For the Reporter

The Kent School Board last month recognized Kentlake High School’s student leadership group for raising nearly $6,000 for the Valley Girls and Guys cancer support group, a Maple Valley-based nonprofit dedicated to giving back to those battling cancer and finding a cure for the disease.

Students from the leadership group presented Valley Girls and Guys with a $5,962.35 check and received a plaque from the board for the group’s efforts.

In October, Kentlake students raised more than $4,000 hosting a cancer awareness dinner and auction and a Dodge Cancer dodgeball tournament, and the football team got more than $1,000 selling pink socks. The donation will help Valley Girls and Guys provide chemo blankets to patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Kentridge’s Woo earns Seattle Swedish Community Scholarship

Kentridge High School’s Pearl Woo is one of seven students to earn a Seattle Swedish Community Scholarship. Since its inception, SSCS has awarded 212 scholarships totaling more than $427,000. Past recipients attended Washington universities and many institutions throughout the country, including MIT, Harvard, Cornell, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Reed and UCLA. Coincidentally, all 2015 winners will attend UW.

Scholarship awards are based on high school record, ACT or SAT test scores, extracurricular activities, financial need and personal interviews. There is no heritage requirement; all high school seniors in King County are welcome to apply. Six scholarships, ranging from $1500 to $3500, will be awarded in 2016. Applications for 2016 awards are now being accepted. To apply, visit Swedishclubnw.org/scholarships.htm and download the application form. All applications must be postmarked by U.S. Mail no later than March 31.

Green River College’s Murphy receives Teacher of Excellence Award

The Evergreen State College in Olympia recently honored Green River College’s Spencer Murphy with a Teacher of Excellence Award, which honors instructors who have made a significant impact on the lives of students.

Incoming Evergreen students were asked to nominate their former instructors for the award, presented by Dr. Michael Zimmerman, the college’s vice president for Academic Affairs and provost. “Most of us can point to a pivotal experience in our education when a teacher noticed, encouraged, or influenced us. Maybe that teacher bolstered our confidence; maybe she or he changed the course of our lives,” Zimmerman said. “Because Evergreen values the art and practice of high quality teaching, we ask incoming students to consider former instructors who made a profound positive impact. This award recognizes Spencer Murphy as a Teacher of Excellence who inspires and makes a real difference in students’ lives.”

Elsewhere

Kent’s Mason Johnson (sophomore, sociology, 3.5 or better) made the fall term honor roll at Oregon State University. …

Kent’s Bonshee Freeman earned a perfect 4.0 GPA and the dean’s list for the fall academic term at Warner Pacific College (Portland). …

Incoming Pacific Lutheran University student Brayden Seims, a resident of Kent, has been awarded a prestigious President’s Scholarship worth $25,000 a year – along with the opportunity to earn even more. PLU offers a number of merit scholarships to recognize academic achievement, leadership and service, as well as the promise of continued success in these areas as a PLU student. The Presidential Scholarships are renewable for three additional years of undergraduate study. More than 500 incoming first year students apply for Presidential Scholarships each year, and the standards are high: Students who have demonstrated significant leadership and service and have achieved a 3.8-plus GPA or 1250-plus SAT (critical reading and math only) or 28-plus ACT are eligible to apply. …

Kent’s Madeleine Grace, who attends Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing, was named to the dean’s academic honor roll for the fall semester. …

Kent’s Katherine Baker, Kendric Bizak, Keeton Hersey, Wyatt Kelly and Kyle Lutz made the Montana State University fall semester honor roll. …

Melanie Dillon, of Kent, made the president’s list at Cottey College (Nevada, Mo.) for fall semester. She is the daughter of Jeffrey and Kristine Dillon. Cottey College is an independent, liberal arts and science college for women. …

Kent’s Nicholas McDermott (bachelor of arts and bachelor of science , psychology and marketing) was named to the dean’s list at University of New Haven (Orange, Ct.) for fall semester. Full-time undergraduate students must have a 3.50 or better cumulative GPA for the semester to be eligible for the list.

The Western Washington University students from Kent recently graduated with the following degrees: Brianna Barnes (BS, biology, molecular and cell emphasis); Raquele Blondet (BA, business administration); Nardeep Kaur (BA, American cultural studies); Kayla Newlon (BA, recreation); and Jaspaul Sohal (BS, computer science). …

Zak Buckles (junior, psychology); Emily Jazbutis (senior, accounting); Tyler Ridings (freshman, management); and Britta Walen (junior, English) made the dean’s list at George Fox University (Newberg, Ore.) for fall semester. …

Kent’s Corwin Carson received his degree (BA, cinema and media communication) at George Fox’s midyear commencement ceremony on Dec. 19. …

Kent’s Margaret Schiffman has earned her degree (BA, psychology) from Bethel University (St. Paul, Minn.).