ago from The Gambia, West Africa.

Gibba is a Cascade High School student and in a program called AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. It helps underrepresented students graduate high school and get into college. She attributes her success to her teachers and parents.

“It’s been a really big transformation for me, because as an English language learner I had to overcome obstacles to learn English and adapt to the culture,” she said.

Trish Roberts is a career counselor at the school and helped Gibba with the scholarships and applying to universities. Many students are accepted to college without knowing if they can afford it, Roberts said.

“Their reactions when they announce some of these scholarships, it’s life changing for these kids,” she said. “Their dream is to go to college, so making it a reality is through community scholarships.”

Cascade High School senior Corbin Nelson received one of four $19,750 Anthony G. Bozich awards. They are worth the most, and saved for those studying science.

Nelson is in Running Start at Everett Community College working toward a mechanical engineering degree. He plans to stay there, and eventually transfer to WSU Everett.

“I wasn’t sure where I’d pull money from, so it means a lot to know that I’m going to continue school next year,” he said.

The Marysville club helps dozens of local students each year. Last year, the club provided nearly $122,000 in scholarship money to 47 students.

Amiya Alcocer is an AVID student from Marysville Pilchuck High School. She won the Marysville rotary’s highest award of $12,000 this year.

“I wasn’t expecting that much,” Alcocer said. “It didn’t really hit me until I got into the car. I started crying because it was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ It brought me to tears.”

She is going to EvCC next year and hopes to work in the medical field.

Alcocer moved from California to live with her uncle in Washington about one year ago. Growing up, she didn’t have much, she said.

“This scholarship means so much to me, because it gives me hope that I’m going to have a successful future,” she said.

Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @stephrdavey.

Rotary Club of Everett scholarship winners

Cascade High School: Yasin Alissa, Anthony G. Bozich scholarship, $19,750; Corbin Nelson, Anthony G. Bozich scholarship, $19,750; Thi Vu, Brett Akio Jensen scholarship, $10,000; John Soriano, Buzz Miller scholarship, $1,000; Aubri Vowell, EverTrust Foundation scholarship, $4,000; Rana Sabra, Loren Baker scholarship, $8,000; Leila Bandringa, Moss Adams scholarship, $500; Chelsey Crumbaugh, Helen Jackson scholarship, $6,000; Berenice Luboya, Pat Miller scholarship, $3,600; Y- Nhi Ho Le, Providence General Foundation scholarship, $2,000; Karen Romo, Saunders Foundation scholarship, $7,000; Fanta Gibba, AVID scholarship, $2,500, Fred Meyer shopping spree, $500; Helene Tulu, AVID scholarship, $1,000, Fred Meyer shopping spree, $500; Jason Estrada, AVID scholarship, $1,000; Brenda Jimenez, AVID scholarship, $1,000; Malia Jones, AVID scholarship, $1,000; Monica Vorn, AVID scholarship, $1,000; Aishat Yusuff, Fred Meyer shopping spree, $500.

Everett High School: Parker Leland, Anthony G. Bozich scholarship, $19,750; Adrianna Loeak, Adelaide Dykstra scholarship, $1,400; Nathan Ness, Anthony G. Bozich scholarship, $19,750; Edwin Silva, Boetscha Nash Hall scholarship, $1,500; Lauren Fifield, Buzz Miller scholarship, $1,000; Derek Tran, Evelyn Hoffman scholarship, $2,000; Eleanor Behee, Fred Sjoholm scholarship, $1,400; Yasmin Carmona, Hol Mabley/Kay Lyons/Gamut 360 scholarship, $4,500; Tyler Yarwood, Puget Sound Kidney Centers scholarship, $2,500; Jean Kasandra, Rubatino Refuse scholarship, $2,000; Courtney Hooks, Saunders Foundation schoalrship, $7,000; Genesis Esponda, Saunders Foundation scholarship, $3,500; Danielle Scanes, Saunders Foundation scholarship, $3,500; Salima Rugabano, AVID scholarship, $5,000, Fred Meyer shopping spree, $500; Darlynne Khayesi, AVID scholarship, $2,500; Jenova Christensen, AVID scholarship, $1,000; Mariam Konate, AVID scholarship, $1,000; Hawraa Al-Salman, AVID scholarship, $1,000; Collin Murray, AVID scholarship, $1,000, Fred Meyer shopping spree, $500; Seilah Quevedo, Fred Meyer shopping spree, $500.

Everett Community College: Zoya Kolodich, Everett Clinic scholarship, $2,500.

Glacier Peak High School: Breaonna Brask, Bernie Webber scholarship, $1,300.

Sequoia High School: Jaqueline Talavera, Dwayne Lane Auto Center scholarship, $2,000; Elias Brusseau, Saunders Foundation scholarship, $7,000; Katia Foss, William Dobler scholarship, $5,000; Caireanna Mills, AVID scholarship, $5,000; Alexandr Alexeyev, AVID scholarship, $1,000; Ana Barrera, AVID scholarship, $1,000; Kathryn Castillo-Shoemaker, AVID scholarship, $1,000; Rhonda Polly, AVID scholarship, $1,000; Elias Brusseau, Fred Meyer shopping spree, $500; Caireanna Mills, Fred Meyer shopping spree $500; Katia Foss, Fred Meyer shopping spree, $500; Jaqueline Talavera, Fred Meyer shopping spree, $500.

Rotary Club of Marysville scholarship winners

Marysville Pilchuck High School: Lillian Thompson, $1,000; Deacon Mongar, $1,000; Trevor Anderson, $1,000; Cheyenne Coe, $2,000; Lauren Carson, $1,000; Cohleen Villejo, $1,000; Joe McCoy, $1,500; Jarred Edge, $1,500; Nicole Roullier, $1,500; Kaliya Moen, $1,500; Katie Barrett, $1,500; Katelynn Melohusky, $1,500; Samantha Berry, $1,500; Allyssa Burrows, $1,500; Dakota Williams, $1,500; Kyla Morrison, $1,500; Philip Howat, $1,500; Angela Stefoglo, $1,500; Samantha Cruz, $1,500; Jaimie McGinnis, $1,500; Sarah Turral, $1,500; Catherine Baxter, $1,500; Ashley Ruiz, $2,000; Sarah Romero, $2,000; Nathan Novy, $2,000; Cecelia Watson, $2,500; Brianna Jason, $2,500; Mckenzie Justice, $2,500; Eleanor Wilde, $2,500; Melanie Ryan, $3,000; Daniel Amador, $3,000; Olivia Lee, $4,000; Amiya Alcocer, $12,000; Susana Barbosa Cadano, $5,000; Fatima Ai-Rikabi, $7,500; Wesley Hicks, $1,000.

Marysville Getchell High School: Jessica Abele, $1,000; Benjamin Granger, $1,000; Hibaaq Arte, $1,000; Carlos Pineda-Lopez, $1,500; Abigail Pfeil, $1,500; Emmaline Savidge, $1,500; Auria Coons-Hale, $1,500; Hannah Jones, $2,000; McKenzie Sumsion, $2,000; Hayli Huhta, $2,000; Emily Hoot, $2,000; Shaylie Bonner, $2,500; Eden Nhu Au Nguyen, $3,000; Francinne Alarcon, $3,000; Abbie Braun, $6,000.

Marysville Mountain View High School: Dylan Bruner, $1,000.

Marysville Arts and Technology High School: Jay Morton, $1,000.

Lakewood High School: Nicholas Nelson, $1,000; Kyle Trapp, $1,000; Jonathan Coz, $1,500; Paige Shimkus, $1,500.

Grace Academy: Colby Christison, $1,500.

Granite Falls High School: Michaela Heuslein, $3,000; Mandalynn Scheffler, $5,000; Maia Whitley, $4,000; Jaden Yaretz, $2,000.