Ariana has been chosen as one of the five winners of our $1,000 college scholarship. She will be starting at Portland State University in the fall, planning to pursue Biology and Spanish with the intent of pursuing a career in the medical field.

Ariana’s academic journey is a testament to her extraordinary perseverance. After moving from Mexico and starting at Roosevelt as a sophomore, she faced major disruptions to her education and had to work hard to regain her footing. Despite these challenges, she rose to the top of her class, earning the title of Valedictorian with a perfect GPA. Her coursework includes five Advanced Placement classes and multiple dual-credit college courses.

She earned the Oregon Seal of Biliteracy in English and Spanish and worked throughout high school. In one of her essays, Ariana reflected on the importance of staying hopeful and committed even when the odds are stacked against you. That mindset has shaped both her academic success and her strength of character.

We are inspired by Ariana’s resilience and determination, and we are honored to support her as she begins this next chapter.

Daniel is one of five recipients of our $1,000 college scholarship. He will begin studying Civil Engineering at Oregon State University this fall.

A quote from Daniel’s application stood out to the committee: “Leadership is a service issue.” This powerful statement reflects his deep commitment to both his family and his community. He spoke about the responsibilities he has taken on at home and how those experiences shaped his sense of leadership through empathy, accountability, and quiet strength. Beyond his household, Daniel has also worked to promote inclusivity and advocate for accessibility, aiming to build spaces where everyone feels welcome and supported.

Daniel ranks among the top students in his class and has earned high honors through multiple Advanced Placement and dual-credit courses. Outside the classroom, he made a lasting impact at the St. Johns Community Center, where he served as a camp counselor, led after-school programs, and coached youth basketball. His leadership is grounded in empathy and accountability, and he is deeply respected by those around him.

We commend Daniel for his unwavering dedication and wish him continued success in all that lies ahead.

Gabriela has been chosen as one of the five recipients of our $1,000 college scholarship. She will be enrolling at the University of Utah this fall to explore her interests, which currently include business, engineering, and political science.

Gabriela showed incredible dedication to Roosevelt’s Track & Field program, where she competed in pole vault for all four years. More than just an athlete, she played a key role in developing and sustaining the program by mentoring new athletes and helping teammates build confidence in a challenging sport. Her essay reflected a strong sense of purpose and pride, especially in wanting to leave something behind for future students to discover and enjoy. The committee appreciated her thoughtful approach to leadership and the impact she’s already made on her school community.

With an impressive nine Advanced Placement courses, Gabriela earned the AP Scholar award and carries a 4.2 weighted GPA. In addition to her commitment to pole vaulting, she also ran cross country, played soccer, swam for the RHS team, and competed on the We the People team.

We look forward to seeing the impact Gabriela will make as she brings her energy and leadership to the next chapter of her journey.

Gloria is one of five recipients of our $1,000 college scholarship. She plans to enroll at University of Portland this fall to pursue a degree in Psychology.

Gloria impressed us with her fluency in Swahili, English, and Japanese. She put these skills to the test during a three-week study abroad program in Santiago, Dominican Republic, where she worked with an NGO alongside peers from other states. Though challenged by limited proficiency in the native language, Gloria developed greater responsibility, independence, and cross-cultural communication skills. She described this experience as an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone, improve her teamwork abilities, and gain a deeper understanding of herself.

She maintains an impressive GPA and has completed several AP courses, dual-credit college classes, and advanced Japanese studies. Gloria is also Roosevelt’s 2025 Rose Festival Princess, president of the Black Student Union, and captain of the girls’ tennis team. She is a dedicated and involved leader who truly represents Roosevelt High School.

It’s clear that Gloria’s journey is just beginning, and we’re eager to watch her thrive.

Maryan is one of five recipients of our $1,000 college scholarship. She will attend Emerson College in Massachusetts this fall to study Psychology.

Maryan spoke about her role as a student teacher at her mosque and her involvement in Roosevelt’s Muslim Student Association, where she served as co-president during her senior year. In both spaces, she worked to create a sense of belonging and confidence among her peers and younger students. Her approach to mentorship centered on encouragement, personal growth, and community connection, values that shone through in her writing and impressed the scholarship committee.

A high honors student, Maryan completed multiple Advanced Placement and dual-credit courses. Her academic success is matched by her extensive volunteer work, including serving as an Outdoor School leader, a summer library volunteer, and a Teens Teach mentor in sustainable agriculture. She is known for her steady determination and thoughtful leadership.

We are proud to recognize Maryan’s achievements and wish her continued success as she begins her college journey.

Aili has been chosen as one of the five recipients of our $1,000 college scholarship. She is set to enroll at Lewis and Clark College in the upcoming fall to pursue a degree in Political Science.

Aili's application stood out to us because she advocated for herself and her peers to have more Advanced Placement class options, particularly AP Government. She showed dedication by supporting the class and serving as a teaching assistant the next year.

Earning the rank of Valedictorian, Aili completed 8 AP courses, several dual-credit classes for college credits, and earned the Oregon Seal of Biliteracy for her proficiency in Spanish. Beyond academics, she is a talented musician and led the RHS Speech and Debate team as captain.

We are thrilled to acknowledge Aili's achievements and wish her great success in her future undertakings.

Ellie has been chosen as one of the five recipients of our $1,000 college scholarship. She will be starting her Communication studies at California Polytechnic State University this fall.

Ellie's application stood out due to her pivotal role in reviving the school newspaper, now known as Voices of Roosevelt. As the Editor-in-Chief, she has authored numerous articles for Voices and the St. Johns Review, contributing to the significant growth of the paper over the past two years.

Her academic performance places her among the top students in her class, having completed multiple Advanced Placement courses. Apart from her scholastic achievements and work on the newspaper, she was an active Thespian, member of the speech team, and held jobs with various local youth programs.

We commend Ellie for her dedicated community involvement at Roosevelt and wish her continued success in her future pursuits.

Finn has been chosen as one of the five recipients of our $1,000 college scholarship. He will be enrolling at Loyola Marymount University in the upcoming fall to pursue Film studies.

His application deeply touched the committee members as he shared his reflections on the classroom environment post-pandemic quarantine and its effect on both himself and student engagement. Finn dedicated significant effort to encouraging more dialogue among his peers and setting a positive example.

As a Valedictorian of the Class of 2024, Finn tackled a challenging course load that included numerous Advanced Placement classes. Alongside his academic commitments, he excelled as an athlete and holds a school record in Track & Field. Finn has also been recognized with several art awards and managed a job on top of his busy schedule.

We are confident that Finn will thrive in his college journey and beyond!

Hazel has been chosen as one of the five recipients of our $1,000 college scholarship. She is set to attend the Milwaukee School of Engineering in the upcoming fall to pursue Mechanical Engineering.

Hazel's exceptional ability to balance sports, work, and maintain a high GPA left a lasting impression on us. She tackled a range of Advanced Placement courses including calculus, statistics, environmental science, human geography, biology, chemistry, English language, and government. Hazel was awarded the distinction of Valedictorian.

Apart from her academic dedication, Hazel held leadership roles as captain of both the swim and soccer teams. While leading the soccer team, she received first-team league recognition and played a pivotal role in the team's historic playoff run.

Hazel's remarkable perseverance is truly inspiring, and we wish her all the best as she pursues further education.

Karter has been chosen as one of the five winners of our $1,000 college scholarship. She will be starting at the University of Oregon in the fall, planning to pursue Marketing.

The selection committee was impressed by Karter's application and her diverse high school achievements. Particularly notable was her involvement in the Multnomah Youth Commission, where she actively contributed to policy-making to tackle persistent student absenteeism in Portland. Karter also engaged in local activism by participating in the Roosevelt Philanthropy group.

Being a high-achieving student, Karter completed numerous Advanced Placement and dual-credit courses to earn college credits. She held the position of Student Body Vice-President, participated in the Constitution Team, and excelled as a tri-sport athlete in Soccer, Basketball, and Track & Field.

Karter's dedication to her education has been outstanding, and we have full confidence in her future success.

Alexander was selected as one of the five winners of our $1,000 college scholarship. He will be attending Oregon State University in the fall and is interested in natural sciences and natural resource management.

One of the reasons Alexander’s application stood out was because of his commitment to outdoor school and his engagement with young students. His passion was clear in his essays as well as his expertise in how to effectively teach the material in a unique environment.

Alexander earned the title of Valedictorian in addition to his other accomplishments. As a student athlete he juggled football, wrestling, and baseball while maintaining stellar academics. The PIL has recognized him with honors as well!

We are excited to award Alexander some recognition, and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Alyah was selected as one of the five winners of our $1,000 college scholarship. She will be dually enrolled at Oregon State University and Linn-Benton Community College in the fall and intends to study accounting so she can become a Certified Public Accountant.

Her application was very moving for those of us on the committee, as she opened up about overcoming family challenges. Alyah also wrote about her volunteer time with the Oregon Food Bank for the past few years and the tangible positive impact made through that service. Her ability to take her experiences and accomplish incredible work in our community is absolutely inspiring.

She had an impressive high school GPA, and in addition to her volunteer work, she also held a job through most of her high school career.

Alyah has been very committed to her education, and we are confident she will succeed in the future.

Gwendolyn was selected as one of the five winners of our $1,000 college scholarship. She will be attending Illinois Institute of Technology in the fall and intends to study astrophysics, general physics, or both.

The committee was impressed by Gwendolyn’s commitment to leadership for her entire high school career. She was clearly passionate about fostering a school community, and as alumni we are extra appreciative of that effort.

She had a stellar high school GPA, with 8 Advanced Placement courses plus a college math course, and was named Valedictorian. In addition to her academics and student leadership, she also trained at the Oregon Ballet Theater School many hours per week.

We are proud of the hard work Gwendolyn has put into her education and wish her well in future aspirations.

Henry was selected as one of the five winners of our $1,000 college scholarship. He will be attending Oregon State University in the fall and intends to study a math or science related field.

The committee was impressed by Henry’s scholarship application and his well-rounded high school career. He excelled academically, volunteered in the community, held a job, was a member of the band, and played four sports: football, soccer, basketball, and baseball. For baseball specifically he earned many league honors in the last two years.

As a student, Henry challenged himself by taking multiple Advanced Placement and college credit courses, and earned the title of Valedictorian.

Henry has shown incredible strength and perseverance, and we send him our best wishes as he continues his education.

Malak was selected as one of the five winners of our $1,000 college scholarship. She will be attending University of Portland in the fall for pre-med before continuing her journey to medical school.

Her application was very moving for those of us on the committee, as she spoke about coming to the U.S. as a young immigrant and overcoming adversity. She dedicated much of her time to the Arabic School as a student teacher where she exercised her bilingual abilities.

She took many Advanced Placement classes and maintained an almost perfect high school GPA. As well as school, work, and extracurricular activities, Malak also took online courses from Harvard and U.S. Bank to further her knowledge.

We have no doubts Malak will be successful in her college career and beyond.

Chloe was selected as one of the two Class of 2022 winners of our $1,000 college scholarship. She will be attending Oregon State University in the fall and has an interest in wildlife sciences and similar subjects.

One of the reasons her application stood out to us was because of her long standing volunteer commitment at the Oregon Humane Society. She showcased her dedication to animals and her willingness to take on difficult tasks.

Chloe also had an incredible high school GPA and took 6 Advanced Placement courses. In addition to her volunteer work she held a job and participated in multiple extracurricular activities. She even co-founded Roosevelt’s sign language club!

We are very excited to be able to offer Chloe some recognition, and wish her well in her future endeavors.

Denise was selected as one of the two Class of 2022 winners of our $1,000 college scholarship. She will be attending University of Portland in the fall and intends to study nursing.

Her application was very moving for those of us on the committee, as she spoke about learning English as a second language and her care for her parents and her family. Her biliteracy earned her high scores on Advanced Placement exams in both English and Spanish!

She had an impressive high school GPA, and multiple extracurricular commitments, including being an outdoor school leader and volunteering as a mentor at a local middle school.

We are very proud of all of the hard work Denise has put into her education, and wish her well in future endeavors.