Highline Schools Foundation this week announced scholarships totaling $372,500 have been awarded to 47 graduating seniors from across Highline Public Schools, including students from Evergreen High School, Highline Big Picture, Highline High School, Innovation Heights Academy, Mount Rainier High School, Puget Sound Skills Center, Raisbeck Aviation High School, and Tyee High School.
“These scholars have accomplished so much, and it’s a real honor to be able to support them in this way,” said Fred Swanson, Executive Director. “We’re so proud of their hard work, and thankful for our supporters who fund these scholarships so we may invest in these incredible students.”
46 awards were presented to students at the 2024 HSF Scholarship Reception, held on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at Puget Sound Skills Center. One additional scholarship will be presented on May 18 during the First Annual Highline Public Schools Pacific Islander Showcase.
Following are the 2024 Scholarship recipients, by scholarship award:
Pay It Forward Scholarship
Created by Evergreen Alums Vy Truong and Billy Chaung, this $1,000 scholarship recognizes graduates from Evergreen High School.
Three students received a Pay It Forward Scholarship this year:
- Vincent Huynh, Evergreen High School
- Moby Thao, Evergreen High School
- Janine Garcia Espinosa, Evergreen High School
Harriette Fredenburg Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship, created in memory of beloved Evergreen math teacher Harriette Fredenberg, awards $1,000 to an Evergreen High School student who plans to study mathematics or education.
The student receiving the Fredenburg Memorial Scholarship this year is:
- Aiden Hoang, Evergreen High School
Burien Arts Association Scholarship
This scholarship is for a Highline Public Schools graduate who will pursue a visual arts degree at an accredited arts organization or four-year college/university. This is a one-time award of $1,000.
The student receiving the Burien Arts Association Scholarship this year is:
- Lorelle Boyd, Highline Big Picture High School
Anne Gregory Memorial Scholarship
This $2,000 scholarship, named in memory of former Evergreen teacher Anne Gregory, was created to support Evergreen High School graduates.
The student receiving the Anne Gregory Memorial Scholarship this year is:
- Angelina Khun, Evergreen High School
Beyond Opportunity & Impact Scholarship
The Beyond Opportunity & Impact Scholarship was created to support graduating seniors attending Puget Sound Skills Center, and awards $1,500 to a student who is a team player, dedicated to the profession they began studying at PSSC.
The student receiving the Beyond Opportunity & Impact Scholarship this year is:
- Jamie Hahm, Puget Sound Skills Center
TinShip – The Tin Room Scholarship
Created and funded by The Tin Room owner Dan House and The Tin Room patrons, this $3,000 scholarship is offered to graduating seniors planning to attend an accredited trade or vocational school.
The student receiving the TinShip Scholarship this year is:
- Yancy Raymondo, Evergreen High School
Fred Vaughan Scholarship
The Fred Vaughan Scholarship provides a one-time $1,000 scholarship to students graduating from any Highline Public Schools high school, and is based on financial need, academic achievement, and community service.
The student receiving the Fred Vaughan Scholarship this year is:
- Jasmine Delgado Guerrero, Highline High School
Gateway Scholarship
Created by community member Randi Sibonga, this $5,000 scholarship is to support students who have experienced homelessness, foster care or kinship care.
The student receiving the Gateway Scholarship this year is:
- Roman Amarillas, Highline High School
Nature Stewards Environmental Science Scholarship
This scholarship was created to support graduates of any Highline high school planning to study environmental science in their post-secondary studies. The scholarship provides $3,000 for the first year of college.
Two students received the Nature Stewards Scholarship this year:
- Jozlyn Privett, Mount Rainier High School
- Dennie Nguyen, Evergreen High School
New in 2024 – Jim Glennon Memorial Scholarship
This $3,000 scholarship, funded by community members and friends of Jim Glennon, is for students planning a career in Education, following in the footsteps of lifelong educator Jim Glennon, who taught for many years at Mount Rainier High School.
Three students received the inaugural Jim Glennon Memorial Scholarship this year:
- Randi Ortega, Mount Rainier High School
- Alexa Mariscal, Mount Rainier High School
- Willow Durant, Highline Big Picture High School
Scott Gifford Memorial Scholarship
Founded in memory of longtime friend and trustee of Highline Schools Foundation Scott Gifford, this scholarship provides a one-time $10,000 award to a graduating senior from any Highline Public Schools high school, planning to study aerospace engineering.
The student receiving the first Scott Gifford Memorial Scholarship award this year is:
- Elena Huh, Raisbeck Aviation High School
Highline Promise Scholarship
Created by former Highline Superintendent Susan Enfield, this $5,000 scholarship is offered for students pursuing post-high school education (college or trade school) or those planning a direct career path like the military, vocational, or other career pathway. Recipients of this award are first-generation students — those who are the first in their family to attend college or, for those pursuing other career pathways, be a student whose parents did not attend college.
The student receiving the Highline Promise Scholarship this year is:
- Ikran Abshir, Evergreen High School
Burien PRIDE Scholarship
Created in partnership with Burien PRIDE, this scholarship celebrates students who have helped advance and support LGBTQ+ communities. This scholarship provides a $1,000 award for one year.
Three students received the Burien PRIDE Scholarship this year:
- Vincent Le, Highline High School
- Paulina Phan, Mount Rainier High School
- Jayvion Gipson, Mount Rainier High School
Friends of Tyee Scholarship
The Friends of Tyee Scholarship was established this year by Friends of Tyee, a group stared by the Class of 1967 to support and uplift current Tyee students and educators. It provides $1,000 to a graduating senior from Tyee.
The inaugural recipient of the Friends of Tyee Scholarship is:
- Samsam Mohamed, Tyee High School
Alaska Airlines Scholarship
The Alaska Airlines Scholarship was established in 2014 through the generosity of Alaska Airlines, an important partner of the Highline Schools Foundation. This $5,000 scholarship’s criteria include financial need, academic merit and achievement, and students’ future goals. This scholarship offers two awards to graduates of any Highline Public Schools’ high schools, and two to students graduating from Raisbeck Aviation High School. One additional award was offered this year.
Two students received an Alaska Airlines Raisbeck Aviation Scholarship this year:
- Eileen Thatch, Raisbeck Aviation High School
- Josue Villalobos, Raisbeck Aviation High School
Three students received an Alaska Airline Scholarship this year:
- Gabriel Tautua, Highline High School
- Melat Kassahun, Mount Rainier High School
- Michael Hess, Evergreen High School
foundry10 Scholarship
foundry10 is a philanthropic educational research organization whose goal is to expand the ways in which people think about learning. The foundry10 scholarship provides a $2,500 award to graduating PSSC students attending college or technical school or participating in an internship/apprenticeship after graduation.
Six students received a foundry10 scholarship this year:
- Luis Zamora Torres, Puget Sound Skills Center
- Rebeca Galpani, Puget Sound Skills Center
- Yeiri Lopez, Puget Sound Skills Center
- Lauren Weir, Puget Sound Skills Center
- Anahi Sanchez Trinidad, Puget Sound Skills Center
- Karyn Najero, Puget Sound Skills Center
SEA Scholarship
Formerly known as the STIA Scholarship, this is the Foundation’s longest running scholarship, funded through the SEA Golf Tournament held each July. Three scholarships are awarded to students motivated to pursue a STEM education.
Three students received a SEA Scholarship this year:
- Tate Suarez, Raisbeck Aviation High School
- Madelyn Novick, Raisbeck Aviation High School
- Fareed Murad, Highline High School
13th Year Scholarship
The 13th Year Scholarship was established in 2017 by Highline High School graduate and retired Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden and his wife Danielle to support students who might otherwise be unable to continue their education beyond high school. Scholarships are for $5,000 and awarded based on financial need, academic merit, and achievement.
Four students received 13th Year Scholarships this year:
- Xuan Nhu Tran, Evergreen High School
- Amya Guada, Innovation Heights Academy
- Katriana Melgoza, Big Picture High School
- Max Watt, Raisbeck Aviation High School
Catherine Foss Scholarship
This $30,000 scholarship, named for Catherine Foss, former teacher at Southern Heights Elementary, provides annual support for four years to Highline Public Schools students attending an accredited college or trade school.
Two students received Catherine Foss Scholarships this year:
- Jessica Phan, Evergreen High School
- John Luu, Raisbeck Aviation High School
CM Garrity Scholarship
Thanks to the generosity of Highline alumnus Charles Garrity — the CM Garrity Scholarship was established in 2015. The scholarship provides $30,000 over four years to recipients and criteria include financial need, academic performance, leadership and community service or extracurricular activities.
Five students received a CM Garrity Scholarship this year:
- Christina Le, Mount Rainier High School
- Ecna Aguillar-Santiago, Evergreen High School
- Quynh Nguyen, Evergreen High School
- Tien-Ryan Duong, Mount Rainier High School
- Abby Luu, Evergreen High School
The Foundation is honored to award these scholarships to this group of remarkable students. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship award winners!
About the Highline Schools Foundation
Highline Schools Foundation is an independent 501c3 organization, established in 1999, to support the students, faculty, and staff of the Highline Public Schools, whose geography includes Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac and White Center. With more than 17,500 students in 35 schools and 2,000 staff, it represents one of the more diverse school districts in the state with nearly 90 languages spoken. More than 6 of 10 students qualify for free or reduced-cost school meals so the Foundation prioritizes funding programs in three main categories – meeting basic student needs, enriching learning experiences with classroom and teacher grants, and supporting college and career opportunities for high school seniors. The Foundation is funded solely by private contributions and operates separately from Highline Public Schools.
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