For the first time, Fremont PTA offered scholarships to current high school seniors who are also Fremont alumni who will be attending college next fall. Applicants were required to complete a series of questions about their experience at Fremont, list academic and extracurricular activities, and detail their future educational and career goals. Those applying for the arts scholarship were required to submit a sample of their work.

Applicants for the Fremont Bear scholarship must have attended Fremont for the entire seven years, from kindergarten through sixth grade. Applicants for the specialized scholarships must have attended Fremont for at least three years. The winners were presented with their checks at the Field Day ceremonies.

Lauren Lee received a $500 Fremont Bear scholarship for outstanding achievement. Lee will be attending USC in the fall and wants to become a math professor.

Emma Salmon received a $250 arts scholarship. Salmon will be attending the University of Oregon in the fall to study science with a minor in music cognition. Salmon started playing the flute with the Fremont orchestra and included a CD of a recent performance with her application.

Ryan Booth received a $250 computer/science scholarship. Booth will be attending UC Santa Cruz in the fall, majoring in computer science/video game design.

According to Fremont PTA Publicity Chair Lisa Enriquez, the Scholarship Committee was impressed with the applicants who wrote with “heart and sincerity about how Fremont and specific teachers helped shape them into what they are today.”

All three recipients attended Fremont from kindergarten through sixth grade and built a list of achievements that extended beyond academics into community service and extra curricular activities.

Each was presented with a Fremont Bear, the school mascot, with their check and, according to Enriquez, were told, “We hope it will remind you that you started your successful education as a Fremont Bear and now, as you start college and your adult lives, we hope it will remind you that we are proud of you and you will always be a Fremont Bear at heart.”

Submitted by Lisa ENRIQUEZ