See who the Parkrose Business Foundation chose this year to receive $2,000 scholarships …
Robyn René and Marsha Gabinger check in guests at the June Parkrose Business Association gathering held in a Holiday Inn Airport meeting room.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
At their June meeting, members and guests of the Parkrose Business Association (PBA) met two of the four “Parkrose Scholars” who were each provided an award of $2,000 to help with their continued education.
Scholars, PBA Members, and guests enjoy a delicious luncheon meal prior to the meeting. Among the guests was Parkrose School District Superintendent of Education, Dr. Karen Fischer Gray.
Judy Kennedy of Pacific Northwest Federal Credit Union, who chaired the PBA Scholarship Committee this year, couldn’t be there, so committee member Wayne Stoll presided in her absence.
Thumbing through a thick file of papers, Stoll said he held the 42 applications that were received from Parkrose High School students this year. “It was not an easy task, I assure you, to select ten applicant finalists to interview from these impressive applications,” he admitted.
Wayne Stoll of Century Associates reviews the history of the PBA’s Scholarship Program.
“It is sad that the committee must say ‘no’ to far too many applicants, and ‘yes’ to only a few,” Stoll said. “Each year, there are those who present themselves as extraordinary, and it is with great pleasure that we have the honor to introduce the 2014 Scholarship recipients to the membership today.”
Stoll reminded the members, guests, and scholars that, through their nonprofit arm – the Parkrose Business Foundation – they’ve awarded more than $70,000 in scholarship money to Parkrose High School graduating seniors over the years.
“All this money comes from businesses, neighbors, and friends of this program, here in the Parkrose area,” Stoll concluded. He called up Scholarship Committee members and Parkrose Scholars to receive their awards and plaques.
Parkrose Scholar Catherine Ngo receives her award from Scholarship Committee Member Alison Stoll.
Parkrose Scholar Catherine Ngo said she plans to attend Oregon State University.
“I have learned that perfection is nowhere close to a realistic ambition, but having that impossibly high goal has certainly pushed me to reach my fullest potential as both a scholar and a participant in my community,” Ngo said. “I intend to major in biology, and discover where that leads me.”
Her mother, Kim Sarich, accepts the award for Parkrose Scholar Emily Fern Sarich from Sharen Fowler with the Holiday Inn Airport.
Linfield College is the destination for Parkrose Scholar Emily Fern Sarich.
“I plan to study Environmental Sciences to become a teacher,” Sarich wrote to the committee. “With research and internship, I can see myself telling sixth graders at outdoor school to wipe mud on their faces, get a water sample, identify animal bones, or dissect a flower to find out how it works.”
Scholarship Committee Member Bob Roberts presents the award to Parkrose Scholar Kevin Lee Rogers.
Parkrose Scholar Kevin Lee Rogers said he plans to attend the University of Oregon.
“I want to go into Mental Health Counseling,” Rogers said. “I can’t think of a more fulfilling career than helping people when they are going through personal struggles whether young or old, as well as helping with substance abuse and relationship issues.”
PBA Vice President Jason Zwick tells about Parkrose Scholar Ailani Palacios-Tudela.
Due to a communications mishap, Parkrose Scholar Ailani Palacios-Tudela’s invitation to the Scholarship Awards Luncheon didn’t reach her.
However, Jason Zwick said that Palacios-Tudela plans to attend Portland State University.
“My plan is to continue my education and study chemistry or biochemistry,” Palacios-Tudela later wrote. “I’d like to become a teacher so that I can give back to a community that has done so me for me.”
Concluding the presentations, Wayne Stoll said, “These are leaders of tomorrow. These are the people who’ll be sitting here as members of the Parkrose this is a solution in the coming decades, doing what we all do.”
Stoll then presented “parting gifts”; T-shirts and caps, emblazoned with the logo of the scholars respective schools.
PBA VP Jason Zwick presents to Parkrose School District Superintendent of Education, Dr. Karen Fischer Gray, the perpetual PBA Scholarship Plaque, which includes the names of the 2014 awardees.
“I, and everyone in the school district, appreciate our fabulous kids; they are the only future we’ve got,” said Parkrose School District Superintendent of Education, Dr. Karen Fischer Gray as she accepted the return of the updated PBA Scholarship Plaque.
“But also, I have tremendous gratitude for the Parkrose Business Association throughout the year,” Fisher added. “We appreciate the depth of its generosity; it always astounds me. We really appreciate everything your organization does for kids.”
Parkrose Business Foundation
2014 Scholarship Honor Roll
American Sani-Can ~ Anonymous
Bob & Mary Brown ~ Century Associates
Columbia Bank ~ CARE
Dennis Harvey ~ Davey Tree & Expert
East Portland News ~ Historic Parkrose NPI
Hollywood Chiropractic ~ Hookset Automotive
Karen Taylor ~ Leadership Works
Mark Eves Attorney at Law~ Marsha Lee
Pacific Northwest Federal Credit Union
Parkrose Business Association
Parkrose Business Foundation
Parkrose Chevron ~ Parkrose Hardware
Parkrose School District ~ Portland Disposal
Signs Now ~ Jason Zwick State Farm Agent
PBA Calendar
July 17
The Parkrose Business Association meets again at 11:30 a.m. on July 17. Come and meet this group of fun, energized business people.
The meeting is at Holiday Inn Airport 8439 NE Columbia Boulevard (in the hotel building, around the back at the former “Flirt’s” entrance – not the Convention Center next door). The meeting is free, and the delicious hot buffet lunch is $17 including dessert and gratuity; reservations are NOT required.
Dennis Harvey again holds an Oregon Wine Tasting at his “solar home” in Washougal, Washington.
September 6
Plan now to attend this special fund raising event for the Parkrose Scholarship Fund.
Long-time PBA member Dennis Harvey is again holding an Oregon Wine Tasting event with Sommelier Ed Grubel presenting some of the State’s finest wines. Also tour their L.E.E.D. Platinum Home that derives 80% of its energy from the sun. Be entertained with live music, and nosh on “Outrageous Appetizers” provided by the Holiday Inn, Portland Airport.
The casual dress affair is $50.00 per person; for reservations, contact Marsha Lee at marsha.grab@gmail.com.
© 2014 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
click here to subscribe
