Comcast honors high-achieving high school seniors through Leaders & Achievers scholarships

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

1. 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.