Chalk it up: Education Briefs
Rylie Dupuis earns prestigious Presidential Scholarship
Rylie Dupuis of Polson was among 22 high school graduates who received Montana State University’s most prestigious scholarship – the Presidential Scholarship. These awards are based on scholastic achievement, demonstrated leadership and exemplary public service. Students receive an annual stipend plus a tuition waiver. The scholarship is for four years if the students maintain a superior academic standing at MSU.
“This investment in Montana State’s presidential scholars is an investment in future leaders who will improve and enrich the lives and economies of our state and country,” said MSU President Waded Cruzado. “We welcome them as they start their journey here at Montana’s land-grant university.”
The scholars were selected from a pool of 1,800 applicants, according to Jeff Heys, interim dean of MSU’s Honors College and co-chair of the selection committee.
"The criteria for the presidential scholarship are academics, leadership and service, and these students excel in all three areas,” Heys said. “Not only are they academically ambitious but they have served and improved their communities. We’re so excited to see what these students will do at MSU and in Bozeman."
Rylie graduated as a valedictorian of Polson High School and plans to study environmental science. She has participated as a LINK Leader for two years and was in the high school band for four years. She was a cheerleader for four years and was named a UCA All American Cheerleader in 2022. She has been involved in community outreach activities, including as a member of the North Lake County Public Library teen advisory board, a counselor for the Salish Kootenai College Solar Camp and a tutor for elementary students. Her parents are Polly and Steve Dupuis of Polson.
PEO awards STAR scholarship to Tia Mercer
Tia Mercer, a recent graduate from Polson High School, was selected to receive a $2,500 STAR Scholarship from the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was recommended by P.E.O. Chapter BY of Polson.
The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship was established in 2009 to provide scholarships for exceptional women in their final year of high school to attend an accredited postsecondary educational institution in the U.S. or Canada in the next academic year. The competitive STAR Scholarship is for women who exhibit excellence in leadership, academics, extracurricular activities, community service and potential for future success.
Tia was a member of the soccer, football and tennis teams. She was also involved in Student Body Government, National Honor Society, LINK, the PHS mathematics club. She will attend Montana State University in Bozeman in the fall to pursue a political science degree with a focus in pre law. Her ultimate goal is to become a lawyer and return to the Mission Valley.
Tia is daughter of Tina Colton and John Mercer, both of Polson.
In just 15 years, the P.E.O. STAR Scholarship has awarded $20,035,000 to 8,014 graduating women in their final year of high school. This year 2,186 applications were submitted, and 1,000 scholarships were awarded.
To learn more about P.E.O., its educational philanthropies and see stories of women who have benefitted from the programs, visit peointernational.org.
Two art students receive Sandpiper scholarships
Sandpiper Art Gallery and Gifts of Polson recently awarded scholarships of $1,500 each to Persephone Sandoval, a fine arts major at Salish Kootenai College, and Nora Webster, a member of the Ronan High School graduating class of 2023.
Persephone mostly uses pencil, pen-ink-brush, watercolor, and acrylic paint to create portraits and other works. After earning her associate’s degree, she plans to continue in a bachelor of fine arts program and aspires to earn a master’s degree. She is also interested in gaining experience in digital arts and business and hopes to eventually open her own studio.
Nora has been accepted at Brigham Young University in Utah where she plans to study art, with a goal of combining art restoration and art education. She has taken additional courses including animation, textiles, illustration and business. She also had an opportunity to help restore the murals at the historic Catholic Mission in St. Ignatius.
Sandpiper Gallery places an emphasis in making art available to people while promoting art as a career. Proceeds from its annual show on the courthouse lawn in Polson help fund scholarships. This year’s Courthouse Art Festival is Aug. 12.
Local students make FVCC dean’s list
Several Lake County students made the dean’s list at Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell for the Spring 2023 semester. Students who completed at least 12 credits last semester and earned a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 include: Kyla N. Tomlin of Charlo; Zichong Chen, Megan E. Rost and Kristiana G. Sopke of Polson; Berkley J. Ellis of Ronan; and Sydney J. Brander of St. Ignatius.