Skyview Scholarship Fund awards nearly $20,000 to graduating seniors

SALMON CREEK — On June 9, at the Skyview Senior Awards Ceremony, the Skyview Scholarship Fund awarded six financial grants totaling $19,500 to seniors in support of their college education.

Scholarships of $1,500 in recognition of Outstanding Achievement were given to Jaden Davis, who will attend Grand Canyon University; Michael Helde, who will attend University of Washington; and Emily Avendano, who will attend University of California Irvine.

Three seniors were awarded $5,000 each. Sophie Cadran received Outstanding Student in the Arts and will attend Western Washington University; Claire Russell received Outstanding Student in Leadership and will attend Purdue University; and Rachel Thacker was awarded the Payton May Outstanding Transfer Student scholarship and will attend Reed College.

The Skyview Scholarship Fund was started in the Fall of 2020. It operates as a committee under the umbrella of the nonprofit Skyview Booster Club.

The fund was originally initiated by Tom and Debra May to give back to the school that welcomed their daughter, Payton, as a sophomore transfer student in 2017.

With help from Principal Andy Meyer and supporters Rik Shiiki, Diane Berg, Rick and Jennifer Taylor, Mike Ripley and Whitney Mattocks, the fund grew from the idea of one scholarship for the Outstanding Transfer student to awarding grants totaling $19,500 to the class of 2022.