Alex Fleming, Author at Hood River County Education Foundation

Applications Open for 2024 HRCEF Impact Teaching Grants

Posted on November 2, 2023

Westside Elementary educators and a student with a new playground communication board funded by an HRCEF Impact Teaching Grant in 2023

Educators, start your laptops! Applications are now open for 2024 Impact Teaching Grants. The Hood River County Education Foundation has been providing grants to educators for over 25 years, and the Impact Teaching Grants program awards funds to teachers and staff who find better ways to teach, new subjects to explore and interesting experiments to try. The goal of the program is to provide the critical funds that will turn the best of these ideas into action. The program is open to any Hood River County School District teacher, staff, district employee or student.

Apply for an Impact Teaching Grant

HRCEF wants to support projects that enrich student learning through direct academic benefit, staff development or non-academic learning opportunities. Ideally, we are looking for innovative ideas that exhibit a creative or new approach, program, area of study or means of instruction, but we are open to awarding grants for items or ideas that significantly enhance student learning without being particularly innovative.

Grants will be considered based on cost-effectiveness, as well. We seek projects that impact a large number of students (either at one time or over a number of years) OR that involve a unique depth for a smaller number of students. Preference will be given to grants where two or more educators work together on a project, broadening the scope of impact and cost-effectiveness of grant monies. Educators are encouraged to pursue additional outside sources of funding either before or in addition to this grant, thus leveraging HRCEF’s funding as fully as possible.

Applications for HRCEF Impact Teaching Grants are open from

Wednesday, November 1, 2023 – Monday, January 8, 2024.

View Recipients of 2023 Impact Teaching Grants

HRVHS students designed and sewed their own hats and fanny packs as part of a 2022 Impact Teaching Grant project

The Education Foundation has been raising funds for this program from the community for many years. However, with teaching needs increasing, we have recently undertaken a more concerted effort to raise funds specifically for the Impact Teaching Grants program. Revenue from fundraising events is combined with individual annual or long-term targeted donations.

Make a Donation to the Impact Teaching Grants Fund

Questions about the HRCEF Impact Teaching Grants Program or your application?

Email HRCEF Director of Programs, Alex Fleming

alex.fleming@hoodriver.k12.or.us

Ticket Holder & Hood River County Schools Win Big at Toyota Raffle Drawing

Posted on September 20, 2023

Juan R. won a brand new 2023 Toyota Corolla at the Hood River v. The Dalles Football Game

Celebrations were in order after the long-awaited Hood River vs. The Dalles football game earlier this month. The Hood River Valley Eagles bested their rivals, the Riverhawks, with a final score of 35-18. After the game, one lucky Hood River County resident drove away in a brand new 2023 Toyota Corolla from Columbia Gorge Toyota, and HRCEF and Hood River County schools announced that they raised a whopping $40,000 to support extracurricular activities in the district.

Juan R. from Odell, whose son plays for the HRV football team, purchased a $10 raffle ticket at his son’s game. His ticket purchase paid off when representatives from Columbia Gorge Toyota called his name during the drawing at halftime. We are sure that Juan’s family will enjoy attending future football games in their new car!

The Hood River County School District raised a combined $27,400 after volunteers from PTOs, sports teams, and school clubs worked hard to sell tickets in the community over the past year. Many HRVHS athletic teams sold tickets to raise money for new equipment, and the HRVHS Performing Arts department didn’t break a sweat (or a leg) while raising over $3,000 for their performances. Meanwhile, the Mid Valley Elementary School PTO and administration are excited to use their $4,500 in funding to help with efforts to purchase and install a new playground for their students.

The Hood River County Education Foundation also raised ~$12,400 for the Opportunity Fund. The HRCEF Opportunity Fund supports extracurricular activities in the Hood River County School District with a focus on our middle schools. For the past two years, the Opportunity Fund has sponsored an intramural Footsall league for Hood River and Wy’East middle school students. Previously, this fund covered medical screening and other ‘pay to play’ fees for all middle school sports.

Make a Donation to the Opportunity Fund

Thank you to Columbia Gorge Toyota, all HRCSD volunteers, and everyone who purchased a raffle ticket for supporting athletics, clubs, and other activities in our schools.

Did you miss out on this year’s raffle? HRCEF, HRCSD, and Columbia Gorge Toyota will be partnering up once again to raffle off a 2024 Toyota Corolla LE. Stay tuned!

Congratulations to All 2023 HRCEF Scholarship Recipients!

Posted on June 5, 2023

All photos in this article by Noah Noteboom & Ronin Mendoza

Thanks to the generous support of grantors and the Hood River County community, the Hood River County Education Foundation will award a record $262,000 to 100 HRVHS graduates and alumni in 2023.

Every year HRCEF awards scholarships to HRVHS and HROA graduates pursuing their secondary education in a variety of fields. Among this year’s recipients are aspiring healthcare workers, artists, mechanics, engineers, thespians, agronomists, film makers, teachers, and research scientists. This year’s recipients have impressive resumes and even more impressive academic and professional aspirations. Congratulations to all of our high school, college, and continuing scholarship recipients! We wish you the best as you start this next chapter of your lives.

HRCEF High School Scholarship Recipients

Student	Scholarship
Areli Lica	AVID Scholarship
Danna Reyes-Pedroza	AVID Scholarship
Araceli Lopez Ayala Vanover	AVID Scholarship
Fatima Flores Gonzalez	AVID Scholarship
Uyen Le	AVID Scholarship
Jackelin Flores	AVID Scholarship
Reyli Morales	AVID Scholarship
John Beckman	Beachman / Jakku Scholarship
Valeria Torres	Beachman / Jakku Scholarship
Bryan Velasco	Beardsley Family Scholarship
Lara Clute	Beardsley Family Scholarship
Kiernan Chown	Bev & Jay Bryant Memorial Scholarship
Anayeli Avalos	HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship
Annika Trainer	HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship
Catherine Shuster	HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship
Cole Cantrell	HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship
Fatima Flores Gonzalez	HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship
Jackelin Flores	HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship
Mallory McNerny	HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship
Ruby Betzinger	HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship
Sadie Smith	HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship
Sarah Routson	HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship
Zayd Ziada	HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship
Karol Nájera Pérez	HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship
Noah McElheran	Butch Gehrig Memorial Scholarship
Mallory McNerney	Butch Ogawa Memorial Scholarship
Cole Cantrell	Butch Ogawa Memorial Scholarship
Yarisa Magana Pedroza	Carmen's Route Scholarship
Dario Guadarrama	Carmen's Route Scholarship
Maximus Trujillo	Cascade Locks Alumni Scholarship
Uyen Le	Cascade Locks Alumni Scholarship
Jaiden Hernandez	Cascade Locks Alumni Scholarship
Jacob Bustamante	Cascade Locks Alumni Scholarship
Catalina Kurihara	Cascade Locks Alumni Scholarship
Anayeli Avalos	Duckwall Pooley Sons & Daughters Scholarship
Vivian Navarro Cortes	Duckwall Pooley Sons & Daughters Scholarship
Yarisa Magana Pedroza	Eagles Valedictorian Scholarship
John Beckman	Earl C. Koberg Scholarship
Giselle Gonzalez	Earl C. Koberg Scholarship
Araceli Lopez Ayala Vanover	Earl C. Koberg Scholarship
Uyen Le	Earl C. Koberg Scholarship
Oscar Juarez	Earl C. Koberg Scholarship
Yarisa Magana Pedroza	Earl C. Koberg Scholarship
Catherine Shuster	Henry Lin Memorial Scholarship
Hailey Stuben	Isabel Gilkerson Memorial Scholarship
Isaiah Poole	Isabel Gilkerson Memorial Scholarship
Reyli Morales	Isabel Gilkerson Memorial Scholarship
Ashyn Hughes	Jeff & Melissa Rippey Scholarship
Noah McElheran	Jeff & Melissa Rippey Scholarship
Kevin Castro	Jeff & Melissa Rippey Scholarship
Zachary Perryman	Jeff & Melissa Rippey Scholarship
Oakley Asai	Jeff & Melissa Rippey Scholarship
John Beckman	Jim Carnes Memorial Scholarship
Areli Lica	John & Martha Weber Memorial Scholarship
Natalie Godkin	Marie Asai Memorial Scholarship
Giovanni Magana	Mary Clifford Memorial Scholarship
Lilliana Wyers	Mary Clifford Memorial Scholarship
Matoska Silva	Masami "Min" Asai Memorial Scholarship
Bailey Frasier	Megan Perkins Memorial Scholarship
Joseline Lulo-Virgen	Mike's Ice Cream Scholarship
Maria Yesenia Castaneda Garcia	Mike's Ice Cream Scholarship
Hailey Stuben	Monte Hull Memorial Scholarship
Isaiah Poole	Monte Hull Memorial Scholarship
Ruby Betzinger	Parkdale Elementary Alumni Scholarship
Karol Nájera Pérez	Parkdale Elementary Alumni Scholarship
Oscar Juarez	Parkdale VFW Scholarship
Kaylyn Stanphill	Phil Brady Memorial Scholarship
Danna Reyes-Pedroza	Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Careers Aileen Gaddy Scholarship
Emma Titus	Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Careers Doris Galvez Scholarship
Dameon Soloronzo	Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Careers Dr. Cory Johnston Scholarship
Jacob Sosa	Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Careers Dr. Robert Gobbo Scholarship
Ella Wavruneck	Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Careers Jamie Hanshaw Scholarship
Giselle Gonzalez	Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Careers Jan Brauer, RN Scholarship
John Beckman	Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Careers Jim Clair Scholarship
Delia Skakel	Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Careers Medical Staff Sandy Wood Scholarship
Sophia Hickman	Rentner Rust, PC Scholarship
Kevin Castro	Rodger A. Schock Memorial Scholarship
Calla King	Ryan Bowe Memorial Scholarship
Natalie Godkin	Sally H. Connell Memorial Scholarship
Emma Titus	Steve Gates Memorial Scholarship
Hailey Stuben	Susan Kay McCarthy Memorial Scholarship
Zan Lapp	Susanna Blake Gabay Memorial Scholarship
Delia Skakel	Susanna Blake Gabay Memorial Scholarship
Theo Levine	Susanna Blake Gabay Memorial Scholarship
Uyen Le	Taro "Tot" Asai Memorial Scholarship
Emma Titus	Ted Webber Memorial Scholarship
Lucas Elliot	Ted Webber Memorial Scholarship

HRCEF College Scholarship Recipients

HRCEF college scholarships are open to students who have graduated from Hood River Valley High School, and will be in their sophomore, junior or senior years of college starting in the Fall of 2024.

Student	Scholarship
Abigail Loihl	HRCEF Board of Directors College Scholarship
Adriana Trejo	HRCEF Board of Directors College Scholarship
Brissa Elias-Rojas	HRCEF Board of Directors College Scholarship
Cassandra Moreno	HRCEF Board of Directors College Scholarship
Cherlyn Hernandez	HRCEF Board of Directors College Scholarship
Lizzette Garcia	HRCEF Board of Directors College Scholarship
Maxwell Spears	HRCEF Board of Directors College Scholarship
Micah Poole	HRCEF Board of Directors College Scholarship
Aleyah Klapprich	Cascade Locks Alumni Association College Scholarship
Emily Sullenger	Cascade Locks Alumni Association College Scholarship
Maria Bustos Ramos	Diana Carroll Education Scholarship
Maxwell Spears	Janet C. Thompson Memorial Scholarship
Genaro Martinez	Jesse Elder Memorial Scholarship
Samia Rodriquez Pineda	Martha & John Weber Memorial Scholarship
Adrian Cardenas Mejia.	Mary Clifford Memorial College Scholarship
Estefani Reyes Moreno	Mary Clifford Memorial College Scholarship
Maria Bustos Ramos	Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Careers College Anna Springs Scholarship
Dilma Lachino-Galendo	Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Careers College Blessed Emilie Gamelin Scholarship
Yazalea Heredia	Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Careers College Mother Joseph Scholarship
Aleyah Klapprich	Rosenback Family Scholarship
Chantal Sanchez Avalos	Ruth & Horace Daum Memorial Scholarship
Emiliano Ramirez	Ruth & Horace Daum Memorial Scholarship
Ernesto Jaimes Ravadan	Ruth & Horace Daum Memorial Scholarship
Estefani Reyes Moreno	Ruth & Horace Daum Memorial Scholarship
Monserrat Beltran Juarez	Ruth & Horace Daum Memorial Scholarship
Samia Rodriguez Pineda	Ruth & Horace Daum Memorial Scholarship

HRCEF Continuing Scholarship Recipients

These students were awarded multi-year scholarships. In 2023 HRCEF awarded over $88,000 to continuing scholars who graduated from HRVHS. Congratulations to our continuing scholars!

Student	Scholarship
Alejandro Morales	Cohn Family Scholarship
Sandra Castillo Palacios	Carmen's Route Scholarship
Genaro Martinez	Carmen's Route Scholarship
Edith Gonzaga-Soto	Carmen's Route Scholarship
Marlene Chamonica Galindo	Carmen's Route Scholarship
Jacquelyn Garcia-Angulo	Carmen's Route Scholarship
Nazareth Chavarria-Anzo	Carmen's Route Scholarship
Leo Parsons	Hogg Family Scholarship
Hannah Dorr	Isabel Gilkerson Memorial Scholarship
Micah Poole	Isabel Gilkerson Memorial Scholarship
Ernesto Jaimes Ravadan	Isabel Gilkerson Memorial Scholarship
Grace Clute	Isabel Gilkerson Memorial Scholarship
Benjamin Garafalo	Isabel Gilkerson Memorial Scholarship
Jesse Flores	Isabel Gilkerson Memorial Scholarship
Jesse Lachino	Isabel Gilkerson Memorial Scholarship
Dilma Lachino-Galindo	Isabel Gilkerson Memorial Scholarship
Cassandra Moreno	Jeff & Melissa Rippey Scholarship
Emmanuel Romero	Jeff & Melissa Rippey Scholarship
Yuliana Delgado Contreras	Jeff & Melissa Rippey Scholarship
Jocelyn Torres Flores	Jeff & Melissa Rippey Scholarship
Miyana Robertson	Jeff & Melissa Rippey Scholarship
Amelia Huxtable	Marie Asai Memorial Scholarship
Grace Guertin	Marie Asai Memorial Scholarship
Stella Waag	Marie Asai Memorial Scholarship
Cassandra Moreno	Rodger A. Schock Memorial Scholarship
Alighery Jimenez Lozano	St. Francis House Scholarship

HRCEF College Applications Now Open!

Posted on March 13, 2023

The Hood River County Education Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2023 College Scholarship cycle. HRCEF College scholarships are open to HRVHS & HROA graduates pursuing two-year, four-year and trade degrees.

Click Here to Apply for College Scholarships

Applications are open Monday, March 13 – Monday, April 17, 2023

Who is Eligible for HRCEF College Scholarships?

HRCEF college scholarships are open to students who have graduated from Hood River Valley High School, and will be in their sophomore, junior or senior years of college starting in the Fall of 2023.

Students currently enrolled in a Master’s, Doctorate, or post Doctoral program are not eligible. Scholarships funds are intended for undergraduate programs, graduate and postgraduate programs are not eligible for funding.

The Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Hands Scholarship is also open to HRVHS graduates who have not yet started college, but plan to enroll in the fall of 2023.

What Do I Need to Apply?

HRCEF College Scholarships operate by common application. To apply, for college scholarships, students will need to provide:

Two letters of recommendation
- One letter from an instructor, preferably in your field of study
- One letter from an instructor, employer, volunteer supervisor, or mentor
College Transcript (pdf)
Financial Statement (questions on application)
Personal Statement
FAFSA SAR – or – the first and last page of your ORSAA

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Number Available	Award Amount	School / Degree	Additional Notes
HRCEF Board of Directors Scholarship Fund	3+ (Varies)	$1000 – $2000 (Varies)	Trade, Two-year, or four-year	These scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the HRCEF Board annually. There are no GPA or other eligibility requirements.
Mary Clifford College Scholarship	2	$2500	Trade, Two-year, or four-year	Student must demonstrate financial need
Ruth and Horace Daum Memorial Scholarship	6	$2000	Trade, Two-year, or four-year	Student must be studying nursing, music, or the sciences
Cascade Locks Alumni Association Scholarship	1+	$2000	Trade, Two-year, or four-year	Must have lived in Cascade Locks while attending HRVHS. 2.5 cumulative GPA minimum
Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Healing Careers Scholarship	3	$2000	Trade, Two-year, or four-year	Must be pursuing a degree/career in healthcare or human services Recipient may be HRVHS alum who is not currently enrolled in college
Jesse Elder Memorial Scholarship	1	$1500	Trade, Two-year, or four-year
Rosenback Family College Scholarship	1	$1500	Trade, Two-year, or four-year	Must have lived in Cascade Locks while attending HRVHS. 2.5 cumulative GPA minimum
Diana Carroll Education Scholarship	1	$1500	Trade, Two-year, or four-year	Student must be pursuing degree in education with intent to teach upon graduating
Martha and John Weber College Scholarship	1	$1000	Community College or Trade School	3.0 cumulative GPA minimm
Nathan Hazlett Memorial Scholarship	1	$1000	Any Aviation Degree	Student must be pursuing a career as a pilot
Janet C. Thompson Memorial Scholarship	1	$250	Trade, Two-year, or four-year	Students must be a music major, preferably vocal performance 3.0 cumulative GPA minimum

About HRCEF Foundation

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