Seniors see some serious scholarship scratch

With the end of the tumultuous 2020-2021 school year on the horizon, high school seniors from the three local school districts are counting the days until graduation.

While the freedom that comes with graduating high school is surely what these students are most likely looking forward to, embracing that freedom with a little extra coin certainly doesn’t hurt either.

In the last two weeks, Kellogg, Wallace and Mullan high schools held their yearly scholarship ceremonies to recognize the hard work of their seniors and help give them a running start going into whatever they wish to pursue.

Requirements/qualifications for these scholarships vary from person to person and group to group. While many recognize exceptional scholastic and athletic achievement, other awards are more specific to organizations that the seniors were members of or have made a pledge to join after high school.

Between the three schools, the combined 2021 senior classes received close to a quarter-of-a-million dollars in scholarship funds and awards (approximately $235,730, not including Mullan alumni).

Leading the pack this year was Wallace Jr./Sr. High School with $170,485 being given out to the various Miner seniors.

"Wallace Jr./Sr. High School Senior Class of 2021 would like to warmly thank the many generous scholarship donors who have made possible the opportunity for our seniors to attend college in the fall," said WHS Guidance & Career Counselor Marian Russell.

The breakdown of the scholarship funds includes sponsored memorial scholarships ($60,505), local community groups generous fundraising ($22,500), and University of Idaho/Boise State University/North Idaho College foundational endowments ($87,480).

Russell explained that the Miner senior who plan on attending college will be attending University of Idaho, Boise State University, Lewis-Clark State College and Montana State University.

To the east at Mullan Jr./Sr. High School, Counselor Heather Branstetter reports that a total of $67,050 was given out at their scholarship ceremony.

That vast majority of the money — $66,004 — went to three seniors who plan on going to a four-year university. $1,050 was also dedicated to a Tiger senior who is going to a vocational school.

As in previous years, funds ($5,986) were also given away to Mullan alumni.

Kellogg High School held their scholarship ceremony on Wednesday night and roughly $42,000 was handed out during the evening, with both local and regional scholarships being awarded, including a blend of on-time and renewable endowments.

Sarah Burkgart, an administrator in the KHS Counselor’s Office, handled the school’s scholarship applications this year — as well as organizing the ceremony and she was quite pleased with how the KHS Class of 2021 made out.

“We had a few big award winners on Wednesday night, but we are proud of them all,” Burkgart said. “This group of scholarship recipients are going to go really far thanks to the help from our donors and the community.”

The following are the released amounts awarded at Kellogg High School's scholarship ceremony. Information is organized by school, student name and scholarship/award name:

Sierra Keele: Burt Roberts ($500), PEO Chapter ($500), Hinkemeyer ($500), PK Lions ($500), Kellogg Rotary ($200), Sandra Lee Mullan ($250), Kellogg High School ACR ($300)

Jennifer Donaldson: North Idaho College ($2,500), Burt Roberts ($500)

Julia Palmer: Burt Roberts ($500), PEO Star ($2,500), Shoshone Medical Center ($500), Dutch Elites ($250), Awana NW Teen ($1,000), Costa/Jacobs ($500), Roy Burkhart ($220), Canyon Elementary ($500), Webber ($1,000), North Idaho College ($2,500)

Akira Fine: Scott Kerns ($250), PK Lions ($500), PEO Chapter ($500)

Madison Burns: Children of Warriors ($5,000)

Logan Jerome: SME Scholarship ($1,000)

Kaitlyn Williams: Order of the Eastern Star ($1,000), Kiwanis ($500), Smelterville Lions ($300)

Tim Lee: Rossi ($500) Zanetti ($6,690)

Piper Rainio: Lucille Parsons ($250), North Idaho College ($2,500)

Mitchell Lakey: Frank Reasoner ($1,000)

Rosie Campbell: Canyon Elementary ($500)