Scholarships awarded to area students

SPOKANE – Five area high school graduates were recently awarded college scholarships from the Innovia Foundation of Spokane.

Innovia manages over 30 scholarship programs on behalf of donors who are invested in the educational success of students in the region, according to Meg Lindsay, Director of Education Programs.

Spencer Gering and Ellie Gering of the Lind-Ritzville Class of 2020 each received $500 scholarships from the David L. and Frances G. Ray scholarship program. The siblings, who were co-valedictorians at their high school, will both be attending Washington State University.

In Sprague, 2020 Valedictorian Alexis Walters Gilchrist received a $2,000 scholarship from Mark and Kay Burkett scholarship program. She also received $1,000 from the Wilson Farm/Mondovi Grange scholarship program. Walters Gilchrist will be attending Whitworth University.

Sprague 2020 Salutatorian Jade Rios received $4,000 from the William and Flossie Sanborn scholarship program. Rios will be attending Spokane Falls Community College.

Zane Swanger, Salutatorian of the Sprague Class of 2018, received $1,000 from the William and Flossie Sanborn scholarship program. Swanger attends Eastern Oregon University.

Innovia Foundation awarded 119 scholarships totaling $250,259 to students throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho for the 2020-2021 school year.

"Innovia Foundation ignites generosity that transforms lives and communities, so that every person has the opportunity to thrive," said Lindsay. "As the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho, we partner with people who want to make our world better."

According to Lindsay, the foundation invests nearly $7 million each year into communities through grants and scholarships to nonprofit organizations and local students.