2014 Award Ceremony | The Stanley Ann Dunham Scholarship Fund

2014 Scholars Soar

Stanley Dunham — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 04:22:34 +0000

We are so proud of our two 2014 scholars, who recently graduated from college:

Rachel Gallagher just received her bachelor’s degree in sociology/ anthropology from Carleton College and graduated magna cum laude.

Ellena Jones graduated from UW with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and was recognized as one of this year’s Husky 100 students who have made the most of their time at UW. She is now working as a Case Manager at Therapeutic Health Services at The Center for Experiential Learning & Diversity.

Scholars Ellena Jones and Rachel Gallagher at our 2014 Award Ceremony

2014 SADSF Scholarship Winners

Stanley Dunham — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 03:09:17 +0000

Ellena Jones and Rachel Gallagher

On May 3, 2014, Mercer Island High School graduating seniors Ellena Jones and Rachel Gallagher were each awarded $5,000 scholarships at the fifth annual Stanley Ann Dunham Scholarship Award Ceremony at the Mercer Island Community and Events Center. Each year, the Fund recognizes outstanding MIHS female graduating students who demonstrate Stanley Ann Dunham’s commitment to academic achievement, serving marginalized communities, and empowering women around the world.

Rachel Gallagher began volunteering as a sophomore to help children with special needs after reading an inspiring article about a Mercer Island organization called Friendship Circle of Washington. Realizing the stigma surrounding the special needs students at MIHS, she decided to create “Lunch Buddies” to ensure that these students have companions to eat with at lunch. Her knowledge and passion deepened after she spent a summer at Seattle Children’s Hospital researching autism and assisting patients and their families. Her plans for the future include Carleton College and then medical school where she hopes to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by autism. In her own words, “The marginalizing impact of autism makes it my goal to return to Seattle Children’s someday as a psychiatrist. As I take the next steps towards this dream…I will emulate Stanley Ann by dedicating myself to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by autism.”

Hilary Sparrow

Ellena Jones has developed an independence and self-advocacy discipline that has guided her through her life. She has held numerous positions of responsibility in her volunteering activities with Mercer Island Youth and Family Services, Natural Helpers, and Seattle Music Partners in addition to an excellent academic record. According to her high school guidance counselor, Ellena epitomizes perseverance and strength in the midst of adversity. She has proven to be a natural leader in her musical pursuits as well, acting as section leader and playing saxophone in the Jazz Ensemble. Ellena plans to major in social work in college. “I want to empower others in the way I have had to motivate myself to overcome poverty, foster care and homelessness. I hope to be that mother figure for others, especially children, living in difficult situations.”

Our guest speakers this year were “Girl Rising” senior producer Hilary Sparrow of Vulcan Productions and 2001 Mercer Island Alum Sarah Grausz.

Ms Sparrow is also Director of Production on projects for the Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Smithsonian Channel, and the.National Geographic Channel where she managed productions in nearly every corner of the globe including Cuba, Mexico, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Sarah Grausz

Sarah Grausz has built a career in international development, designing and implementing programs to improve bi-lateral relations between the U.S. and developing countries She offered three valuable tips for graduating seniors:”…First I want to talk about role models. Of the applicants here today, how many of you have a role model? For President Obama, his mother and grandmother were his role models, and their worldliness and empathy broadened his horizons and shaped his philosophy.

2014 Applicants: (from left) Scholarship winners Rachel Gallagher and Elena Jones, Caroline Kasman, Ilana Kleiner-Kanter (not pictured: Latrevian Saunders, Megan Ingram and Anna Brostius)

Scholarship Awards Ceremony is set for May 3, 2014

Stanley Dunham — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 03:07:57 +0000

The Stanley Ann Dunham Scholarship Fund’s 5th Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony is set for May 3, 2014 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. The program will begin at 1pm and is open to the public.

Our guest speaker this year is Hilary Sparrow, Executive Producer of Vulcan Productions’ feature film, Girl Rising. The scholarship ceremony will be followed by a screening of the film and a Q&A with Sparrow.

Per the Mercer Island Reporter:

“The Stanley Ann Dunham Scholarship Fund’s 5th Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony is set for May 3 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. The program will begin at 1 p.m. (doors open at 12:40 p.m.), and is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

The scholarship presentation will be followed at 2 p.m, by a screening of the groundbreaking documentary film “Girl Rising.” Narrated by Meryl Streep, Ann Hathaway and others, the film tells the stories of nine girls in developing countries who overcome nearly impossible odds to pursue their dreams of education and bettering their lives.

Vulcan Productions Senior Producer Hilary Sparrow will introduce the film and hold a Q&A after the film. This portion of the program is a fundraiser for the SADSF, and a small donation is suggested. The Stanley Ann Dunham Scholarship Fund was founded in 2010 to honor Stanley Ann Dunham, a 1960 graduate of Mercer Island High School. The mother of President Barack Obama, devoted her life to the social and economic development and empowerment of women world-wide.

Since its inception, the Scholarship fund has awarded $5,000 college scholarships each year to outstanding graduating senior women at MIHS who have demonstrated a commitment to Stanley Ann’s values of social activism, global citizenship, and the empowerment of women through education and service.

The SADSF Board would like to thank the Mercer Island Community Fund for their generous grant to the Stanley Ann Dunham Scholarship Fund to help fund the costs of this year’s program.