2025 Students of Distinction

Catherine Hardaway: Leading with purpose, serving with heart

Gig Harbor Now is posting profiles featuring the Students of Distinction being honored by the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation. Peers, teachers or parents nominate students, who must be a graduating senior at a Peninsula School District school. A panel of community leaders selects students to be honored in one of seven categories: academics; athletics; career and technical excellence; community service; music, arts and drama; overcoming adversity; and science and technology.

These students will be celebrated during a banquet from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Ocean5, 5268 Point Fosdick Dr.

School: Peninsula High School

Category: Community service

With over 900 hours of community service already behind her, Peninsula High School senior Catherine Hardaway is no stranger to hard work, leadership, or giving back. Whether guiding younger scouts as a leader in the Boy Scouts of America or crafting accessible educational exhibits for students with visual impairments, Catherine has quietly but powerfully shaped the world around her.

Catherine’s most impactful service experience came through her collaboration with the Tacoma Astronomical Society. Using a grant from the Gig Harbor Elks, she created audio descriptions and braille panels for the society’s traveling exhibits, bringing the stars closer to students who otherwise wouldn’t get to engage with them. “Seeing the finished panels in use was deeply meaningful to me,” she shares.

Catherine Hardaway

Her community work spans environmental conservation efforts with the Department of Natural Resources and Mt. Rainier National Park, assisting with park maintenance and public education. Through National Youth Leadership Training, she has mentored peers and led summer camps, amassing over 540 hours in leadership roles that have shaped her into a confident, empathetic leader. Catherine also manages Peninsula High School’s boys tennis team and supports community events with PenMet Parks, SAVE Thrift Store, and more.

A scholar and athlete, Catherine is a National Honor Society member and an AP Scholar with Distinction. She earned her Eagle Scout rank – the highest achievement in scouting – and currently serves as the Youth Course Lead for NYLT at Camp Edwards. She also leads Aviation Explorer Post 1735 and is the treasurer of the International Relief Club. On the tennis court and in her academic endeavors, she exemplifies balance, perseverance, and excellence.

For Catherine, service is more than a checklist – it’s a way of life. “Service teaches you who you are when you show up for something bigger than yourself,” she reflects. And as she looks ahead to studying Environmental Studies and joining the Air Force as a pilot, it’s clear that Catherine will continue showing up, leading with heart, and leaving every place better than she found it.