Scholarship Finalists Are Inspiring Lot

Serve on a “feel-good” committee, the caller asked.

Be part of final process to award scholarships to the best student/ athlete/citizens in the state.

Sounded good.

Believers and Achievers is a fancy - and very fitting - name for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association to honor students who work hard in the classroom, participate in extracurricular activities, and contribute to their community.

The winner receives the $10,000 Hugh McElhenny Scholarship and the two runners-up are rewarded $5,000 scholarships.

The problem is there are 10 finalists - 10 young adults who deserve the scholarships - and probably more according to those who had to pare the 77 statewide applicants to a final 10.

No matter how many times I read the applications of the finalists, I couldn’t shake the suddenly growing sense of dread. The pressure just increased after meeting the the finalists face to face.

There is no question you would be proud to have any one for your son or daughter.

When it came time to pick the best of the best, I didn’t know if I could name just one.

Knowing what these “kids” will - and do - mean to society is very encouraging. But I had told many people I would rather adopt the 10 than vote for them for something each of them obviously deserve.

Just think how much a $10,000 scholarship would mean to you or one of your children.

Eventually, we decided on Tim Coley of Davenport. It wasn’t a unanimous decision but no one was unhappy with the choice.

Coley plays basketball and runs cross country for the Gorillas. He is very active in music, student government and counseling, among his school activities. His community involvement includes representing county youth on the Lincoln County Hospital Foundation and the high school on the Davenport City Council as well as participating in the Wheatland Players Theatre.

Each of the other finalists was just as active.

“That’s what came across to me, too, while we were waiting (for the interview),” Coley said, “10 people on such a level playing field. In my mind, I couldn’t pick out (just one).”

K-D Vu of River Ridge High School in Lacy and Matt Merrill of Enumclaw received the $5,000 scholarships.

Among the finalists were Chandra Larmer of Harrington and Erika Keatts of Kamiakin.

The way the other finalists reacted to the announcement, you knew there was no wrong choice.

Coley plans to become a doctor. He expects to attend a state school, although if enough scholarship money materializes he would go to a private institution.

“A lot of kids around here applaud him for what he’s done,” Davenport principal Harold Patterson said. “They realize he’s a step above. He’s the kind of kid who has some firm goals and ideas what he wants to do with his life. He’s challenged himself to meet those goals in everything he tries to do.”

Patterson was required to help fill out Coley’s application and accompanied the Coley family to the final interview in Issaquah.

Though he admitted to be prejudiced as each finalist answered questions, Patterson said, “I thought they all did a good job. I felt comfortable whoever they chose was worthy of it. I’m just glad they chose Tim.”

Coley’s advice: “Do as many activities you can to meet the most amount of people. To me, that’s how you learn things, you can pick up something from everybody you talk to. Whether you always like it is a different thing. Getting involved with people opens up opportunities.”

My advice: The pressure is worth it. Sometimes we all need to be reminded the future is in good hands.

, DataTimes