On May 23, the West Seattle Lions Club, which meets upstairs at the Senior Center of West Seattle, gave out 11, $1,000 scholarships to seniors graduating Chief Sealth, Seattle Lutheran, and West Seattle high schools, a tradition since 1956.

"We give scholarships based on criteria of citizenship and academic prowess and abilities," said Lions Club past president, Nancy Sorensen, a Burien-based attorney who pointed out that King County Executive Dow Constantine was a Lions Club scholarship recipient.

"The Lions Club is the world's largest service organization," she said. "There are more than 40,000 clubs all over the world. (…) The Lions Club worldwide has a primary commitment of hearing and vision because they were challenged by Hellen Keller who spoke at their convention in 1924 to be of service to those who could not see and could not hear."

"Education, you never know where it's going to lead, and what it's going to do," West Seattle Lions Club President Harvey Rowe told the students. "But you just have to be inspired to learn more and do more. I look around now and say, 'I'm getting frustrated. I can't learn enough. There are hundreds of fields, and I just made a dent in one of them.'" He is a retired mechanical engineer and worked with flight.

"For the students here, they should be real encouraged and think, 'Life is wonderful,'" added Rowe. "There is so much to learn and do. You get a chance to meet people all over the world and really find out what life is about."

Recipients attending stood and spoke of their plans. They included:

Emily Follansbee of Chief Sealth, who has played soccer, tennis, unified sports (special ed soccer), started the school's ukulele club, and made the Dean's List. She plans to study engineering at Gonzaga University.

Kirsten Kenny of WSHS, played soccer, did gymnastics, will attend Pacific University and hopes to get a degree in molecular biology and become a physician.

Luis Ramirez of Chief Sealth, has played varsity soccer all four years, unified sports (special ed soccer), and plans to attend Washington State U. to pursue a mechanical engineering degree

Alana Sullivan of Chief Sealth was Junior Class VP, played varsity softball all four years & was team captain two years, played varsity volleyball three years, & has two part-time jobs including the Original Bakery. Will attend UW.

Anika Lindstrom of Seattle Lutheran played basketball all four years, & for her senior project organized shelter for Tent City. Will attend Western Washington U. to study psychology.

Viridiana Rodriguez of Chief Sealth has been deeply involved with community work including El Centro de la Raza, & plans to attend SSCC, & hopes to transfer to Eastern Washington U.

Lauren Shaughnessy- WSHS senior class president I was a gymnastics captain this year, soccer ran track,years, gymnastics four years, Hotwire Coffee, Gonzaga U. School of Nursing.

Also receiving awards, but not in attendance, are Karla Mejia Fuentes, Chief Sealth, Samrawit Zeinu, Chief Sealth, Yardia Gonzalez Arroyo, & Yesenia Mendoza Ramos.