Scouting For Scholarships

They’ve raised millions of dollars in Spokane County, enough to make any company executive’s palms sweat and heart beat fast.

Banking on scholarship money to get them through college, members of the class of ‘95 have raked in more than $6,799,000.

“I wish I had it in my bank account,” said Darrell Driggs, a counselor at University High School.

University students pulled in the biggest money of the 14 schools in the county reporting their scholarship amounts. Of 340 graduating seniors, 86 earned scholarships totaling $1,517,020.

The dollar amounts are rough estimates, because schools use different accounting methods. Some report need-based grants, and others don’t. Some count all four years of a full-ride scholarship, and others count only the first year.

Despite all the large sums, it’s been a tough year for winning scholarships, most counselors say. College costs are rising, and more students are competing for fewer scholarship dollars. Students who in the past could count on financial need-based grants aren’t receiving as much money.

Many students are scrambling.

“The financial-aid packages coming in this year from the colleges were much smaller than last year, for students just as qualified,” said Lisa Staub, a counselor at Deer Park High School. “Everything has gotten tighter. Students need to look at getting scholarships as a part-time job.”

That’s what Janeil Stone did. The 18 year old, who just graduated as the valedictorian at Deer Park, started looking for scholarships at the beginning of the year.

Stone and her mother looked at scholarship books in the library and sent away letters for more information. Stone ended up applying for 31 scholarships, writing essays and answering questions.

“One of them asked me to pretend I was 50 years old, looking back at life,” Stone said. “I just said that I was an editor at a paper and that I had worked my way up by starting as a reporter at a small paper.”

Stone ended up winning five scholarships, including a Washington Scholar award that will pay four years of tuition at Washington State University in Pullman. If they were all used, her scholarships would be worth more than $15,000. About a dozen students at Deer Park won scholarships worth $55,000.

Mike Wiykovics, who just graduated from East Valley High School, pulled in five scholarships that would be worth about $150,000 over four years. East Valley only counts the first year toward its total scholarship count of more than $450,000.

Wiykovics turned down $4,000 a year from the University of Southern California and $6,000 a year from Gonzaga University. He’ll also say no to a U.S. Army ROTC scholarship.

Instead, Wiykovics will pool a U.S. Air Force ROTC scholarship and a University of Idaho leadership scholarship. He’ll study architecture at the university, and he’ll only have to pay for food.

“I didn’t have hardly any money to go to college,” said Wiykovics, 18. “I was putting everything I could into scholarships. If I didn’t, I’d be going to a community college.”

That’s the financial reality that a lot of students face, counselors said.

“I don’t know how people are paying for college these days,” said Terry Irwin, a counselor at Central Valley High School, which pulled in at least $650,000. “It’s just mind-boggling, the costs.”

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MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Scholarship strategies Counselors recommend several strategies to students seeking scholarships: Go to the counselor’s office. Most high schools offer weekly updates and special scholarship areas. Colleges and universities offer scholarships, but so do smaller organizations such as snowmobile clubs, the Women of Washington Water Power and the Spokane chapter of Professional Secretaries International. “There’s more and more people giving out scholarships,” said Terry Irwin, a counselor at Central Valley High School. “They’re just not giving out large amounts.” Get good grades. Students should also get involved - in clubs, sports and especially in volunteer activities. “What is the student doing to help the whole community?” asked Darrell Driggs, a counselor at East Valley High School. Connect with local organizations that give out scholarships and with colleges of choice. Carl Ruud, counselor at Liberty High School, said students should get to know the sources of smaller scholarships, often given by local companies. “If you apply to your credit union, you stand a chance,” Ruud said. “If you apply to your dad’s company, you stand a chance.” One student at Rogers High School applied early to Pacific Lutheran University. She visited the school and interviewed with the music department. “She got almost a full ride,” said Jeannine Atwood, senior counselor at Rogers. “Her father felt that was key. They met her. They knew her talent.” Finish the application, lick the envelope and actually mail it. “They have to apply to get them,” Ruud said. “It’s sort of like pulling teeth with some of these kids.” -Kim Barker