Soroptimist International of the Olympic Rain Forest honored 2023 scholarship recipients at their Awards Night, Thursday, May 25. Scholarships were awarded in nine categories totaling just under $40,000.

Soroptimist Scholarships are awarded to female high school graduates through a competitive application process and are funded in large part by money raised at the Festival of Trees. This year scholarships were awarded to Hannah Gates, Leslie Hernandez Beltran, Bridgett Jacobson, Allyson McCommon, Maren McCracken, Morgan Rule, Riley Smith, and Kadie Wood.

Recipients of Soroptimist Renewal Scholarships are selected from applications submitted by female college students who received a “first-time” Soroptimist Scholarship when they graduated high school. This year renewal scholarships were awarded to Natalie Lausche, Kayci Trettevik, and Nicole Winger.

Roger Hull Scholarships are funded by the Hull Family Foundation and are awarded to male and female graduating seniors and former graduates who are completing their degrees but have not previously received a Hull Scholarship. These Hull Scholarship funds are managed by Clallam County United Way and the competitive application process is managed locally by SIORF. This year’s scholarships were awarded to Grady Earls, Amya Hampton, Michelle Hunt, Leslie Hernandez Beltran, Bridgett Jacobson, Camryn Kennedy, Bailee Kratzer, Allyson McCommon, Ryan Rancourt, and Onyx Nova Raupp.

Recipients of Hull Renewal Scholarships are selected from applications submitted by college students who have previously received a “first-time” Hull Scholarship. Scholarships this year went to Antonia Juaquin Pedro, Brenna King, and Savannah Meyer.

Prue Miller Memorial Scholarships are awarded to college students who are going into their junior or senior year of college to help them complete their degree. This year’s recipients are Chloe Leverington and Kayci Trettevik. This scholarship was started last year by anonymous donors in memory of former Soroptimist member and active Forks volunteer Prue Miller who passed away Spring of 2020. SIORF chose to match the donors’ annual donation so that two scholarships could be awarded in her name each year.

Cindy Mesenbrink Education Scholarships are given to college students who are going into their junior or senior year of college and working toward a teaching degree in K-12 education. This is a new scholarship funded by an anonymous donor who will be continuing it each year. Additional donors added to the amount available for 2023. This scholarship honors the teaching career and compassion of retired teacher Cindy Mesenbrink and seeks to promote excellence in future teachers. Recipients for 2023 are Madelyn Archibald and Nicole Winter.

One Diane Demorest Memorial Scholarship is given each year to a student accepted into a nursing program or other medical field. This scholarship is funded by SIORF and is given in memory of Diane Demorest, former SIORF member and nurse on the West End who passed away from breast cancer. The scholarship this year was awarded to Amya Hampton. Although Amya is a graduating senior, she completed her AA through Running Start and has been accepted into her program to become a radiographer and hopes to eventually work at Forks Community Hospital.

A Special Nursing Award was also presented this year to Michelle Hunt, a member of our community who is returning to school to become a nurse. This was made possible by one of our Women in the Community award winners returning her award money and directing it to our scholarship program.

SIORF also reached out for applications for the Janet Marion Memorial Nursing Scholarship, which was established in 2022 by memorial donations in honor of Janet Marion, a long-time SIORF member and West End nurse who passed away in 2021. Although no applications were received this year, SIORF will open the scholarship up for applications again next Spring. This scholarship is for a nurse currently or planning to work on the West End who is working toward a degree or certification to enhance their nursing skills.

“SIORF would like to thank the community for their support of fundraising events that benefit these scholarships and to thank the Hull Family and other scholarship donors who entrusted us with the management of their scholarships,” says Sue Trettevik, Scholarship Committee Chair. “It is a privilege to help students attend technical colleges, two-year community colleges, and four-year universities enroute to their amazing and diverse goals and dreams for the future.”

Roger Hull Scholarship recipients (left to right): Amya Hampton, Bridgett Jacobson, Allyson McCommon, Ryan Rancourt and Onyx Nova Raupp. Not pictured: Camryn Kennedy, Grady Earls, Michelle Hunt, Leslie Hernandez Beltran, and Bailee Kratzer.

Soroptimist Renewal Scholarship recipients: Natalie Lausche, Kayci Trettevik, and Nicole Winger (all unable to attend Awards Night). Pictured: Jolene Winger accepted her daughter Nicole’s certificate. Nicole also received a Cindy Mesenbrink Education Scholarship along with Madelyn Archibald (not pictured).

Violet Richardson Volunteer Award recipient Julieanne Haag with Ronda Cole, Foundation Awards Committee Chair.

Prue Miller Memorial Scholarship recipients: Chloe Leverington and Kayci Trettevik. Pictured here are Sue Trettevik (Scholarship Committee Chair), Chloe Leverington, and Rosemary Sternbeck (Scholarship Committee member).

Soroptimist Scholarship recipients (left to right): Maren McCracken, Hannah Gates, Bridgett Jacobson, Allyson McCommon, and Riley Smith. Not pictured: Leslie Hernandez Beltran, Morgan Rule, and Kadie Wood.