Graduating seniors have the opportunity to apply for a range of college scholarships every year thanks to the generosity of local businesses, organizations and families who sponsor the awards.
Those families and businesses determine the scholarship parameters and can choose winning students or have the counseling committee make selections. The scholarships are awarded for a variety of categories, including sports, art, music and more.
Over 100 students received a share of the over $225,000 scholarship funds available this year.
Many donors presented students with their awards during a ceremony Tuesday morning, including Esther Mitchell. For the past eight years, Mitchell has sponsored the Ryan Mitchell Memorial Music Scholarship to honor her son who passed away in an accident a few months before graduating from Park City.
She said music was his life: he was a bass player and participated in varsity jazz and chamber orchestra throughout high school.
“He wanted more than anything, to go to music school, and he was accepted into Berkeley College of Music, but died before he was able to attend,” Mitchell said. “When he told us his plans for university, he said, rather emphatically, I want to do this and nothing else.”
Mitchell awarded Owen Wilkins with the scholarship as he shares her son’s commitment, dedication and passion for music.
Full list of scholarship recipients:
Local Park City Scholarships & Celebrations:
