Danny Lindstrom and Kaila Hammond, 2008 graduates of Anacortes High School, were each awarded a $1,500 William H. Taylor scholarship.

The awards, funded in memory of the school’s legendary basketball coach, were presented at the AHS awards assembly recently.

The two student athletes were selected from a stellar group nominated by their coaches. Choosing among these candidates was difficult, said Gib Moore, chairman of the Noon Kiwanis selection committee.

Hammond was an important member of the highly successful woman’s basketball team. She led the track and field team to state with school bests in the shot put and discuss events, placing second in the shot and third in discus. Hammond was named most improved player in basketball. Her participation has clearly helped her grow as a member of the AHS student body and her community.

Hammond will compete in track and field and basketball at Northwest College in Kirkland.

Lindstrom showed how dogged training and giving it your all can lead to success in his chosen sport, distance running. He was county champion in the 1,600 meters and second in the 3,200. He plans to compete in the track program at Washington State University.

Scholarship donor Paul Luvera is a Seattle attorney and played basketball for Taylor during his high school years. He cites Taylor as a role model, character builder and winning coach. Taylor’s AHS teams scored 212 wins and only 56 losses during 1946-1960.

Taylor was also recognized for teaching civility, sportsmanship, discipline and character. In funding the award, Luvera said the purpose was to encourage similar attributes among future student athletes.

Students must demonstrate elements of leadership, participation in athletic activities, involvement in school activities and maintain better than average grades in academically challenging courses to be eligible for the award. Student athletes at AHS have considerably higher GPAs than the general student population.

The AHS athletic department and coaches make the initial selection of nominees. Luvera assigned final selection responsibilities to the Kiwanis Noon Club, which has more than 40 years of experience in scholarships. This year, former Taylor athlete Nick Petrish joined a committee of three Kiwanians — Dale Klint, Bud Strom and Moore. Petrish serves on the Anacortes City Council and is a longtime employee of Paul Luvera.

“The nominees were all exceptional individuals,” Petrish said. “It was a pleasure to have participated in the interviews of these fine young men and women.”

Hammond and Lindstrom will be introduced and awarded checks at a Noon Kiwanis meeting in August.