We are honored to announce the winners of EHS PTSA Scholarships for this year:

Katherine Siddoway Scholarship

Katherine Siddoway was the founding principal of Eastlake High School. As the principal, she focused on creating a “student-centered community of learners in which each person had dignity and intrinsic worth.” She built on student strengths to prepare them to make responsible choices and to be contributing members of our community.

Katherine Siddoway Scholarship 2024 Winners are Aakarsh Agrawal and Kira Ogden.

Aakarsh Agrawal

I learned that being a trader of culture was not merely an exchange of customs, but also a powerful tool for bridging diverse worlds, so I co-founded Eastlake Equity Board to advocate for inclusion and provide a forum for cross-cultural discussions… By improving the cultural exchanges in my Eastlake community, I have deepened my own perspectives. They have exposed me to nuances in people’s identities, the tensions between power and privilege, and as someone with access to privilege, the responsibilities I have to our society. These exchanges continue sparking my curiosity to explore and learn from other backgrounds, and I am excited to apply them to shape my future endeavors in unifying diverse communities. – Aakarsh Agrawal

Kira Ogden

My academic learning has allowed me to see and compare the history of events and contextualize them in the present-day, highlighting the importance of real-world problems. For example, my AP World History class educated me on the past and the reoccurring themes of history, which has taught me to recognize and address modern day problems. This knowledge has enabled me to be aware of social change, which spurred my choice to support women’s issues such as affordable period products through fundraisers like Wings for Women… My learnings have prepared me to make responsible choices as a contributing member of the global community because it has given me more insight into the good fortune I have and how to use the time and education I have to better serve the community. – Kira Ogden

Perseverance – in honor of Lori Rowe

Lori Rowe was Eastlake’s beloved Office Manager for many years. She lent her ear and opened her heart to students that were experiencing struggles and hardship. She was always rooting for them and in their corner as they faced challenges that might have disrupted their educational journey. She took great comfort in seeing the success and perseverance of her students throughout their academic and personal lives. The Rowe Family would like to honor her memory through the Perseverance Scholarship and champion her cause.

Lori Rowe Perseverance Scholarship 2024 Winners are Breanne Diaz and Maria Miroshnichenko

Breanne Diaz

By listening to other people’s stories, we were able to develop a connection with them and grow from their perspectives, building a society of understanding. Additionally, we served various people, regardless of their backgrounds and cultures. Through small and big actions, we created a space for individuals to receive equal opportunities. And lastly, we cultured an environment full of positivity and hope, so that even those undergoing stressful challenges were able to have one moment of happiness and peace. And perhaps, as future generations witness these various acts of kindness, they may also be inspired to make a difference and further the formation of a loving world or small their commitments, contributes to society in some way or another. – Breanne Diaz

Maria Miroshnichenko

My disability did not define me; I was not lessened by it and was still able to achieve a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I did not ‘overcome’ my pain, so to speak, because it is something that still ails me to this day, but I was able to manage it to help new members come out of their shell and find their confidence. – Maria Miroshnichenko

Community Service Awards & Scholarship

Our PTSA strongly advocates volunteerism which is a testament to character of the students at any grade level. The community service award is in recognition of outstanding contributions made to the Eastlake and/or Sammamish community.

Community Service Award Scholarship 2024 Winners Maanit Goel and Ananya Tripathi.                        

Maanit Goel

For decades, the lower Snake River dams have decimated Northwest salmon. To rally students to advocate their breaching, I launched WYORCA. I have educated thousands of students across 40+ classes, held 20+ Congressional meetings, collected over 1200 signatures letter signatures, and organized grassroots events across states. I received EPA recognition, was sponsored by Patagonia and regional NGOs to advocate for salmon in DC and was featured in the Seattle Times. The lessons that Snake River conservation advocacy has taught me inform all aspects of my life. I have learned how to find diverse allies each bringing new perspectives to the table, and now prioritize such collaborations when taking on any challenge. However, even after all of the different perspectives I found in collaboration, my most valuable learnings from WYORCA have been in facing opposition. I have taken initiative to understand the opposition’s views and find common ground in solutions. – Maanit Goel

Ananya Tripathi

With so many students walking long distances to local coffee shops during lunch for an $8 Italian Soda, we realized we could offer the same product, in school, at a lower cost... A couple of weeks later, we spread colorful tablecloths over the plastic tables, learned how to combine different syrups, and began sales. In just one week, we made over $3,000. I then continued to branch out our fundraising efforts by creating an online sales portal for DECA students to sell cookie dough or introducing student-driven a sale of flower baskets to the broader Sammamish community. Through these and other initiatives, we raised over $25,000, and involved over 150 students, each gaining valuable leadership skills. As DECA members, the project allowed us to absorb the essentials of finance, leadership, and business. My greatest takeaway, though, was the realization of how invaluable managing collective efforts is to create a meaningful community impact. – Ananya Tripathi

 Certificates of Appreciation – It's never too early to help and have impact!

Jerry Liu – Grade 9

Taking part in the community service activity for making sandwiches for homeless people in King County has had a profound impact on both my community and my personal growth. This commitment has helped instill a sense of responsibility and empathy in me. Realizing the struggles of many less fortunate people has helped me become more aware of societal inequalities and the importance of taking action to help address them.  This experience has also helped shape my values and perspectives on these social issues, allowing me to develop a better sense of understanding and compassion towards other people. Volunteering has also helped me develop valuable life skills such as teamwork, organization, and time management – Jerry Liu

Angelina Lu – Grade 10

At Washington Student Math Association (WSMA), I get to work on creating huge, in-person (and virtual) competitions for students across the state – entirely from scratch.  Our team develops content, finds a venue, conducts outreach, and figures out loads of small logistic details in between. This process – starting from nothing and eventually creating such large and successful events – has hugely changed my perspective on tackling overwhelmingly large tasks. I used my proficiency in writing Python to automate distributing emails to huge amounts of people, and to write an algorithm to determine the optimal location to distribute prizes based on hundreds of participants’ school addresses. I played a large role in securing the venue for Math Bowl - coordinating with several building administrators to determine availability, insurance renting policies, and budgeting. I also manage WSMA’s website and keep it up to date on information about competitions across Washington State. – Angelina Lu

Corey Zhang – Grade 11

After the outreach of the ELT leadership team was fading, I took it upon myself to lead a new team of students, doubling the number of students and tutors in 6 months, winning a national grant and sponsorship, and expanding our community internationally. Aside from providing tutoring and leadership opportunities for numerous Eastlake students, ELT also empowered countless tutors initially shy to step out of their comfort zones to blossom into confident mentors. ELT cultivated leadership skills, teaching me the importance of strategic planning, effective communication, and resource mobilization. As I move forward, the profound joy derived from witnessing students' growth has left an enduring mark on my sense of purpose. I plan to continue expanding ELT with initiatives rooted from my vision where every young mind who shapes our future has access to transformative opportunities. – Corey Zhang