From left, Mercedes Sunshine Shimko and Hudson Soelter.

Club grows local scholarships

PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Garden Club awarded five area students with $1,000 scholarships.

Port Angeles High School (PAHS) students receiving awards are Mercedes Sunshine Shimko, Hudson Soelter, Owen Nevaril and Kelli Fors.

Crescent High School (CHS) graduate Raine Westfall was the recipient of the Gertie Rorhbach scholarship.

Students selected are generally majoring in a field relating to our environment, conservation, or horticulture, according to a news release.

They also must qualify the standards set by the club’s Scholarship Committee and endorsed by the membership.

The Rohrbach scholarship is in honor of long-time club member Gertie Rorhbach and is awarded solely to graduating CHS students.

Westfall participated in varsity football, basketball, and track and field each year at CHS.

She is an honor student and has yet to decide on a university to attend, but plans to major in marine or conservation biology, according to a news release.

She is the daughter of Thena Westfall.

Shimko has been an active PAHS orchestra member throughout her tenure at the school.

She plans to attend Western Washington University in the fall, majoring in environmental science.

Shimko is the daughter of Brian Shimko Sr. and Anna Elizabeth Sally Bielby.

Soelter was PAHS’ Associated Student Body 2017-18 president and ASB secretary 2016-17.

Soelter involved himself in various volunteer activities with the Lefties, his church and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Veterans Day ceremony.

Soelter is the son of Clint Soelter and Sydney Upham-Soelter.

Nevaril was his class’ president for three years and participated in the American Society of Civil Engineer’s Popsicle Bridge Competition.

He has been accepted into University of Washington’s engineering program.

He is the son of Rhion and Trina Nevaril.

Fors was involved with PAHS’ Marching, Concert and Pep bands, as well as Wind Ensemble.

She plans to attend University of Washington and major in astronomy, chemical engineering or oceanography, according to a news release.

She is the daughter of Cevin and Lacey Fors.

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