Scholar-athletes get Dick Nichols scholarships
Fourteen scholar-athletes will be honored April 25 at the 20th annual Dick Nichols West Olympia Rotary Awards Luncheon.
Awards are given to graduating high school students from seven high schools in the Olympia, Tumwater and North Thurston school districts who are chosen for their excellence in academics, athletics and community service.
Each will receive a $1,500 scholarship.
The award is given in the name of Dick Nichols, longtime sports announcer, former county commissioner and advocate for young people. The ceremony begins at noon the Red Lion, 2300 Evergreen Park Drive SW, and is open to the public. Lunch costs $20.
Samantha Payne
Black Hills High School
4.0 GPA, valedictorian, six All-Academic Awards for the 2A Evergreen Conference, three Most Inspirational awards in basketball, Most Improved award basketball and fastpitch, peer tutor, volunteer coach at Tumwater Middle School, middle school leadership camp volunteer. Plans to study mathematics, computer science at Western Washington University.
Jewell Day
Black Hills High School
3.52 GPA, AP Scholar Award, All-Academic Award three years, AP Scholar Award for getting a 5 on the AP calculus exams, second team All-Area football and basketball, volunteer at Thurston County Food bank. Plans to study mechanical engineering at University of Washington, the University of Puget Sound, George Fox University or Whitworth University.
Mica Livingston
Capital High School
3.2 GPA, Running Start, Best Teammate award, Most Inspirational Player, varsity golf, volunteer for the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation. Plans to study physical therapy at University of Washington.
Zach Smith
Capital High School
3.57 GPA, four-time Academic All-American, perfect attendance two years, football: captain, MVP, All-Area wide receiver, first team All-League, wide receiver and kick returner; track and field: two years varsity, seventh in the 3A State 100m, Coaches Award; baseball: varsity; volunteers as a Cispus camp counselor; Army ROTC three-year National Scholarship winner. Plans to study exercise science at Montana State University.
Grae Hill
North Thurston High School
3.87 GPA, first place Academics at Basic Police Academy with 100 percent on all tests, Running Start student, fall All-Sports Female Student Athlete Award; soccer: varsity captain, MVP two years, first Team All-League three years, League MVP, and All State 3A Midfielder for one year; Olympia Police Explorer, manager for the boys’ high school soccer team, volunteer for Bretschneider and Kirkwood Musical productions. Plans to study criminal justice with a minor in psychology in college.
Peter Allegre
North Thurston High School
3.97 GPA, AP scholar, fall 2015 NTPS Scholar Athlete, National Honor Society officer, cross country: four-time varsity and state qualifier and team captain; track: three-time varsity and two-time state qualifier and team captain, volunteer at Sojourn Community Church and job shadow participant at Madigan Army Hospital. Plans to study biology at University of Portland.
Michelle Yan
Olympia High School
3.967 GPA, 2015 Fall Narrows League Scholar Athlete Award, AP Scholar with Distinction, swimming: varsity four years, qualified for districts every year, state qualifier three times, team captain senior year; helped eradicate invasive species at parks in Olympia with Olympia Parks and Recreation, musical entertainment at retirement homes. Plans to study pre-med at University of British Columbia.
Edwin Beusch
Olympia High School
3.95 GPA, ASB treasurer, Future Business Leaders of America state qualifier in accounting, basketball: two years varsity, varsity co-captain, Narrows League Honorable Mention; volunteer coach for sixth-grade boys basketball, counselor at Olympia Bears Basketball Camp, Cispus Camp counselor, National Honor Society Volunteer. Plans to study finance at University of Washington.
Makenna Schultz
River Ridge High School
3.7 GPA, Honor roll all four years, River Ridge High School ASB, Academic all-league player all four years, basketball: first team all-conference junior year, SPSL League MVP senior year, Olympia All Area player of the year, Olympia All Area first team (SPSL), varsity team captain senior year; volunteer for Charlie Safari homeless Thanksgiving, vacation Bible school leader. Plans to study environmental engineering at Saint Martin’s University.
Benjamin Retzlaff
River Ridge High School
3.93 GPA, National Honor Society, fall scholar athlete for North Thurston Public Schools, ASB Treasurer, Football: four years; three years Varsity letter; 1st team all-area and all-league; basketball: three years; track: one year as thrower; volunteer for six years in Shrine Burgerwagon at Capital Lakefair. Plans to study civil engineering at Washington State University.
Georgia Simon
Timberline High School
3.8 GPA, National Honor Society president, Student of the Year in Honors ELA and AP U.S. history, Distinguished Scholar, varsity volleyball: four years, Coach’s Award, Most Inspirational; basketball: Coach’s Award; drama: cast in three school musicals; Best Supporting Actress, Excellent in State performance; volunteers as a club volleyball assistant coach and elementary school tutor. Plans to study kinesiology at West Point.
Collin Tate
Timberline High School
3.97 GPA, Class of 2016 Top 10, National Honor Society, varsity soccer: 1st Team All-League junior year, team captain since sophomore year, sophomore year Second Team All-League, junior year First Team All-League; varsity football: 2015 kicker; volunteer as a middle school assistant coach and counselor at YMCA summer camp. Plans to study education or business at Pacific University or Linfield College.
Senna Larson
Tumwater High School
3.986 GPA, 2012-2016 honor roll, National Honor Society, Student of the Month, Evergreen Conference All-Academic award in volleyball and tennis, varsity letter in volleyball and tennis, two-time volleyball district champion, 2014 2A Volleyball state champion; Honors Society event coordinator, Renaissance Student Recognition committee leader and Jostens National Renaissance Conference speaker, youth volleyball camp counselor/coach, VBS leader, served on a mission trip to Mexico, served as a page for the Legislature. Plans to study health science at Azusa Pacific University.
Andrew Dellsite
Tumwater High School
3.97 GPA, Olympia Master Builders Architecture Competition winner, Washington Aerospace Scholar, WIAA State Academic Award, cross-country: four year All-League, two-year team captain; track: three-year All-League, two-year team captain; Knowledge Bowl team captain, volunteered for Club Olympia Running, helps at local races for nonprofits, helped tutor at the Boys & Girls Club. Plans to study aerospace engineering at the University of Arizona.
This story was originally published April 24, 2016 at 9:11 PM with the headline "Scholar-athletes get Dick Nichols scholarships."