2024 Scholars

Whatcom Community Foundation / Community Ventures / Birth to Bright Futures / 2024 Scholars

2024 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

“It takes a village.”
This resonates when we consider the impact of scholarships.

Scholarships are more than financial aid; they are a communal effort to nurture, support, and uplift the next generation. It is neighborliness in its purest form and proof that Whatcom County is full of people who believe in the strength of community.

Many of our local students face significant barriers to accessing post-secondary education. We are deeply thankful for your understanding and support. Over the past 20 years, your unwavering faith in our youth and trust in our mission have led to an extraordinary investment of over $2 million in scholarship funding, unlocking the potential of hard-working graduating seniors across our county.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the donors and committee members who made the 2024 scholarship season a success. We are thrilled to announce that we have awarded 83 scholarships totaling $161,000 to deserving recipients this year.

This year we also extend our deepest gratitude to the visionary donors who made the launch of the new Whatcom Scholarship Fund possible in 2024. Your generous support allows for the strategic investment of funds where they are needed most and opens doors for students in a way that creates real, lasting change. Your commitment to making a difference is truly inspiring, and we are incredibly thankful for your partnership in this transformative work.

Tim & Leslie Farris

The Celedo Fund of Whatcom Community Foundation

Masonic Education Council of Whatcom County

Francisco Rios & Debra Stern

Scott Emory

The David Goddard Fund of Whatcom Community Foundation

We hope you take pride in knowing that your investment is making a profound impact.

Looking Ahead
The national landscape of scholarship administration is evolving, with a growing emphasis on targeted, need-based funding and innovative solutions to address the challenges of accessing post-secondary education. One of our new initiatives is the Child Savings Account (CSA) pilot project. CSAs are early investment accounts, typically opened when a child is born or enters kindergarten. These accounts provide early encouragement, fostering a college-going mindset and engaging financially vulnerable families in planning for their children’s futures. Research shows that children with as little as $500 in college savings are three times more likely to attend college and four times more likely to graduate. We also plan to increase our focus on need-based scholarship awards in the coming years. Interested in learning more? Contact Shannon at shannon@whatcomcf.org.

Below, we proudly present the Whatcom Community Foundation’s 2024 Scholarship Recipients:

Gavin Miner, Bellingham High School
University of Washington

Anvil Engineering & Science Scholarship

Sophia Arias Rodriguez, Bellingham High School
University of California, San Diego

AVID Shuksan Alumni Scholarship

Bryn Bergman, Squalicum High School
University of Washington

Bellingham Central Lions Club Scholarship

Alina Kravtsov, Sehome High School
University of Washington

Bellingham Scholarship Fund

Emmy Hart, Sehome High School
Pacific University

Bellingham Scholarship Fund

Gavrie Brewer, Bellingham High School
Central Washington University

Bellingham Scholarship Fund

Kendra Holcomb, Options High School
Skagit Valley College

Bellingham Scholarship Fund

Kenyon Bentley, Options High School
Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham Scholarship Fund

Penelope Keep, Sehome High School
Stanford University

Bellingham Scholarship Fund

Shayla Rehfeldt, Sehome High School
Cornish College of the Arts

Bellingham Scholarship Fund

Addyson Koehler, Options High School
College Decision Pending

Bellingham Scholarship Fund

Clay Whitener, Options High School
Whatcom Community College

Bellingham Scholarship Fund

Natalie Jo Allworth, Options High School
College Decision Pending

Bellingham Teachers Union Scholarship

Ava Euverman, Squalicum High School
University of Washington

Brett Allsop Memorial Scholarship

Abigail Schmidt, Blaine High School
Skagit Valley College

Commander Pete Oswald Scholarship

Guadalupe Orosco Ayon, Squalicum High School
Bellingham Technical College

D C Morse, Jr. and Jan Marchbanks Scholarship

Aliyah LaFave, Ferndale High School
Oregon State University

Dan Bartle Memorial Scholarship

Nolan Lamm, Squalicum High School
Boise State University

Dave Nelson Memorial Foundation Scholarship

Julia Muirhead, Bellingham High School
University of Washington

Dave Nelson Memorial Foundation Scholarship

Merideth Knapp, Sehome High School
Cedarville University

Dorothy Ellen Gonsalves Memorial Scholarship

Adeel Jebran, Sehome High School
Whatcom Community College

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

Ashton Lundstrom, Sehome High School
Grand Canyon University

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

Emmy Hart, Sehome High School
Pacific University

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

Keira Dalvit, Sehome High School
University of Washington

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

Rylan Samuelsen, Sehome High School
College Decision Pending

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

Shayla Rehfeldt, Sehome High School
Cornish College of the Arts

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

Julia Tarves, Sehome High School
College Decision Pending

Fairhaven Alumni Scholarship

Aliyah LaFave, Ferndale High School
Oregon State University

Ferndale Scholarship Fund

Birgit Milton, Ferndale High School
University of Washington

Ferndale Scholarship Fund

Eliot Varga, Ferndale High School
University of Washington

Ferndale Scholarship Fund

Mallory Butenschoen, Ferndale High School
Wenatchee Valley College

Ferndale Scholarship Fund

Taylor Espino, Ferndale High School
University of Washington – Bothell Campus

Ferndale Scholarship Fund

Yelena Danilenko, Ferndale High School
Whatcom Community College

Ferndale Scholarship Fund

Nancy Serratos, Squalicum High School
Whatcom Community College

Haggen Food & Pharmacy Scholarship

Juliet Hunt, Nooksack Valley High School
Whatcom Community College

Hannah Dashiell Memorial Scholarship

Tess VanLoo, Lynden Christian High School
Montana State University-Bozeman

Harold VanBerkum Memorial Scholarship

Satchel Craig, Bellingham High School
Western Washington University

Harris Gonsalves Memorial Scholarship

Cedar Champol, Bellingham High School
Whitman College

Heather Marie Engels Memorial Scholarship

Jace Stanley, Lynden High School
Gonzaga University

HLAA – Whatcom County Founders Fund Scholarship

Jesse Stewart, Lynden High School
Gonzaga University

HLAA – Whatcom County Founders Fund Scholarship

Phoenyx Finkbonner, Ferndale High School
Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship Training Program

Jan Marchbanks and D C Morse, Jr. Scholarship

Rachel Fenwick, Squalicum High School
Baylor University

Joan Beardsley Memorial Scholarship

Alexander Strobel, Bellingham High School
Colorado State University

John & Helen Warden Memorial Music Scholarship

Macie Aven, Sehome High School
California Polytechnic State University

Joseph G. & Michael D. Hansen Scholarship

Taylor Schultz, Squalicum High School
College Decision Pending

Kimberley Family Character Award

Joanna Johnson, High School (Not listed)
Whatcom Community College

Kiwanis Club of Bellingham Scholarship

Maleah Singson, Ferndale High School
Bellingham Technical College

Kiwanis Club of Bellingham Scholarship

Sarah Leslie, Squalicum High School
Western Washington University

Kiwanis Club of Bellingham Scholarship

Sophia Phillips, Options High School
Bellingham Technical College

Kiwanis Club of Bellingham Scholarship

Owen Voigt, Squalicum High School
Occidental College

Larry G. Kinley Leadership Scholarship

Gavrie Brewer, Bellingham High School
Central Washington University

LaVelle A “Vel” West Scholarship

Justin Reed, Options High School
College Decision Pending

Lori Poad Memorial Scholarship

Diana Ramirez-Colin, Squalicum High School
San Diego State University

Lynn Heimsoth Memorial Scholarship

Jeffrey Siglin, Squalicum High School
Northeastern University

Macpherson Music & Math Scholarship

Mya Miller, Ferndale High School
Western Washington University

Mary L. Seilo Memorial Scholarship

Mya Miller, Ferndale High School
Western Washington University

McCourt Family Scholarship

Emma Pearson, Ferndale High School
Central Washington University

Mr. Wood & Family Scholarship

Isabel Figgess, Options High School
College Decision Pending

Mr. Wood & Family Scholarship

Keagan Robinson, Bellingham High School
Tufts University

Nicholas Moothart Scholarship

Leo Myhre, Ferndale High School
College Decision Pending

North Cascades Audubon Society Scholarship

Zack Bonacorsi, Options High School
Whatcom Community College

Options High School Scholarship

Maleah Singson, Ferndale High School
Bellingham Technical College

PEO, Chapter BQ Ferndale Scholarship