Annie Mayne is the first recipient of the Matthew Dahl Memorial Scholarship. Mayne, who graduated from Juanita High School this year, will be attending Boston University in the fall and majoring in journalism and political science. Mayne wrote, in part, in her essay for her application:

“The lessons I’ve learned on KYC (Kirkland Youth Council) have greatly taught me the power of change I can have on my community, but more importantly, have made me see the effect I can individually have on someone else. This will influence the way I interact with others, as I am aware of the weight words can carry and will lead me to only use terms of encouragement and empowerment.”

Dahl, who grew up in Kirkland and attended Peter Kirk Elementary, Kirkland Junior High and Lake Washington High School and went on to study architecture at the University of Washington, died last February at the age of 24. Three of Dahl’s friends and fellow Kirkland Youth Council alumni, Alli Blair, Kenny Drabble and Lilith Winkler-Schor, served as the scholarship committee.