Three Wrangell High School graduates will be heading off to college a little more financially secure, thanks to the awarding of some scholarships this past week. Laura Helgeson, Kaylyn Easterly, and Jing O'Brien were chosen to receive the Alaska Pulp Corporation scholarship this year. On top of that, Helgeson has also received a scholarship from the Friends of the Wrangell Museum.
Frank Roppel, part of the selection committee for the Alaska Pulp scholarship, explained that every year three students from Wrangell and Sitka are selected for a $20,000 scholarship. The money is given out to students over a four year period, he said, to help them pursue further education. The first scholarship was awarded in 1992, he said, and today about $2.86 million has been given out. The scholarship was put together in the first place by Alaska Pulp Corporation's president at the time, George Ishiyama. The company was going out of business, Roppel said, and they wanted to leave something behind to show their gratitude to Wrangell and other Southeast Alaskan communities where they operated.
"The community of Wrangell was very accommodating, and they wanted to leave a legacy," Roppel said.
The Friends of the Wrangell Museum awarded a scholarship this past week to Helgeson in the amount of $5,000. This scholarship was set up in the name of Roppel's wife, Patricia. Patricia Roppel was a local writer who passed away in January of 2015, according to Sentinel records. She had several books and hundreds of articles published under her name, Frank said, and was always working to help teach local students.
Helgeson is planning to attend Portland State University this fall, she said in a May 7 interview with the Sentinel, to pursue a degree in either communications or graphic design. She said she was surprised to hear she received the two scholarships, mentioning that her class had a high pool of talent for the selection committees to choose from. The money will be going towards her tuition and housing, she said.
"It was definitely a surprise that I got both of them," she said. "I'm very grateful that I got both."
O'Brien is committed to
attending the University of Chicago this fall to study political science. She said she just made her decision early this week. She wanted to say how grateful she was for the scholarship, and to the community of Wrangell for their support. The Alaska Pulp scholarship is very generous, she said, and is thankful for the opportunities it provides.
"I'd just like to say how grateful I am for the opportunity," O'Brien said.
Easterly plans to study social work. She said she will be attending Skagit Valley College for the time being, before transferring to finish up her education at another university.
"I am very grateful for the scholarships I have been awarded," Easterly said. "They will go a long way to help me in my academic success."
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