Kent and Covington students receive BECU scholarships

BECU, a Washington credit union, awarded $2,500 scholarships for exceptional community service by graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students.

In Covington, Yasaman Azodi was scholarship recipient.

In Kent, Joshua Kutterer, Payton Jones and Cameron Halversen were among the recipients to win a scholarship from BECU.

The students were selected by a volunteer selection committee of local business, educational and nonprofit leaders based on a combination of strong dedication to community service, leadership and academics.

The foundation received more than 600 scholarship applications from BECU student members.  Applicants were required to submit hours of community service, grade point, transcripts and letters of recommendation, as well as essays describing their most meaningful service experiences.

• Yasaman Azodi – University of Washington

Volunteer at Arbor Village Retirement & Assisted Living Community

After describing her first day at Arbor Village as the scariest day of her life, six years later she has hundreds of both wonderful and heartbreaking stories and a determination to major in biochemistry and attend medical school where she can study genetics in hopes of learning more about the effects of DNA and the brain.  She hopes someday to play a part in helping those at Arbor Village remember her and those they love.

• Joshua Kutterer – Brigham Young University

Missionary service with Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

He often describes this experience as the best two years of his life, because he was able to focus 100 percent of his time and energy in service to others in need, like the young girl he watched go from being shy and troubled to confident and secure.  As he returns to college he carries with him a strong desire to continue service to those in need around him and the leadership skills he gained, along with the importance of setting goals and helping others also achieve their goals, will help him throughout his life.

• Payton Jones – Kentridge –  Brigham Young University

Organized community volunteers to create a boardwalk at Clark Lake Park

Inspired by strong principles from his parents and values learned through the Boy Scouts, he organized several of his fellow community members to help build a drivable boardwalk in Clark Lake Park and increasing access to more areas of this park.

• Cameron Halverson – Kentridge – Brigham Young University

Volunteer through church in a week of service program

After a serving a week along with fellow youth from his church on various projects like painting, weeding, mending fences, preparing food and sewing blankets for those in need, he now considers this to have been an experience of a lifetime.