CAL members get glimpse of the future

SANDPOINT — When Mary Daubersmith taught first grade, she had a banner in the room that said, "A classroom is four walls with a future inside."

"And this is the future," Daubersmith said, gestured to some of this year's Community Assistance League scholarship recipients.

Sherry Ennis, scholarship committee chair and president of CAL, said it was "incredibly difficult" to choose from the 79 applicants. Daubersmith, a scholarship committee member, also said while it was difficult to choose from the many applicants, they picked the "cream of the crop." In total, CAL awarded $39,400 to 29 students from across Bonner County, including Sandpoint, Priest River, Clark Fork and Forrest Bird high schools, as well as a home-schooled student and two scholarship renewals.

"You are the shining stars of all of our futures and we really appreciate you," Ennis told the eight students in attendance at Wednesday's CAL meeting.

Each of the teens in attendance took turns telling CAL members a little bit about themselves and their future plans, and thanking CAL for its support of those futures.

Hannah Hurst, a Sandpoint High School graduate, said she plans to attend University of Idaho in the fall to study architecture. She hopes to "ultimately come home" and start her own firm or become a partner at an existing local firm. Jessica Klein, a home-school graduate through Idaho's Inspire Connections Academy, also plans to study architecture at the University of Idaho and start her own business. Klein was valedictorian of her class for the online academy.

Cienna Roget was the president and co-salutatorian of her senior class at SHS. She will be heading to California to attend Chapman University in the fall and plans to study journalism and marketing.

Ron Korn, also an SHS graduate, said it was not his first time in front of the CAL group. He was representing the North Idaho Aerospace Program during his previous visit, when CAL funded the instrument panel for the programs first plane the students built. Korn plans to go to the University of Idaho to study mechanical engineering with a minor in math and computer science. He hopes to come back to Sandpoint and work in the local aerospace industry after college.

SHS graduate Payton Finney said he plans to get a bachelor's degree in virtual technology and design from the University of Idaho. He plans to someday become an animator, which is described as an artist who creates multiple images that, through illusion of movement, generate animation.

Rachel Meyer said she has done volunteer work in the community and carried a 4.2 GPA throughout high school at SHS. She will head to Boise State University in the fall to study health sciences with a minor in business. Her dream is to ultimately become a dentist and work in a country that is in need of dental services, she said.

Kaytlyn Wooden, SHS graduate, said the scholarship will help her fulfill her goal of going to North Idaho College for construction and construction management, as just the tools will cost her $1,000 to get started. She plans to get her associate's degree and come back to Sandpoint to help construction companies build houses, she said.

Priest River Lamanna High School graduate Randy Stuart was salutatorian for his class. He will study sociology at the University of Idaho this fall with a minor in Asian studies. He plans to teach English as a second language in Japan for a few years after college, and then return to the United States and get a doctorate in sociology to "possibly" become a professor.

The rest of the scholarship recipients were unable to attend the meeting, but Marilyn Haddad, CAL publicity chairperson, said the scholarship presentation is "always a special event and very inspiring and rewarding" to the CAL members who work at the group's store, Bizarre Bazaar. They work "tirelessly," she said, to raise money to help local youth fulfill their dreams.

SHS scholarship recipients not in attendance include Bianna Baldree, Saydee Brass, Ciena Christiansen, Garrett Connolly, Rebecca Coop, Shelby Flathers, Lily Hartman, Sam Hendricks, Taylor Hill, Abigail Johnson, August Johnson, Ellie McCray, Soncirey Mitchell, Garrett Pierce, Emily Shveyda and Maclain Stultz. Bryant Moore from Clark Fork High School, Kaylee Taylor from PRLHS and Carissa Lonzisero also received scholarships, and college students Corinne Ariss and Rachel Osborne received scholarship renewals.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.