This year the Whidbey Island branch of the American Association of University Women awarded $1,500 grants to one graduating student from each Whidbey high school.

Each student has a minimum 3.5 grade point average and plans to attend an accredited college or university. These grants are made possible from generous individual donations and community suopport from AAUW’s fundraising events.

The Oak Harbor High School grant recipient is Adrienne Beebe. Beebe has been accepted at several colleges including Willamette University, Western Washington and the University of Puget Sound. She plans to focus her studies in the field of mathematics and is interested in accounting, engineering, actuary and statistician roles. She has demonstrated success in taking multiple AP courses in her junior and senior years and maintaining a 4.0 gpa. She was first chair flute throughout high school in the wind ensemble plus the Fidalgo Youth Symphony.

Additionally, she tutored other students academically, and balanced her activities, studies and music with her talent and passion in horsemanship. She shared that expertise as the lead counselor in horsemanship at Shofly Summer Camp.

Carrie Walker, the Coupeville High School grant recipient,  plans a liberal arts education to prepare her for medical studies toward her goal of becoming a pediatrician. She seeks this humanitarian role to “combine her passion for science with her love of children.” Carrie has orchestrated her studies and extracurricular activities most effectively to move towards her goal. Her academic strengths in math and science offer a strong foundation for premed studies.

She has an advanced classical repertoire on piano from Bach to Mozart. She’s had principal roles, as well as ensemble roles, in numerous theater productions. She’s taken awards for her talents in drama and piano and, she also sings and dances. She has taught in the Lions Club “Learn to Swin” program for five years and is active in Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Angelica Janda, the South Whidbey High School grant recipient, received an AAUW Certificate of Excellence in 2010 because of her outstanding achievement in science. She has been accepted at Seattle University and plans to study biology and humanities. Her goal is to become a professor in science focusing on marine biology. Angelica served as the lab manager in the advanced AP biology class. She has balanced her academics with involvement in the school’s track program participating in cross country, playing flute in pep band, and singing in choir. She is involved in Japanese culture and Spanish clubs. Her community service has included fundraising for Hearts and Hammers, working on Relay for Life and volunteering in the Mukilteo schools.