TULALIP — “As I looked back on this year, I didn’t know whether to say this has been a year to remember, or one to forget,” Marysville school board president Tom Albright said, referring to last year’s school shooting.
“Either way, it’s been a year that we’ve all had to work through together, and that we’ve come through stronger.”
Such was the somber sentiment that opened the Marysville Rotary’s 2015 Scholarship Awards Ceremony at the Arts & Technology High School May 20, which saw more than 40 students receive $99,500 in scholarships. Loren Van Loo recalled how Mildred Austin helped make these scholarships possible.
“We challenge the recipients of these scholarships to follow their passions,” Van Loo said. “Mildred was passionate about life, about Marysville, about business, about investing, and about kids. She always asked about the kids of Marysville, but she never had any of her own.”
After Austin’s passing in 2005, her estate left $472,000 to the Marysville Rotary Education Foundation.
“She left a legacy,” Van Loo said. “And she showed that, if you’re passionate and work hard, you will succeed.”
Austin’s legacy helped make a difference for Emma Kilgore and Hunter Trueax, who received $3,000 each; for Kaily Larsen, who received $4,000; for Madison Weishaar, who received $5,000; and for Kira Bryant and Nicholas M. Malloy, who received $8,000 each, as well as Jazmyn Allen, who received $10,000.
Kilgore remains undecided about her prospects, while Trueax plans to study nursing at both the University of Washington and in Chicago.
Larsen plans to attend Washington State University and go into public relations, while Weishaar plans to attend Hawaii Pacific University and major in business management.
Bryant will be heading up to Alaska to attend community college and major in biology, while Malloy plans to study fire sciences at Everett Community College so he can return to Marysville to work for the fire district.
As for Allen, she’ll be majoring in human services at Western Washington University so she can become a high school guidance counselor.
Scholarships of $2,500 were awarded to: Amanda Rae Ziegler, Darby Ellen Marie Throndsen, Josette Rose Walker, Kayla Rose van Kooton, Kendall Joan McCoy and Nicole Jean Buell.
Scholarships of $2,000 were awarded to: Chance M. Mair, Emily Rose Dunston, Faith Fitch, Jacob Bansberg, Jared Wade, Karalyn Demarest, Kayanna Jazlyne Andrews, Kendra Dawn Nguyen, Lilly Beth Lee and Melissa Jo Olson.
Scholarships of $1,500 were awarded to: Christopher Eldred, Corinna Nicole Tubbs, Cristianna Campbell, Lindsey Kendall and Sierra Price.
Scholarships of $1,000 were awarded to: Diana Cortes, Carly Lynn McCartney, Cole Grinde, David Richard Gloyd, Drew Hatch, Gianna Marie Hake, Matthais Matice McFarlane, Natalie Perkins, Nicholas Alan Anderson-Cowdin, Nicholas Anderson, Ryan Austin Edwards, Shelby Nicole Chriest and Trey Southard.
Gayl Spilman, president of the Marysville Rotary Education Foundation, reported that the group received more than 60 applications for scholarships.
“Your future is in good hands,” said Spilman, who credited the parents, teachers, counselors and other adults in the students’ lives with helping them reach this point.
