In the last seven years, residents at Heron’s Key, a continuing care retirement community in Gig Harbor, have raised $97,500 in scholarships for Gig Harbor graduating high school seniors.
The Heron’s Key Scholarship Group started in 2018 to support the next generation of higher education students by providing funds to help them complete a four- or a two-year program or attend trade school. Every year since the group’s inception, they have been able to award a greater number of scholarships at a higher value.
In the first year, a small group of residents provided eight scholarships at $375. This year, 69 resident households awarded 14 scholarships at $2,000 each. They are also providing one student with her fourth scholarship through the Heron’s Key Scholarship Group as she nears the completion of her program.
Heron’s Key residents work with Gig Harbor High School, Peninsula High School and Henderson Bay High School to select students most deserving of the scholarships. To be considered, students must submit a portfolio that includes their academic record, extracurricular activities, work experience, community service and financial need.
For the second year, residents in the Scholarship Group are also excited to award scholarships to high school students who are employed by Heron’s Key.
“We are so proud to support all of our scholarship recipients, but it is extra special to support the students who also work at Heron’s Key,” says Marilyn Colyar, the leader of the Scholarship Group. “Residents really get to know the people who work in our community and we become very close with them, so it is incredible to see these students succeed in their educational endeavors.”
Supporting high school students in pursuing higher education is not the only way Heron’s Key residents are investing in the future. Weekly, they walk over to Swiftwater Elementary nearby to read to students, support teachers, provide tutoring, help in the library, volunteer at school events and more.
Recently, students from Swiftwater thanked Heron’s Key by spending the day in their community with residents. In addition, the student choir sang for residents and the student council shared updates about the school.
“Watching these two generations connect and bond is truly magical,” Colyar says. “Both students and residents were smiling from ear to ear the whole day. Even though we are the ones guiding them along, they are teaching us just us much in the process.”
Colyar concludes, “These elementary, high school and college students are our future, and Heron’s Key residents value this unique intergenerational bond we are creating. We are lucky to be able to support them financially or academically while getting to know these bright young people.”
For more information on Heron’s Key and the Scholarship Group visit heronskey.org.
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