Chenowith Elementary School Parent-Teacher Group Launches New Scholarships
Meli Avila, Giovanny Avila’s sister, presents his memorial scholarship on 4/30/2024 at TDHS.
The Dalles, Ore., May 13, 2024 — The Chenowith Cougar Boosters, the name of their parent-teacher volunteer organization, has launched two new college scholarships for students who attended Chenowith Elementary School in the past.
The scholarships memorialize two former Chenowith students who passed away in 2023. Giovanny “Gio” Avila and Samarah Elena Luna-Betancourt both attended Chenowith Elementary School and The Dalles High School. Gio Avila had already graduated and was pursuing further education as a HVAC technician when he tragically passed away in a car accident in September 2023. Samarah Elena was a freshman at TDHS when she heartbreakingly passed away in November 2023. She had plans to further her education beyond high school as well. Several parents, teachers, and family members thought that it would be a great way to honor their lives and their dreams for further education by helping to fund future generations of Chenowith graduates to pursue college or trade school after high school. The Cougar Boosters saw a need to provide more opportunities for Chenowith students pursuing higher education. The other elementary schools in The Dalles raise funds for scholarships and Chenowith’s parents felt it was important to offer CES grads these opportunities and honor these two incredible individuals.
On Tuesday evening April 30th, these two new $500 scholarships were handed out for the first time. Senior student Hector Morales Alvarado won the Gio Avila Memorial Scholarship. Senior student Elizabeth Arceo Dorado won the Samarah Luna-Betancourt Memorial Scholarship. Both will use their funds to further their education at either a trade school, community college, or university next fall.
Chenowith Cougar Boosters are still raising funds to make these scholarships permanent and long-lasting. Community members are encouraged to send donations on behalf of the scholarship programs to the North Wasco County Education Foundation, 3632 W. 10 th St., The Dalles, OR 97058. Please write “Chenowith Scholarships” in the memo line.
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