Innovia Foundation Awards More Than $393,000 in Scholarships
Spokane, WA, September 12, 2023 – Innovia Foundation recently awarded $393,038 in scholarships to students throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho for the 2023-2024 school year. Innovia manages over 30 scholarship programs on behalf of donors who have established funds to help students achieve their higher education goals.
“As a community foundation, we believe that educational opportunities open the door to success,” said Shelly O’Quinn, CEO of Innovia Foundation. “We are incredibly honored to partner with so many generous donors in helping students strive toward their full potential.”
Below are comments from a few Innovia scholarship recipients about the career goals they are aiming for with scholarship support:
Graciella Alvarez – Mt. Spokane High School
Scholarship: Diversity in Advertising Scholarship
College Choice: Spokane Falls Community College
Major: Graphic Design
“I believe that my chosen career path will combine my love of art, fashion and technology and will give me the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of design.”
Maureen Waunch – Mead High School
Scholarship: Ren H. Rice Scholarship
College Choice: Eastern Washington University
Major: Exercise Science/Pre-Occupational Therapy
“Becoming an occupational therapist will allow me to channel my strengths to provide client-focused, intentional care where people feel as if they are seen and supported.”
Ara Clark – Sandpoint High School
Scholarship: Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship
College Choice: University of California Santa Barabra
Major: Environmental Law
“If I can utilize my knowledge and position as an environmental lawyer to fight for environmental justice and create change in the world, then I know that I will be content and happy for the rest of my life.”
Mika Corneil – Cheney High School
Scholarship: Denny & Thelma Yasuhara Scholarship
College Choice: University of Arizona
Major: Business
“I want to help people and make an impact, because at the end of the day, our influence on others is our main contribution to this world and society.”
Nya Mace – Lakeside High School
Scholarship: Bess Mikalson Scholarship
College Choice: Western Washington University
Major: Fine Arts
“Going to college would be more than a chance to just continue my education, but a chance to continue my passion of art and become the type of person I've always wanted to become.”
Gavin Starr – North Idaho STEM Charter Academy
Scholarship: Lucille I. Hudon Scholarship
College Choice: University of Idaho
Major: Computer Science
“I have always been drawn to the creative side of technology, and I believe that computer science will provide me with the tools I need to turn my ideas into reality.”
A complete list of 2023-2024 Innovia Foundation scholarship recipients:
| Scholarship | Student Name | Current School/Hometown | College Choice | Amount Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annie Maria Hitchings Memorial Scholarship | Pedro Molina Contreras | St. John Endicott High School | Walla Walla Community College | $694.00 |
| Annie Maria Hitchings Memorial Scholarship | Holley Thomas | St. John Endicott High School | Spokane Falls Community College | $1,386.00 |
| Bess Mikalson Scholarship | Bailey Fuller | Jenkins High School | Eastern Washington University | $2,500.00 |
| Bess Mikalson Scholarship | Nya Mace | Lakeside High School | Western Washington University | $2,500.00 |
| Bess Mikalson Scholarship | Jake Rindlisbacher | Jenkins High School | Spokane Falls Community College | $2,500.00 |
| Bess Mikalson Scholarship | Millea Rosario | Inchelium High School | Washington State University | $2,500.00 |
| Clarence Hines Scholarship | Harper Booth | Colfax Jr./Sr. High School | Eastern Washington University | $1,000 |
| Clarence Hines Scholarship | Jaisha Gibb | Colfax Jr./Sr. High School | University of Notre Dame | $1,000 |
| Clarence Hines Scholarship | Derek Repp | Colfax Jr./Sr. High School | Lewis-Clark State College | $1,000 |
| Clarence Hines Scholarship | Cadence Monson | Colfax Jr./Sr. High School | University of Idaho | $1,000 |
| Clarence Hines Scholarship | Olivia Ng | Colfax Jr./Sr. High School | Washington State University | $1,000 |
| David L. & Frances G. Ray Scholarship | Cooper Jessop | Washtucna High School | Eastern Washington University | $1,000.00 |
| Denny & Thelma Yasuhara Scholarship | Lily Veith | Potlatch Jr./Sr. High School | University of Washington | $1,000.00 |
| Denny & Thelma Yasuhara Scholarship | Nyah Ankcorn | Lewis and Clark High School | University of Washington | $1,500.00 |
| Denny & Thelma Yasuhara Scholarship | Mika Corneil | Cheney High School | University of Arizona | $1,500.00 |
| Diamond Lake Ranch Scholarship | Sarah Goodman | Newport High School | Carroll College | $2,500.00 |
| Diamond Lake Ranch Scholarship | Elise Hinchliff | Newport High School | University of Idaho | $2,500.00 |
| Diamond Lake Ranch Scholarship | Kendall Hinchliff | Newport High School | Grand Canyon University | $2,500.00 |
| Diamond Lake Ranch Scholarship | Morgan Roberts | Newport High School | University of Oklahoma | $2,500.00 |
| Diversity in Advertising Scholarship | Graciella Alvarez | Mt. Spokane High School | Spokane Falls Community College | $5,000.00 |
| Diversity in Advertising Scholarship | Ashley Stirpe | Ferris High School | Eastern Washington University | $5,000.00 |
| Don & Mable Nicholls Scholarship | Kynadee Gilmore | Wallace Jr./Sr. High School | Lewis-Clark State College | $1,120.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Darren Bailey | Sandpoint High School | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Henry Barnett | Clark Fork Jr./Sr. High School | University of Montana | $1,000 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Luke Butler | Priest River Lamanna High School | Pacific Lutheran University | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Ara Clark | Sandpoint High School | The University of California Santa Barbara | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Maren Davidson | Sandpoint High School | Southern Utah University | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Zach Engelson | Priest River Lamanna High School | Whitworth University | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Sara Hathaway | Clark Fork Jr./Sr. High School | Lewis-Clark State College | $1,000 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Lance Hendricks | Sandpoint High School | Northeastern University | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Annaby Kanning | Sandpoint High School | Pepperdine University | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Haleigh Knowles | Sandpoint High School | University of Idaho | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Elliott Lowman | Sandpoint High School | Wake Forest University | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Katherine Mellander | Sandpoint High School | Gonzaga University | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Emily Myers | Clark Fork Jr./Sr. High School | University of Idaho | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Sage Saccomanno | Sandpoint High School | Bard College | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Stephanie Sfeir | Sandpoint High School | Whitworth University | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Shelby Smith | Sandpoint High School | University of Montana | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | William Stockton | Priest River Lamanna High School | Montana State University | $1,000.00 |
| Doris L. Kenney Memorial Scholarship | Jace Yount | Priest River Lamanna High School | University of Idaho | $1,000 |
| Dr. Mark Paxton Dental Scholarship | Olivia Kjack | St. John Endicott High School | Eastern Washington University | $1,200.00 |
| East Spokane Kiwanis Scholarship | Erica Duer | Central Valley High School | University of Washington | $1,400.00 |
| East Spokane Kiwanis Scholarship | Meena Yeager | West Valley High School | Eastern Washington University | $1,400.00 |
| Eilleen Hutchison Scholarship | Sophia Stadler | Lakeside High School | Whitworth University | $1,800.00 |
| Eilleen Hutchison Scholarship | Kaydee Wuesthoff | Lakeside High School | Grand Canyon University | $1,800.00 |
| F. Neale Bock Scholarship | Braeden Vlasak | Lewis and Clark High School | Eastern Washington University | $1,000.00 |
| Gary L. Carrow Memorial Scholarship | Georgia Bohm | University High School | Washington State University | $700.00 |
| Harold Balazs Creating Wonder Scholarship | Hamasa Sultan | Rogers High School | Gonzaga University | $1,500.00 |
| Harold Balazs Creating Wonder Scholarship | Graciella Alvarez | Mt. Spokane High School |