Celebrating Excellence: Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund Awards $720,000 to SPS Seniors 

Each spring, the Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund (SSSF) shines a spotlight on the incredible resilience, dedication, and community spirit of our graduating seniors—and this year was no exception. 

In a heartwarming evening filled with joy and gratitude, 72 outstanding students from every Seattle Public Schools high school were awarded $10,000 scholarships to support their first year of college. These one-time awards recognize not just academic achievement, but also the powerful stories of perseverance and service that define each recipient. 

The ceremony was rich with emotion as students shared personal reflections on the challenges they’ve overcome and the impact this scholarship will have on their future. Many expressed heartfelt thanks to the teachers, counselors, and family members who supported them along the way. 

During his address to the crowd, Superintendent Brent Jones urging students to “embrace their greatness.” 

“Let me tell you something: you are already successful; you are already good enough. Don’t confuse your success with your greatness. You are going to be something special … someone who is going to grow into greatness.” 

Founded in 1974 with proceeds from a benefit Country Western album featuring Tammy Wynette, the SSSF has grown into a powerful force for educational equity. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of donors over the years, thousands of Seattle students have been able to pursue their college dreams. 

This year’s recipients reflect the rich diversity of our city and were selected for their academic excellence, community contributions, and unwavering determination. We couldn’t be more proud of these future leaders! 

2025 Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund Award Recipients 

Alan T. Sugiyama High School 

Raymond Armstrong 
Sol Citlali Aguilar Campos 
Solana Huertas 

Ballard High School 

Victoria Harris 
Miriam Mathan 
Erika Chavez Reyes 
Vaneece Rushing 
Mathew Wright 

Chief Sealth International High School 

Elizabeth Palma Alvarado 
Dominic Allan Angeles Bethel Bisrat 
Sky Judson Greene 
Madison Sanabria 

Cleveland STEM High School 

Janiel Delgado 
Sofia Carrillo Esquivel 
Montrey Reeves 
Emily A. Cortes Salgado 
Immanuel Wudneh 

Franklin High School 

Jamaiya Bland 
Jonathan Cortes-Pineda 
Azra Kameenui Ramirez 
Tan Truong (Tino) 
Mi’Arau-Lynn Wallace 

Garfield High School 

Arole Tmougui Aminakeu 
Christopher De Fermin Cortes 
Sadie Howard 
Faith Ravenel 
Hunter Reynolds 

Ingraham High School 

Dayne Cardoza 
KingDavid Jackson 
Anna Negewo 
Bietelhem Tekleyohannes 
Mariana Valencia 

Interagency Academy 

Gisselle Barahona 
Anabela Mercedes Damas-Loftus 
Joi Taylor 

Lincoln High School 

Yeiler Acevedo 
Otto Franco 
Benjamin Mekuria 
Jaqueline Mercado-Ortiz 
Nice Phoparisut 

Middle College 

Charlotte Schonwald 
Ahatzari Granados Valencia 
Gita Wolford 

Nathan Hale High School 

Jet Bacon 
Haven Harris 
Arya Mishra 
Abby Padilla 
Josemael Zeron Herrera 

Rainier Beach High School 

Bitania Ashagre 
Kwame Barrientos 
Anikka Faith Huliganga 
Mar Jared Rudio 
Paolo Songco 

Roosevelt High School 

Ava Craft 
Chase Guyton 
Chebar Mukwaya 
Victoria Venegas Salcedo 
Quashia Slaughter 

Seattle World School 

Tomiris Kablan 
Swaleh Abdalla Mume 
Wendy Yuritzy 

The Nova Project 

Edelawit Aucoin 
Luca Cantu 
Ada (Boa) Michaud 

The Center School 

Willow Curtis 
Tessa Hanson 
Mercy Tellez 

West Seattle High School 

Aden Castillo 
Maya Chuc 
Danna Valery Martinez Leyva 
Lily Lund 
Fiona Tesfamariam 

Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund Awards Ceremony 2025 (video)