Three receive forestry scholarships

By Katie Kohl
LCSWA Scholarship Chair
Three Linn County high school graduates have been awarded 2021 Robert Mealey Scholarships by the Linn County Small Woodlands Association for studying forestry or forestry-related natural resources in an Oregon college/university, including dual enrollment with an Oregon community college.
Money for the scholarships comes from the profits of the annual Linn County Small Woodlands seedling sale.
The three are Madelyn Neuschwander, a Sweet Home High School graduate; Aria Mays, a Lebanon High School graduate, and Kimberly Ortiz, a Scio High School graduate.
Mays, a 2021 graduate of Lebanon High School, is a freshman at South Western Oregon Community College in Coos Bay. She is receiving a  $2,000 renewable scholarship focusing on environmental studies and science leading to a Forestry major at Oregon College/University with a dual enrollment next year.
Mays is recognized as a high achieving scholar with six AP classes, along with other advanced courses, induction into the National Honor Society and an Honors Diploma. She also seriously competes in track and cross country
Along with her scholastic and athletic accomplishments, Mays cherishes her 10-day bike trip from Astoria to the California border during her 2018 summer with her cross country coach and nine other students. After a long and rough first day of 40 miles, rewarded with an ice cream cone, she realized her confidence in completing the 416 mile trip in 10 days.
“This trip shaped me into who I am and is truly my most astounding endeavor.”