Washington Governors Christine Gregoire and Gary Locke, along with the College Success Foundation, hosted the Governors Scholarship Reception on June 2, 2006 to recognize the fifth class of students selected to be Governors Scholars. This special event was held on the Capitol Campus in Olympia, and included a tour and refreshments at the Governor's Executive Mansion.

The scholarships were designed to provide assistance to senior high school students in foster, group and kinship care to attend colleges and universities in Washington State on a full-time basis beginning in the fall of 2006. In 2004, 69 percent of young adults aging out of foster care in Washington State had not obtained a high school diploma. Nationally, less than three percent of former foster youth earn bachelor's degrees.

Scholarship recipients attended the reception and received congratulatory remarks and certificates from Governor Gregoire and former Governor Gary Locke. Bob Craves (College Success Foundation Co-founder & Chair), Ann Ramsay-Jenkins (College Success Foundation Co-founder & Vice Chair), Mary Anne Herrick (Independent Student Services Officer), Maile Monroe (Assistant Independent Student Services Officer) and Treana Graham (Governors Scholarship graduate) also spoke at the reception. Scholarship recipients came from all over the state, and many brought their foster parents, guardians, high school principals and social workers.

The Governors Scholarship Program is funded primarily through proceeds from the Governors Cup Golf Tournament. Additional contributions have also been made through proceeds from a statewide carwash for foster children co-sponsored by the Washington Department of Social and Health Services and Lutheran Community Services Northwest.

"There are so many talented youth in foster care who need our help," said Ann Ramsay-Jenkins, College Success Foundation Co-founder and Vice Chair. "There couldn't be a better use of scholarship funds than to encourage youth in foster, kinship and group care to stay in high school and then earn a college degree. This was a very important and exciting day for [these] talented young people with big dreams! With the scholarships in hand, they are now able to look forward to more productive lives and rewarding careers. We hope to see more students in foster care applying for these scholarships next year. Study hard and get ready!"

Click here to read the press release issued by the Governors Office about the Governors Scholarship Reception!

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