MARYSVILLE Soroptimist International of Marysville President Caroline Brown said the name of the group translates roughly as what is best for women.
With that in mind, the group annually awards college scholarships to Marysville School District graduates.
This year, the Soroptimist organization awarded five $2,000 scholarships to graduating Marysville-Pilchuck High School students and handed a $2,500 prize to the groups student of the year, Marysville-Pilchucks Michaela Caldwell.
The awards were made during the Soroptimist annual scholarship awards breakfast held June 3.
The Marysville Kiwanis also handed out a pair of scholarships during the event. The Soroptimist group and the Kiwanis join together each school year to pick two students of the month from Marysville-Pilchuck. All of the scholarship winners are former student of the month picks.
With plans to attend South Pacific University in the fall, Caldwell also has big plans for the summer. She will be making a mission trip with her church to Mazatlan, Mexico. She also plans a to volunteer for a leadership camp. And, in terms of fun, a fishing and camping trip to Canada.
Other Soroptimist award winners included Britney Johnson, representing the NJROTC; Robin Mueller; Kristeen Juarez; Aubrey Rogers; and Alicia Coragiulo.
The Kiwanis winners were Colin Thomason and Clayton Smith.
Kiwanis President Dave Voigt said the pair were chosen on the basis of academics, examples of leadership, community involvement and an essay, among other criteria. Voight added this was the first year his group awarded two scholarships.
In the case of all the students, college is obviously in their future. The choice of potential majors and career choices included lots of medical paths, up to and including Thomasons plans to become a cardiologist.
It feels really great, scholarship winner Robin Mueller said of receiving her award. She praised the Soroptimist group both for the scholarship and for the student of the month program.
I just feel really honored, Mueller said.
Marysville School Superintendent Larry Nyland told the winning students they obviously had learned several life skills during their high school years, namely how to learn and how to develop relationships, among other abilities.
Not all of the program was anywhere near serious. School Assistant Superintendent Gail Miller and others urged students to enjoy the weeks around their graduation, creating memories they will keep for a lifetime.