We recently held a reception to honor some of the highest-achieving students in all of Washington State. The students, who graduated from high schools this year, have received Leaders and Achievers scholarships from Comcast.
Students are chosen directly by principals or counselors. The students represent everyone from student body presidents to students who’ve shown extraordinary leadership in clubs, churches, and other groups.
At the reception, held at Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry, a variety of people praised the youth and the adults who attended with them.
“You’re becoming part of the legacy of Washington that’s becoming magical. We do remarkable things,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. Reykdal put in an unashamed pitch that any students going off to other states for college should come back to Washington after graduation!
Event emcee Connie Thompson, a landmark of Seattle journalism at KOMO TV, encouraged the youth to follow different paths. Her original plan in life had been to be a choreographer. “Sometimes that first step leads you on a path that will take you to places you never knew you’d go,” Thompson told the youth.
The students also heard from inspirational entrepreneur Bojie Mageo who told them that hard work can make dreams come true.
For photos from the event and many images of the youth, please see our Flickr album. The photos above show the students as a group, as well as a group of them joking around with Thompson in front of a MOHAI display. Here’s a photo of Reykdal speaking to the youth:
Comcast NBCUniversal provided $80,000 in scholarships for the 2017-18 school year to 80 Washington State students as part of its annual Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program. The program, funded by the Comcast Foundation, recognizes the best and brightest high school seniors for their community service, academic performance and leadership skills.
Here are the names and schools of the seniors, organized by their city of residence.:
Auburn
Aradia E. Webb, Fife High School
Auburn
Hailey Starr, Muckleshoot Tribal School
Bellevue
Daniel R. Ko, Issaquah High School
Bellingham
Vivian C. Hua, Squalicum High School
Ryley L. Zapien, Meridian High School
Emma J.M. Clark, Sehome High School
Taylor C. Turk, Bellingham High School
Blaine
Kyrsten N. Morrow, Blaine High School
Bothell
Nwa-Amaka I. Esegbue, Bothell High School
Bothell
Jillian F. Bush, Inglemoor High School
Bow
Emma E. Rawls, Burlington-Edison High School
Bremerton
Mia A. Harris, Olympic High School
Buckley
Hailey C. Holm, Sumner Senior High School
Kailee E. Bruner, White River High School
Burien
Xavier A. Ajeto, Vashon Island High School
Andrew J. Neumann, Seattle Christian Schools
Centralia
Noah F. Thomas, Centralia High School
Chehalis
Andrew “Drew” Mann, W.F.West High School
Clinton
Bayley A. Gochanour, South Whidbey High School
Edmonds
Kialani A. Mackey, Edmonds-Woodway High School
Emma Tornow, King’s School
Elma
Lyle B. Burbidge, Montesano Junior-Senior High School
Enumclaw
Alexa C. DeMarco, Enumclaw High School
Everett
Kelly G. Vo, Cascade High School
Federal Way
Wyatt A. Loranger, Decatur High School
Ashley A. Palafox, Todd Beamer High School
Fox Island
Baxter M. Hershman, Gig Harbor High School
Gig Harbor
Nadira Ali, Peninsula High School
Granite Falls
Kory Matthew Glover, Granite Falls High School
Grayland
Enapay D. Croy, Ocosta Junior-Senior High
Issaquah
Harkiran Singh, Liberty High School
Kapowsin
Emily S. Padgett, Eatonville High School
Kent
Hana J. Lee, Thomas Jefferson High School
Carolyn K. Phung, Kentwood Senior High School
Kirkland
Grace R. Fleming, Juanita High School
Lake Forest Park
Connor J. Block, Shorecrest High School
Lake Stevens
Kevin H. West, Lake Stevens High School
Lakewood
Damita J. Gomez, Covenant High School
Lynden
Kristen M. Hewson, Lynden High School
Emmalee S. Bailey, Lynden Christian High School
Marysville
Alexa B. Kazen, Grace Academy
Mead
Ryan R. Ricks, Northwest Christian High School
Monroe
Jordan M. Roche, Monroe High School
Mount Vernon
Elizabeth K. Urban, Mount Vernon High School
Mukilteo
Isaiah F. Shigematsu, Kamiak High School
Oak Harbor
Caitlyn Jo Torres, Oak Harbor High School
Olympia
Jewel I. Bender, A.G. West Black Hills High School
Jayson M. Haury, Tumwater High School
Bella M. Hood, Olympia High School
Elizabeth G. Stottlemyre, Northwest Christian High School
Orting
Hannah S. Pacquing, Orting High School
Puyallup
Quinten J. Foster, Franklin Pierce High School
Emma G. Hodges, Puyallup Senior High School
Audrey M. Fernandez, Emerald Ridge High School
Rochester
Matilyn J. Ashton, Rochester High School
Sammamish
Colin R. James, Eastlake High School
Seattle
Megan J. Turner, Holy Names Academy
Alyssa K. Brown, Chief Sealth International High School
Julia M. Jackson, Ballard High School
Paul Ly, Cleveland High Schoo
- Quinn Smart, Ingraham High School
Sedro-Woolley
Ashley N. Wood, Sedro-Woolley High School
Shoreline
Ledia I. Musye, Shorewood High School
Jindi Yin, Cedar Park Christian Schools
Snohomish
Logan J. Stapleton, Snohomish High School
Dartagnan T. Phan, Henry M. Jackson High School
Spanaway
Annalisa Michelle Klein, Bethel High School
Spokane
Sydney M. Jones, West Valley High School
Abigail F. Hagan, Shadle Park High School
Colin Axtell, Rogers High School
Brianne M. Kosanke, North Central High School
Natasha A. Hathaway, On Track Academy
Hunter T. Hyde, Saint George’s School
Spokane Valley
Abigail R. Nurvic, Central Valley High School
Stanwood
Peyton W. Rex, Arlington Christian School
Tacoma
Noah A. Abu-Allan , Wilson High School
Andrew M. Schomogyi, Bellarmine Preparatory
Elijah-Joseph L. Lazaro, Spanaway Lake High School
University Place
Hae “Christine” Suh, Curtis Senior High School
Woodinville
Jacob T. Drechsel, The Bear Creek School
The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students who strive to achieve their full potential, who are catalysts for positive change in their communities, who are involved in their schools, and who serve as models for their fellow students. The philosophy behind the program is to give young people every opportunity to prepare for the future and to engage them in their communities. The program also demonstrates the importance of civic involvement, and the value placed on civic involvement by the business community.
This year, the program will award more than $2 million in scholarships to more than 2,000 students across the country to help them pursue higher education. Visit here to learn more.
