A scholarship is an expression of hope and an act of love. It is also a key to a door that is often locked.

Too many of our local students struggle to access the opportunities provided by post-secondary education, and we are so grateful that you understand. During the past 20 years, your faith in our youth and your trust in us has been a powerful combination, leading to an investment of over $2 million dollars in scholarship funding, releasing the potential of hard-working graduating seniors in our county.

We offer up a huge thank you to the donors and committee members who made possible a successful 2023 scholarship season.  We are so happy to have awarded 83 recipients a total of $161,000.

As you read the expressions of gratitude below, we hope you are happy to see that your investment is in good hands.

And speaking of investments …

The national landscape of scholarship administration is changing. There is an increased focus on targeted, need-based scholarship funding and finding creative solutions to some of the big problems our nation and state are facing around access to post-secondary education. One new effort we are making involves our Childhood Savings Account (CSA) pilot project. CSAs are early investment accounts, generally made when a child is born or enters kindergarten. They provide early encouragement to young students, inspiring a college-going mindset as well as engaging financially vulnerable families in saving and planning for their children’s financial futures.  A gift to this fund today has a potentially much larger impact over time; children with college savings of just $500 are 3X more likely to attend college and 4X more likely to graduate from college. In addition, we aim to increase our focus on need-based scholarship awards in the coming years- click here to learn why and stay tuned for more information to come.

Below, we celebrate the Whatcom Community Foundation’s 2023 Scholarship Recipients:

Julie Gill, Sehome High School 
Colorado School of Mines

Anvil Engineering & Science Scholarship

Thank you so much for the support you give to me and other students from Whatcom County. I am so excited to explore the engineering field and how it can be used to improve the lives of people around the world. This scholarship will help put me on the path to success and again thank you so much for your support!

Jonah Macke, Squalicum High School 
Western Washington University

Brett Allsop Memorial Scholarship

Thank you so much! This scholarship takes a really significant burden off me and my family. I managed to get almost all of my western tuition covered by scholarships, but the last bit and some residual fees were still very significant. This helps a massive amount to give us a buffer and some peace of mind. I’m graduating with my associates from WCC via running start this year, and was truthfully feeling pretty burnt out in my last quarter. Finding out about this scholarship just gave this last bit of work so much meaning and filled me much-needed motivation. Thank you again for your generosity! Knowing that there’s folks in our community committed to future generations is incredibly heartening. (I’m attaching a photo of myself skiing the morning before my prom last weekend, It’s my favorite photo of me that has ever been taken)

Thomas Funk, Sehome High School 
Southern Methodist University

Dave Nelson Memorial Foundation Scholarship

This is a great opportunity for me and will help a great deal in my studies at Southern Methodist University. With the recent passing of my father this could not have come at a better time. Thank you for honoring me with your memorial funds, this money makes a great difference. Sincerely, Tommy Funk.

Mary Jane Senger, Sehome High School 
University of Washington

Dave Nelson Memorial Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship means that I get to be more and more of the person I want to be. I want to be a young woman providing herself with a higher education; this scholarship will help me pay for that education. I want to be a young woman that gets the luxury of being intelligent, smart, knowledgeable; during my time at UW I will take advantage of every learning opportunity. I want to be a young woman that is happy, simple as that. This scholarship is important to me because it is helping me be who I want to be. I want to achieve my goals so that I can live a life where I spend every day doing something I love as I live comfortably and happily. This scholarship means the world to me, thank you so very much.

Kehr Allsop, Sehome High School 
University of Denver 

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

Getting this scholarship meant a lot because it just means my tuition is cheaper for one year and that makes it a lot more helpful. And it feels good to know that I earned and deserved a scholarship. So thank you for giving the opportunity to get these scholarships!!!

Wesley Bothel, Sehome High School 
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

I feel very honored and proud to be awarded this scholarship. Scholarships like these make post high school education and career goals so much more accessible. I really appreciate the generosity of the donors as they have helped set me up for success in my future. Thank you so much.

Francesca Capristo, Sehome High School 
Chapman University

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

I am very excited for the opportunity with this scholarship to continue to pursue my interest in health and medicine.

Sierra Hawes, Sehome High School 
University of Oregon

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

Dear donor(s), thank you so much for your generous scholarship. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to go to college with some weight lifted off my shoulders as I head into the education world. I hope to follow in my parents footsteps as an educator and future elementary school principal. I am so excited to further my learning and expanding my worldview with help from you. Thank you again for your time and kindness!

Isaac Lawrence, Sehome High School 
Grand Canyon University

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

I am extremely thankful first off, and this second off, this eases so much pressure from me and my families back. I plan on keeping ahead of my finances and this is a great way to start. Thank You!

Natalie Ruthford, Sehome High School 
University of Utah

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

It means so much to me to revive this scholarship. Middle school grew me as a person and i also struggled a lot during this time period. Knowing that other Fairhaven alumni awarded me this scholarship means more than words can describe. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Zoey Soden, Sehome High School 
George Washington University

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

Dear Fairhaven Alumni Association, My name is Zoey Soden and I was a recipient of your Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship this year. I wanted to let you know how grateful I am for you generosity and support of my future academic endeavors! It means a great deal to me that I was chosen for this scholarship as my time at Fairhaven Middle School shaped me into the motivated and ambitious person that I am today. I am headed to George Washington University in Washington D.C. this August and your scholarship is helping me get there. I hope to work in International Affairs and pay forward your support to the people I strive to help. I promise to work hard and ensure that you belief in me was well-placed. Thank you so very much, Zoey Soden

Ezra Price, Bellingham High School 
Western Washington University – Honors College

Haggen Food & Pharmacy Scholarship

Next year I will attend Western Washington University as a part of the Honors College where I plan to major in Computer Science. My family has a viable plan for how to pay for college, but it will stretch my parents’ finances. My parents are divorced, so they are maintaining separate households. Each works very hard—one as a schoolteacher and another as a lab technician—but neither has a very high-paying job. My family values college very much and we recognize it as an amazing opportunity for learning and growth, so we are prepared to take the steps necessary to afford it. First, my parents will each contribute some of what they earn, and I plan to take out student loans as well as work a part-time job. If necessary, my parents will each need to take equity out from their homes to help cover the costs of college. The gift of this scholarship alleviates a lot of the burden on my family and we are incredibly grateful.

Hope Weeda, Blaine High School 
Colorado Christian University

Hannah Dashiell Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship means so incredibly much to me. I am so grateful for this opportunity and the recognition of the work I have put in currently as well as towards my future. I appreciate your heart to support Whatcom county women entering the field of nursing! Being completely honest, this was the scholarship I was looking forward to the most and was really hoping to receive, because it was very relatable and specific to me, who I am, and what I want to do with my future. Thank you so much again! Blessings, Hope Weeda

Augustus Booker, Bellingham High School 
Willamette University

Harris Gonsalves Memorial Scholarship

I deeply appreciate this scholarship, which made further study of Spanish possible for me at Willamette as a minor. Having earned a 5 on the AP Spanish exam, I’ll be able to advance my studies greatly in college and will be better able to afford my education thanks to your support.

Ella Thompson, Sehome High School 
University of Washington

Joan Beardsley Memorial Scholarship

Thank you so much for the scholarship! I plan to use it for studying engineering next year at University of Washington, which I hope will honor Joan Beardsley. I appreciate your generosity!

Lola Bultsma, Sehome High School 
Western Washington University

John & Helen Warden Memorial Music Scholarship

Thank you for this amazing gift. It is an honor to be chosen for the John and Helen Warden Memorial Music Scholarship. Your help is making it possible for me to pursue secondary education and follow my dreams of becoming a band director. Through this, I hope to impact students’ lives in the way my music teachers have done for me, spreading the love of music and building lasting communities. Again, thank you so much for your generosity. You truly are a part of goodness in the world. Sincerely, Lola Bultsma.

Byanca Holguin, Blaine High School 
Western Washington University

Kiwanis Club of Bellingham

I appreciate the scholarship from the bottom of my heart. Higher education is continually getting more and more expensive, and as an avid learner, the cost of learning can sometimes be a barrier. With the generous assistance of this scholarship, I am one step closer to being able to not have to take out loans for tuition and extra costs. I truly appreciate the opportunity to continue my learning thanks to your generous support.

Siena Stiles, Bellingham High School 
Whitman College

Kiwanis Club of Bellingham Scholarship

Hello Kiwanis Club! I received your generous gift, and I would like to express my immense gratitude. With your help, I will be able to attend Whitman College and chase my dreams. I know that the mission of the Kiwanis Club is to help the world through helping kids, and that really resonates with me. When I was very young, I joined a youth theater (BAAY) and my life changed. I also joined an outdoor group (Wild Whatcom), and my life changed again. I realize that I am the way I am because of the organizations and communities I found when I was young. Without the kind and courageous adults who showed me new paths and strange ideas, I think my life would be very boring. I imagine Kiwanis club of Bellingham is also an organization that changes kids’ lives, whether through helping them overcome financial challenges, or allowing them to discover new versions of themselves. In short, I am honored to be a part of your organization, and I hope to continue your mission through my higher education. I understand the importance of creating an environment where kids can explore, learn, and change, and I hope to be a force in the world that helps with that. Thank you so much. Sincerely, Siena Stiles.

Hayley Jimmie, Mt. Baker High School 
University of Hawaii at Manoa

Larry G. Kinley Leadership Scholarship

This scholarship is a huge part of the reason why I’m able to go to my dream school. Money has always been an issue growing up and when it came time to go to college my hope were very low. With an EFC of 0 I have been working to save for college ever since I turned 16 during summers and when I’m not doing a sport. There’s no words to explain how great full I am for all the donors that had faith in me and my education. Your truly making dreams become reality, so thank you!!

Marissa Guthrie, Bellingham High School 
Northwest University

LaVelle A “Vel” West Scholarship

Thank you so much for choosing me to be the recipient of this scholarship. I am honored and greatly appreciate any financial help I can get. I am excited to attend Northwest University next year, major in psychology, and run on their cross country and track team! Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Caden DeFries, Squalicum High School 
Oregon State University

Lori Poad Memorial Scholarship

I didn’t realize that I was even awarded a scholarship since all I had been getting were rejections, but on a whim I checked my spam folder and saw that for some reason the email telling me I won your scholarship was there! it was a very exciting moment and I’m very grateful for the support you are giving me with this scholarship.

Isabella Sullivan, Sehome High School 
Colorado State University

Macpherson Music & Math Scholarship

This scholarship means so much to me as a newly accepted college student. Receiving this scholarship as an asian female in stem is a huge motivator and a great resource, and I’d really like to thank all the people that chose me and continue to work to make things easier for kids like me. It’s very generous and I really appreciate it.

Boston Jordan, Sehome High School 
University of Oregon

Masonic Scholar-Citizen Scholarship

Thank you for this generous scholarship! I am honored to receive it from the Masons, especially since my great-grandfather, James Seymour Cooley, was a Mason in Vallejo, Calif., for many years. My grandfather (his son) was extremely proud when I told him about this award. I know how hard the Masons work to improve the community. I once wrote an essay about service organizations and the important role they have played in American society. Hard work and community service are important to me, too. Thank you again for this honor! It means the world to me. -Boston Jordan

Sylvie Lausier, Blaine High School 
University of Washington

Masonic Scholar-Citizen Scholarship

Hello! Thank you so much for the scholarship. Right now, I’m studying in Japan for a month before university. I’m staying with a host family while I study Japanese and connect with my heritage (I’m half Japanese). Earning this scholarship gave me the confidence I needed before I flew halfway around the world because I know that when I come back, I’ll have some money to help me start college. If I didn’t go to Japan, I would have worked the whole summer to prepare for university in the fall. But this scholarship ensured that I don’t have to start university with nothing, even though I spent the summer abroad. Thank you for giving me the chance to explore the world without worrying that I’m losing three months of valuable work time. (The picture I attached is me at a famous temple in Japan [Kinkakuji]. My host mom and sisters are just out of frame, taking the picture for me. This was one of many days I spent exploring bits of my culture that I have never experience before!)

Avery Catlin, Squalicum High School 
Colorado Christian University

Nicholas Moothart Scholarship

Thank you so much for this scholarship. It has always been important to me that I have a job that works directly though my hands and positively impacts other people. Engineering has created a perfect field of work where I can do both. Through my aerospace engineering class, at Bellingham High School, I have been able to learn so many amazing skills such as welding, something I have always wanted to learn. Many of my projects have had complications, requiring me to review and solve the problems which were obstacles. This is my favorite part about engineering, finding new solutions and learning so much along the way that betters myself, not just in my skills but as a person. I am attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the fall. I am also passionate about science and look forward to ways I can combine the two fields to meet the challenges in our world. I’m so grateful for your generous support.

Sadey Goodman, Sehome High School 
Western Washington University

North Cascades Audubon Society Scholarship

After receiving notice that I had been chosen as the recipient of this scholarship, I felt recognized for the immense amount of time and effort I had put towards school and my extracurriculars over the past four years. Thank you for your contribution to my education.

Keile Taylor, Blaine High School 
Oregon State University

North Cascades Audubon Society Scholarship

This scholarship will do so much for my education going forward. I know I will spend much of my secondary education working to pay my way through it and worrying if I will actually be able to do it, but the work Whatcom Community Foundation donors are doing is easing my stress about this. I appreciate you picking me for a scholarship and it already makes a world of a difference to me. Thank you for helping to make my future career possible.

Xochi Ayotte, Options High School 
Western Washington University

Options Scholarship

I am so grateful to receieve this scholarship! I am so proud to be attending Western in the fall. I’ve struggled immensely with my mental health and growing up not understanding why, dealing with generational trauma. My goal is to become a therapist to help others on their journies to healing their inner children. I think therapists are some of the most important people in the community and I want to be able to contribute and say that I’m helping others. Compassion and empathy are my most valued traits and I’m so excited to learn to not just help others but myself. Thank you so much!

Luis Bohay, Options High School 
Bellingham Technical College

Options Scholarship

I want to thank the Dollars for Scholars for the Options Scholarship. I am very grateful for this award. This will assist me in pursuing an automotive technology certificate at Bellingham Technical College. Thank you.

Adrain Cairns, Options High School 
Western Washington University

Options Scholarship

I am looking forward to continuing to build my hopes and dreams of helping others out and giving back to the community, I have lots to learn that’ll help me become more in touch with not just myself but others around me so I can help create a better accepting community and I want to farther my education with any help I can get so I can give my best self to the world

Liliana Davison, Options High School 
Bellingham Technical College

Options Scholarship

I want to thank the Dollars for Scholars for the Options Scholarship. I am very grateful for this award. This will assist me in pursuing an automotive technology certificate at Bellingham Technical College. Thank you.

Dylan Schenkel, Options High School 
Whatcom Community College / California Polytechnic State University

Options Scholarship

Having the scholarships helps me get through college more smoothly without putting extra weight or reliance on my mother. And overall gives me a chance to learn about the things that I love and passion about. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be able to continue to learn and grow and be better as a person

Kinoah Mitchell, Sehome High School 
California State University, Fullerton

Phil Millard Memorial Scholarship

A massive thank you to all who were involved in the process of handing out scholarships. This scholarship greatly helps me afford to attend a school that will hopefully help me achieve my future education and career goals. The cost of attending school is tremendous and I am so thankful for the support I have received!

Jacob Sorenson, Squalicum High School 
California Polytechnic State University

Phil Millard Memorial Scholarship

Thank for this honor. I’m very grateful to have received this scholarship. I will work hard to honor this scholarship and the memory of Phil Millard. This scholarship will be a huge help in bettering my education.

Marta Stephenson, Squalicum High School 
Whatcom Community College, California State University

Phil Millard Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship will make an enormous impact on my life and get me one step closer to getting my degree. By being awarded $4,000 that will cover a large portion of my tuition taking the burden off of myself and my family. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and so appreciative to now have the ability to feel a little lighter due to your scholarships. I have always enjoyed helping others and because of you I will get to reach my full potential and doing so. Again it cannot be said enough, thank you. Sincerely, Marta Stephenson (Squalicum High School 2023 Graduate).

Grayson Stone, Bellingham High School 
Emory University

Phil Millard Memorial Scholarship

I am incredibly appreciative for having been awarded this scholarship. It is helping me to afford a school all the way across the country. While it is far from home, it is also much closer to my grandparents who only live a few hours from campus. I am truly grateful for this opportunity to live near this part of my family for the first time in my life.

Samantha Valett, Sehome High School 
University of Utah SLC

Phil Millard Memorial Scholarship

Hello!!! I can not thank you enough for this generous act and investment into my future as a student. I have always known I wanted to spread my wings (born and raised in Bellingham) and I was not aware until I really started looking at schools how much of an undertaking pursuing an out of state education would be. I really felt like I found my home the second I visited Salt Lake City and fell in love with the University. Thanks to your generosity I was so many steps closer to that home. I am thrilled to head to The University of Utah in the fall and pursue a major in Kinesiology as well as a minor in global health through the honors college. I hope to attend a dual degree program after my time at Utah to pursue Physical Therapy and Athletic Training. While I am at Utah I hope to participate in their club or intramural athletics as well as go through an instructor training program to teach spin/cycle classes. Again, many thanks to you and your generosity and I hope this finds you well.

Crystal Furre, Bellingham High School 
Washington State University

Random Acts of Kindness Scholarship

Dear Doner, I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for being chosen as a recipient of the Whatcom dollars for scholars Scholarship. Receiving this scholarship is a tremendous honor and I am truly grateful for the support you have shown me in pursuing my academic and personal aspirations. As an incoming freshman at Washington state University, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to study Marketing for the next four years. My goal is to become a Event planner, and this scholarship will help me achieve that dream. I am also proud to share that I have been involved in extracurricular activities such as Leadership and Link, where I was able to create a Cultural Night event and provide tutoring and mentoring for freshmen, Additionally, I organized a Kwanzaa event for my school district. These experiences have shaped me into a more well-rounded and responsible individual. Your support inspires me to make meaningful contributions to the Washington State University community, and I look forward to paying it forward in the future. Thank you once again for your generosity and belief in my potential. It means the world to me. Sincerely.

Sergio Najera Vazquez, Lynden High School 
Universal Technical Institute 

Random Acts of Kindness Scholarship

This scholarship means everything to me and my family because we are in a bad financial situation. It will really help me get closer to my goal of becoming a mechanic and it will help me be the first ever in generations of my family to get higher education. I am really excited for this next stage of my life so I want to give many thanks to those who have made it possible with this scholarships

Svitlana Shashkina, Squalicum High School 
Seattle University

Random Acts of Kindness Scholarship

I would like to express my gratitude for this scholarship, it was an honor to receive it and it has given me so much relief to see the support it gives me to continue my education. I am from Mariupol, Ukraine, originally, and I have been living afraid of dealing with money, coming from a low-income family. After looking at all the numbers and cost of college, I was hopeless, I had no way of paying for it all myself and considered giving up. Thank you for bringing hope back to me and allowing me to continue to get a mechanical engineering degree at Seattle University. Seeing there are people who encourage me to dream big is a blessing and I cannot express how grateful I am. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Jordan Childs, Ferndale High School 
Western Washington University

Richard and Elaine Tucker Scholarship – Arts and Humanities

I wanted to say how appreciative I am of being awarded this $5,000 scholarship. My parents and I were a bit stressed about money for college and this helps so much! I have so many educational goals and plans for my future and this scholarship is bringing me closer to achieving them! I’m going to attend Western Washington University next fall and I plan on studying elementary education with an emphasis in art. As a high school student, I did almost 2 years of running start so my plan is to get into the education program as soon as winter quarter. For my senior year of high school, I’ve been trying to gain experience in different elementary classrooms to get a feel for which grade I want to teach. As of right now I’ve volunteered in 1st, 4th and 5th grade classrooms and soon I’m going to be taking on another opportunity to volunteer in a 2nd grade classroom. I really don’t know which grade I like the best, I just love getting to know each student and their different personalities. I’m an ambitious person and I hope to go for a master’s in education as well. I am so incredibly thankful for this scholarship and the opportunity it provides. Thank you again for your generosity.

Tipton Bundy, Ferndale High School 
University of Montana

Richard and Elaine Tucker Scholarship – Sciences

As I type this on my graduation day, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude and thank all of those involved in awarding me the Richard and Elaine Tucker Scholarship. This scholarship will greatly impact my financial responsibility in continuing my higher education at the University of Montana. I have always valued working hard in my academics, sports and life. I will continue to do so in working towards my goal of becoming a mechanical engineer. I appreciate this opportunity and I’m honored to be a part of this scholarship and all that it represents. Thank you for your support towards my future education and dreams! Sincerely, Tipton Bundy.

Jim Burt, Options High School 
Whatcom Community College

Vicky Marshall Memorial Scholarship

I can’t express how grateful I am to get this! I plan on attending community college to learn more about art, music and business. Choosing these to study, I’ll hopefully one day start up my own small business. Thank you again for this Scholarship and have a great day or night!

Piper Nissen, Blaine High School 
Edmonds College

Rotary Club of Bellingham Foundation Scholarship Award for Most Improved Student

I’d just like to take a quick moment and thank everyone who made this possible. I’m very honored to be awarded this scholarship. As I took my own path through high school, I always wished I had tried harder. Maybe I would’ve gotten more scholarships or had been recognized for a lot more than I got credit for. Looking back, I now see I tried my best and did pretty darn well. I studied hard through Covid, I took hard AP classes, and I ended up having surgery from a sports injury my senior year that set me back a bit. Because of all of this, I thought it would be impossible to get scholarships. I’m so extremely thankful to everyone that helped with this. Coming from a low income household, I’m so grateful. This will help my future a lot.

Sonali Rughani, Squalicum High School 
New York University

Rotary Club of Bellingham Foundation Scholarship Award for Best Overall Student

Thank you so much for this scholarship, I am truly grateful for all the support and opportunities that RCOB has given me these past years. As I head to NYU in the fall, I will be majoring in dance in hopes of pursuing a professional career in the industry. This could look like being in a dance company, choreographing, or being a commercial dancer. However, my end goals include teaching and sharing my love for the art form to the next generation and break barrier for accessibility and inclusively in the dance world. Thank you again for the scholarships and I hope we can connect soon.

Cassy La, Squalicum High School 
Western Washington University

Rotary Club of Bellingham Foundation Mike Mischaikow Scholarship

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING AND AWARDING THIS SCHOLARSHIP! Being awarded this scholarship means a lot to me but my family as well. You’re helping us be less stressed about my college tuition! College is expensive as you know, especially considering my goal is to get my PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) and become a pharmacist. As well as being able to help other healthcare workers but to inspire the younger generations as well! That being said I have to go through 6 years of school plus residency first before I can do all that. I love being involved with the community and volunteering my time because I get to make a difference to the community. Thank you so much again, for giving me the chance to achieve my dreams! Looking forward to what the future holds for all of us and getting to meet all of you 🙂

Luna Jacobs, Bellingham High School 
University of Washington

Robyn J du Pre Memorial Scholarship

I am honored and grateful to receive this scholarship. I greatly admire Robyn J du Pre’s leadership role and action for the local environment. I am also passionate about environmental protection and am excited to pursue Environmental Science in college, with support from this scholarship. This award will be very helpful in paying for my college tuition and other educational expenses. Thank you so much!

Anna Palmer, Bellingham High School 
Northeastern University

W. Ingram Family Scholarship

To me this scholarship is an opportunity to come out of college with less debt. I am so thankful for this opportunity to be more financially independent and less stressed about college finances. Thank you to the Ingram Family for providing this opportunity!

Samantha Coon, Squalicum High School 
Seattle Pacific University

Wade King Scholar-Athlete Scholarship

Thank you so much for providing me with this scholarship! It truly means so much to me. My family has been under a lot of stress regarding college because I have a twin sister who will also be attending a private college at the same time as me. This scholarship will ease some of my stress and enable me to decrease the amount of student loans I will graduate with. I plan to work hard in college and graduate with a degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing, and I hope to become a marketing manager for a company after graduation. This scholarship means that I can worry less about my finances and focus more on achieving my goals. I am so excited for what the future holds and am so thankful for your generosity!

Meghan Coon, Squalicum High School 
University of Portland

Wade King Scholar-Athlete Scholarship

I cannot thank you enough for your generosity towards me! I have chosen to attend University of Portland and pursue a major in Elementary Education. This college is a bit pricier, but they offer a pathway to help me obtain a bachelor’s and master’s degree in 4 years, which really led me to choose this college.. I am so thankful that my parents are supporting me at this school, but I do feel like I am putting a burden on them, especially because my twin sister is attending college at the same time as me. With the high price in mind, I wanted to apply to as many scholarships as I could, and I am so grateful to have been able to help my parents out with your help. Thank you so much!!

Avery Smith, Squalicum High School 
Pepperdine University

Robyn J du Pre Memorial Scholarship

I am honored and grateful to receive this scholarship. I greatly admire Robyn J du Pre’s leadership role and action for the local environment. I am also passionate about environmental protection and am excited to pursue Environmental Science in college, with support from this scholarship. This award will be very helpful in paying for my college tuition and other educational expenses. Thank you so much!

Heaven Kolb, Squalicum High School 
Western Washington University

Women Sharing Hope Scholarship

This scholarship means the world to me. Thank you to the donors who made it possible for me to further my education. I’m appreciative because I don’t have to worry about going into debt. I can pay for my college with this help. I’m beyond ecstatic because for a long time I thought I couldn’t go to school because money held me back. Thanks to the people who awarded me this scholarship I have the ability to accomplish the first step towards my dream. I am truly grateful I was selected.

Gwendolyn Stodola, Squalicum High School 
George Mason University

Commander Pete Oswald Scholarship

This scholarship is such a relief to be awarded. With aspirations to serve in the army special forces, I am thrilled to be able to pursue a major that will allow me to be as well trained for my career as possible. This award will allow me to get an amazing education, with less stress about how I will be paying for supplies and tuition, and I am so grateful for this scholarship.

Dezeray Hammer, Options High School 
Whatcom Community College

D C Morse, Jr. and Jan Marchbanks Scholarship

Thank you for awarding me this scholarship, I know that I don’t have a study/career plan yet and I am so grateful that I can try out college without the fear of trying to scrape money together.

Riley Johnson, Options High School 
Bellingham Technical College

Rotary Club of Bellingham Foundation Scholarship Award for Vocational Excellence

Hello, my name is Riley Johnson and I am truly honored to be receiving such a generous scholarship. My dream is to work in the dental field, I plan to attend school for dental assisting and then work on the job and return to become a hygienist. This scholarship makes that dream possible and provides financial and mental reassurance to my family and I. I am truly thankful and grateful for your support and assistance, you have my most heartfelt thanks. Have a lovely rest of your day! Sincerely, Riley Johnson

Jade Ware, Mount Baker High School 
Bellingham Technical College

Rotary Club of Bellingham Foundation Scholarship Award for Vocational Excellence

This means so much to me greatly. Whatcom Community Foundation has given me so much hope to go to college. I can finally go to college to start my career. I am very thankful for Whatcom Community Foundation and other organizations that help me and other financially in need students.

Samantha Lunde, Blaine High School 
Whatcom Community College

The Farris Family Scholarship

This scholarship truly is a blessing that came into my life. I am extremely grateful for your generosity and words cannot express how thankful I am. I have had to endure so much to get this far and I truly cannot chase my next chapter of life without your support. This has released such a financial burden from my shoulders as well as my families. It has inspired me and given my hope that I can and will pursue my dreams. Having to grow up with so little has limited me in many ways that has led me to be so frustrated. I had to lose and miss out on so much because my family did not have the resources. But now that I continue to reach for my future and I find help from you it has given me a lift in helping me get a hold of my dreams. Truly thank you for this opportunity from the bottom of my heart and all of the Lunde family, we are so thankful.

Arelhy Escobar Miranda, Squalicum High School 
Whatcom Community College

Whatcom Farmworker Scholarship

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to you for making the Whatcom Farmworker Scholarship – 2023 possible. My family and I are extremely appreciative and grateful for your support , words just can’t possible express just how much this contribution means. I believe deeply that everything happens for a reason and that everything that is meant for you will never pass you, and I am extremely gratified that the struggle and hardships my family and I had to grow up with are seen and that they are being rewarded. As a kid I would watch a Japanese film called One Piece, the main character Monkey D. Luffy an optimistic and determined individual who can’t swim (unfortunately I can’t swim) has an impossible dream to become the king of pirates, and although he is constantly being doubted he continues to achieve many incredible feats and continues to work towards his goal. Although this anime is still ongoing and Monkey D. Luffy has yet to achieve his dream, he is one of role models that I can relate too. I am hoping to get my associates in the PTA department, and hope to later continue my education at a university to become a Physical Therapist. I am also interested in herbal medicine and the different ways plants and herbs cure many diseases, I would love to study nutrition just for fun and for the knowledge. While I am pursing my associates, I hope to enroll into a real estate program and have that knowledge as a side hustle. As a first generation student, I know I already made my parents and family in Mexico proud , but my first incredible feat will be graduating from Squalicum High School this June, and the second feat will be graduating from Whatcom Community College as well as a university in the incoming years.

Haelie Hayes, Bellingham High School 
Bellingham Technical College

Mr. Wood Scholarship

It means a lot that someone who started my school career in such a positive way is still giving to his students from years ago to help them get through school I am very thankful.

Jaxon Dahlstrom, Ferndale High School 
Western Washington University

Daniel Bartle Memorial Scholarship

McCourt Family Scholarship

I really appreciate receiving the help that your scholarship fund is providing me. I will work hard to make sure that I represent the characteristics that will make you proud to commit to the future leaders of our world.

Edwin Garcia, Squalicum High School 
Whatcom Community College

Rotary Club of Bellingham Foundation Scholarship Award for Most Improved Student

The Kimberley Family Character Award

This great opportunity means so much to me and my family. You see, my parents don’t make much money, because of this I strived to do well in school. To change not only my future but leave a Hispanic representation for generations to come. Education is the key. When you learn, there are multiple opportunities and gateways to life that physical labor cannot. I took a full year of running start to help lower the burden of cost. All these donors have given me a light of hope. In reaching a limit no one in my family history has ever had. Each help along this journey has shined water and sun on me. So, I will ripen to its fullest. Thank You!

Ansley Hardy, Sehome High School 
Cal Poly Pomona

Dorothy Ellen Gonsalves Memorial Scholarship

Rotary Club of Bellingham Foundation Scholarship Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement

I am graduating high school at the age of 15, alongside my sibling who is a traditional senior and 18 years of age. We both have complex health conditions that require a lot of medical appointments and are quite expensive to treat. Facing two teens heading off to college at once was a lot for my mom. Your generous financial support helps reduce some of that financial burden for our family both now an din the future, as every penny I can save now can be applied to my goal of a terminal degree in medicine. Thank you to each of the donors and members of the review committee. Your generosity is deeply appreciated.

Madison Helt, Ferndale High School 
Fashion Institute of Technology

PEO, Chapter BQ Ferndale Scholarship

Wes Martinsen Memorial Scholarship

Thank you so much for awarding me the Wes Martinsen and the PEO BQ Ferndale scholarships. Going to New York City is a huge step for me having been born and raised in Ferndale my whole life. I am incredibly excited, nervous, and most of all ready to step out on my own and pursue my dreams. I have always wanted to go into the fashion industry and what better place than in the heart of it all in NYC! These scholarships will make the expense of out of state tuition a little bit easier this next year. I truly appreciate receiving them both and I promise that I will work hard and make my dreams a reality.

Serenity McAlister, Sehome High School 
Western Washington University

Thomas & Martina Horn Foundation Scholarship

Kiwanis Club of Bellingham Scholarship

For me this scholarship means so much to me. Growing up my family never had a lot and I would always hear about how expensive college was and how a lot of people went into debt just to go to college. There was a while where I never even thought I would be able to go to college. I am beyond grateful for your support in helping me fund my education.

Madison Michels, Ferndale High School 
Western Washington University

Ferndale Scholarship Fund

Mary L. Seilo Memorial Scholarship

Being able to have the opportunity to accept this award makes me truly grateful. Honestly, this is the first ever scholarship I have been awarded and I have ever received and been able to accept. I am excited to start this new chapter in my life and with this scholarship, I will be able to take some financial worry off of my plate so I can focus on my education this coming Fall at Western Washington University. I can’t thank you enough. Sincerely, Madison.

Grace Schamber, Bellingham High School 
University of Washington

Rotary Club of Bellingham Foundation Scholarship Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement

Phil Millard Memorial Scholarship

Thank you for entrusting me with the resources provided by the Phil Millard Memorial Scholarship and the Rotary Club of Bellingham. I am excited to be attending the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington through the Interdisciplinary Honors program next fall. This next step in my education brings with it gratitude and awe. I feel incredibly fortunate to have the support of the Phil Millard Memorial Scholarship and the Rotary Club of Bellingham. Reading about Phil Millard from his younger brother’s perspective and learning about his values and passions has been poignant and inspiring. From my experiences at YAIL last summer, school athletics, and water quality volunteering, I am excited to be preparing for this next chapter with the same tenacity and perseverance that Phil Millard brought to his life.