PORT ORCHARD — The Kiwanis Club of Port Orchard presented scholarships and certificates to South Kitsap School District students at a recognition luncheon May 29 at South Kitsap High School.
The Kiwanis Club awarded $19,500 in scholarship awards this year. The club also presented certificates to the winners at the school’s Laurels Night.
Two winners from Discovery Alternative High School received the awards at their graduation ceremony on June 3.
“Our club is thrilled to recognize the hard work and talent of South Kitsap students,” said Don Grimes, chairman of the Kiwanis Club of Port Orchard Scholarship Committee.
“We are pleased to offer 12 scholarships this year. These students have bright futures and it is wonderful to help them further their education.”
The 2019 scholarship recipients are:
- Amber Nicole Gaston, Dr. Dewayne Gower Kiwanis Memorial Scholarship for $3,000
- Mikayla Marie Davidson, Alice Watson Kiwanis Scholarship for $3,000
- Blake Edward Mason, Tom Stansbery Kiwanis Memorial Scholarship for $1,000
- Carson West, the Paul Dour Memorial Kiwanis Scholarship for $2,000
- Allen Greenberg, Judge James Maddock Memorial Kiwanis Scholarship for $2,000
- Anna Fall, Kiwanis of Port Orchard Club Scholarship for $2,000
- Kaylee Maureen Coates, Kiwanis of Port Orchard Club Scholarship for $2,000
- Eliana Fei Painter, Kiwanis of Port Orchard Club Scholarship, $1,000
- Joseph Edward Almario Obnial, Kiwanis of Port Orchard Club Scholarship for $1,000
- Shawn Nigel Sagun Canonizado, Kiwanis of Port Orchard Club Scholarship for $1,000
- Savannah Shawver, Discovery student, Kiwanis of Port Orchard Club Scholarship for $1,000
- Jay Mizner, Discovery student, Kiwanis of Port Orchard Club Scholarship for $500
In addition to the scholarship program, Kiwanis Club of Port Orchard is involved in a variety of projects and community service programs that assist children locally and worldwide, including:
- The kindergarten reading program, which began at Sunnyslope Elementary in 1993 and operates in nine out of 10 elementary schools in the South Kitsap School District.
- Terrific Kids, which has operated since 2002, now has all 10 South Kitsap elementary schools participating. Students are recognized for outstanding citizenship and awarded with a certificate, pencil, magnet and “Proud Parent of a Terrific Kid” bumper sticker.
- To the Library Reading Project, which sponsors all third-grade students in South Kitsap schools with a chance to visit the Kitsap Regional Library for a behind-the-scenes tour. Each student learns how to use the library and leaves with their own library card.
- Student of the Month, which recognizes high-achieving students from the three middle schools and South Kitsap High School at the club’s luncheon. The recognized students are invited to lunch with their families and given cash awards.
- The Bike Rodeo, which has been supported by the club for years. In partnership with other local agencies and Kiwanis groups, the Port Orchard club has provided free helmets and fittings to more than 2,000 toddlers and children, given away 400 gently used bikes and instructed more than 1,500 children in basic bike safety.
- The Builders Club, which was formed in 1999, is made up of 15 to 20 Cedar Heights Middle School students who provide more than 200 hours of community service each year. In recent years, Builders have helped with the kindergarten reading program, Special Olympics, Bike Rodeo, Relay for Life, Senior Conference at the Pavilion and Cedar Heights Clean-Up Day.
For more information about the Kiwanis Club of Port Orchard, visit the club’s website at kiwanisclubofportorchard.org.
Discovery Alternative High School award winners, left to right: Kiwanis scholarship chairman Don Grimes, Jay Mizner and Savannah Shawver. (Kiwanis of Port Orchard photo)
