Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon

The Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon recently awarded scholarships to 10 area students.

Scholarships of $1,500 were presented to Sari Ayon of Emerson High School, Tyler Arp of Burlington-Edison High School, and Ian Feis, Erin Reep, Theresa Strachila and Alejandra Suazo of Mount Vernon High School.

Ayon’s goal is to become a veterinarian. She is the daughter of Lucy Ayon and plans to attend Skagit Valley College.

Arp is the son of Dan and Annette Arp. He plans to earn a two-year degree in criminal justice.

Feis plans to attend Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., then go on to medical school to become a physician. He is the son of Charles and Debbie Feis.

Reep is the daughter of Dave and Vonnie Reep. She plans to attend a university in Washington state.

Strachila, the daughter of David and Patricia Strachila, plans to major in chemistry, Spanish or Latin American studies, with the eventual goal of working as a pediatrician with a critical care specialty.

Suazo is the daughter of Alexis Suazo and Iris Carias. She intends to study biology and environmental science at the University of Washington, then go to medical school. Her goal is to work with nonprofit health organizations in developing countries.

Scholarships of $1,000 went to Matthew Boffey of Mount Vernon High School and Marco Cerna of Emerson High School.

Boffey, the son of Daniel and Deborah Boffey, plans to attend Moody Bible Institute and become a pastor. Cerna plans to attend Skagit Valley College or Whatcom Technical School to become an electrician.

Mount Vernon High School graduates Jason Kingshott and Brittany McKinney each received $200 scholarships.

Kingshott is the son of Tom and Nancy Kingshott. He plans a career in finance.

McKinney is the daughter of Tom and Patty McKinney. She plans to enroll in the registered nursing program at Skagit Valley College.



Northwest Farm Credit Services

Shelby Hansen, the daughter of Herb and Judy Hansen of Sedro-Woolley, received a $1,000 scholarship from Northwest Farm Credit Services.

Hansen is a junior economics major at Pacific Lutheran University, where she serves in student government and as a math coach. She also is a board representative for the Washington State Junior Holstein Association.



Brandon Scott Koetje

Joseph Oelfke, the son of Lori and Jack Oelfke of Mount Vernon, received the $1,500 Brandon Scott Koetje Memorial Scholarship.

Oelfke is a Mount Vernon High School graduate who plans to study exercise science at Pacific University.



North Puget Sound

Association of Realtors

Jessica Curtin and Richard Chong have received $1,000 Koetje Memorial scholarships.

Curtin, the daughter of Jim and Peggy Curtin, graduated from Anacortes High School in 2007. She is pursuing a business degree at Washington State University and was on the President’s honor roll her freshman year.

Chong, the son of Richard Chong, will major in biology at the University of Washington. He simultaneously graduated from Oak Harbor High School and earned an associate’s degree at Skagit Valley College.

The North Puget Sound Association of Realtors in Mount Vernon established the scholarship in honor of Brandon and George Koetje.