Thanks to the unprecedented generosity of the community, Lopez Island Community Scholarship Foundation awarded seven scholarships at the 2026 Lopez School Scholarship Awards Night. Not only does that number break last year’s record, but each individual scholarship increased, resulting in a whopping $48,000 worth of awards. Two students received the $4,000 Career, Technical and Engineering Award for two years of community college, and another five — including all three co-Valedictorians — each received $8,000 awards for four-year study. Their plans of study range through the sciences, social sciences and humanities, and their self-assurance and gratitude are inspiring.
CTE scholarship awardee Danielle Arnott, daughter of Trisha and Stanley Arnott, is heading for two years at Bellingham Technical College to become a veterinary technician, with plans to transfer to Washington state to complete her degree. In her application, Danielle credits her horse trainer with teaching her to “approach challenges with determination instead of doubt.”
Fellow CTE awardee Naima Garcia, daughter of Marjorie Schreurs and Diano Garcia, will attend the nursing program at Skagit Valley Community College for two years, then plans to complete her BS at a university. Naima is considering a career in labor and delivery nursing, though her personal experience pushes her to help anyone in need. Having undergone surgery for a sports injury in her senior year and a grueling recovery, Naima wrote in her application, “the nurse that I had during my surgery is who inspired me to pursue nursing in the first place. She was a huge comfort to me in the hospital, and I would love to be able to do that for others.”…