Scholarships & Awards
Advancing women and girls through education
2026 High School Scholarships Recipients
Thank you to our Friday Harbor community who have generously donated to Soroptimists enabling us to provide Scholarships to high school girls who will continue their educations. Our recent annual fundraiser, A-May-Zing, held on May 17th at Roche Harbor Resort, raised $12,500 for High School Scholarships, which was distributed to the following incredibly talented graduates at the June 6th graduation ceremony.
The award winners are Charley Lawrence-Sampson, Alison Power, Sophia Ramirez, Krysten Ruano Torres, and Flora Vaught (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. You have made a significant difference in their lives by providing support for their future endeavors and enabling them to follow their dreams.
Charley Lawrence-Sampson’s goal is to study Diagnostic Ultrasound at Bellevue College after completing the necessary prerequisites. Charley has always known that she wanted to pursue a career in the medical field. She is also interested in Kinesiology, which aligns with her interests in health and the human body.
Krysten Ruano Torres, will also attend the University of Washington where she will study political science as she is interested in law and international work. She feels these two areas tie together because they connect to ethics, justice, and how society works.
Alison Power will attend the Commonwealth Honors College at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to pursue a path to lead towards advocacy for students. She is interested in learning about potential work with state or federal agencies as a child advocate or safe official.
Sophia Ramirez, will attend University of Washingtn and study environmental science and social justice. She cares deeply about environmental stewardship and hopes to use her knowledge and experience to promote policy modifications and create change in how we interface with the environment.
Flora Vaught, the STEM scholarship recipient, will attend Harvard University and
study molecular and cellular biology. She plans to use her knowledge to inform policy makers for the betterment of her community and the environment. In her words: “Regardless of the sector or position I find myself in, I will remain committed to advancing scientific knowledge and contributing to my community.”
Continuing Education Award
The Continuing Education Award helps San Juan County residents 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:
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has graduated from high school or has earned a State issued GED (General Education Development) certificate;
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must be enrolled in, or accepted into, undergraduate study* at an accredited college, university; or an accredited vocational/trade skills training program;
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and able to demonstrate financial need.
* includes accredited online programs
Acceptance of submitted applications for the 2026 Continuing Education Award (CEA) ended on February 15, 2026. We plan to offer this award again in November 2027.
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.
2026 Continuing Education Award Recipient
We are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2026 Educational Opportunity Award was awarded $4000 in early March 2026. For personal reasons, this deserving young woman has request anonymity.
Fellowship Award
The 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.). 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, local women must be:
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candidates must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree and present a plan for postgraduate study* at an accredited college or university for an advanced degree.
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must provide such information as the Fellowship Award Committee may deem necessary.
*includes accredited online programs
Acceptance of submitted applications for the 2026 Fellowship Award (FSA) ended on February 15, 2026. We plan to offer this award again in November 2027.
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.
2026 Fellowship Award Recipient
We are pleased to announce the recipient of the $4000 Fellowship Award was presented to Tara Plank in early March 2026.
Tara Plank is a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) at Rooted Physical Therapy who is passionate about helping people move better and reduce pain. She is currently returning to school to pursue her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) through Tufts University School of Medicine - Seattle, continuing her commitment to lifelong learning and advancing patient care. In addition to her work in the clinic, she teaches yoga classes that focus on improving posture, core stability, and body awareness. Her goal as a future physical therapist is to help people move with greater confidence while developing a deeper understanding of their own bodies and how they move. Outside of work and school, she enjoys swimming and staying active.
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 $4,000 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.
Applications for the 2026 LYDA will be posted here around August 15, 2026.
2025 Live Your Dream Award Recipient
We are pleased to announce the recipient of the $4000 Live Your Award was presented to Kelsey Venegas in early December 2025.
Kelsey Venegas is currently enrolled with University of Washington for a Human Resources certificate program , graduating September 2026. Previously graduating from a California community college with an Associate's in Behavioral Sciences, Kelsey moved to the island in 2016 and focused on raising her young children.
Now prioritizing her own education and future, Kelsey is very thankful to receive this scholarship. It has aided her in rapidly evolving from a stay at home parent to primary wage-earner. Pursuing a career in HR will offer a healthy work-life balance with plenty of flexibility for family life and continued commitment to this island community.
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.