2024 High School Scholarship
Thanks to countless community members across Pierce County helping spread the word, the Ben B. Cheney Foundation High School Scholarship Program received 265 applications. These applications came from high school seniors attending 32 schools across our community and from the high school Ben B. Cheney attended, South Bend High School.
Those 265 applications were sorted by school, and passed to each school’s scholarship selection committee. Each committee reviewed applications for academics, community involvement, and meaningful narrative describing how athletics influenced the student’s life. A special thank you to the more than 200 high school counselors and staff who participated in the evaluation process.
Committees notified the Cheney Foundation of their selections, and scholarship recipients were notified in May. Scholarship recipients who authorized us to share their names publicly are listed below.
Please join us in congratulating the following students, and celebrating each of the 265 young adults who are contributing great things to our communities every day.
Learn about the Ben B. Cheney Student Athlete Scholarship Program.
2024 High School Scholarship Recipients
Annie Wright – Sophia Irigoyen
Tennis
University of Puget Sound
Bellarmine – Madeline Munguia
Soccer, Track & Field
University of Alabama
Bethel – Olivia Lathrom
Golf
Gonzaga
Bonney Lake – Riley Shaw
Softball
University of Washington
Cascade Christian – Jaden Patterson
Track & Field
Grand Canyon University
Chief Leschi – River Salomon
Cross Country, Track & Field, Wrestling
Evergreen State College
Clover Park – Kimberly Estrada
Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Wrestling
Central Washington University
Curtis – Lillian Ecklund
Softball, Swimming & Diving, Volleyball
University of the Pacific
Eatonville – Ryan Stammen
Basketball, Soccer, Track & Field
Queens University of Charlotte
Emerald Ridge – Grace Wesenberg
Track & Field, Volleyball
Brigham Young University
Fife – Naya Garcia
Cross Country, Track & Field
Brigham Young University
Foss – Ahmir Goins
Basketball
Hillsbough Community College
Franklin Pierce (1) – Ezzra Prather
Swiming & Diving, Tennis
Pacific University of Oregon
Franklin Pierce (2) – Tony Olione
Football
Eastern Washington University
Gig Harbor – Preston Fradet
Cross Country, Track & Field
University of Washington
Graham-Kapowsin – Nichole Sienkiewich
Swimming & Diving, Tennis
Chapman University
Lakes – Hope Affolder
Bowling, Tennis
University of Washington
Life Christian – Dylan Martinson
Baseball, Football
School TBD
Mt. Tahoma – Peter Vo
Tennis, Wrestling
University of Washington
Orting – Laura Thordarson
Cross Country
Oregon State University
Peninsula – Thomas Cardinal
Baseball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis
Boise State University
Puyallup – Roby Hooper
Soccer
Harvey Mudd College
Rogers – Kiersten McColeman
Wrestling
Rocky Mountain College
Silas – Isabelle Mock
Tennis
Whitworth University
Sound Christian – Natalie Baker
Basketball, Golf, Track & Field, Volleyball
Utah State University
South Bend – Brittney Yi
Track & Field
Washington State University
Spanaway – Malia Gomez
Swimming & Diving, Track & Field, Wrestling
Pierce College
Stadium – Sophia Czar
Cross Country, Track & Field
Pacific Lutheran University
Steilacoom – Michael Trambulo
Football, Track & Field
San Diego State University
Sumner – Walsh Crowley
Swimming & Diving
Georgia Institute of Technology
Washington – Vaughn Shimko
Cross Country, Track & Field
Clark Community College
White River – Madalyn Macdonald
Tennis
Washington State University
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A few notes of “thanks” from our 2024 recipients:
- I feel a deep sense of gratitude to be honored with this award. Ben Cheney was dedicated to youth development, devotion to sports, and service in his community. As I go forward in my life, I will strive to give back in each of these areas in my community.
- Sports have played a pivotal role in my childhood and helping me develop character. Whether it was leadership skills learned as a captain, lessons learned from wins and losses, discipline developed through training and practices, or grit developed through rehabbing injuries, sports have helped make me who I am. I am forever grateful for coaches, teammates, and my family for supporting me in my athletics and cheering me on.
- This scholarship will help me reach my goals of paying for my college education and becoming a nurse… Thank you for your confidence in me and for awarding me this scholarship. I am so grateful!
Visit our High School Scholarship page to learn more about the program, and general timelines for 2025.