The presentation of Works of Grace Foundation scholarships to children of Blaine County School District educators highlighted Monday’s Wood River High School 2013 Scholarship Awards ceremony in Hailey.
Local philanthropists Theresa Castellano-Wood and Benjamin Wood developed the Works of Grace Foundation scholarships in 2002. Since that time, nearly $1 million in grants have been given to the children of teachers in the Blaine County schools system.
Blaine County School District Superintendent Lonnie Barber saluted the contributions of the two generous donors, who were in the audience of Monday’s jam-packed house at Wood River High School Performing Arts Center inside the Community Campus.
This year’s graduates earning the Works of Grace grants were Nicole Pratt ($7,500), Lena Friesen ($2,500), Lily Richards ($2,500), Sam Schwab ($2,500) and Kate Lindsley ($2,500).
Close to 40 organizations, memorial funds and individuals announced scholarships to WRHS students active in academics, community affairs and leadership. Presiding over the one-hour and 40-minute ceremony was high school principal Peter Jurovich.
Scholarships announced Monday:
· The Lewis Legacy Scholarships given in the name of Dr. Jim Lewis, Blaine County School District superintendent from 1999-2009, were presented to two students planning to go into education—Emily Altermatt and Yosilin Manturano.
· Also leading the way was the Hailey Rotary, which has awarded scholarships at the high school since 1967. Hailey Rotary president Dean Rutherford announced 22 scholarships totaling $22,000 including several $1,000 memorial grants.
The Rotary’s Roberta McKercher Scholarship went to Nicole Pratt. The Lawrence Heagle Scholarship was given to Tom Bailey. Accepting a Joe Fuld Scholarship was Andrew Barsch. The Dick Jones Scholarship went to Lauren Willows Munro. And the Dex Gannon Memorial Scholarship given in memory of the 2008 WRHS graduate was presented to Caitlyn Admire.
Kori Paradis accepted the Class of 2003 Rotary Scholarship.
Other Hailey Rotary grants went to Alexandra Avison, Jessica Lamprecht, James Holcomb, Emily Altermatt, Amanda Kinsey, Trevor Brand, Rachel Conover, Yosilin Manturano, Eli McNees, Larissa Roberts, Catherine Henry, Alejandro Avila, Danielle Theobald, Alberta Jefferson, Alyse Northrup and Audrey Brassil.
· The Ketchum/Sun Valley Rotary represented by Wood River High graduate Hailee Blomquist-Mintz gave 10 scholarships. Recipients were Tayler Bates, Tim Boyle, Yosilin Manturano, Brooke Lawrence, Nicole Pratt, Clara Liz Rodriguez, Rachel Conover, Larissa Roberts, Heriberto Mendoza and Caitlyn Admire.
· Recipients of Sun Valley Board of Realtors scholarships were Miranda Gasenica, Alison Gasenica, Jessica Lamprecht, Colby Werley, Heriberto Mendoza and Parker Morris.
· Another highlight was the presentation of "Dollars for Scholars" scholarships in the amounts of $1,000 to five WRHS students. The local program, founded by Picabo’s Audrey Bashaw in 1995, has awarded nearly $380,000 in scholarship money to Blaine County high school students in years since, presenter Lisa Niedrich said.
“Dollars for Scholars” recipients were William Ashfield, Catherine Henry, Jessica Lamprecht, Larissa Roberts and Clara Liz Rodriguez.
· Awarded for the 20th year were Leon Friedman Memorial Scholarships. This year’s 18 Friedman recipients were:
Brooke Lawrence, Alison Gasenica, Miranda Gasenica, Jessica Lamprecht, Lily Richards, Clara Liz Rodriguez, Emily Seiller, Kaitlyn Landis, Lauren Malone, Nickolaus Brunker, William Jablonski, Alec Moffett, Amelia Fugate, Heriberto Mendoza, Grace Eagan, Ashley Karst, Larissa Roberts and Jorge Gonzalez.
Blaine County Education Foundation (BCEF) executive director Mike Burchmore presented three grants. Given for the second year was the Jean Todhunter Scholarship. Recipients of the $2,000 grants were Telar McClure and Brooke Lawrence.
A new BCEF award called the First Generation Scholarship went to Clara Liz Rodriguez and Yosilin Manturano, for $1,000 apiece.
The Helen Jeffrey Memorial Scholarship for strong interest in environment was presented to James Holcomb, Megan Jones, Alexis Shapiro, Chase England and Madison Hendrix.
The first James Boatwright Memorial Scholarship honoring the popular Wood River High teacher who died of cancer this past winter was announced by his wife, Hailey Elementary School kindergarten teacher Jennifer Boatwright, and high school science teacher Chris Cey. Recipient was Tayler Bates.
Other award recipients
Josh Pollock Memorial $4,000 scholarship from Power Engineers (presented for the 17th year): Catherine Henry.
The Bob Shay Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 from the David Ketchum American Legion Post (14th year): Tim Boyle. The Barbara Cimino Memorial Scholarship went to Caitlyn Admire.
Presented to eight students were the Student of Hispanic Origin Continuing Scholarships from the late Jim Cimino. Recipients were Angel Muniz, Guillermo Velasco, Edwin Garcia, Bryan Vilcapoma, Heriberto Mendoza, Jorge Gonzales, Eric Zevallos and Yosilin Manturano.
Tayler Bates and Catherine Henry accepted $500 scholarships given for the second time by the Ketchum PEO Chapter.
Other memorial grants were:
The first Joe Wiederrick Memorial Scholarships went to James Holcomb, David Maxwell, Tyler Allen and Michael Gillette.
Alan and Diane Johnson $1,000 Memorial Scholarship (10th year): Hannah Belloli. Jill Palm Memorial Scholarship: Alexandra Avison.
Tyler Shelly Memorial Music Scholarship honoring the memory of the 2002 WRHS graduate (9th year): Katie Walton. Tim Boyle accepted the Wende Lee Thornton Memorial Scholarship from the Thornton family.
Many organizations, groups and businesses contributed grants.
The Bellevue Parent Association presented its first $1,000 scholarship to Tim Boyle. DL Evans Bank Scholarships: Antonio Marquez, Alejandro Avila and Catherine Henry. Wood River Medical Society $500 scholarships: Nicole Pratt and Tom Bailey.
Blaine County Education Association scholarships: Nicole Pratt and Brooke Lawrence. Vocational/Technical Scholarships: Janet Delgadillo and Corina Salinas. Sonja Tarney Scholarship: Chase England.
Building Contractors of the Wood River Valley/Gregg Stowe Scholarships: Nickolaus Brunker, Kori Paradis, Jose Blanco and Colton Sholtis. Wilson/Woodyard Scholarship: William Jablonski.
Dick Metz Surfing Heritage Foundation Scholarships: Yosilin Manturano at WRHS and Caitlyn Admire, Silver Creek High School. Ruscitto/Latham/Blanton Scholarship for $500 (13th year): Antonio Marquez.
Upper Big Wood River Grange Scholarship: Nickolaus Brunker. Wood River Fire and Rescue: Amelia Fugate and Tom Bailey. Vision Source of Ketchum and Hailey: Tom Bailey. Kiwanis/Key Club: Jessica Lamprecht.
Smith College Book Award for an outstanding junior: Mary Petzke.
United Dairymen of Idaho Distinguished Awards: Clara Liz Rodriguez and Augustus Kimball.
Sun Valley Center awards grants
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts awarded more than $66,000 in scholarships to local high school and college students and educators in 2013. In all, 41 Blaine County educators, high school and college students received grants to pursue advanced training in the arts and humanities.
Recipients of the Sun Valley Center grants for high school arts and humanities scholarships funded through Wine Auction donations were:
Kenza Alaoui, Annie Ashfield, Samuel Brown, Lexi Browne, Liza Buell, Whitney Engelmann, Caleb Garvin, Carlos Hurtado, Tristan Maddox, Yume Mai, Kole Mauldin, Max Mauldin, Shane Mecham, Cassidy Miley, Sydni Morales, Ruby Payette, Haylee Pettit, Mary Petzke, Spenser Pfau, Ashlie Pulleiro, Kathleen Reyes, Joel Rinckwald, Lucas Robertson, Clara Liz Rodriguez, Isabella Stimac, Luke Verst, Lauren Willows Munro, Kailey Wilt and James Wygle.
Valerie Olsen earned the Ezra Pound Award.
Chase England received the Gay V. Weake Award. The four-year, $2,000 scholarship supports college students majoring in the arts and humanities and is renewable throughout their college career.
Four previous winners—Alison Freund, Sean Dahlman, Elizabeth Dion and Stephanie Sloan—had their Gay V. Weake scholarships renewed. And three students received one-time Honorary Gay V. Weake scholarships. They were Barrett Brown, Zack Brown and Emmet Fortuin.
Also, four local educators received funds to pursue professional development. They were Erika Greenberg, Jude Hawkes, Joni Cashman and Jennifer Mecham.
