Local philanthropic group awards education scholarships

Two Everett area chapters of the Philanthropic Educational Organization, a group helping women reach their educational goals for over 150 years, granted scholarships to five local students pursuing higher education.

Bella Leighton and Siena Leighton of Arlington High School each received $2,500 STAR scholarships and will be attending Whitworth University. Megan Low from Everett High School received the Isabelle Cuthbertson Scholarship of $1,500 to pursue a career in education at Grand Canyon University.

The organization also awarded Sossi Sika Aboki and Maya Eleazar $1,600 each from the Program for Continuing Education which gives need-based grants to women whose education has been interrupted and want to return to school. Aboki is pursuing a master’s degree in accounting at UW Bothell and Eleazar is working toward a master’s degree in counseling psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute.

County 4-H announces Outstanding Exhibitor award

The cancellation of this year’s Evergreen State Fair meant no 4-H exhibits, but Snohomish County still awarded Sarah Kovich as its 2020 Outstanding 4-H Exhibitor.

The honor considers all of the experience a youth has had with 4-H over the years at the Evergreen State Fair, which allowed the committee to still honor Kovich, an exhibitor for 11 years.

In her time with 4-H, Kovich has showcased poultry, rabbits, guinea pigs and cattle, as well as participating in the gardening, food and veterinary science departments. Kovich has finished in second place for the Outstanding Exhibitor award twice in the past.

After a lengthy interview process, this year’s judges, County Councilmember Megan Dunn, Snohomish County Parks Director Tom Teigen, and WSU Dean André-Denis Wright, could not pick a second-place finisher and awarded the prize to both Aryana Police and Kaylee Kapanowski.

Prizes for the Outstanding Exhibitor and runners-up are provided by the Snohomish and Monroe Co-Op, in the form of gift cards to use at their stores. Winners also receive plaques, and Kovich’s name will be added to a trophy, which she will keep for one year and then pass on to the next winner.

Thirteen Northshore students named semifinalists for National Merit honor

Students from four Northshore School District high schools were among nearly 16,000 nationally to be named as semifinalist for National Merit Scholarships.

The 13 semifinalists include Alice Standley of Bothell High School, Margaret He, Sebastian Kolde, Sofia Leotta, Dace Roberts and Kimaya Wijeratna of Inglemoor High School, Amal Jacob and Akash Selvakumar of North Creek High School, and Isabella Bueno, Ethan Kam, Benjamin Sehmel, Elliot Smith and Aria Yang of Woodinville High School.

Semifinalists were determined based on scores in the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Students are vying for close to 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring.

Everett Schools Stuff the Bus drive a hit

More than 1,900 backpacks were filled with school supplies for students in Everett Public Schools. Volunteers assisted by collecting donations and partnering in the event. Backpacks have been delivered to schools and students in need can reach out to their school for help.

Know someone who deserves recognition? Call 425-339-3432 or email newstips@hearldnet.com