Polson Scholarship and Education Foundation awards 35 scholarships

Polson Scholarship and Education Foundation (PSEF) awarded 35 scholarships totaling $52,000 to Polson High School seniors and former Polson High School graduates who are currently attending an accredited two-year, four-year program, community college, university or vocational school.

The following scholarships are set up through the PSEF with money donated by individuals in memory of loved ones, alumni classes, civic organizations and employees of School District #23 in the amount of $500. PSEF matches the $500 donation with $500 so each high school senior receives a $1,000 scholarship.

Two scholarships for $1,500, with $1,000 from donors and $500 from PSEF went to Samantha Rensvold from the Alumni Class of ’59 and Andrei Young, who received the Trusler Family Vocational Scholarship.

PSEF sponsored two $1,000 scholarships to Dixie Montgomery and Gabriella Ilac.

Additional high school seniors receiving $1,000 scholarships are: Summer Newman, the Montecahto Club Scholarship; Laurielee Truex, a second Montecahto Scholarship; Carter Smith, Dick Schultz Memorial Scholarship; Ayden Loveless, Chris Hoyt Memorial Scholarship; Alice Comstock and Olivia Jore, the Jessie Clemans Memorial Scholarships; Haley Willer, the Polson Beta Sigma Phi Scholarship; Garret Wilmar, the School District #23 Employees Scholarship; Alyssa Orien, the George Mahoney Memorial Scholarship; Kaya Michel, the Travis Dolphin Memorial Scholarship; Jesse Vail, the Becky Anderson Friendship Memorial Scholarship; Colby Yager, the Alumni Class of 1965 Scholarship; and Wyatt Bulette, the Emma Sager Women of Rollins Scholarship.

A scholarship given in memory of Janis Jette, a former PHS English teacher, went to Madyson Luikart; and the Roger McClure Scholarship, in honor of a former PHS guidance counselor, was awarded to Lucian Sawyer. This year, the Polson Rotary gave two $1,500 scholarships through PSEF to Ianna Young and Vivian Lazaro.

Polson High School Seniors received a total of $24,000 in scholarships through many donors and PSEF.

Students who are currently enrolled in college received 14 scholarships totaling $22,000. PSEF provides $1,000 and donors give $1,000 so students receive $2,000.

Hope Morrison received the Mildred and Hib Hanson Memorial Scholarship. The five PSEF Scholarships were awarded to: Mila Hawk, Ashley Maki, Isabel Seeley, Clara Todd and Colter Wilson.

Taleah Hernandez received the Robert Depoe III Memorial Scholarship; Rylie Dupuis received the L.G. Baertsch Memorial Scholarship; Jazlyn Dalbey was awarded the Jessie Clemans Memorial Scholarship and Owen McElwee, the Ken Avison Memorial Scholarship. The Chris and Odin Strom Scholarship was awarded to Berkley Ellis.

Three Chadwick Memorial Scholarships for $2,000 were awarded to Kaylanna DesJarlais, Kastle Smout and Caitlyn Ward.

Thanks to donations from sponsors for the Lake City Open Golf Tournament that is held in conjunction with Polson Bay Golf Course and PSEF, and donations from individuals and organizations, these college students received a total of $28,000 in scholarships.

Polson Scholarship and Education Foundation is a local non-profit organization established in 2002 as Polson Dollars for Scholars. The purpose of the organization is to expand access to post-secondary educational opportunities for Polson High School graduates and assist parents and students with college expenses.

Since its inception PSEF has provided PHS students with $540,500 worth of scholarships. Tax-deductible donations, individuals leaving money in their wills, and fund-raisers provide the bulk of funds for scholarships, as well as individuals setting up a scholarship fund in memory of a loved one.

For more information on setting up a scholarship or joining the organization contact board member Chris Strom at stromchris2@gmail.com. Visit PSEF at the Polson High School webpage https://www.polson.k12.mt.us/polson-high-school/academics/psef/ for a complete list of students who have benefited through PSEF.