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Press Release-May 2009

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NEWS RELEASE Wednesday May 27 2009

Cottage Grove Community Foundation provides 29 scholarships to area students

The Cottage Grove Community Foundation provided 29 scholarships and two renewable scholarships to students from Cottage Grove High School, Creswell High School and North Douglas High School for a total nearly $30,000. Since its inception, the foundation has given out almost $160,000 to deserving students to help them pay for their education.

"Each year we receive funds to disburse for scholarships from eleven endowment funds. And this year we also had funds from over 15 donors and many of the faculty of the South Lane School District who have monthly payroll deductions for scholarships for the South Lane School District students," said Kathryn Porter, co-chair of the scholarship committee. She said they received 63 applications and had funds to distribute to only 50% of those applicants. "We have a goal to provide scholarship funds to all the students graduating from schools in South Lane School District that want to pursue higher education including vocational schools, community colleges, and universities. Cottage Grove residents have been very generous in the past in their contribution of funds including the establishment of endowments and we must get the word out that more of our students are continuing their education and need the extra help that these scholarships provide." Anyone wishing to make donations should contact the foundation office at 942-0014. All contributions are tax deductible.

This year's scholarships were funded by the following endowment funds: Cottage Grove Community Foundation Permanent Fund, South Lane Education Fund, Sumer Solesbee Nursing Scholarship Fund, Woodard Family Scholarship for LCC held by the LCC Foundation, Elizabeth Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund, Jim Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund, Krista Parent Scholarship Fund, Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Doris Abbott Fund, Roger and Eileen Russell Fund, Sumer Solesbee Memorial Scholarship Fund, LCC Anonymous Vocational Scholarship Fund held by the Oregon Community Foundation, Portmann Family Fund, Mildred Smith Scholarship Fund. Donors include Scott and Sherry Saunders, Karen Winter and Betty Wright.

The scholarships ranged from $500 to $1,500.

The Cottage Grove High School and Kennedy Alternative High School recipients are:

Cottage Grove Community Foundation Permanent Fund Scholarships:
Shelby Beauchamp who plans to attend the University of Oregon and work in ecological research
Melissa McReynolds who plans to study at Brigham Young University in Idaho and become a large animal veterinarian
Jenna Squires who plans to attend Western Oregon University and work in Neonatology

The Cottage Grove Community Foundation Donor Scholarships:
Patrick Dills who plans to attend Oregon State University and study business and real estate
Delsey Maus who plans to attend Western Oregon University and become a pathology assistant or laboratory scientist

Saunders Family Scholarships:
Cheyenne Thayer who plans to study at the University of Oregon and become an interior designer or graphic designer
Hawley Ward who plans to attend Lane Community College and become a teacher

Hoyer Family Scholarship:
Tavie Wiscarson who plans to attend Lane Community College and become an elementary school teacher

South Lane Education Fund Scholarships:
Terry Rizzi who plans to attend DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond Oregon to become a game designer
Miriam Whitney Wege who plans to attend Western Oregon University and become a school speech pathologist

Woodard Family Scholarship for LCC:
Kimberlee Adams who plans to attend Lane Community College and become a nurse
Katie Roddy who attends Kennedy Alternative High School and plans to attend Lane Community College and become a dental hygienist

Sumer Solesbee Nursing Scholarships:
Christopher Bryant who plans to attend Lane Community College and become a registered nurse
Turice Peterson who plans to attend Lane Community College and become a critical care or labor and delivery nurse.
Simee Smith who plans to attend the University of Portland for nursing.

Jim Wright Memorial Scholarship:
Dylan White who plans to attend Lane Community College and become a Commercial Pilot

Elizabeth Stewart Memorial Scholarship:
Aimee Smith who plans to attend the University of Portland and study nursing

Krista Parent Scholarship:
Leah Klein who plans to attend Oregon State University and become a teacher

Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Abbott Memorial Scholarship:
Alumina Eperiam who plans to attend Eastern Oregon University and become an emergency room doctor

Cottage Grove Community Foundation LCC Anonymous vocational scholarship:
Christopher Bryant who plans to attend Lane Community College and become a registered nurse
Clay Krantz who plans to attend Lane Community College and study computer programming and physics
Rita Krantz who plans to attend Lane Community College and become an athletic dietician
Turice Peterson who plans to attend Lane Community College and become a Critical Care or Labor and delivery registered nurse

Portmann Family Scholarships:
Alumina Eperiam who plans to attend Eastern Oregon University and become an emergency room doctor
Aimee Smith who plans to attend the University of Portland and study nursing

Mildred Smith Memorial Scholarship:
Tamber DeHart who plans to attend Lane Community College and become an animator or graphic media artist

The Creswell Recipients are:

Jim Wright Memorial Scholarships:
Erick Hendricks who plans to attend the University of Oregon and become a professional jazz pianist
Erika Jackson who plans to attend Northeastern University in Boston and study chemical engineering

Roger and Eileen Russell Scholarship:
Cody Johnson who plans to attend the University of Oregon and become a music teacher

The North Douglas High School recipient is:

Jim Wright Memorial Scholarship:
Rochelle Hescock who plans to attend the University of Oregon or Northwestern Christian University to become a physical therapist

These students previously awarded Sumer Solesbee Nursing Scholarships were selected to receive renewable scholarships:
Tanya McVay, CGHS class of 2006
Rachel Stutzman, CGHS class of 2007

Both are attending Lane Community College. Tanya has been accepted in the nursing school and Rachel will be applying this year.

The Cottage Grove Community Foundation was established in 1991 as a public non-profit organization to help improve the quality of life for the residents of the City of Cottage Grove and surrounding communities. It is a resource for citizens, private companies and other foundations to make charitable gifts and bequests that will provide financial support to educational, medical, cultural, social and civic organizations serving the community.