Community Education

Heron’s Key awards scholarships to 19 graduating seniors

Residents of Herons Key retirement community awarded scholarships to 19 local high school seniors  – nine from Peninsula High School, eight from Gig Harbor High School, and one each from Henderson Bay and South Kitsap high schools – on Thursday, June 4.

The scholarship tradition began in 2018, when Herons Key resident Peter Bulkely decided it would be a fine idea to create a scholarship fund to help some students defray their college expenses. Bulkely passed the proverbial hat and the  community awarded eight scholarships, each worth $375, that first year.

Since then the number and value of scholarships has increased to this year’s record 19 scholarships of $3,000 each.

Front row, left to right: Aspen Rainford, Blake Donion, Zachary Schley, Lilac DeCastro, Marilyn Colyar, Henry Glore, Kate Cardinal, Brooklyn Finch, Chloe Alejo, Sophia Powers-O’Keefe
Back row, left to right: Abiagail Starr, Brooklyn Finch, Amelia Schultz, John Browand, Scarlett Craggs. Paige Driscoll
Not pictured: Mekai Atkinson, Mars Burton, Ellanor Nimrick, Meghan Webster and Ali Paquette.
Photo by Charlee Glock-Jackson

Here’s a look at this year’s recipients:

Peninsula High recipients

PHS senior John Broward has been a standout pitcher for the school’s baseball team, helping take them to the state tournament three times. He’s also been active in the United Club that includes special-needs students in sports. This fall he’ll head to Washington State University to study sports broadcasting, with the hope of landing a job with ESPN after graduation. He already has a head start on a journalism career as a reporter for the Key Peninsula News.

Mars Burton has been active in speech and debate as part of the Peninsula debate team that regularly competes at the state level. That experience will be put to good use in Mars’ career as an attorney.

Kate Cardinal’s achievements in volleyball and track led to her being chosen PHS Athlete of the Year. She was also an ASB representative and a Running Start student at Tacoma Community College. Now she’s headed to the University of Arizona to study nursing for a career as a NICU nurse.

Scarlett Craggs has been outstanding in PHS theater and choir events, both on stage and behind the scenes in school productions. This fall she’ll study chemistry and theater at the University of Washington.

Paige Driscoll has been a standout STEM student and environmentalist at PHS, while also being captain for the school’s cross country team. She will study chemical engineering at Oregon State University, to become an environmental engineer.

Brooklyn Finch is a Running Start/Advanced Placement student as well as a star on the PHS soccer team. She’ll take her soccer skills to Linfield College in Oregon, then transfer to a larger school to complete a degree in civil engineering.

Henry Glore starred as Fegan in the PHS production of “Oliver!”  and participated in numerous other theater and choir events. He’s a multi-talented musician and songwriter and has been accepted at the Berklee School of Music to study composition. His “big dream” is to work in the recording industry.

Meghan Webster is an all-around athlete and a scholar. She played softball, volleyball and Unified Sports, and also served as ASB president. She plans to study criminology and fire science at the University of Montana and then wants to work as a firefighter.

Gig Harbor High School recipients

Chloe Alejo is headed to UW to study pre-med following a high school career as a STEM student, active in ASB and dance.

Lilac DeCastro is the lieutenant governor of Division 34 Key Clubs and president of the local chapter of the Kiwanis sponsored organization. She raised more than $1,000 for UNICEF and also volunteered at St. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma. She plans to study pre-med at Western Washington University.

Blake Donion spent four years on the GHHS football team and also was a member of DECA. In addition, he’s been active in the speech and debate clubs. Living with epilepsy has presented “different challenges” for him, he said, but moving forward he’s headed to University of Washington’s School of Business and looking forward to a career in banking and finance.

Eleanor Nimrick was the only girl on the GHHS wrestling team and represented the school four times at Mat Classic, the state championship. As a Running Start student, she’s receiving her associate’s degree as well as her high school diploma. Now she’s headed to Doane University in Nebraska on a wrestling scholarship to prepare for a career as a history teacher.

Sophia Powers O’Keefe’s goal is a career in family or immigration law — “where everyone feels represented.” She has excelled in journalism at GHHS and plans to attend San Diego State University to study political science.

Zachary Schley is one of the creators of Gig Harbor’s acclaimed drone team, and has done almost all the animation programming for the shows, while serving as an ASB senator and working as a freelance web designer and photographer. He’ll attend UW to study computer science.

Amelia Schultz has served as the backstage manager for the GHHS drama club and directed the school’s fall production. She has also been an Interact volunteer all four years and accumulated 700-plus hours of community service volunteering for FISH, the Tacoma Rescue Mission and suicide-prevention organizations. She’ll study psychology at the University of Colorado to pursue a career in psychology and adolescent health.

Abiagail Starr has played in the band and been involved in music since the sixth grade, including being an officer on the GHHS Band Council. She’s headed to Central Washington University to study psychology.

Henderson Bay recipient

Aspen Renford is a Running Start student at Olympic College in Bremerton, working on an associate’s degree in film. In addition to making films, his favorite high school activity has been being president of Interact. A gifted artist, he’s looking forward to a career in filmmaking.

Awards for Herons Key employees

Two students who work at Herons Key also received scholarships.

Mekai Atkinson works in one of Herons Key’s restaurants while attending South Kitsap High School. He’s headed to the University of Washington this fall to study pre-med, working toward a career as an anesthesiologist. He’s the first in his family to go to college.

Ali Paquette goes to Peninsula High School and works as a dietary aid at another Herons Key restaurant. She’s headed to Clover Park College to study cosmetology and eventually wants to open her own salon using products with no fragrances or other additives, in support of people with sensory issues.

Impressive numbers

Through 2025, Herons Key residents have awarded 91 scholarships worth $127,600, according to Marilyn Colyar, a member of the selection committee and organizer of the awards luncheon.

The fund grows every year – from $3,000 in 2018 to $54,000 this year, including a $25,000 matching grant, plus some unclaimed money remaining from past years.

“Meeting this year’s scholars and hearing their stories really gives me a renewed sense of hope,” Colyar said to the crowd gathered at the awards luncheon. “When we hear about how these kids have already made a difference in their worlds, and knowing that they’ll soon be in places of responsibility, doing important work — it’s so gratifying, and so hopeful. It’s an honor to be able to help them along the way.”