Scholarships & Awards
Educational Opportunity Award
Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor is encouraging qualified women in San Juan County to apply for our $2,500 Educational Opportunity Award. This award helps local 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:
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has graduated from high school or has earned a State issued GED (General Education Development) certificate;
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must be enrolled in, or accepted into, undergraduate study at an accredited college, university; or an accredited vocational/trade skills training program*;
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and able to demonstrate financial need.
*including on-line accredited study.
Applications and two (2) References for the 2025 Educational Opportunity Award (EOA) must be submitted online or mailed and postmarked by February 1, 2025.
It is recommended to download the printable forms in order to carefully review the information needed for the application and/or seek help to complete the online option on a laptop. The online form will open in a new browser "tab" for your electronic input; do not close the browser "tab" until the form is submitted.
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Printable EOA Application download option: click here
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Printable EOA Reference download option: click here
Please direct any questions to: sifrib4w@gmail.com
Soroptimist members, their immediate family members, and previous recipients of Soroptimist awards are not eligible to apply.
Fellowship Award
The $4,000 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:
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established in business or one of the professions who wish to undertake advanced study at an accredited college or university;
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candidates must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree and present a plan for postgraduate study at an accredited college or university for an advanced degree.
Applications and References for the 2025 Fellowship Award (FSA) must be submitted online or mailed and postmarked by February 1, 2025.
It is recommended to download the printable forms in order to carefully review the information needed for the application and/or seek help to complete the online option on a laptop. The online form will open in a new browser "tab" for your electronic input; do not close the browser "tab" until the form is submitted.
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Printable FSA Application download option: click here
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Printable FSA Reference download option: click here
Please direct any questions to: sifrib4w@gmail.com
Soroptimists, their immediate family members, and previous recipients of Soroptimist awards are not eligible to apply.
NEW! Trades Award
Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor is now offering qualified women in San Juan County to apply for our $3,500 Trades Award.
This award is specifically designed to help women gain vocational trades skills to fill high paying jobs that are in great demand in our community.
To be eligible for this award, an applicant:
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has graduated from high school or has earned a State issued GED (General Education Development) certificate;
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must be enrolled in, or accepted into,an accredited trade skills training program for Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, Marine Maintenance, or Welding;
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and able to demonstrate financial need.
Application and two (2) References for the 2025 Trades Award must be submitted online or mailed and postmarked by February 1, 2025
It is recommended to download the printable forms in order to carefully review the information needed for the application and/or seek help to complete the online option on a laptop. The online form will open in a new browser "tab" for your electronic input; do not close the browser "tab" until the form is submitted.
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Printable Trades Application download option: click here
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Printable Trades Reference download option: click here
Please direct any questions to: sifrib4w@gmail.com
Soroptimist members, their immediate family members, and previous recipients of Soroptimist awards are not eligible to apply.
2024 Educational Opportunity Award Recipients
We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Educational Award. A total of $3000 was awarded between these two deserving young women.
Ana Rivera is studying towards a Bachelor of Science in psychology through online classes at Grand Canyon University. She is working with students at Friday Harbor Elementary School and has a long-term goal of working with children in a therapy or counseling setting.
Juliet Livingston moved to San Juan Island in 2022. Shortly after moving here, when she started working at a preschool that was closed on Fridays. Juliet quickly realized how much childcare and preschools were needed, especially as one closed down before the school year started. From that, she decided to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education and Development to keep preschools open or reopen the ones that closed. Juliet loves working with children and watching them grow and learn. With this degree, she wants to continue to watch children's minds develop and nurture their curiosity.
2024 Fellowship Award Recipient
We are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2023 Fellowship Award. This deserving young woman received a $3,000 scholarship.
This award had eight applicants. Frankie Thomas currently works for the San Juan Island Library as the Adult Programs Associate, planning enrichment programs such as cultural presentations, film screenings and more for no cost to community members. She is passionate about the role that libraries play in fostering connected, resilient communities and is planning to attain her Master's degree in Library and Information Studies.
2024 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 8, 2024. Nancy Buechner, President of Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor, presented scholarships to five outstanding high school girls at the graduation ceremony. Soroptimists awarded four $2000 awards and one $3000 award.
The award winners are Adriana Guerrero, Ava Martin, Ella Raichlen, Grace Eltinge & Maria Magana-Navarro (listed alphabetically). We are very proud of these young women and know they will make the world a better place as they pursue their goals.
Adriana plans to earn an associate degree in Medical Assisting at Renton Community College. Then, she hopes to continue on to become an RN. She has a passion for healthcare and the opportunity to contribute to patient care and well-being.
Ava will study environmental science and or International and Public Affairs at Brown, University. Her plan is to Study environmental science to better understand the pressures on the environment, as well as studying international and public affairs to learn about how global environmental protection can be ensured through diplomacy on an international level.
Ella plans to earn a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology with a minor in business marketing at Washington State University at Pullman. She has chosen to focus on these two fields to help build a skillset and jumpstart her future business endeavors in the fitness industry.
Maria will study Journalism and Marketing at Whatcom Community College. She looks forward to completing all the transfer requirements and then transferring to a four-year college or university.
Grace will study education at Oregon State University and earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She will pursue a master’s degree once she secures a teaching position. Her ultimate goal is to return to the island and teach. On a trip to Honduras, she witnessed first-hand the effect of the lack of education of children. She learned the value one person can have on the effect on someone's life and would love to be that person for children.
2023 Ruby Award Recipient
Rachelle Radonski
Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor is honored to award Rachelle Radonski for her role in supporting women, children, and families in the community.
Rachelle has been managing the Friday Harbor Food Bank since 2019. The Food Bank is open to the public and is a non-profit under the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture that operates solely on contributions and community donations.
Rachelle works tirelessly to bring efforts together with other island food programs and donations. She teams with Meals on Wheels and the Family Resource Center to help pack food for deliveries.
In 2020, she started “Order by Phone” in 2020 for those who cannot get to the Food Bank. The Food Bank also provides children with the breakfasts and lunches they are missing when not in school through the Summer Kids Program.
Rachelle is most proud of the expansion and new storefront that was completed in January 2023 with more opportunities and privacy for customers.
The Food Bank serves approximately 115 households on Wednesdays and 190 on Saturdays and average 75 online orders every week and is a valuable resource to the community.
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 from other levels of the world-wide Soroptimist organization, up to $16,000 finalist awards.
Each year, more than $2.8 million in education grants are awarded to over 1,700 women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence, the death of a spouse and/or substance abuse.
Please see home page around August 15 for details on to apply for the Live Your Dream Award.