Edmonds VFW Awards Scholarships To Local Students

EDMONDS, WA — Four seniors from high schools in Edmonds and Mukilteo were awarded this week with the John Shelton and Dan White Freedom Scholarships from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8870.

Each student received their $1,500 scholarship award based on criteria that not only weighed their individual GPAs but also their participation and involvement in both school and civically-sponsored activities and events.

Additionally, each applicant was required to submit an essay explaining what freedom personally means to them and how the U.S. Constitution establishes and maintains a culture of freedom in the country.

The following students were selected to receive the 2019 Freedom Scholarships:

• Ella Dahl - Kamiak High School, Mukilteo School District
• Ruth Berhane - Scriber Lake High School, Edmonds School District
• Natalie Whitlock - Edmonds-Woodway High School, Edmonds School District
• Carson Tessier - Edmonds-Woodway High School, Edmonds School District

Each year, VFW Post #8870 honors its veterans by awarding the Freedom Scholarships in the names of its members. This year's scholarships were named in honor of John Shelton and Dan White.

According to the Post's current commander, D. Michael Denton, both White and Shelton are veterans of the Vietnam War, though White's service extends a bit further back.

White, a senior veteran, served in the U.S. Army from 1946 t0 1989, when he retired as a Reserve Colonel. Now a retired teacher as well, White served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, Denton said.

Shelton served as a sniper in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, Denton said, noting Shelton was wounded-in-action and confined to a wheelchair following his time in the military. Shelton later retired as a clinical psychologist, Denton said.

For more information on VFW Post #8870 or its Freedom Scholarships, including instructions for how to apply, visit vfw8870.org.