Education Briefs

Nine people receive Centennial Guild scholarships

The Mason General Hospital Foundation Centennial Guild awarded $20,000 in Kristi Armstrong Memorial Scholarship money to nine people pursuing higher education in medical fields.

Among the recipients are four Shelton High School graduating seniors, three Shelton High School alumni who received the award in years past, one Mason Health employee and one Shelton resident.

Centennial Guild Treasurer Patty Rhoades and members Kim Keeler, Kim McElliott and Barb Smith presented the Shelton High School students with their awards at the SHS Awards Night May 16.

Shelton High graduates Carson Bursch, Evelyn Flores and Kaylin Mutoli each received a $3,000 scholarship.

Bursch plans to attend Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon, to pursue a degree in human health and performance, with an emphasis on exercise science. He wants to continue his studies further to earn a doctorate in physical therapy.

Flores plans to attend Washington State University in Pullman. Her family health experiences and a summer shadowing pediatric nurses at the University of Washington motivated her to pursue a career in nursing.

Mutoli plans to attend Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, California, to study pre-medicine or nursing while continuing her athletic career as a NCAA Division II swimmer. Her volunteer work at Capital Medical Center solidified her desire to enter health care.

Kylie Brown, a 2024 Shelton High School graduate, received a $1,000 scholarship. He plans to attend the University of Washington or Arizona State University to pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing.

Former Shelton High School students Alyssa Medcalf and Morgen Shrum received $2,500 scholarships, and Katelyn O'Keefe $2,000. Shelton resident Kenzie Smith received $1,000.

The Centennial Guild was established in 1989, and in 1996 became a chapter of Mason General Hospital Foundation. In 2016, longtime member Armstrong, a registered nurse at Mason General Hospital, died.

"Her passion for her work, her patients and the hospital left a huge hole in our hearts and the staff at Mason General," Rhoades said in a news release. "Her untimely passing led to our unanimous decision to switch our goals from medical supplies to scholarships. In her honor, we created the Centennial Guild Scholarship. We want to do what we can to help students ease the cost of their education in the medical field."

Open position on Shelton School District Board

The deadline is 5 p.m. July 16 to apply for an open position representing District 1 on the Shelton School Board.

The appointment to the five-member board extends to the November 2025 election, when the position will appear on the ballot to fulfill the rest of the two-year unexpired term through 2027.

At the June 25 Shelton School Board meeting, Karla Knudsen-Johnston announced she was resigning. The Shelton School Board appointed Knudsen-Johnston to replace Marilyn Ward after Ward moved out of her district in June 2022. In November 2023, Knudsen-Johnston was elected to a new term after defeating challenger Brandi L. Housh with 68% of the vote.

For 33 years, Knudsen-Johnston taught at all three elementary schools in the district: Bordeaux, Evergreen and Mountain View. She retired in 2015.

To be eligible, applicants must reside within District 1. If you aren't sure whether you live in the district, contact the Mason County Elections Office. Applicants must by a U.S. citizen, a qualified voter, and be able to read and write English.

Applications are available at the school district's website. They can be filled out and sent to Melinda Lahti, Superintendent's Office, Shelton School District, 700 S. 1st St., Shelton 98584 or emailed to [email protected].