Scholarships & Awards
Scholarships and Awards
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 at other levels of the organization, including three $10,000 finalist awards.
Each year, more than $2.4 million in education grants are awarded to over 1,500 women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence, the death of a spouse and/or substance abuse.
Applications for the Live Your Dream Award are no longer being accepted as the deadline to apply was Nov. 15, 2022. Please check back in the fall of 2023 on how to apply for our next Live Your Dream Award.
2022 High School Scholarships Receipients
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 11, 2022. Denise Urell, President of Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor, presented scholarships to three outstanding high school girls at the graduation ceremony. One STEM scholarship (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and two general scholarships were presented.
Soroptimist scholarships of $2,000 were awarded to Isabel Graham and Amelia Eltinge for continuing education. The $3,000 STEM Scholarship was awarded to Robin Taylor.
For more information, please contact Sue Buettel at sifridayharbor@soroptimist.net.
Isabel Graham will attend Arizona State University to study Speech Language and Hearing Sciences. Her plan is to earn a master’s degree and become a Speech Pathologist. Her goal is to return to the island and work with children with speech disorders.
Amelia Eltinge will attend Washington State University in the Honors College and work toward a Doctorate in Pharmacy and minor in Business. She would like to own her own business in the future. She has been heavily involved in the community and school activities, and wants to help people in her career.
Robin Taylor, our STEM recipient, will attend University of Washington and study Chemical Engineering. She cares deeply about the environment and wants to pursue a career to encourage positive change.
Educational Opportunity Award
Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor is encouraging qualified women in San Juan County to apply for our “Educational Opportunity Award”. This award helps 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 must be enrolled in or accepted into an undergraduate degree or vocational skills training program, and able to demonstrate financial need.
Please note: This award differs from the Live Your Dream Award in that an applicant for the Educational Opportunity Award does not need to be the primary wage earner in a household.
Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor has made a $2,000 monetary award available for a woman in San Juan County. Soroptimist members, their immediate family members, and previous recipients of Soroptimist awards are not eligible to apply.
Applications for the 2023 Educational Opportunity Award are now being accepted. Applications must be received or postmarked by January 27, 2023. To apply, download an application and reference forms from this website using the following links:
2023 Educational Opportunity Award Application
2023 Educational Opportunity Award Reference Form
2023 Online Educational Opportunity Award Application
Applications and two references may be emailed, or sent by regular mail to:
Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor
Attention: Educational Opportunity Award Chairperson
P.O. Box 2856
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Please direct any questions to: sifridayharbor@soroptimist.net
2021 Educational Opportunity Award Recipients
We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Educational Award. Each of these deserving young women received a $2,000 scholarship.
Halley Byrne is currently studying at Skagit Valley Community College to complete her prerequisite requirements needed to apply for their Registered Nursing Program. She then plans to study for her Bachelor's of Science degree in Nursing through a bridge program at the University of Washington.
Megan Haagensen is currently studying at Skagit Valley Community College for an Associates Degree in Education. She will transfer to Western Washington University in the Fall of 2021 to study Elementary Education.
Victoria Polda is studying at Colorado School of Mines to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
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.). 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.
Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor has made a $3,000 monetary award available for a woman in San Juan County.
Soroptimists, their immediate family members, and previous recipients of Soroptimist awards are not eligible to apply.
Applications for the 2023 Fellowship Award are now being accepted.
Applications must be received or postmarked by January 27, 2023.
To apply, download an application and reference forms from this website using the following links:
2023 Fellowship Award Application
2023 Fellowship Award Reference Form
Applications, references, and transcripts may be emailed, or sent by regular mail to:
Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor
Attention: Fellowship Award Chairperson
P.O. Box 2856
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Questions? email: sifridayharbor@soroptimist.net
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.