CENTRAL KITSAP — Olympic High School student Alisha Dixon is one of more than 300 juniors and seniors to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Taco Bell Foundation and the Get Schooled Foundation.

In addition to the scholarship, the selected students were also featured in a digital yearbook in Times Square in New York City. The students’ images and stories were presented on June 8 in the Graduate for Más Times Square yearbook.

The Graduate for Más Times Square scholarship was established to recognize young people as they pursue their passions in college. This year, thousands of students from around the country shared their ambitions and dreams and the steps they have taken this year to begin to realize their goals.

“This next generation is an exceptional group and has incredible potential to make an impact on their communities and the world,” said Frank Tucker, president of the Taco Bell Foundation.

“We want to encourage them to be relentless in pursuit of their dreams and big things will happen, in their lives, in their communities and even in Times Square.”

In their entries, students reflected on their passions and dreams for the future. Dixon wrote about music and writing.

“Music and writing are two things I am the most passionate about,” Dixon wrote. “My dream is to make a career out of these things. This year I wrote a research paper to learn more about the music industry for a college writing class. I also created a brand new writing club at school to give students a safe place to write and share. I volunteer with a company that puts on music shows in cities near me to help grow my knowledge of the music industry. In college I want to help with student radio and music blogs.”

There were two other Washington students who received scholarships: Sophia Nguyen from Cascade High School in Everett; and Keanna Thibou from Marysville Pilchick.

The Taco Bell Foundation is a nonprofit focused on investing in the potential of America’s youth through education and helping them realize their dreams. In 2016, Taco Bell Foundation launched the Live Más Scholarship, a program aimed at empowering the nation’s next generation of dreamers, innovators and creators. For more information, visit www.tacobellfoundation.org.

Get Schooled is a nonprofit organization that directly engages and motivates students to graduate from high school and succeed in college. Get School helps link students with resources and tools they need to succeed. For more information, visit www.get schooled.com.

— Edited by Michelle Beahm