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Submitted by North Thurston Education Foundation

Thanks to the North Thurston Education Foundation, paying for college or other post-secondary education will be a bit easier for the following twenty-nine graduating seniors from North Thurston Public Schools due to the scholarships they have been awarded to support their further education:

North Thurston High School: Jessica Li, Connor Crowder, Mackenzie Ayers, Connor Roper, Caty Barber, Rachel Booth, Kathy Tran, Bailey Boeholt, Ericka Bonham, Wichetny By, Veronica Emmerson, Henry Harrison, Tanner Jenkins, April Sabor and Kiara Stinson.

River Ridge High School: Elliott Grahn, Sarah Park, Lacy Harlow, Stephen Novak, Jordanne Johnson and Cierra Soumis.

Timberline High School: Jerlin Joshua Dizon, Darrell Carlson, Frances Maher, Jaelen Bush, Maria Holdener, Alexander Lin, and Jennifer Mattox.

South Sound High School: Devin Hicks.

North Thurston Education Foundation
Bill Williams, NTEF board member Sonia Ramirez and 14 of the 15 scholarship recipients from North Thurston High School. Photo courtesy: North Thurston Education Foundation

Thirteen of the scholarships are funded by bequests or gifts made to the Foundation specifically for that purpose, while the other sixteen awards come from funds donated by the community. The 29 scholarships awarded will provide approximately one hundred and four thousand ($104,000) dollars in assistance to district graduates over the next four years.

Recipients were chosen by a committee of Foundation board members based on criteria that included financial need, academic performance, and community and school activities. “We faced some difficult choices because there were many students deserving of recognition and support,” said committee chair Cathy Callahan, “but after reviewing each of the applications we came together on an outstanding group of young scholars.” With one exception, recipients were presented with their awards at their school’s awards night. The South Sound High School award will be presented at the school’s graduation services on June 19, 2017.

The North Thurston Education Foundation was founded in 1989 with the mission of eliminating financial barriers to district students as they pursue their education. In addition to scholarships, the Foundation provides each NTPS school with funds for student needs not covered by public funding, such as academic or other school fees, personal items such as clothing or hygiene supplies, school supplies and other necessities.

The Foundation also provides weekend food backpacks for homeless middle and high school students; makes learning improvement grants to district teachers for special learning projects that are outside the district’s regular budget; funds tutoring for special needs students from low income families; supports the NTPS homeless initiatives; and contributes to other local student-focused groups including the Boys & Girls Club, the Little Red School House, the Vocational Opportunities for Independent Community Employment Program for 18-21-year-old students with disabilities, and the GRAVITY, a program for high school dropouts.

Since its inception the Foundation has provided more than one and a quarter million ($1,250,000) dollars to help North Thurston students.

More information about the Foundation can be found at the North Thurston Education Foundation’s website, on our Facebook page or by contacting any of the individuals listed above.

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