S.C.O.T. scholarships awarded to two recent Shorecrest graduates

(L-R) SC counselors Jenny Breed and Wendy Friedman; scholarship recipients Camron Catt; Lyla Higgins; Ava Watson; benefactors Krist and Stephen Growdon; recipients Hermela Dagenchew, Lila Seda and Olive Ziliak

As hundreds of Shorecrest High School alumni return to two- and four-year colleges this fall, two recent graduates start their new school year with up to $10,000 in local scholarships.

The Shorecrest College Opportunity Tribute (S.C.O.T.) scholarships for the Class of 2026 were awarded to Hermela Dagnachew (University of Southern California) and Lila Seda (Washington State University/Pullman).

This year marks the first time recipients since 2021 have met their previously anonymous benefactors: Stephen and Kristi Growdon.

The couple – with a strong commitment to higher education and the local community – has been selecting and awarding the S.C.O.T. awards to Shorecrest graduates based on students’ academic and extracurricular achievements; volunteerism, and financial need for six years.

Past recipients include: Oliver Lohrentz (2021 – now a University of Washington/Seattle graduate); Lyla Higgins (2022 – now a U.W./Seattle graduate); Samia Ahmed (2023 – U.W./Seattle); Ava Watson (2024 – U.W./Seattle); Olive Ziliak (2025 – U.W./Seattle) and Camron Catt (2025 - Central Washington University).

S.C.O.T. benefactors Stephen Growdon, a retired Shorecrest High School social studies teacher and cross-country coach, and his wife, Kristi, started the awards with $2,500 a year per recipient for up to four years as long as students maintained a 3.2 college GPA. The couple chose from among more than a dozen self-nominated applicants each year. They opted to remain anonymous until the last of Stephen Growdon’s past students graduated from high school.

The Shoreline Public Schools Foundation has served as the conduit for these awards. Starting with the Class of 2027, The Seattle Foundation will fulfill this role. Details for this year’s Shorecrest seniors interested in applying will be available through their high school counselors, and college and career center.