Donors help students realize dream of college

Story by: Bethany Monroe Date Published to Web: 5/29/2009

Molalla High School's graduating seniors have been offered more than $431,000 in college scholarships this year.

While some of the scholarship money comes from universities and other large programs and foundations, the Molalla community also contributes thousands of dollars every year toward scholarships for local students. MHS alumnus Terri Holden and his wife, Cheryl, are among the benefactors.

"I grew up in Molalla and graduated in 1968," Holden said. "I've always had a lot of fond memories of Molalla and growing up and I'm a real believer in education and the youth."

In 2004, the Holdens established a scholarship for college-bound MHS students, awarding a MHS graduate with $4,000 a year for four years of college, totaling $16,000. The first year they selected two students and they now choose one new recipient each year.

"It's a true representation of someone giving back to their community." MHS Principal Kevin Ricker said.

A real estate investor and native Oregonian, Holden now lives in Las Vegas, but still makes regular visits to the northwest. He presented the scholarship in person to senior Elizabeth Ragan at the MHS Senior and Academic Awards Night last Tuesday.

The Holdens select each year's recipient with the help of a panel of MHS teachers, counselors, administrators and a representative from the Oregon Community Foundation. They look for students who demonstrate scholastic achievement, good citizenship and service to the school and their community.

"We've gotten a lot more out of it than we've ever put into it," Holden said. "We've met a lot of wonderful students in Molalla."

Each year, Holden selects a teacher to honor by giving the scholarship in their name. This year, he chose Victor Fox, who taught for 27 years in the Molalla River School District and was Holden's football coach and a former All-American football player at Linfield College.

"He really taught a work ethic and he taught you to never, ever give up," Holden said. "I remember he told me I could do much better than some of my earlier choices."

So far, Holden said all of the scholarship recipients have made them proud with their accomplishments. This year, recipient Brianna Dickenson will graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Another recipient, Portland State University graduate Steven Dailey, is now headed to medical school.

The Holdens do more for the students than simply write an annual check.

"They're really involved with the students they pick. They really, really care," Heather Fix, a counselor at MHS, said. "It's like the students become part of their family."

Holden said he keeps in touch with the students via e-mail and tries to give them encouragement throughout their studies.

He hopes the scholarship may inspire the recipients to one day pay it forward when they are able.

"When I was in school, I was fortunate enough to have a scholarship that meant a lot to me. It obviously helped me financially, but it also gave me a lot of focus in how I live my life," Holden said. "We're now in a position where we can help some others and it feels like the right thing to do."

OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS

Other scholarships provided by organizations, companies and individuals in the local community include:

Rebecca Bryan Memorial: $500 to Courtney Miller, who plans to pursue a teaching career, in honor of Molalla River Middle School teacher Rebecca Bryan, who died of brain cancer last December.

Molalla Communications Company: $2,500 each to Courtney Miller, Megan Sullivan, Lacey Thrower and Hannah Steffey.

Rotary Foundation: $500 each to Hannah Steffey and Amanda Luna

Alumni Agricultural Scholarship: $500 to Samantha Reed

Beavercreek Telephone: $8,000 (over two years) to Amanda Luna

Donna Wendling Memorial: $2,000 to Tessa Shankle

Holman Memorial: $3,000 a year for four years to Lacey Thrower

Molalla High School Alumni Association: $2,000 each to eight students: Elizabeth Ragan (Richard E. and Mary E. Marquardt Scholarship), Amanda Luna (Dorothy Damm Waiste Memorial Scholarship), Hannah Steffey (Sanden/Trullinger Scholarship), Daniel Heyerly (Oak Rebekah Lodge #159), Tessa Shankle, Lacy Thrower, Megan Sullivan and Christine Shanklin.

Molalla Grange: $1,000 to Danielle Lushenko and $500 to Robyn Fitzsimmons

Molalla River Education Foundation: $1,000 to Elizabeth Ragan

Fox Family Memorial: $500 each to Elizabeth Ragan, Hannah Steffey, Christine Shanklin and Danielle Lushenko. $1,000 to Amanda Luna. $1,500 to Samantha Palmer.

Mulino Lions Club: $500 to Hannah Steffey

Molalla Medical Clinic Sports Physical Fund: $1,000 each to Amanda Luna and Justin Curran

Dr. Judy Yann Memorial: $1,000 to Elizabeth Ragan

Kaiser Permanente: $2,000 to Hannah Steffey

Sodexo Good Citizenship: $250 each to Elizabeth Ragan and Maria Segoviano

Molalla Police Officers Citizenship Scholarship: $1,000 to Sarah Harris

Macksburg Lutheran Church grant: $150 each to Rebecca Nelson and Jamie Marshall

Patty Fowler Scholarship: $563 to Ashley Creswell

Beavercreek Lions Club: $500 to Jacob Lawson

Harris Memorial: $2,000 to Hannah Steffey

Some local scholarship providers, such as Molalla FFA Alumni, are not listed because this year's recipients have not yet been selected.