Highline Schools Foundation is thrilled to announce 34 scholarships totaling $325,750 have been awarded to graduating seniors from across Highline Public Schools. We will be adding 16 additional scholar athlete awards in partnership with Highline Public Schools Athletics.
Foundation Awards were presented to students at the 2026 HSF Scholarship Reception, held on Thursday, May 7th at Puget Sound Skills Center, and 16 Scholar Athlete Awards will be presented on Tuesday, May 19th. One additional scholarship will be presented during the Highline Public Schools Pacific Islander Showcase. The Foundation is honored to award these scholarships to this group of remarkable students. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship award winners
2026 Scholarship Recipients, by Scholarship Award
13th Year Scholarship
The 13th Year Scholarship was established in 2017 by Highline High School graduate and retired Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden and his wife Danielle to support students who might otherwise be unable to continue their education beyond high school. Scholarships are for $5,000 and awarded based on financial need, academic merit, and achievement.
Recipient(s):
- Mumtaz Abdi, Evergreen High School
- Ilhan Abshir, Evergreen High School
- Isabella Perez, Highline High School
- Vi Tran, Evergreen High School
Adelante Scholarship:
This award honors the memory of beloved Highline community activist Norma Ortiz and awards $1,000 to a student with strong community involvement and a demonstrated ability to overcome challenges.
Recipient:
- Marina Lobos, Highline High School
Alaska Airlines Scholarship
The Alaska Airlines Scholarship was established in 2014 through the generosity of Alaska Airlines, an important partner of the Highline Schools Foundation. This $5,000 scholarship offers two awards to graduates of any Highline Public Schools’ high schools, and two to students graduating from Raisbeck Aviation High School.
- Elyas Bebenga, Mount Rainier High School
- Jeremy Downing, Raisbeck Aviation High School
- Noel Fierro, Evergeen High School
- Larsen Matthew Mendoza, Raisbeck Aviation High School
Anne Gregory Memorial Scholarship
This $2,000 scholarship, named in memory of former Evergreen teacher Anne Gregory, was created to support Evergreen High School graduates.
- Benedicte Efolote, Evergreen High School
Beyond Opportunity & Impact Scholarship
The Beyond Opportunity & Impact Scholarship was created to support graduating seniors attending Puget Sound Skills Center, and awards $1,500 to a student who is a team player, dedicated to the profession they began studying at PSSC.
- Dennis Martynyuk, Puget Sound Skills Center
Burien Arts Association Scholarship
This scholarship is for a Highline Public Schools graduate who will pursue a visual arts degree at an accredited arts organization or four-year college/university. This is a one-time award of $1,000.
- Ian Thomas, Mount Rainier High School
Burien PRIDE Scholarship
Created in partnership with Burien PRIDE, this scholarship celebrates students who have helped advance and support LGBTQ+ communities. This scholarship provides a $1,250 award for one year.
- Delilah Al Kaddah-Woltz, Mount Rainier High School
CM Garrity Scholarship
Thanks to the generosity of Highline alumnus Charles Garrity — the CM Garrity Scholarship was established in 2015. The scholarship provides $30,000 over four years to recipients and criteria include financial need, academic performance, leadership and community service or extracurricular activities.
- Ana Croasdaile-Vazquez, Mount Rainier High School
- Camilla Lai, Highline High School
- Peter Nguyen, Evergreen High School
- Kabira Prim, Tyee High School
- Japeth Tekle, Raisbeck Aviation High School
- Daniel Tran, Evergreen High School
Friends of Tyee Scholarship
The Friends of Tyee Scholarship was established in 2024 by Friends of Tyee, a group started by the Class of 1967 to support and uplift current Tyee students and educators. It provides $1,000 to a graduating senior from Tyee.
- Idalia Avila, Tyee High School
Highline Promise Scholarship
Created by former Highline Superintendent Susan Enfield, this $5,000 scholarship is offered for students pursuing post-high school education (college or trade school) or those planning a direct career path like the military, vocational, or other career pathway. Recipients of this award are first-generation students — those who are the first in their family to attend college or, for those pursuing other career pathways, be a student whose parents did not attend college
- Brian Nguyen, Evergreen High School
Jim Glennon Memorial Scholarship
This $4,000 scholarship, funded by community members and friends of Jim Glennon, is for students planning a career in Education, following in the footsteps of lifelong educator Jim Glennon, who taught for many years at Mount Rainier High School.
- Dayanna Abarca Hernandez, Big Picture High School
- Isabella Pfingsten, Mount Rainier High School
- Adeline Sutherland Field, Highline High School
Jocelyn Co Memorial Scholarship
This $1,000 scholarship honors Jocelyn Co, a passionate educator and advocate for equity. Jocelyn’s impact on education was profound. This scholarship continues her legacy, supporting students committed to careers in math or education, especially those passionate about equity in math education and the belief that every student can succeed.
- Angelica Medina Garcia, Evergreen High School
Nature Stewards Environmental Science Scholarship
This scholarship was created to support graduates of any Highline high school planning to study environmental science in their post-secondary studies. The scholarship provides $3,000 for the first year of college.
- Khalifala Dukuly, Tyee High School
Pasifika Showcase Scholarship
Awards a $1000 scholarship to the Pacific Islander student with the highest GPA in recognition of the Pasifika Showcase.
- TBN May 14
Scott Gifford Memorial Scholarship
Founded in memory of longtime friend and trustee of Highline Schools Foundation Scott Gifford, this scholarship provides a one-time $10,000 award to a graduating senior from any Highline Public Schools high school, planning to study aerospace engineering.
- Cameron Stolz, Big Picture High School
SEA Scholarship
This is the Foundation’s longest running scholarship, funded through the SEA Golf Tournament held each July. Four scholarships are awarded to students motivated to pursue a STEM education.
- Musab Abdi, CHOICE Academy
- Aferata Belie, Highline High School
- Gabriela Lopez, Mount Rainier High School
- Katie Luu, Raisbeck Aviation High School
TinShip – The Tin Room Scholarship
Created and funded by The Tin Room owner Dan House and The Tin Room patrons, this $3,000 scholarship is offered to graduating seniors planning to attend an accredited trade or vocational school.
- Metztly Martin, Highline Virtual Academy
Tom Sawyer Memorial Scholarship
Created to honor Tom Sawyer, who was employed by the Highline School District for 30 years, teaching science and serving as an assistant principal at middle schools. In 1990, he became the principal of Highline HighSchool for nine years, and he considered this the best job ever. This $3,000 award goes to a graduate of Highline High School.
- Cindy Lobos, Highline High School
Check out all of the photos from our 2026 Scholarship Reception below! Photography courtesy Mel Ponder.
