SHS awards 2023 scholarships to seniors
Sandy Historical Society board members and staff awarded four $1500 scholarships to outstanding seniors during the yearly Sandy High School awards ceremony in the school theater Wednesday evening, May 31.
Deserving recipients included Sydney Brewster of Brightwood and Logan Burcks , Lizzeth Ibarra, and Kaylee Sedgwick of Sandy. The winners were chosen using the customary blind point system.
Sydney Brewster is a hard working student who has worked a job the past three years to take care of herself as much as possible to help her family focus on other needs. At the same time, she has lettered in three sports since her freshman year (she broke the school discus-throwing record), maintained honor grades, and mentored colleagues, all with a sense of humor and quick thinking skills. She plans to go to Montana State University to major in Business with a goal of starting her own business in the future. Sydney’s work ethic includes the statement “I will always go above and beyond on the tasks that I am given and will put my best foot forward.”
Logan Burks has been interested in both music and theater performing arts from a very young age. During his high school years, except for the year-plus the groups were torn apart due to Covid-19, he played French horn including a masterclass by invitation only for seventeen students statewide and taught by a conductor from the UK, sang in the Symphonic Choir, participated in musical theater productions, and other activities. Logan plans to attend Mt. Hood Community College for the first two years, then complete the bridge program through Eastern Oregon University to become an educator in band, choral, and performing arts. He wants to teach junior high and high school age Students.
Honor student Lizzeth Ibarra plans to attend Gonzaga University to major in kinesiology. She hopes to use her studies to enter the workforce as a physician’s assistant as she continues with joy for supporting others. During her high school years she performed many extra-curricular roles including helping with the Covid-19 inoculations.She excelled in advanced math and other academic studies so much that other students consistently asked for her help in understanding the concepts. “Lizzeth has been successful in her studies and in life, even when faced with the most difficult of challenges beyond academia,” affirmed one school mentor.
Seventeen-year-old Kaylee Sedgwick plans to attend Linn-Benton for her first two years towards a major in nursing and health, then hopes to transfer to University of
Oregon to finish her education. She has led an amazing high school career while working an outside job, lettering in cheering for four years including two years as varsity captain, coaching a 7th-8th grade cheer team, lettering in Sandy’s Law and Mock Trials team for three years and winning the most valuable attorney award at her first trial, and participating in speech and debate. She believes that nothing good comes easily and wants the feeling of success from knowing she worked hard to have her dream job.
The Sandy Historical Society wishes the best in life to each of their scholarship winners and would like to invite volunteers to help with the hot-buttered corn on the cob booth in front of the center stage during the Sandy Mountain festival. Proceeds help to fund scholarships for next year’s seniors. Signup sheets are at the museum at 39345 Pioneer Blvd. for two-hour shifts, a good cause, and a lot of fun.
~Photo from the camera of Austin Ernesti shows staff and 2023 scholarship winners. S
