Scholarships & Awards

Scholarships and Awards

Educational Opportunity Award

Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor is encouraging qualified women in San Juan County to apply for our $2500 Educational Opportunity Award. This award helps local women overcome financial difficulties and better their lives through education and training. The recipient may use the cash award to offset any costs of higher education, including such things as tuition, books, childcare, and transportation.

To be eligible for this award, an applicant:

has graduated from high school or has earned a State issued GED (General Education Development) certificate;
must be enrolled in, or accepted into, undergraduate study at an accredited college or university or vocational skills training program;
and able to demonstrate financial need.

Applications and References for the 2024 Educational Opportunity Award (EOA) are no longer being accepted. Please check back in the fall of 2024 to apply for the 2025 award cycle.

Please direct any questions to: sifrib4w@gmail.com

Soroptimist members, their immediate family members, and previous recipients of Soroptimist awards are not eligible to apply.

Fellowship Award

The $3000 Fellowship Award is presented to a San Juan County woman who is returning to school for postgraduate study in an accredited college or university leading to an advanced degree (Masters or Ph.D.).

This award is open to local women:

established in business or one of the professions who wish to undertake advanced study at an accredited college or university.
Candidates should hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree and present a study plan worthy of an advanced degree that will enhance her business or profession.

Applications and References for the 2024 Fellowship Award (FSA) are no longer being accepted. Please check back in the fall of 2024 to apply for the 2025 award cycle.

Please direct any questions to: sifrib4w@gmail.com

Soroptimists, their immediate family members, and previous recipients of Soroptimist awards are not eligible to apply.

Ruby Award

The Ruby Award is an award of recognition given to a woman who is not a Soroptimist, but who, through her professional or personal efforts, is making an extraordinary difference in the lives of women and/or girls in the San Juan County community. The Ruby award recipient is recognized and honored at our annual Notable Women’s Luncheon.

2023 Educational Opportunity Award Recipients

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Educational Award. A total of $6000 was awarded between these two deserving young women.

Lilah Savlen is studying at Skagit Valley College to obtain her Associate of Arts degree, after which she plans to transfer to a four-year university to study for a degree in psychology. Lilah wants to help in the recovery of those who have suffered, and her career goal is to provide care, support, and assistance to survivors of domestic violence and trauma.

Madison (Maddy) Miller will be attending Western Washington University the Fall of 2023, where she plans to major in psychology or education, with a minor in art. Maddy is a talented artist who wants to use her love of art to help others, particularly youth, by providing services through methods such as art or interactive therapy.

2023 Fellowship Award Recipient

We are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2023 Fellowship Award. This deserving young woman received a $3,000 scholarship.

Kandace Calandra holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and is studying to earn a Master of Education in Secondary Education with a focus on Humanities. Her passion lies in helping students realize their full potential, and she currently teaches 6th grade English language arts and physical education in Friday Harbor. Kandace’s goal is to be a humanities teacher at the middle school.

2023 High School Scholarships Recipients

Soroptimist International Friday Harbor is proud to have awarded selected graduating high school students with scholarships during the Friday Harbor High School Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, June 10, 2023. Becki Dayl, President of Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor, presented scholarships to four outstanding high school girls at the graduation ceremony. Soroptimists awarded two $2500 awards, one $3000 award and one $500 award.

The award winners are Lilia Arenas, Ariana Tucker-Belt, Larissa Mauldin, and Lily Rock (listed alphabetically). We are very proud of these young women and know they will make the world a better place as they pursue their goals.

Lilia will attend Gonzaga University and study Biology. Her goals are be accepted to medical school and become a surgeon. She has had a Science focused high school program and has excelled in all areas. Lilia is focused on success and willing to overcome obstacles to meet her goals.

Ariana will attend the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology to study physical therapy and earn her doctorate. From her own numerous injuries and subsequent physical therapy sessions, she desires to assist others in the same manner in which she was helped.

Central Washington University will welcome Larissa in the fall semester where she will study Art or Art Education. She is very passionate about art and loves to teach and mentor young children. Becoming an art teacher combines her two passions where she can inspire and spark curiosity in young minds as well as herself.

Lily will study English and the arts at Pierce Community College. She is passionate about running, having participated in track for four years. Art is another passion where her creativity shines. For four years she has participated in Art for Kids and loved working with children.

2023 Ruby Award Recipient

Rachelle Radonski

Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor is honored to award Rachelle Radonski for her role in supporting women, children, and families in the community.

Rachelle has been managing the Friday Harbor Food Bank since 2019. The Food Bank is open to the public and is a non-profit under the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture that operates solely on contributions and community donations.
Rachelle works tirelessly to bring efforts together with other island food programs and donations. She teams with Meals on Wheels and the Family Resource Center to help pack food for deliveries.

In 2020, she started “Order by Phone” in 2020 for those who cannot get to the Food Bank. The Food Bank also provides children with the breakfasts and lunches they are missing when not in school through the Summer Kids Program.

Rachelle is most proud of the expansion and new storefront that was completed in January 2023 with more opportunities and privacy for customers.

The Food Bank serves approximately 115 households on Wednesdays and 190 on Saturdays and average 75 online orders every week and is a valuable resource to the community.

Live Your Dream Award

This award helps women in overcoming personal difficulties and bettering their lives through education and training. To be eligible for this award, an applicant must be enrolled in or accepted into an undergraduate degree or vocational skills training program, the primary wage earner in her household, and able to demonstrate financial need. The recipient may use the cash award to offset any costs of higher education, such as tuition, books, childcare, or transportation.

Recipients of our local award are eligible for additional cash awards from other levels of the world-wide Soroptimist organization, up to $16,000 finalist awards.

Each year, more than $2.8 million in education grants are awarded to over 1,700 women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence, the death of a spouse and/or substance abuse.

Please see home page on or before August 1 for details on to apply for the Live Your Dream Award.