MARYSVILLE – For much of her young life, Skyleigh Morrison has helped others.
Now, she is the one getting the help.
Morrison received a $20,000 scholarship from the Marysville Rotary Education Foundation Wednesday night. It was part of a record $178,500 Rotary gave out to 59 graduating seniors out of 88 applicants. Awards started at $1,000.
“We try to give away as many as we can,” foundation president Daryn Bundy said.
Morrison had to wipe away happy tears when the announcement was made.
The Marysville Getchell senior spent about 200 hours last summer as a counselor in training at Warm Beach Camp. She’s also helped others with Little League Softball, Big Buddies, school events, Life Skills, as a tutor, at the YMCA, food bank and more.
She plans to attend Western Washington University in Bellingham and major in psychology.
Bundy said while academics are important in the awards, the goals of students are often even more important.
“Some of these kids wouldn’t have a chance at a scholarship anywhere else,” he said, adding they are for colleges and for technical schools, too.
Bundy said some of the amounts help kids pay for school, but others help “change their lives.”
“None know how much they’re getting. It’s a shocking to some,” he said.
Club president and Mayor Jon Nehring added he loves to “see such great things in the young kids in our community. We invest in youth in Marysville because we believe in you.”
Gayl Spilman, foundation treasurer, said after reading all the applications, “I know firsthand the obstacles you’ve overcome.”
After saying they have three years to use the money to pay for books and tuition, she added, We would be “Grateful if you pay it forward.”
Record amount
Many of the donors are anonymous, but ones honored in the program Wednesday included: The foundation, Nancy Lashua Foundation, Terry and Phyllis Buckridge, Debbie Barger Smith and Steven Smith, Cheryl and Terry Earnheart, Teresa and Larry Trivett, Kristin and Loren Van Loo, Julie and Kim Kron, Kandice and Cory Long, Jan and Harv Jubie, Elaine Wolfe, Linda and Larry Jubie, Donna and Steve Muller, Gayl Spillman, Rick McCarthy and Sharell Thompson, Dierdre Kvangnes, Kristi and Kelly Peterson, Friends of the Library and the Quast Foundation, along with in memory of Monty Parratt, George Mallory, Carolyn Brown, Gordon Bjorg, Carol Leigh Ingram and Stacy King.
Scholarship winners
$1,000
MG: Andrew Verberg, Graycen Leonard, Maria Dagang, Mya Smith, Matthew Miller, Meghan Zimmerman M-P: Brionna Olson, Sydney Zachry, Emily Anderson, Autumn Saunders, Kaya Wlazlak, Tanner Lauzon
$1,500
MG: Alyssa Hagar, Kiarra Green M-P: Brielle Sydow, MacKenie Konsor, Ethan Nelson, Dylan Richards, Jennica Harper. Lakewood: Matthew Irish
$2,000
MG: Caleb Koellmer, Joshua Baker, Colby Wagstaff, Kaitlynn Knocke, Gabriel Coe M-P: Gracye Federspiel, Jaylee Harkness, Dana Bichel, Fatima Lopez Lakewood: Spencer Neiffer GF: Keely Nash, Katy Jackson
$2,500
MG: Kevin Lockwood, M-P: Rhielynn McIntosh
$3,000
MG: Rachel Bartholomew, Cassandra Kunselman, Amalea Lovold, Walker Braillard, Taylor Knocke, Nathan Weller, Kylah Brodahl M-P: Connor Peterson, Makenna Cannon, Alejandra Campos
$4,000
MG: Sydney Norton, Katelyn Powell, Shelby Sawyer Lakewood: Sarina Barrett
$5,000
MG: Janelle Mihelich M-P: Ivana Garza GF: Megan Woldstad, Aleksander Dimitrov, Mickayla Lindquist
$5,500
M-P: Natalia Zieroth
$7,500
MG: Claire Matthewson
$10,000
