2025 Scholarship Recipients

DDEF Scholarships

Congratulations to our 2025 scholarship winners!

David Douglas Educational Foundation has been awarding four scholarships to graduating seniors since the 1999-2000 school year.

 

David Douglas Educational Foundation (DDEF) Scholarship

Kiara Gonzalez - $1000

Kiara Gonzalez is an excellent student who plans to pursue a career in dentistry to focus on the complexities of oral health.  She is interested in bringing high-quality dental care to low-income communities.  She has participated in College Prep programs to ensure she is ready to succeed in college.  Very active in school activities, Kiara has participated in Presidential and Student Councils, Schnitzer Cares, STEM Club, HOSA (Future Health Professionals), Varsity Volleyball and Basketball. She has also been involved in several volunteer activities.  We wish her a successful future in all she does.

Kiara Gonzalez, DDEF Scholarship Winner

DDEF fir ridge Counselor's Choice Scholarship

Kurendya Jackson - $1000

Kurendya Jackson is headed to Portland Community College and has been waitlisted to be a Future Connect scholar.  We are confident that she will receive Future Connect!  She hopes to study Economics or Political Science and transfer to a 4-year college or university.

Kurendya Jackson, DDEF Fir Ridge Scholarship Winner

David Douglas Educational Foundation (DDEF) Scholarship

Alexia Taylor - $1000

Alexia Taylor, another excellent student, is a well deserving recipient of the DDEF scholarship.  She is looking forward to a career in Nursing specializing in either labor and delivery or obstetrics and gynecology.  To get exposure in this field, she has volunteered at Adventist Health Hospital assisting patients and nurses with discharges and deliveries.  She also participated in College Possible during the last two years of school to prepare for college.  School activities included JV Soccer, Cheer (JV and Varsity) and Alexia worked at Burgerville and Papa Johns to help her mom with expenses.  We hope Alexia finds happiness and success in her chosen field.

Alexia Taylor, DDEF Scholarship Winner

DDEF Counselor’s choice Scholarship

Yocelin Sanchez - $1000

Yocelin Sanchez Cruz is a very motivated student, earning high marks at DDHS. She was also an active participant in the wrestling program throughout her time. Yocelin plans to study next year at Mt Hood Community College and eventually transfer to a 4 year university. 

Yocelin Sanchez, DD Counselor’s Choice Scholarship Winner

 

Other 2025 Scholarship Recipients

Fir Ridge Moore Parker Scholarship

Andrew Johnson

 

Walter E. Dillon Scholarship

Shaleemah Shabazz

 

Jean Bruck Scholarship

Lily Hoang

Esso Alvarez

 

Denise Lisac Scholarship

Ailing Zhen

Alyssa Siripatrapa

Khloe Huskic

 

Christopher Family Scholarship

Joseph Petty Jarrell                                 

Esso Alvarez

 

Thank you to the generous individuals and families who have made these scholarships possible!

 

2024 Scholarship Recipients

 

David Douglas Educational Foundation (DDEF) Scholarship

Kim Phan - $1000
Sabreena Pok - $1000

 

Fir Ridge Moore Parker Scholarship

Jose Armenta Palma - $500

 

Donald E.Harrel Scholarship

Xuan Mai Do  - $500

 
 

DDEF Counselor's Choice Scholarship

Brenda Lopez Jimenez - $1000

 

Jean Bruck Scholarship

Aaron Busi - $500

Andrea Nguyen - $500

 

Ralph Howlett Music Scholarship

Amelia McGahey - $1500

 
 

DDEF Fir Ridge Counselor’s Choice Scholarship

McKenzie Haugen - $1000

 

Walter E Dillon Scholarship

Keara Saks - $500

 

Denise Lisac Scholarship

Jerremy Sword Njuguna - $1000

Katrina Nguyen - $1000

Mikaiah Hill - $1000


Scholarship Recipient News

We always enjoy hearing from our scholarship recipients and their plans for the future!

Following are notes from past scholarship winners.

HOWLETT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT, 2024

Thank you so much for awarding me the Ralph Howlett Music Scholarship last week. This scholarship will help my journey throughout my college experience by providing some aid to my finances. As of now, I am planning on attending the University of San Francisco with a major in Biology on a Biological Technology track. I am so excited to see where my education journey takes me and how this scholarship will help me throughout my first year. I am expecting to be able to continue my music and dance career while attending USF while also pursuing leadership and activist roles within the organizations I join.

Thank you again for your engagement in my college experience and helping me to achieve my goals,

Amelia McGahey, Undergraduate Student at University of San Francisco

Donald e. harrel scholarship, June 2023

My name is Jenny Le. Sorry for contacting you so late about the Donald E. Harrell Memorial Scholarship and was unable to be there in person at David Douglas’ Senior Recognition night. When I heard the news that I had won, I was in shock, ecstatic, and overjoyed. I feel extremely grateful that the family of Mr.Harrel has chosen me for this award. Thank you so much; this award will ease my financial burden and will set me up so much for success.

DDEF fir ridge Counselor's Choice Scholarship, June 2023

I wanted to thank you again for this amazing scholarship, it will undoubtedly help me pursue success in college! But I also wanted to apologize if my response during the graduation ceremony seemed at all ungrateful, it was a surreal but amazing event. I’m largely unsure as to what the next step is regarding the scholarship, I’ll be attending PCC this upcoming fall term and I’ll be sure to talk to my college advisor there concerning this. Again, thank you so much for this opportunity! I look forward to hearing back from you. 

With gratitude, Kayla Cowan. 

Howard Horner Performing Arts Scholarship, 2021

This June 2021 scholarship winner wasted no time in sending his thanks:

My name is Bruce Yan and I was nominated to receive the Howard F. Horner Performing Arts scholarship. First of all, I cannot express how thankful I am to have received this scholarship . In addition, I am very grateful for the help and guidance I've received from the music teachers at David Douglas throughout my four years.

Thank you!
Bruce Yan

HOWLETT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT, 2021

We received this note in September 2021. This Howlett Scholarship winner will be attending the University of Oregon this Fall.

Thank you for selecting me to receive this scholarship. After learning guitar for the last five years and percussion for the last eight, I am proud to say music has become one of the most important things in my life. Music has allowed me to connect with many amazing people, as well as helped me to appreciate all the beauty life has to offer. Along with the support of my teachers, friends, and family, music will continue to drive me through college and beyond as I make my place in the world. Thank you for all of your support.

Sincerely, Elijah Wright, 2021 Howlett Music Scholarship Recipient

CHRISTOPHER SCHOLARSHIP, 2020

Thank you for your generous scholarship donation! Your donation will allow me to pursue a nursing degree at University of Portland and lessen the financial burden of tuition. I hope to one day become a Nurse Practitioner and open a free clinic to serve the Southeast Portland and David Douglas area. Through your donation, I am able to pursue my goals and make my community and the world a better place. Your generosity has inspired me to give back to the community.

Sincerely, Emily Kostyuk (2020 Scholarship winner)

Howard Horner Performing Arts Scholarship, 2019

Thank you so much for your generous donation regarding the Howard F. Horner Performing Arts Scholarship! I am very excited to attend Pacific Lutheran University as a performance major and this scholarship will help my journey through college.

Thank you, Naomi Southard (2019 Scholarship winner)

DAVID DOUGLAS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION (DDEF) SCHOLARSHIP, 2019

To The David Douglas Educational Foundation, I am so grateful and honored to be the recipient of the 2019 DDEF scholarship this year.

This fall, I will be attending the University of Oregon as a Human Physiology major. I am so so excited to begin this next chapter of my life.

Thank you very much for your generosity and contribution to my future.

Sincerely, Tam Danh (2019 Scholarship winner)

Donald e. harrel scholarship, 2019

Thank you so much for giving me an opportunity to go to college debt free.  This means so much to me and my family.  As a refugee, this means so much to me because I get to go to college and chase my dreams.  I will forever be grateful for this opportunity the Donald E Harrel has provided me. 

Thank you so much, Naima Daule (2019 Scholarship winner)

HOWLETT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT, 2019

We received an update in 2019 from Wynne Chen, our 2018 Howlett Scholarship winner, telling us about her first year of college.  She attended Cornell University in New York during 2018-2019.  Here’s her news:

“I am currently majoring in Nutritional Sciences on the registered dietitian track and am thinking of minoring in computer science. I am happy to say that I have handled the work load pretty well and ended the year with a 3.9 GPA! The computer your scholarship funded has been such a life saver. There were days when it is negative 30 outside and snowing so hard and luckily I didn’t have to trek to the library. I’ve also been able to be more productive during small pockets of time because I can just pull out my laptop to do work between classes.

“…I am so glad I could keep playing trombone as a member of the Big Red Marching Band and Cornell University Wind Symphony! As you know, band was a huge part of my high school life and I’m fortunate enough to be able to continue playing music in college. I love the movie nights, video game nights, and socials that both bands host where I can unwind and take a break from the rigorous academics. It has also given me a community I can rely on away from home.

“…I can’t believe that my first year of college is over! I’ll admit that the midterm averages are scarily low, finals week is definitely not fun, and being so far from home is hard, but I think I’ve grown so much this first year. I can’t wait for the next three years where I hope to keep making new friends, get involved in research, and hopefully study abroad somewhere in Europe my junior/senior year. Thank you again for helping me in the money department so that I can succeed academically and get the best Cornell experience!”

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Scott Rasmussen Scholarship Recipient, 2018

Scholarship committee members,

I would like to thank you for awarding me your 2018 scholarship! Your scholarship made me more excited about the opportunities for my future.  Growing up in Iraq, there was a very small chance that I would be able to earn a degree and reach my goals.  Every time I remember this, I work twice as hard.  Today, I am a person with a sense of purpose who chases and creates new opportunities.  With your scholarship, I will be able to pursue my educational goals, where I would be able to, one day, reflect the significant impacts I have made on my community members’ lives in a positive manner.

Again, thank you so much for your scholarship because it will allow me to focus more on the most important aspect, my education.  I hope that you will continue to grant other students your scholarship because it will make their path of pursuing their education and reaching their goals more attainable.

Sincerely,
Bedour Al Manea

Jean Bruck/Alice Ott Middle School Scholarship Recipient, 2018

Dear Donor of the Jean Bruck Scholarship,

I want to say thank you for honoring me with this scholarship.  This money will aid my family and myself in paying for my tuition tremendously.  I will be attending Pacific University in Forest Grove to study social work and Spanish while also running cross country.  Again, thank you for this scholarship, it means so much.

Sincerely,
Morgan Henry

David Douglas Educational Foundation (DDEF) Scholarship Recipient, 2018

Dear DDEF,

 I am honored to be one of the recipients of the David Douglas Educational Foundation Scholarship.  Growing up in a less privileged community has not only offered financial and academic challenges, but has helped me realize the value of education.  I will be starting my undergraduate career as a freshman at the University of Oregon.  My plans at this stage are to complete a major in Journalism and a minor in Business.  I am hoping to graduate in 3 instead of 4 years with the help of my dual credit through Mt. Hood Community College, but none of my educational pursuits would be possible without the generous support from scholarship sponsors like your organization.

 Thank you for enabling this opportunity. 

Ashtyn Darnell

Howlett Scholarship Recipient, 2018

Hello Howlett family,

First off, I want to thank you for supporting me on my college journey.  I am beyond humbled and honored to have been chosen for this scholarship.  I am Wynne Chen, an incoming freshman at Cornell University who plans to study nutritional sciences.  I love, love food and have always been interested about what goes on inside of our bodies after we eat. I hope to one day be a sports nutritionist who works with athletes or a community nutritionist who educates the public (especially kids) about healthy eating habits.

I am grateful to have music to balance out all the heavy STEM courses.  My best experience in high school is definitely being part of the band program, as a drum major, a section leader, and a member.  Band has taught me how to be a leader, to work hard, work with others, to listen…but most importantly, I found my family at school in band. Therefore, joining band was a no-brainer for an Oregonian like me who is venturing alone to vast, foreign New York.  I cannot wait to play music with new people and become a part of another welcoming musical community.

I know that I’ll have a blast and can even get a nice laptop using your scholarship for school. (My first one too!)  Thank you again for investing in me.

Best,
Wynne Chen

Walter E. Dillon Scholarship Recipient, 2018

Dear Donor,

I am writing to thank you for your generous $500 scholarship.  I was very happy and appreciative to learn that I was selected as the recipient of your scholarship.  I am a chemistry major with a biochemistry track at the University of San Francisco and plan on pursuing a career in biomedical research upon graduation.  Thanks to you, I am one step closer to my goal.  By awarding me with the Walter E. Dillon scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden, allowing me to focus on other matters as I prepare for the upcoming year.  Your generosity is an inspiration to myself and the David Douglas community.  Thank you again for all of your help.

Sincerely,
An Tran

Donald E. Harrel Memorial Scholarship Recipient, 2018

It is an honor to be a recipient of the Donald E. Harrel Scholarship.  Your contribution will help further my education and help me become a more knowledgeable member of society.  I will use my education to best serve my community!

All the Best,
Elizabeth “Lisa” Vu