By SCOTT D. JOHNSTON
For Twin Harbors Newspaper Group
Three North Beach High School seniors shared over $10,000 in scholarships and three Ocean Shores Elementary students were honored for their Americanism essays at the annual Student Appreciation Dinner at the Ocean Shores/North Beach Elks Lodge on April 29.
The North Beach Junior/Senior High School Band and Choir, under the direction of Emma Eliason, opened with a pair of songs from each group.
The lodge’s Exalted Ruler, Nancy Oakes, then welcomed about 80 guests and thanked the retiring chair of the lodge Scholarship Committee, Mary Kozlowski and her husband, Greg, who served as emcee. “We truly have been gifted for the last 10 years to have these two individuals manage, maintain, evaluate, guide, spearhead, the entire program,” Oakes said. Allison Cline, an NBHS teacher, will be the new committee chair.
The local lodge gave three scholarships of $2,000 each. Two recipients also were among 12 across the entire state who received additional scholarships from the Washington Elks Most Valuable Student program. The awards will be paid directly to each students’ chosen college.
Joyce Hoy received $2,000 from the lodge and another $2,000 from the state Elks. She plans to attend the University of Washington in Seattle, where she will major in biology. She hopes to become an aquarium curator.
Tawni Blankenship also received a $2,000 Most Valuable Student Scholarship from the local lodge. She plans to attend Central Washington University this fall and enter a four-year program in pursuit of becoming a Registered Dietary Nutritionist. She noted that CWU has also offered her an athletic scholarship for pole vaulting.
Nolan Lee Charley received an Elks Vocational Grant of $2,000 from the lodge, and another $2,100 from the Washington state Elks. He plans to attend Grays Harbor College to earn an associate’s degree in health and biology, then transfer to a four-year institution to further his education in a medical field.
The Elks also have an Americanism program and invite elementary and junior high school students to participate in their annual essay contest. Although no 7th or 8th graders entered this year, a large number of 5th and 6th grade students at Ocean Shores Elementary wrote on this year’s topic, “Why Our Veterans are America’s Heroes.”
Callie Harnagy won $150 for her first-place effort, which also qualified for state-level completion. Cecilia Trudeau received $100 for second and Brennen A. Jacobsen won $50 for third.
All three read their essays at the event.
Oakes explained that the local lodge conducts a variety of fundraising activities throughout the year to help their annual scholarship awards. Many members open their wallets by adding contributions earmarked for the scholarship program when they pay their annual membership dues.
