Scholarship event's name is misleading

Editor,

In the July 8 Leader, I read the article regarding Tim Ryan and the Mission Valley Scholarship Foundation. I think that what Mr. Ryan does is commendable and is a valuable asset to the Mission Valley.

However, I also feel that it is misleading to call it the Mission Valley Scholarship Foundation when, in fact, the only students that are eligible to receive these scholarships are the students from Ronan High School and St. Ignatius High School.

My daughter, who will be a senior at Charlo High School next year, wrote a letter to the Foundation earlier this spring asking for information and an application. Some time later she received a reply that the students from Arlee, Charlo and Polson are not eligible for these scholarships "due to lack of involvement from the communities."

In my opinion, I feel that the residents of this valley support all of the communities in one way or another. We live in Charlo, we bank in Polson, I work and shop in Ronan, and my children visit the dentist in St. Ignatius.

I also feel that the golf tournament, and all that is involved with that, attracts people throughout this entire valley.

Here again, I think that what Mr. Ryan does is a great thing, but I also feel that the name should reflect who is actually eligible to receive these scholarships. Why not call it the Tim Ryan Ronan and St. Ignatius Scholarship Foundation?

Or, if it is truly the Mission Valley Scholarship Foundation, include all the deserving students that reside here.

Kelly Kost

Charlo