PCHS seniors are pledged $15M in scholarships this year towards continuing education

Seniors receiving the Intermountain Health Scholarships as they've declared medical-focussed majors: (pictured out of order)Camille Sibley, Sophia Azzaro, Amelia Abbett, Carson Hone, Root Roepke, Ian Moran, Chloe Pechaux, Piper Hastings, Olivia Johnson, and Finley Kelley. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

PARK CITY, Utah — Students, parents, guidance counselors, buisness leaders, nonprofit volunteers, and family members of those who departed this world too early gathered at the Park City High School’s Eccles Theater on Tuesday for the annal presentation to hand out certificates to seniors who’ve earned scholarships.

Students graduating this year, have been pledged $15 million, as a whole, from sources and resources within Park City and the broader states and schools where they would matriculate.

It’s the amount this senior class of 2025 was awarded in scholarships, that number is just from what was reported, including the community and other local scholarships from this year. They aren’t taking all of those scholarships as some are offers from schools they aren’t ultimately attending. In general every year, the seniors are offered millions in scholarships. This ceremony and its Park City Community Scholarships represent a mere fraction therein.

Pepper Elliot took to the podium, she’s run the department for scholarship-searches for seven years, and told the audience that this was to be her last as she takes a largely lateral move within the district. She first announced that Assistant Principal Edmiston was the recipient of the award given out for displaying the most positive actions enhancing the school atmosphere.

“To these students in the Class of 2025, your hard work, resilience, and accomplishments have brought you here, and we couldn’t be more proud of you.” Elliot said. “We believe in you and we know that you’re going to thrive when you take these next steps on your educational journey.”

Each year she gathers a handfull of volunteers from all demographics of the community to read every application and purposely, blindly assists in the awarding of scholarships. Seniors are allowed to and encouraged to apply for up to four scholarships, most if not everyone was awarded one, many two, some three and at least one got four.

These scholarships range roughly between five hundred and three thousand dollars. Some scholarships had one recipient and some had as many as 20, too many student names to list here.

Tommy Tanzer, was recognized as one of a few different people in whom the school can continuously count on to donate to this program in years where applications might exceed the funds he and others had already committed to donating.

Heartfelt hugs were given as tears were wiped away by both scholarship donors and scholarship recipients to several categories in memorial of student’s like then Jr. High student Grant Seavers, teachers like Eilleen Baily, or alumna like Abbey Lee Peterson who have passed away before their time.

The large group of Sterling Scholars received the cords they’ll wear with their cap and gown on graduation day on Friday.

Four scholarships were awarded, one to a graduates of each of the district’s elementary schools.

Students heading to trade schools got scholarships, also aviation, military, law enforcement career paths were honored.

Non profits including the Park City Community Foundation, Live PC Give PC, Park City Rotary Club, American Legion, the Fire District, Park City Soccer Club, Youth Sports Alliance, Latinos In Action, Elks Lodge, and Live Like Sam joined the Realtors Association along with businesses like On Top Roofing, the Park City UPS Stores, Sea to Ski, and Delta (families) all donated scholarships. 

If community members are interested in the name of their nonprofit, business or lost loved one appearing in next year’s scholarship program, reach out to the High School in the Fall. Even if people don’t have formal or informal connections to any aforementioned entity or category, the school will entertain scholarship donations from ‘a’ccounting to ‘z’oology.