Who was chosen to receive one of the six $1,000 scholarships, put up by members of the Parkrose Business Association? Find out all about it, right here …
Mary Brown, of Bob Brown Tires, chooses from the wide offering of luncheon menu items at the Holiday Inn Airport meeting room.
Story by Alison Stoll, photos by David F. Ashton
Last month, we brought you the story about how members of the Parkrose Business Association (PBA) raised scholarship funds for their nonprofit association – all within a matter of minutes.
> CLICK HERE to read that story!
The six Parkrose High School seniors now chosen to receive a $1,000 scholarship each, were introduced at the association’s meeting on May 20.
Alison Stoll, Executive Director of Central Northeast Neighbors, and a member of the PBA Scholarship Committee, introduces the 2010 Parkrose Scholars.
We asked Alison Stoll, a member of the PBA Scholarship Committee, for notes made about each of this year’s awardees.
Instead of a few cryptic notes, Alison Stoll sent a great article that we’ve lightly edited:
It is amazing, given our economy, that a group of neighborhood business people generously gave $4,750 in about 5 minutes at a PBA meeting!
Special thanks to Marsha Lee, Chairperson for our Parkrose Business Foundation Scholarship Committee. She coordinates with Meg Kilmer at Parkrose High School, and hand-delivers packets of completed student applications to each of our committee members. This year’s committee included Mary and Bob Brown, Judy Kennedy, Marsha Lee, and [Alison Stoll].
Scholarship committee Chair,Marsha Lee, who is with Copy Express, stands, to be recognized for her efforts.
Being a Scholarship Committee Member is very rewarding, but also bittersweet. It is so much fun to be able to present six students with a $1,000 scholarship each. It is so hard to read, interview, and choose only 6 students from 28 applicants, each of whom is worthy of a scholarship. The six students chosen were the “shining stars” of the group.
These young men and women have collectively given our community over 1,000 volunteer hours. Some of the organizations they helped were the Parkrose Farmers Market, Special Olympics, Outdoor School, Grotto Festival of Lights, Red Cross, Oregon Food Bank, Saint Vincent de Paul, Rose Festival, Girl Scouts, Portland Race for the Cure, Portland Marathon, Portland Youth Soccer, National Night Out, Argay Neighborhood Cleanup, and many other worthy causes.
Our scholarship recipients are involved in Varsity Sports, including, Football, Tennis, Volleyball, and Soccer. We have Band members and A Capella Choir members, National Honor Society, Student Government, German Club, Mock Trial, and We the People.
It is just amazing all of the accomplishments of these young people. Many of them hold part-time jobs while maintaining terrific GPAs.
Becci Read (Parkrose High’s 2010 Portland Rose Festival Princess) accepts her scholarship from Mary Brown, of Bob Brown Tires.
Becci Read wants to become a Pediatric Physical Therapist. She plans to attend Pacific University, and will major in Psychology or Exercise Science. Becci is a member of the National Honor Society, Mock Trial, German Club, We the People, and Student Government. She is a 4-year Varsity setter for the Volleyball team. Becci is a member of the Parkrose Rose Festival Court. She enjoys Girl Scouts, and volunteering for Portland Race for the Cure, the Portland Marathon, and Red Cross blood drives.
Cody Bennett receives his scholarship from Bob Brown, of Bob Brown Tires.
Cody Bennett plans to attend Oregon State University and major in German. Cody is the President of the German Club, and is in the National Honor Society. He played on the Varsity Football and Wrestling teams, and was a member of the Parkrose Band. Cody has served twice as an Outdoor School Counselor, and has volunteered to distribute food with Clarks Center and Transition Projects.
Molly Voorhees accepts her check and plaque from Judy Kennedy, of Pacific Northwest Credit Union.
Molly Voorhees would like to major in nursing and would like go to a university right here in Portland. Molly played Varsity tennis for 3 years, and is a member of the National Honor Society. Molly volunteers at the Parkrose Farmers’ Market and the Grotto Festival of Lights. For her school project she sewed blankets for the Linus Project, which gives small blankets to hospitalized children. Molly is an entrepreneur and the proud owner of her own business – the Traveling Coffee Cart.
Marco Benois’ scholarship is presented by his magnet school’s director, Michael Taylor, of the ACE Academy.
Marco Benois plans to attend Oregon State University, and major in Construction Management. He would like to own his own construction business one day. Marco attended ACE Academy and discovered that he wanted to manage construction projects, after interning as a carpenter and painter. Marco is a 4-year Varsity Soccer player. He has worked summers as a volunteer youth soccer coach, and coach of the Parkrose Soccer team. Marco also volunteers at the Parkrose Farmers’ Market.
Melissa Lewis cheerfully accepts her scholarship from Marsha Lee of Copy Express.
Melissa Lewis wants to major in Political Science – and then attend law school, in order to represent children who might not have a voice. She is a member of the National Honor Society. Melissa enjoys volunteering with the Grotto Festival of Lights, National Night Out, Saint Vincent de Paul, and the Oregon Food Bank. She plans to go overseas to volunteer at an orphanage over the upcoming winter break.
Because she was away at a sports meet, this Parkrose Scholar, AnhThu Tran, couldn’t attend the luncheon. Contributed photo
AnhThu Tran is majoring in pre-med, and hopes to become a pediatrician. AnhThu plans to attend the University of California at Irvine. She has lettered in Varsity Tennis for four years, and is currently the team Captain. She has played Varsity Volleyball for three years. She is a member of National Honor Society and A Capella Choir. AnhThu volunteers for the Grotto Festival of Lights, Leukemia and Lymphoma, the Red Cross, and Naomi Walks.
Parkrose High School Principal Ana Gonzalez accepts the annual Parkrose Scholar’s plaque from Marsha Lee.
Meet the Parkrose Business Association members
On Thursday, June 17, the Parkrose Business Association gets together at 11:30 a.m. This month: Jerry Moss of the Portland Winterhawks will talk about their amateur sports program.
Note: This month’s meeting is at The Grotto, at NE 85th and Sandy Boulevard, in their terrace-level meeting room. The meeting is free, and the buffet lunch is $17, including dessert and gratuity; reservations are NOT required. For more information, see their web site: CLICK HERE.
© 2010 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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