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 “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.
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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 no longer being accepted.
Please direct any questions to: sifridayharbor@soroptimist.net
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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 no longer being accepted.
Questions? email: sifridayharbor@soroptimist.net
2022 Educational Opportunity Award Recipients
We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Educational Award. Each of these deserving young women received a $2,000 scholarship.
Emily Atwell graduated from Friday Harbor High School in 2021. She will major in Film Studies at Portland State University.
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Emily Shultz has begun studying Nursing School prerequisites at Bellevue College. Emily plans to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
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Ramona Flieri is studying at Colorado School of Mines to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
2022 Fellowship Award Recipient
We are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2022 Fellowship Award. This deserving young woman received a $3,000 scholarship.
Brooke Radcliffe has a BA degree is in Fine Arts, and is studying toward getting her Master’s degree in Art Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Brook’s experience includes working at Safe San Juans as a safety planning and medical advocate, as well as at the elementary and middle schools teaching children and teens about consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships. Her professional goal is to help empower individuals who need it most, to help them realize that life is worth living and a bright future is possible.
2022 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 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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.