Hood River Valley High School seniors went home from Scholarship Awards Night with over $75,750 in Hood River County Education Foundation (HRCEF) funds for their post-secondary educations.   In addition, the Education Foundation announced that recipients of HRCEF Continuing College scholarships will receive over $41,250, for a total record disbursement of $117,000 in HRCEF Scholarships this year.

The Education Foundation manages 32 freshman scholarship funds and six continuing college scholarships, donated by Hood River residents and their friends and families.  In addition, five freshman scholarships may be renewed for additional years.

Sixty-three different scholarships were awarded to 50 HRV students in the class of 2018, with some students receiving up to three scholarships.  Eighteen continuing college scholarships were awarded to HRVHS graduates for their 2018-19 sophomore, junior or senior years in college.

“Scholarships send several important messages to our graduates” said Chuck Bugge, former superintendent and current HRCEF Scholarship Chair.  “First and foremost: Our community cares about our young adults and wants them to succeed; second: high school is not their last step in furthering their education; and lastly: achievement and excellence has its rewards.  Many of these young men and women go on to excel in college or a specialized training program and return to improve our community. They become our leaders of tomorrow.  I can think of no better investment”.

The Cascade Locks Alumni Association and the James and Wayne Holman Fund awarded two freshman scholarships and seven continuing college scholarship this year, continuing a long tradition of support for post-secondary education to Cascade Locks students from their own community.  New scholarships this year included the Hogg Family Scholarship, Beardsley Family Scholarship, Jim Carnes Memorial Scholarship, and Carmen’s Route Scholarship, all funded by local families in the Gorge.

One of the most unique HRCEF scholarships is the Nathan Hazlett Memorial Scholarship which provides funding for an aviation degree for a student wanting to be a professional pilot.

Scholarship donations to HRCEF in any amount can be made by clicking on the orange “contribute” button above or by check sent to 1009 Eugene St., Hood River, OR 97031, or by calling 541-387-5713.

HRVHS CLASS OF 2018 HRCEF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Courtney Castaneda	Antonio Dominguez Memorial Scholarship Fund
Alexis Montoya Santillan	Antonio Dominguez Memorial Scholarship Fund
JJ Mears	Beachman Jakku Memorial Scholarship Fund
Amy Webber	Beachman Jakku Memorial Scholarship Fund
Areli Tostado-Padilla	Beardsley Family Scholarship
Sarah Hall	Butch Ogawa Memorial Scholarship Fund
Tanner Wells	Butch Ogawa Memorial Scholarship Fund
Yahaira Chavarria-Mondragon	Carmen’s Route
Sarah Sullenger	Cascade Locks Alumni Scholarship Fund
Patti Orozco	Chen Scholarship Fund
Lauren Church	Dalbey-Wilson Scholarship Fund
Lauren Hegeman	Dalbey-Wilson Scholarship Fund
Amber Kennedy	Dalbey-Wilson Scholarship Fund
Makena Zorza	Dalbey-Wilson Scholarship Fund
Daisy Matias	Duckwall Pooley Sons & Daughters Scholarship Fund
Joaquin Solis	Duckwall Pooley Sons & Daughters Scholarship Fund
Ella Rand	Eagles Valedictorian Scholarship Fund
Bruce Bradbury III	Earl Koberg Memorial Scholarship Fund
Saul Chavarria-Barrera	Earl Koberg Memorial Scholarship Fund
Chloe Clark	Earl Koberg Memorial Scholarship Fund
Mason Leavitt	Earl Koberg Memorial Scholarship Fund
Brycen Polzel	Earl Koberg Memorial Scholarship Fund
Ella Rand	Earl Koberg Memorial Scholarship Fund
Lily Galvez-Galzada	Henry Lin Memorial Scholarship Fund
Josephine Summersett	Hogg Family Scholarship
Sarah Sullenger	James & Wayne Holman Memorial Scholarship Fund
Areli Tostado-Padilla	Jim Carnes Family Scholarship
Jazmin Palacios-Barajas	John and Martha Weber Memorial Scholarship Fund
Jairo Munoz-Centeno	Johnisee Family Scholarship
Ella Rand	Marie Asai Memorial Scholarship
Natasha Muenzer	Masami (Min) Asai Memorial Scholarship Fund
Beatriz Galvez	Mike’s Ice Cream Scholarship Fund
Brisa Castillo Palacios	Parkdale Elementary Alumni Scholarship Fund
Hannah McNerney	Parkdale Elementary Alumni Scholarship Fund
Wade Pickering	Parkdale Elementary Alumni Scholarship Fund
Josephine Summersett	Parkdale Elementary Alumni Scholarship Fund
Sara Zeman	Parkdale Elementary Alumni Scholarship Fund
Brisa Castillo Palacios	Parkdale Growers Scholarship Fund
Jazmin Palacios-Barajas	Parkdale Growers Scholarship Fund
Sara Zeman	Parkdale VFW Scholarship Fund
Marcela Macias Pena	Providence Hood River Memorial Health Care Scholarship
Andrea Marquez	Providence Hood River Memorial Health Care Scholarship
Hannah Sosa	Providence Hood River Memorial Health Care Scholarship
Maricela Castro-Rodriguez	Providence Hood River Memorial Helping Hands Scholarship
Natalie Lapierre	Providence Hood River Memorial Helping Hands Scholarship
Kaelin Warren	Providence Hood River Memorial Helping Hands Scholarship
Connor Truax	Ryan Bowe Memorial Scholarship Fund
JJ Mears	Sally H. Connell Memorial Scholarship Fund
Alexis Montoya Santillan	Susan McCarthy Memorial Scholarship Fund
Maritsa Ibarra-Sierra	Susanna Blake Gabay Scholarship Fund
Connor Truax	Taro (Tot) Asai Memorial Scholarship Fund
Maricela Castro-Rodriguez	Ted Webber Scholarship Fund
Yasmeen Ziada	Ted Webber Scholarship Fund
Connor Truax	HRCEF Film Festival Scholarship
Elizabeth Bailey	HRCEF Scholarship
Sophie Caldwell	HRCEF Scholarship
Lodi Castillo	HRCEF Scholarship
Sara Hamada	HRCEF Scholarship
Adam Harter	HRCEF Scholarship
Jacqueline Oropeza-Castro	HRCEF Scholarship
Finn Peterson	HRCEF Scholarship
Aidan Tappert	HRCEF Scholarship
Grace Whitmore	HRCEF Scholarship

 

Continuing College Scholarship Recipients for 2018-2019

Sarita Viramontes-Verduzco Ruth and Horace Daum Scholarship Madelin Herman Ruth and Horace Daum Scholarship Carmen Baeza Ruth and Horace Daum Scholarship Aaron Lachino-Pinon Ruth and Horace Daum Scholarship Samantha Thompson Ruth and Horace Daum Scholarship Sean Grey Ruth and Horace Daum Scholarship Miranda Dezurick John and Martha Weber Scholarship Mayra Cordova Jesse Elder Memorial Scholarship Samantha Thompson Janet C. Thompson Memorial Scholarship James Baeza Nathan Hazlett Memorial Scholarship Paulina Le Cascade Locks Alumni Association Scholarship Andrea Martinez Cascade Locks Alumni Association Scholarship Alex Munoz Cascade Locks Alumni Association Scholarship Lydia Driver Cascade Locks Alumni Association Scholarship Ashlee Zach Cascade Locks Alumni Association Scholarship Paulina Le James and Wayne Holman Memorial Scholarship Andrea Martinez James and Wayne Holman Memorial Scholarship Sebastian Barajas Oates Family Scholarship

 

 

 

 

 

The Hood River County Education Foundation declared its first-ever fundraising gala a success. Supporters from throughout the Gorge gathered February 3^rd, 2018 for a dinner and auction event at the Best Western Hood River Inn in Hood River. The Foundation raised over $40,000 to support their Innovative Teaching Grants Program, which awards funds to teachers and staff who find better ways to teach, new subjects to explore and interesting experiments to try.

 

The Gala showcased projects spanning from the arts to the sciences, all made possible with the help of programs established by the Foundation. Entertainment featured activities funded in part by HRCEF: the Westside Elementary Ukestra (ukulele orchestra) and the Hood River Valley High School Chamber Singers. Additionally, an engineering lesson was provided by Kathryn Davis, a science teacher at HRVHS, and Daniella Valle, a junior at HRVHS. Davis and Valle presented an overview of the Family STEM Night they are hosting at local elementary schools with their 2017 Innovative Teaching Grant and then led an apropos activity where all the attendees built towers with dollar bills in a competition between tables.

 

With bid numbers in hand, attendees showed their support for the Foundation during a live auction with auctioneer David Griffith of Griffith Motors. Generously donated auction items included stays at Whistler and Pacific City, various wine packages, a private cooking class with Lucia Von Flotow, and more. The Slopeswell Party, proved to be so popular amongst bidders that the donor was convinced by the crowd to offer a second party and was auctioned off twice.

 

The night ended with a paddle raise, with Griffith and Foundation board member Chrissy Reitz lyrically calling out bids and cajoling bidders to one-up each other. “The crowd was large, enthusiastic and very generous. The paddle raise at the end exceeded $16,000 by itself. What an effort. I have never been more proud to be a board a member,” said Mike Schend, Foundation board member since it began.

 

The event was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Insitu, The Boeing Company, Cardinal Glass, Hood Tech Vision, Copper West Properties, Celilo Restaurant, Indian Creek Family Eye Care, INB, Doug’s Sports, Bruce Burton Dentistry, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Columbia River Insurance, Hogg & Davis and Thread Creative.

 

The Hood River County Education Foundation enhances educational experiences for students in the Hood River County School District by providing financial support for programs, services, and scholarships. In 2017, the Foundation distributed $81,500 in scholarship funds, and through the Opportunity Fund supported 178 low-income middle school students in participating in sports and activities.  Innovative Teaching Grants totaling over $34,000 were awarded in 2018.

Thank you to our many generous donors! With your help, we exceeded our goal and raised over $14,000 from our Membership Drive in December.  The Education Foundation runs entirely off of donations, and memberships are a great way for businesses and individuals to help support all of our programs in an affordable way.  From college scholarship, to classroom grants for teachers and staff, to middle school sports access , we work hard to provide educational opportunities for all of the students in our District.  THANK YOU 2018 HRCEF MEMBERS!