Soroptimists in Forks present awards

FORKS — Soroptimist International of the Olympic Rain Forest has honored area women with awards.

The Ruby Award honors women who, through their professional or personal efforts are making a difference in the lives of women and girls.

Their work has had a significant impact on other women by inspiring and encouraging them.

That woman receives $250 and $250 for the entity of her choice.

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The 2018 Ruby Award winner is Patty Vaughan, who has served on the board for Caring Place since its beginning in 1986, making sure that women and families in need get what they need along with childbirth and parenting classes, according to her nomination. She was nominated by Katie Krueger.

She is the only high school teacher at Forks Alternative School, a job she has held since 1993.

She has won many awards for her work including the Golden Apple Award from PBS.

Live Your Dream Award is for women who are the head of their household and pursuing education to make a better life for themselves and their family.

Each year, $1,000 goes to one recipient, who may use the funds to offset any costs associated with efforts to attain higher education.

The winner of the Live Your Dream Award for 2018 is Tawnya Rowley.

She is the mother of four children — ages 10, 14, 15 and 17 — and is the sole supporter of her family.

Tawnya, a former addict and 12 years clean, would like to return to school to further her education in chemical dependency counseling.

The Violet Richardson Award recognizes young women between the ages of 14-17 who volunteer to the community.

For this award, $250 goes to the winner and $250 to the charity of her choice.

The 2018 Violet Richardson award winner is Chelsea Biciunas. Biciunas, 17, will graduate this year from Forks High School.

She is active with Young Life.

She has been accepted at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, and plans to be a teacher.

Each of the following women will receive $1,000, which will be mailed to their chosen college’s admissions office in the fall.

Funds for these scholarships are generated from the annual Forks Festival of Trees.

Marissa Bailey has been accepted to Gonzaga University where she will pursue a career in physical therapy.

Gabriella Damron has been accepted to Washington State University where she plans to study to be a veterinarian.

Enid Ensastegui Salazar has been accepted to the University of Washington where she plans to study to be a registered dietitian. She hopes to help others with eating disorders and body images.

Hull Family scholarships

In September 2017, Soroptimist International of the Olympic Rain Forest was invited to oversee the Hull Family funds for Forks which included several thousand dollars in scholarships for current graduates and previous year renewals. The Hull family built and operated Peninsula Telecom for many years in the West End.

Bailey, Damron, Ensastegui Salazar and Biciunaswill receive scholarships of $2,340 each, which is renewable next year.

Others receiving Hull Family scholarships are:

Scott Archibald has been accepted to Gonzaga University and plans to study pre-med or biology with plans to attend medical school.

Samuel Gomez-Ahilon has been accepted to Columbia Basin College where he will study to be a medical interpreter.

Savanah Norbisrath has been accepted to Western Washington University in Bellingham where she will pursue a degree as a speech and language pathologist. She hopes to return to Forks to work.

Renewals of Hull Family scholarships for 2017 graduates are:

• Edwin Cisneros is attending Peninsula College to learn welding (metallurgy).

• Kenneth Turner attended Peninsula College seeking a AA degree in Business Administration.

• Skyler DeMatties is attending Central Washington University hoping to be accepted into a nursing program since she has all her prerequisites completed.

• Lauren Decker is attending Western Washington University as a communication studies premajor and is planning to double minor in English and Public Relations.

• Maya Trettevik is attending Western Washington University and because she wants to help people and families she is looking toward a degree in human services, with a minor in sociology.

• Peyton Rondeau is attending Central Washington University hoping to earn a degree in nutrition and dietetics.

Diane Demorest Scholarship

The Diane Demorest Scholarship is $1,000 for a person who is seeking a career in the medical field. Demorest died of ovarian cancer at the age of 45. Her love of nursing and caring for people lives on through this scholarship named in her honor.

This year’s three recipients are:

• Angela Pursley — Married and the mother of three children, she has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and has worked as a nurse in acute care and as a hospice nurse. She has been accepted into the graduate nursing program at Washington State University.

• Reece Moody — He has completed his prerequisites at Washington State University for the nursing program and has been accepted into it.

• Vern Rondeau — A graduate of Forks High School and the nursing program at Peninsula College, he is a RN who has worked at Forks Community Hospital and is currently the Clinic Lead RN for the Quileute tribe.