Four Oregonians were honored with scholarships from Jiffy Lube’s Teen Driver Scholarship Program, the company announced on Friday. The scholarships total $9,000 in education investment for Oregon students with three $1,500 scholarships, and one $4,500 scholarship.
The $4,500 scholarship winner is Isabelle “Hope” Strayer (West Salem High School/ Teach-NW Public Charter School). Justin Barlow (Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering), Sylvie King (Beaverton High School) and Dhikshaa Arunsundar (Westview High School) each received $1,500 scholarships.
Jiffy Lube’s “What Drives You?” High School Scholarship program provides students from 10 states to apply for a unique opportunity to pursue their goals, interests and ideas. The scholarship has existed in Oregon and southwest Washington since 2004 with 38 scholarships for $64,500 of education investment in that span. Students submit a 500-word essay about what drives them, with finalists submitting an additional video expanding on their essay.
Isabelle “Hope” Strayer – West Salem High School/Teach-NW Public Charter School
Hope Strayer is driven by the impact she can make on members of the disability community – from shared healing to the laughter and joy of children “who are free to experience this world.” Strayer plans to educate and train as a licensed therapist for children with disabilities, particularly those with autism. Her goal is to make therapy more accessible though both research and therapeutic work.
Justin Barlow – Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering
Justin Barlow is driven by making a positive impact on the environment. The water quality in a creek behind his house spawned an interest in ecology. A later experience of teaching wetland classes with the Northwest Outdoor Science School prompted Barlow to pivot from a career in medicine or engineering to marine biology. He now hopes to attend Oregon State University and study marine biology with the goal of working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.
Sylvie King – Beaverton High School
Sylvie King is driven by a passion for art. Through art, King has been able to see the world from different perspectives and is something she notices in nature, architecture and life. Since winning a “Be Kind to Animals” poster contest through the Oregon Humane Society as a six-year-old, art has been a cornerstone of her life – she created her own clothing line this year where she repurposes clothing. In the fall she hopes to attend Whitman College to pursue more experiences in fine arts.
Dhikshaa Arunsundar – Westview High School
The winner of the “Your turn behind the wheel” Drivers Ed Category, Dhikshaa Arunsundar is driven by the intersection of technology and human creativity. Arunsundar was surrounded by technology while growing up in an immigrant household – it was only later in life she realized how technology could be used for human innovation. Her interest specifically in cybersecurity has grown into a calling. Arunsundar’s goal is to protect vulnerable communities – one piece of data at a time.

source