In a surprise classroom presentation, four Lake Washington High School seniors were awarded a Lily Waluconis Memorial Scholarship award on Friday.
Each student submitted an application in a competitive process and was chosen on the basis of their high academic performance and commitment to social justice. The four scholars represent a diversity of experience, academic achievement and high aspiration.
Adam Krebs, who received a $1,000 scholarship, achieved a cumulative 4.0 grade point average. He plans to study medicine at the University of San Diego and believes that health care must be provided to the uninsured.
Nikki Nikkhoui received a $750 scholarship and will attend the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington in the fall. About social justice she wrote, “I know I am no Rosa Parks or Dalai Lama … nor do I have my name in history books, I simply need to practice small acts of humanity within my own community.”
Receiving scholarship awards of $500 each were Nathan Brand and Jennifer Gaskill. Nathan is a regular volunteer at the Union Gospel Mission and spent two summers building homes in Mexico. He will attend the University of Washington and plans to major in economics.
Jennifer Gaskill will attend Central Washington University and has been involved for many years with Sibling House, a Kirkland organization that strives to keep siblings together as a family while in foster care.
Established six years ago, the Lily Waluconis Memorial Scholarship originally planned to award one scholarship of $500 per year. Instead, the fund has awarded more than $15,000 in scholarships.
Jake Waluconis, a trustee of the fund stated, “we are proud that every year we are able to grow the scholarship fund and celebrate the accomplishments of Lake Washington High School seniors.”
The scholarship honors the memory of Lily Waluconis who graduated at the top of her class at Lake Washington High School and Carleton College. Lily combined scholarship with a love of humanity and devotion to justice. The scholarships pay tribute to young scholars who believe they can help build a better and more humane world.
