Deer Park Dollars for Scholars presented 14 students with scholarships this year in an amount totaling $15,195.
The awards were handed out at the Senior Awards program at the Deer Park High School on June 9th. Each year, Deer Park Dollars for Scholars (DPDS) raises funds with the help of community donations to support local students to succeed in their post secondary education.
Dollars for Scholars is a non-profit, tax-exempt scholarship foundation that assists students as a resource for collegiate financial aid. Founded in 2001, Dollars for Scholars became Deer Park’s locally supported and operated chapter of Scholarship America, aiding graduating seniors in the Deer Park School District.
“Dollars raised in the Deer Park area stay in the Deer Park area.” Scholarships are locally funded by organizations and residents of Deer Park, and each one has a different set of criteria for students, based solely on merit or merit as well as need.
About The Scholarships
Thomas B. Baker, James T. Baker, and Beryl V. Baker
(Baker Family Innovia Scholarships)
Funded through an investment fund dedicated to various organizations in Spokane and Stevens County, these scholarships are given to honor the memory of Beryl V. Baker and his sons Thomas B. and James T. Baker.
Creativity and Involvement, Dreamers Scholarship
Awarded for demonstrating outstanding creativity and involvement in the community.
Friends of the Deer Park Library
This award requires students to have an active Spokane County Library District library card.
Horizon Credit Union, North Country Gardeners
Donations from these organizations are awarded to eligible students.
Deer Park Auto Freight and Bob-Mart Awards
These are awarded to students who will be attending a community college, trade or vocational school.
HOPE Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to an eligible Home Link student.
Bonnie Remington Memorial Scholarship
This award is given to honor the memory of longtime Deer Park High School principal, Bonnie Remington.
Fay’s Busted Spur Memorial Scholarship
Awarded in memory of Bill Fay, to seniors who are actively participating in FFA and 4-H programs.
Max Sanchez Memorial Scholarship
In memory of Max Sanchez, a longtime Vice Principal, coach, athletic director and teacher of Deer Park High School, this is awarded to student athletes each year.
Dollars for Scholars Hearts Fund
In February, an annual fundraiser called the Hearts Fund is held at local businesses including Ace Hardware and Yoke’s. Businesses raise funds by hosting coin drives, and offering donors paper hearts to write their names or a note on that are then posted throughout the store with each donation. The DPDS Hearts Fund Awards largely depend on the amount of money that is raised during this fundraiser. Last year, 2 $500 awards were given, while this year 3 $700 awards were made possible through the generous donations of the Deer Park community.
How Scholarships Are Awarded
DPDS scholarships are awarded only to graduating seniors of Deer Park High School (DPHS), Deer Park Home Link, and Deer Park Alternative School. Students can also apply for national scholarships through the DPDS website, since it is affiliated with Scholarship America. Submitting an application is done online, and only one application is necessary to apply for all awards available. Seniors have until April to apply.
To determine the winners, there are a few things that Dollars for Scholars looks at in each application:
- Work or volunteer experience,
- Activities the student participates in,
- A goals and aspirations essay,
- Unusual circumstances that may have affected the student’s schooling,
- A primary reference,
- High school grades, and SAT/ACT scores.
Also taken into consideration:
- Community involvement and volunteering
- Creativity
- Activities such as FFA, 4-H, and sports
- Whether they will be attending community college, trade, or vocational school, or a 4-year program through university.
A basic score is then given which is used to choose each winner. Though seniors are encouraged to apply for multiple scholarships, the board does ensure that rewards are evenly distributed by selecting a different student for each scholarship available, and by coordinating winners with other scholarships in the community that are not affiliated with Dollars for Scholars.
Award funds are sent directly to the school each senior will be attending. Some collegiate partners of Dollars for Scholars will match awards for students. Each award will be factored in by financial aid from a student’s un-met need, after an institution’s scholarships and loans are applied. An institution’s aid will not be replaced with awards given by DPDS, so that students don’t lose any money towards their school costs.
2021 Scholarships Awarded:
Sophia Dixon
$2000 Thomas B Baker scholarship
Kayden Coleman
$2000 James T Baker scholarship
Tasha Barnard
$2000 Beryl V Baker scholarship
Nicole Araya
$1000 HOPE scholarship
$1000 Deer Park Friends of the Library Scholarship
Annika Van Veen
$1000 Horizon Credit Union Scholarship
$400 Creativity and Involvement, Dreamers (CID) Scholarship
Rebecca Irwin
$1000 Horizon Credit Union Scholarship
$200 Max Sanchez Athletic and Academic Memorial Scholarship
Ella Stern
$500 Bonnie Remington Memorial Scholarship
$400 North Country Gardeners Award
Brittany House
$500 Porter Family Memorial Scholarship
$300 North Country Gardeners Award
Samuel Riebold
$345 Fay’s Busted Spur Memorial Scholarship
$300 Deer Park Auto Freight Award
Karli Kastner
$600 Deer Park Dollars for Scholars Heart Fund
Taylor Lyons
$600 Deer Park Dollars for Scholars Heart Fund
Dawson Youngblood
$600 Deer Park Dollars for Scholars Heart Fund
Hunter Pagac
$250 Bob-Mart Award
Jackson Dean
$200 Max Sanchez Athletic and Academic Memorial Scholarship
Photo By Deer Park Dollars for Scholars
Caption(Left to Right): (Top Row) Hunter Pagac, (Bottom Row) Brittany House, Tasha Barnard, Nicole Araya, Kari Kastner, Ella Stern, Sophia Dixon, Taylor Lyons, Rebecca Irwin, Annika Van Veen, and Kayden Coleman
