2026 Students of Distinction

Aiden Wimberly: Making a difference by showing up

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. Wednesday, May 20, at Ocean5, 5268 Pt. Fosdick Dr.

School: Gig Harbor High School

Category: Community service

For Aiden Wimberley, service has never been about recognition — it has simply been a way of life. Whether volunteering at local events, helping seniors with household tasks, supporting hospital patients, or giving back through church and school programs, the Gig Harbor High School senior has consistently looked for ways to step in where help is needed.

As a military child who spent part of his childhood living in Norway before settling in Gig Harbor, Aiden learned early how to adapt to new environments and connect with people from different backgrounds. Those experiences helped shape the calm, compassionate perspective he now brings to his work in healthcare and community service.

Aiden Wimberly

“My experiences taught me how to communicate with people from various backgrounds,” he says. “That has been valuable during my service.”

Aiden’s interest in medicine grew after taking AP Anatomy, eventually leading him to pursue the rigorous COPE Health Scholars program through MultiCare Health System. Through the program, he has volunteered extensively at Allenmore Hospital and Tacoma General, supporting healthcare teams and assisting patients through weekly clinical shifts.

Some of his most meaningful moments came through using his Spanish language skills to connect with patients who did not speak English as a first language. “Healthcare volunteering showed me how meaningful even small acts of kindness can be,” he says.

Beyond hospital volunteering, Aiden has contributed hundreds of service hours across Gig Harbor through events like Basket Brigade, blood drives, church programs, school cleanups, and food bank support — all while balancing challenging coursework, athletics, HOSA involvement, and part-time employment.

The values guiding him, he says, are compassion, responsibility, and perseverance. Those same values continue to shape his future goals as he prepares to attend the University of San Diego on the pre-medical track.

“I want to make a difference by supporting people and their families during difficult times,” he says. “Even if I never make a huge breakthrough, I want to help the people I can serve every day.”

For Aiden, community service is not about extraordinary moments — it is about consistently showing up with empathy, kindness, and a willingness to help others feel seen and supported.