Jamin Avalos
Alexis Elizabeth Barnes
Dylan Keith Bassler
Audrey Dayne Bauml
Ava Grace Bauml
Ethan Elliot Berard
Chloe Jane Mingruo Blalock
Riley Leroy Blue
Conner Glen Burton
Brianna Mae Buzzard
Stella Lynne Conklin
Clarisse Mesina Dela Cruz
Franklin Mack Demmert
Pearl Rose Dervaes
Matthew Everett Devers
Esme Linnea Douthit
Bailyn Sky Duchesneau
Shaylee Marae Dukes
Evan Cindy Edwards
Kalina Celeste Edwards
Devin Xavier Foutch
Emily Lydia Fraser
Jaydyn Mae Frasquillo
Madison Jane Fritch
Yarrow Genoveva Fritz
Henry Michael-Thomas Ganisin
Ethan Kate Geier
Colton River Gerth
Makena Grace Getts
Garynne Lucille Glasscock
Lexie Dawn Halvorson
Makayla Rijah Hansen
Kaylia Mikell Heidelberg
Greyson Bell Hockmuth
Kyler Franklin Hodson
Addison Edward King Huseby
Sarai Kimberly Jimenez-Juarez
Maris Pamela Johnson
Christopher Martin Johnson
Constanza Johnson Martinez
Noah Robert Jones
David Michael Kane
Addison Jane Kelemen
Lydia Clara Kiefer
Declan Wyatt Littleton
Charlie Christopher Martin
Brooklyn Diane Mcanally
Ryann McCormack
Alyssa Nichole McMurray
Kylie Annette Michalke
Lexani Lynn Perez
Shaylee Jean Petersen
Daniel Phommathep
Jason Zachary Polk
Emily Christine Price
Emily Marie Reaney
Jasmine Leilani Rogers
Ashley Elianna Servin
Caleb Smith
Nicole Meredith Sonnen
Emma Katheryn Strub
Lola Maria Sweet
Felicity Aurora Thoreson
Fabian Joel Torres
Marisol Torres-Alcantar
Tyler David Traugutt
Maya Rayne Valdez
Aiden Michael Valdez
Caden Alan Wate
Alyssa Ranae Rose Wiley
Bobby Joe Wilson
Davin Jake Corpuz Young
A record-breaking 189 seniors received 422 separate scholarships totaling $434,500 awarded by the Hawks Scholarship Fund at its annual ceremony May 22 at Peninsula High School.
That’s up from 151 seniors and $411,490 last year.
The winners include 72 students from the Key Peninsula, an increase from 52 in 2023.
Any PHS senior planning to attend any accredited educational institution, vocational or academic, is eligible for a scholarship. Students apply by submitting portfolios that include their academic records, community service resumes, personal statements, and letters of recommendation. Every student who successfully applied this year received at least one scholarship.
The Hawks Scholarship Fund is one of the largest in the state, according to the Peninsula School District. It was founded in 1984 by a group of PHS parents who wanted to provide more recognition to seniors when the school was losing students to the then-recently opened Gig Harbor High. The first year they gave out $5,000.
“I would say there are about 140 total donors, including 100 scholarship donors, 30 generous KP area donors, and donors who contributed to memorials or group scholarships,” said scholarship committee President Deb Krishnadasan. Donors contributed about $254,000 for 2024.
“We saw an increase in students going into the trades applying for the scholarship program this year, and we had more donors this year that wanted to award students going into construction, masonry, and automotive repair,” she said.
“Donors enjoy reading the student scholarship notebooks and learning about their accomplishments and the challenges they face today. It is not uncommon for a donor to award an additional scholarship after they have read some of these stories. They can be very moving.”
The Hawks fund is also supported by income from the Seahawks Academic and Vocational Education (S.A.V.E.) Thrift Store, which sells donated items, located at 1401 Purdy Drive in an old fire station below the high school. The store has a small staff supplemented by community volunteers and PHS students whose volunteer work earns credit toward supporting their school sport or club, or a scholarship.
Last year the store contributed $105,000; this year it was $125,000.
The balance for awards is made up of funds rolled over from previous years, Krishnadasan said. Sometimes scholarships go unclaimed because plans change; students have 18 months to collect their award or communicate with the committee. Some donors, like The Longbranch Foundation, also offer scholarship renewals and encourage students to reapply each year they pursue their education.
“The board oversees the store and the scholarship fund,” she said. “I am this year’s president of the fund committee, which coordinates the scholarship program.” The committee has 22 members, which includes the seven board members, and is always looking for new volunteers.
Krishnadasan served on the PSD board of directors from 2015-2022, including as president from 2018-20. Her family lives in Gig Harbor and the youngest of her three children is graduating from PHS this year.
“The board and the committee do not award scholarships; donors select their scholarship recipients based on their own established criteria,” she said. “We have a committee of five community readers that read every single student notebook and collectively make scholarship selections for the S.A.V.E. proceeds. The community readers do not have any relationship with the students, nor have they been teachers in PSD for the past several years.”
One winner was Lakebay resident Fabian Torres, 18, who attended Evergreen Elementary, KP Middle School, and Peninsula High, including his junior and senior years as a Running Start student fulfilling high school requirements while earning college credits tuition-free at Tacoma Community College. He is also a long-term volunteer for Food Backpacks 4 Kids.
“Covid made high school different,” he said. “I was home for online classes for the end of eighth grade and the first semester of freshman year, and then went back hybrid, some there and some online. It was very different from what I was used to and very difficult. People had to learn to be around each other again. But my grades improved a lot during my sophomore year.”
In June, Torres will receive his high school diploma and an associate degree from TCC in biology.
“I’m going to Washington State University next year,” he said. “My program at WSU is in wildlife ecology and evolutionary biology, and maybe I’ll minor in entomology. My ultimate goal is to get my doctorate.”
KP Scholarship Donors
Active Construction, Inc. • Angel Guild of Key Peninsula • Chaney Family • Evergreen Elementary PTA • Gig Harbor Eagles #2809 Auxiliary • Gig Harbor Fishermen’s Civic Club • Ed Johnson • Nick Johnson Scholarship • Friends of Susie Jones • Key Center Chiropractic • Key Center Family Dentistry • Key Peninsula Business Association • Key Peninsula Health Professional Center • Key Peninsula Historical Society & Museum • Key Peninsula Lions Club • Key Peninsula Middle School PTSA • The Longbranch Foundation • The Tax Shack, Inc. • McMillan Family • Minter Creek Elementary PTA • Purdy Cost Less Pharmacy • Gig Harbor & Key Peninsula Suicide Prevention Coalition • Two Waters Arts Alliance • Vaughn Elementary PTA • Bill & Irma Wright
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