TEF Perpetual Scholarships

The following scholarships have been established as perpetual scholarships with the Tumwater Education Foundation. If you are interested in establishing your own perpetual scholarship please see Policy #1 and then contact Linda Metzger at lmetzger@tumwater.k12.wa.us or call (360) 709-7693. The foundation also welcomes other cash and non-cash donations.  Please see the policies page for more information on donating to TEF.  Information about the auction can be found here. 

Laura Lohmeyer Memorial Scholarship

The Laura Lohmeyer Memorial Scholarship annually honors one college-bound THS graduating senior who meets the criteria established by its founders. In memory of Laura, a THS student who succumbed after a courageous battle with cancer, the scholarship was created to assist students whose attributes may include musical ability, writing ability, and good citizenship. Additionally, recipients must demonstrate a strong Christian faith. We encourage all interested students to apply for the honor of representing the Laura Lohmeyer Memorial Scholarship.  For more information or to donate to the Laura Lohmeyer Memorial Scholarship, please contact Linda Metzger or call (360) 709-7693.

Marisa Lyons Memorial Scholarship

The Marisa Lyons Memorial Scholarship annually honors one college-bound THS graduating senior who meets the criteria established by Marisa parents after Marisa’s untimely death while attending the University of Washington.  Marisa was a dedicated athlete and student , but she also demonstrated leadership and sportsmanship both on and off the field.  For more information or to donate to the Marisa Lyons Memorial please contact Linda Metzger or call (360) 709-7693.

Rick, Jimmy, & Jennifer Memorial Scholarship

Rick Dial and Jimmy Peile lost their lives in an automobile accident in 2002 during their senior year at Black Hills High School. Jennifer Champion was a student at Black Hills High School and would have graduated in 2002.  She died of Ewing's Sarcoma bone cancer.  This scholarship was established in their honor. It is our intent to award a scholarship annually to a student from Black Hills High School who best represents Rick, Jimmy and Jennifer:

• someone who has overcome adversity during their high school career
• someone who has a strong character
• someone who is goal oriented
• someone with maturity, compassion, and motivation towards success.

Click here to apply for the Rick, Jimmy, and Jennifer Memorial Scholarship. For more information regarding this scholarship click here or call the Foundation at (360) 709-7693. To donate to this scholarship fund complete the donation form on the Make a Gift Page.

Rick Dial Memorial Scholarship

Rick Dial was a member of the Black Hills High School Class of 2002. He lost his life during his senior year in an automobile accident. This scholarship is designed to honor his life by awarding a scholarship to someone who best represents Rick:

• someone with a sincere appreciation for social studies (Rick was known for using his knowledge of history to prove his point)
• someone who has overcome adversity during their high school career

Click here to apply for the Rick Dial Memorial Scholarship. For more information regarding this scholarship click here call the Foundation at (360) 709-7693. To donate to this scholarship fund complete the donation form on the Make a Gift Page.

Rochelle Lyn Klopfenstein Memorial Scholarship

Rochelle Lyn Klopfenstein passed away unexpectedly on June 20, 2008. Beginning in 2009, an annual scholarship in memory of Rochelle Lyn Klopfenstein will honor a Tumwater School District graduate who attended Black Lake Elementary School. Rochelle had a passion for life that touched everyone around her. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, travel and spending time with her family and friends. Rochelle's children are students in the Tumwater School District.

Successful recipients will demonstrate a strong work ethic, good leadership skills and strong teamwork values. For more information, or to donate, please click here, or leave a message at (360) 709-7693.

Fire Service Scholarship

Thanks to generous donations by the Tumwater Volunteer Fire Fighters Association, the Littlerock Fire Department, and several individuals, the Fire Service Scholarship perpetual scholarship was established to assure that a fire service scholarship will be awarded each year. This scholarship fund is intended as a tribute to all fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who have dedicated their careers to the service of their communities in Thurston County. Any graduating senior from a Tumwater School District high school, who intends to pursue an education at the college level in fire and emergency medical services, is eligible to apply for this scholarship.

It is still important to keep this fund growing. Education has an ever increasing role in the lives of future fire fighters and emergency medical personnel as they master new technology in these fields. Please consider making a tax deductible contribution for this fund and assist the students who are preparing to become tomorrow’s leaders in fire fighting and emergency medical services. To contribute to this fund contact Debra Baker at 754-3355 ext. 7521.  P.O. Box 15122, Tumwater, WA 98511 - 5122.

TEF Endowment Scholarship

One of the original scholarships established by the Foundation, interest from this fund is awarded annually to Tumwater School District graduating seniors. It is the Foundations goal to award a significant scholarship to every student who graduates from the District and pursues post-secondary education. For this to become a reality, we need your help. Please click here to contribute to this fund or call (360) 709-7693. All TSD graduating seniors who complete a Senior Scholarship Portfolio are eligible for this scholarship. Please click here for information and instructions on creating a Scholarship Portfolio.

Annual Scholarship Program

Tumwater School District senior students and their parents host an annual fundraising event, generally a dinner auction, to raise scholarship money for their class. Historically, over $20,000 are raised and awarded annually. To be considered for a scholarship a student must:

• Assist in the fundraising event (minimum of 10 hours of donated time).
• Submit a Senior Scholarship Portfolio.
• Continue with some form of post-secondary education.

Contributions to this fund may be made in cash or by donating to the auction. Click here to contribute to this fund. Click here for information and instructions on creating a Scholarship Portfolio.

Jacob (Jake) Berschauer II Memorial Scholarship

Jacob was born on a farm in Kansas where he learned the value of a day’s work. He never finished school. He served his country during World War II. He was a beloved husband and father, respected businessman and icon of the Tumwater community. This scholarship is directed at the most dedicated senior at Tumwater High School. This person will clearly represent the personality, values, charity, and civic responsibility demonstrated by the example of Jake Berschauer.

Selection criteria is based on the following virtues:

• Jake was married for 64 years and raised a family of 8 children
• Recipient must display strong teamwork values
• Jake was a solid citizen and businessman
• Recipient must display leadership skills and strong work ethics
• Jake always helped those around him by sharing whatever resource was needed
• Recipient must demonstrate non-discriminate character
• Jake always displayed spirit and enthusiasm for Tumwater High School
• Recipient must have a positive attitude in all school functions
• Jake served his country in time of war
• Recipient must have a strong sense of citizenship
• Jake always had a smile for everyone
• Recipient must value the happiness of others
• Jake was dedicated supporter of Tumwater High School
• Recipient must be a graduating senior from Tumwater High School
• Athletic participation and/or high academic standing are not necessary
• As required for all TEF Scholarships, recipient must submit a scholarship notebook.

Click here to apply for the Jacob (Jake) Berschauer II Memorial Scholarship.  For more information regarding this scholarship click here or call the Foundation at (360) 709-7693. To donate to this scholarship fund complete the donation form on the Make a Gift Page.

Joyce Ertman Memorial Scholarship

Joyce Ertman was an employee at Tumwater High School for 25 years, but she was much more than that. She loved and respected her students and colleagues. Her loving and caring spirit poured into the lives of all she came in contact with. She nurtured others and led by example, gaining respect through her quality of work and devotion to others. She especially loved working with IEP students and watching them walk across the stage at graduation. Through this memorial scholarship, established by her husband, Mike Ertman, Joyce will continue to live on through the lives of the recipients who display the positive, joyful spirit that always lived in Joyce.

Click here to apply for the Joyce Ertman Memorial Scholarship. For more information regarding this scholarship click here or call the Foundation at (360) 709-7693. To donate to this scholarship fund complete the donation form on the Make a Gift Page.

Frank Minear Memorial Scholarship

Frank Minear taught passionately to high school students his love of music. He was a strong Christian man who loved his family, friends and students. He would be truly honored to know that many individuals felt his love of music should continue through the gift of a scholarship in his name. The recipient of this scholarship will demonstrate integrity, work ethic, a passion for music and a desire to continue the pursuit of their music education.

Two scholarships will be awarded to a student who best exemplifies the qualities that Frank Minear demonstrated throughout his life. Two scholarships in equal amount up to $500 each are to be awarded annually, one to a student from Black Hills and one to a student from Tumwater High Schools.

Click here to apply for the Frank Minear Memorial Scholarship. For more information regarding this scholarship click here or call the Foundation at (360) 709-7693. To donate to this scholarship fund complete the donation form on the Make a Gift Page.

Nino DiMaggio Memorial Scholarship

Click here to apply for the Nino DiMaggio Memorial Scholarship. For more information regarding this scholarship click here or call the Foundation at (360) 709-7693. To donate to this scholarship fund complete the donation form on the Make a Gift Page.

Garry Mounts Memorial Scholarship

Endowed by Puget Sound Energy and the Mounts Family

Garry was a 1970 graduate of Tumwater High School who passed away from colon cancer in March of 2003. Garry lettered in football, wrestling, and baseball. He was an employee of Puget Sound Energy for 30 years and believed in working you’re hardest each and every day. Garry was a strong Christian who loved his family and loved to help other people. He would be truly honored to know he was able to plant this seed for continued education to a student at Tumwater High School. The recipient of this scholarship demonstrates strength in work ethic, leadership, sportsmanship, and a desire for a career in business or in attending a vocational college. This scholarship is renewed on a yearly basis.

For more information regarding this scholarship click here or call the Foundation at (360) 709-7693. To donate to this scholarship fund complete the donation form on the Make a Gift Page.

Wesley Anderson Memorial Scholarship

Sponsored by his family at Superior Storage, LLC

Wesley Anderson worked for the City of Olympia as a traffic signal electrician. In addition, he built Lazy Acres, Foster Place and Velkommen Mobile Home Park all off Israel Rd., now 70th. In 1984 Wes went out for his morning run and never returned, hit and killed by a drunk driver.

His family would like to honor him by offering this memorial scholarship to a graduate of the Tumwater School District who best demonstrates their ability to reach their goal of becoming a successful entrepreneur/business owner. This scholarship is renewed on a yearly basis.

For more information regarding this scholarship click here or call the Foundation at (360) 709-7693. To donate to this scholarship fund complete the donation form on the Make a Gift Page.

Maria Dolores Ronquillo Sand Memorial Scholarship

The purpose of the Maria Dolores Ronquillo Sand scholarship is to honor a woman who was a remarkable wife, mother and a giving member of her community. Here is her story as told by her loving family.

The most important thing that happened in the world on March 18, 1932, was that Maria Dolores Ronquillo was born in Tucson, Arizona to Rosalio and Virginia (Bermudez) Ronquillo. Dolores grew up on the east side of town near the San Xavier mission. As a young Latina, she worked in the family restaurant, Karichimaka (named as one of Sunset Magazine’s 10 best places to eat). In 1950, she graduated from Tucson Senior High School, where she played on the women’s varsity basketball team.

While attending the University of Arizona, Dolores worked at a small animal hospital in Tucson for several years and also assisted in the research of Coccidiomycosis, a soil-borne fungal disease that infects man and animals. In 1954, she graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Animal Sciences, one of only two women receiving that degree at the time.

That fall, Dolores left Tucson to attend Kansas State University to work on a graduate degree in Animal Science/Genetics and to apply for admission into the College of Veterinary Medicine. During that same year, she met Robert Sand, another young veterinary student. They fell in love and were married on September 5, 1955 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Tucson.

After her wedding, Dolores worked two years as an assistant housemother for about 225 upper-class women in a ladies’ dormitory at KSU. After the young couple moved to Olympia, her career path changed to a life dedicated to raising her family of 5 children, caring for her husband, and, since 1963, keeping their historic home and assisting on their 65 acre farm on the Littlerock Road south of Tumwater. She was very involved with her children’s education, the schools they attended, and in their after-school and weekend activities. She served as a 4-H club leader for several years and was an active member of the Thurston County Cattlewomen’s Association. She was a parishioner at St. Michael’s Catholic Church and active in her church guild for several years.

As a skilled artist, painter, and craftswoman, Dolores taught tole painting classes. She loved visiting with friends and strangers at crafts shows, and while selling corn and pumpkins on the farm. She raised ornamental pheasants, ducks and peacocks. She took great pride in her expansive yard and flowering plants and spent hours planting and tending to her beautiful flower gardens and hanging pots. She and Robert took several trips to Mexico and one to Spain. She also loved spending time with and caring for her 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

In 1996, Dolores was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She beat tremendous odds and lived another 10 years with courage, optimism, and a profound enjoyment of her family, relatives, and friends, thanks to her skilled oncologist at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. She and Robert joyfully celebrated their 50th wedding Anniversary on the weekend of September 3, 2005. Shortly before Christmas, God began calling for Dolores, and surrounded by her family and many angels, He took her away gently and peacefully to her new home in Heaven on February 18, 2006.

Scholarship selection will be made without regard to applicant’s race, color, national origin, religious belief, sex, marital status, age, or physical handicap.

For more information regarding this scholarship call the Foundation at (360) 709-7693. To donate to this scholarship fund complete the donation form on the Make a Gift Page.