SPOKANE COUNTY’S MOST ACCOMPLISHED
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

A REcord 168 spokane scholars honored!

A RECORD ATTENDANCE OF 950!

THE CONVENTION CENTER WAS SOLD OUT AS OUR REGION RECOGNIZED THE SCHOLARLY ACHIEVeMENTS OF ITS PREMIER HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

THE SPOKANE SCHOLARS FOUNDATION PROUDLY AND STEADFASTLY FOCUSES ON HONORING ACADEMIC MERIT, AND THE STUDENTS ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 15 CLEARLY EPITOMIZED THAT VALUE.

THANK YOU TO THE FEATURED SPEAKER,Suzanne Ostersmith, M.F.A., FOR HER KINDNESS IN SHARING HER INSPIRING “lIFE sTORY” OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE “aNDS”.

The processes for the selection of Spokane Scholars and Scholar Award Recipients are unchanged and are merit-based. Scholars are selected by their respective high schools guided by the Foundation’s longstanding academic criteria for scholarly achievement. To be designated a Spokane Scholar does not require having completed standardized tests such as the ACT or SAT. However, the SSF Judging panels will continue to utilize results of standardized testing as one criterion in identifying those top achieving Scholars who receive financial awards.

notes from Prior spokane scholars

“The Spokane Scholars program gave me the best compliment I have ever received, and my attempts to live up to it have shaped my development as a scientist. My high school literature teacher described me in her letter of support as having the ‘ardor of a scientist and the soul of a poet’. I will never forget that.” Scholar, Cheney High School

”The honor of being a Spokane Scholar was unlike any I had received before. From each school to another, we were united in celebrating the top students from each category. This award and honor has given me a feeling of closure; I feel that I have completed this chapter of my life. The recognition, celebration, and praise I have received from our community is something completely foreign to me. I am beyond grateful for the validation of my academic career.  I know that I will someday look back upon this honor with a special fervor. Scholar, Mead High School

“I appreciated the formal recognition for the hard-work I had done in high school, especially considering that recognition of academic accomplishments is often overshadowed in the high school setting.” - Scholar, Deer Park High School

“It is a very prestigious award in the Spokane community and made my parents and teachers (as well as myself!) very proud. It is such a wonderful blessing to be affirmed in the talents that others see in me even when I don’t always recognize those talents in myself. Thank you, Spokane Scholars, for being that kind of blessing to me.” Scholar, Freeman High School

“We hosted author, futurist, and engineer. Dr. Jack Bacon, the 2006 keynote speaker, at our school for lunch. He was so inspiring, so patient, so kind to spend the afternoon with us. I was proud to be Spokane Scholar.” Scholar, Saint Michael’s Academy

“Being selected as a Spokane Scholar made me feel supported and encouraged. I still remain proud to say that I am from Spokane in part because of the strong sense of community fostered by recognitions like Spokane Scholars Foundation.” Scholar, Valley Christian School

“I felt honored by the recognition. I remember the two most meaningful things were (1) having my picture taken and hung on the wall of my high school for all to see, and (2) the amazing nomination/recommendation letter my history teacher wrote for me, in which he called me a “renaissance woman.”  Everything encouraged me to continue striving for academic excellence.” Scholar, Shadle Park High School

“I think that I can safely say that being a Spokane Scholar changed my life. It gave me so much confidence going into college While I have not pursued the field of world language professionally, I understood that the award was for all-around academic merit. I was inspired by the stories about other Scholars and felt so humbled to share the podium with such incredible young people. I list the Scholars Banquet award evening as among the most meaningful in my life to date. I look back on it as a signature of my connection and indebtedness to the place I will forever call home.” Scholar, Saint George’s School