Local Students win $5,000 in scholarship money

Ari Ananda (FHS) sponsored by Hopkins Fine Portraiture and Jenna McKenny (EHS) sponsored by North Coast Investors won top scholarship awards of $1100 each at last night's Eureka Chamber Youth Ambassador Final Night. Ari Ananda also was selected by her peers as the Most Inspirational.

The other students participating and winning scholarship awards were Sarah Taylor (MACK) sponsored by Redwood Capital Bank, Kelsey Lee (EHS) sponsored by Jitter Bean, Erin Young (MACK) sponsored by Visiting Angels, Zach Jadro (FHS) sponsored by North Coast Co-op, Jessica Will (FHS) sponsored by SHN Engineers, Valerie Herrera (FHS) sponsored by KZCC-All Hits 95.5, Callie Forrest (FHS) sponsored by Sylvan Learning & Pierson Co, Nochella Ozard (FHS) sponsored by RCI Mortgage, Renee Rivers (FHS) sponsored by US Bank, Matteo Smullin (EHS) sponsored by Shafers, Tao Vang (EHS) sponsored by Coast Central CU, and Madison Kausen (FHS) sponsored by St Joseph Hospital.

John Dalby of Redwood Capital Bank was the evening's MC. He was assisted by Carol Clymo, Youth Ambassador Program Director and John Ford and Lynda Pozel, both Eureka Chamber Ambassadors.

The big stress for the students was "the final question" -each student drew a question from the hat, had 1 minute to prepare and 5 minutes to respond. Judges were scoring each student. The points awarded were added to those accumulated during the 6 week program. While the points were being totaled the students presented skits, song, dance, and other foolishness. The culmination was the awarding of the scholarships and a Hopkins Fine Portraiture gift portrait that Jack and I had taken at the program's Kick-off.

Look for the Youth Ambassadors on a float during the Rhododendron Parade on Saturday, April 25th.