The Highline High School Alumni Foundation will award 25 scholarships totaling a record $101,000 to graduating seniors in the Highline High School Class of 2026, foundation leaders announced at the school’s recent Senior Assembly.
According to the foundation, this year marks the largest scholarship distribution in its history, supporting students as they pursue college and career pathways after graduation.
Among the awards is a new scholarship, the Tony Hayes Classic Eats Culinary Arts scholarship, which includes a $4,000 award, a paid internship at Classic Eats restaurant, a new chef’s knife kit and a chef’s jacket. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduating Highline Pirate.
As we previously reported, in 2025, Hayes, owner and operator of Classic Eats, was named the 2025 Distinguished Alumnus by the foundation in recognition of his leadership as a student and within the Highline community. The foundation said Hayes wanted to find a way to pay it forward and worked with the organization to establish the new culinary scholarship.
Available Scholarships
In addition to the Hayes award, the foundation will provide $4,000 scholarships across multiple categories, including:
Department Scholarships:
- McEachern Family Fine Art
- Dick Dahlgard Photography/Graphic Design
- Music
- English/Language Arts
- Uli & Gayle Chi Math
- Anex Brothers Science
- Social Studies
- Frau Pauler World Language
Career-Focused Scholarships:
- Nancy Tully Business
- John P. Ashley Engineering/Athletics
- Tony Hayes Culinary Arts
- Don Bunger STEM ($5,000 award)
- May Johnson Mettler Nursing
- Patti Burgess Teaching/Counseling
- Linda & Roger Walsh Vocational (Three scholarships)
Leadership/Excellence Scholarships:
- Dr. Alan Gunsel Community Service- Emily Nishimura Herod Community Service
- Gary Low Business/Athletics/Community Service
- Harry Lemon Community Service/Leadership
- Katherene Mitalas Community Service
Need-Based Scholarships:
- BECU “Turnaround” (Two scholarships)
- Mavis Luksan
If you know of a HHS senior who would be interested in applying, please have them contact the HHS and Career Counselor, Brian Caylao for more information at brian.caylao@highlineschools.org.
The HHSAF is open to new members – please visit hhsaf.org for more information, or to donate to scholarships.
