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.

 

 

Dana Neuts

I am a full-time freelance writer, editor, marketing pro and the publisher of iLoveKent.net.