Highline Schools Foundation awarded 42 high school students with scholarships, totaling nearly $350,000, on May 8. Scholarships ranged from awards for students interested in specific studies, such as visual art, math, or aerospace engineering, to scholarships reserved for LGBTQ+ students, students who have experienced homelessness, or those who are the first in their family to attend college.
Bayje Felder was one of six recipients of this year's CM Garrity Scholarship, offered to students based on their academic performance, leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities. She will receive $30,000 over the course of the next four years of college.
Felder credits family and community members for her success: "My mom setting time aside for me and giving me food, and Miss Saviano, my adviser, for supporting and encouraging me, keeps me going even though it's difficult."
Felder's mother, Dr. Tanisha Brandon-Felder, says her daughter has worked to keep up her grades and advocate for her own mental health amid schoolwork, participating in musical theater, track, soccer, basketball, and flag football. "[The event] was a recognition that all that paid off. People are recognizing her efforts," Brandon-Felder said.
Fred Swanson, executive director of Highline Schools Foundation, is a parent of three children in the school district. He says the scholarship receptions are a highlight of his work.
"It's lovely to see the joy and pride [parents] have in seeing their children acknowledged and celebrated publicly for their work," Swanson said. "Someone watching you achieve something has a profound impact on a young person, and many of the scholarship recipients want to thank their parents for [how they] contributed to their success. [The youth] want to give back and help their parents."
The scholarships represent a portion of the foundation's work. Swanson says the foundation started 26 years ago in offering teacher and classroom grants. Today, the teacher grants budget is $100,000. The foundation provides multiple forms of assistance to the school district, including organizing the purchase of shoes, coats, backpacks, and athletic gear.
The foundation also manages Project PROMise for students who want to attend prom, but the cost for the family to purchase clothes for the event might keep them at home. Project PROMise provides formal wear (and alterations if needed), shoes, and accessories to students during a personal shopping appointment.
Chelsea, a former teacher, former foundation president, and parent from Des Moines, reached out to the school district about accessing help for her 7-year-old son, Tommy. "Tommy isn't independently ambulatory. He crawls or uses his wheelchair," said Chelsea. "My biggest goal for him is [for him] to be able to engage in the classroom in an authentic, value-adding way."
The foundation purchased an adaptive bike that Chelsea says can only be purchased with a prescription from a doctor. "When he's on his bike, it's nice for him to have experiences peer to peer."
Swanson says the foundation can support Highline Public Schools in promoting a culture of belonging. "Making it possible for [a student] to participate with the other kids in a class, and making it possible for a parent to see their kid ride a bike with the other kids in class, is deeply moving and meaningful to me," Swanson said. "For me, the opportunity to show up for families and people in the [school] district to make sure that they're able to show up for their kids, giving them the tools and support so their kids can achieve and be successful — that's powerful. It's a real privilege to be able to do that."
The City of Seattle has announced where and when this summer the Free Summer Meals Program will serve free breakfasts, lunches, and snacks for children and youth ages 1 to 18 years old.
Youth ages 16 to 19 can apply for an Arts Corps paid internship working in writing, book binding, printmaking, and photography.
Celebrate bees and learn about these pollinators at a free event at the West Seattle Bee Garden on Saturday, May 17.
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