33 Kent Students Receive $46,000+ in Scholarships from 4 Local Nonprofits
On Monday night, four local organizations – the Kent Community Foundation (KCF), Rotary Club of Kent, Kent Area PTSA Council and Rotary Club of Kent Sunrise – awarded 33 Kent students with 34 scholarships for postsecondary education totaling $46,350. Representatives from all four organizations, student recipients, parents and Kent School District representatives, including KSD superintendent, Dr. Calvin Watts, attended to congratulate the students on their achievements.
| Scholarship Winner | Scholarship Name |
| Mary Brach | KCF: Richard and Ina Balash |
| Anthony Raftis | KCF: Thunderbird Community Sports Foundation Scholarship |
| Veronica Marie Lewis | KCF: Thunderbird Community Sports Foundation Scholarship |
| Sabrina Hagg | KCF: Thunderbird Community Sports Foundation Scholarship |
| Karissa Vougkhamchanh | KCF: Robert Osborne |
| Jennifer Porter | KCF: Linda Ruby |
| Natalie Newsom | KCF: Linda Ruby |
| Deidra Dabelstein | KCF: Linda Ruby |
| Shelby Greget | KCF: Linda Ruby |
| LeeAnn Murry-Smith | KCF: Linda Ruby |
| Flordanise B. Estrella | KCF: Friends of Kent-Meridian |
| Jesus del Rosario (Roziie) Cardenas | KCF: Friends of Kent-Meridian |
| Wiley Bowen | KCF: Friends of Kent-Meridian |
| William Kim | KCF: Johnson/Stoddard/Osness Family |
| Jasmin Etafo | KCF: Johnson/Stoddard/Osness Family |
| Yvette Sanchez | KCF: Kent Chamber of Commerce |
| Alexandra Smith | KCF: Covington Chamber of Commerce |
| Christine Huynh | KCF: Bob Armstrong |
| Bonnie Halverson | Kent Area PTSA Council |
| Andrew Iverson | Kent Area PTSA Council |
| Marcella Li | Kent Area PTSA Council |
| Gheremie Rose Icban | Kent Area PTSA Council |
| Darnecia Anderson | Rotary Club of Kent, Vocational Scholarship |
| Steven Duong | Rotary Club of Kent, Vocational Scholarship |
| Nathan Miller | Rotary Club of Kent, Vocational Scholarship |
| Erica Payton | Rotary Club of Kent, Vocational Scholarship |
| Markae Phillips | Rotary Club of Kent, Vocational Scholarship |
| Tyler Vincent Rozell | Rotary Club of Kent, Vocational Scholarship |
| Sahe Ruiz | Rotary Club of Kent, Vocational Scholarship |
| Jacob Zielke | Rotary Club of Kent, Vocational Scholarship |
| Jacob Zielke | Rotary Club of Kent Sunrise |
| Sa’Raiyah Tuiloma | Rotary Club of Kent Sunrise |
| Gabriella Spring | Rotary Club of Kent Sunrise |
| Maria Acosta-Esparanza | Rotary Club of Kent Sunrise |
Karen DeBruler, president of the Kent School District Board, attended the awards ceremony Monday night.
“The Kent Community Foundation’s scholarship event brought together multiple student winners from Kent high schools, receiving scholarships from four different organizations. Instead of holding smaller ceremonies with fewer students, this event allowed students and their families to celebrate their varied accomplishments together with peers from their own schools as well as from the community of Kent high schools,” DeBruler said.
“Seeing 33 students receive more than $46,000 in scholarships was truly impressive. Holding a larger, more inclusive celebration really showcased the importance of high achievement in multiple arenas. I would love to see this continue as an annual tradition and include any other scholarship-awarding organizations as well,” she added.
Congratulations to all of these Kent students on their exemplary achievements!
For more information about the Kent Community Foundation, or to learn how to set up a scholarship to fund the future of Kent students, visit the Kent Community Foundation online or contact president Dee Klem at deebklem@gmail.com.
For more information about the Rotary Club of Kent, visit KentRotary.com or contact president Amy Hobson at president@kentrotary.com.
For more information about Rotary Club of Kent Sunrise, visit KentSunriseRotary.org or contact president Mike McArdel at mike@mamcpaps.com.
For more information about Kent Area PTSA Council, visit KACPTA.org or contact Juliet Perry at president@kacpta.org.
