Washougal’s Ryan Krout receives scholarship award

Washougal’s Ryan Krout was one of two students in the state of Washington and one of 12 nationally to receive a scholarship from First Tech Federal Credit Union.

WASHOUGAL — Washougal’s Ryan Krout was one of two students in the state of Washington and one of 12 nationally to receive a scholarship from First Tech Federal Credit Union. In continuation of an eight-year tradition, First Tech Federal Credit Union has $55,000 in scholarships to 12 students across the country that showcased determination, high academic achievement and involvement within their communities. First Tech is committed to enriching the lives of students by providing the support they need to continue higher education. Five of the 12 scholarships were presented to students with science, technology, engineering and mathematics-focused majors and the other seven were given to students with other focus areas of study ranging from international relations and industrial and labor relations, to community and regional development and business.

Of the 12 First Tech 2017 scholarship recipients, two were from Washington, including Krout: Krout will be attending Pacific University with aspirations to become a physical therapist. Every year, Krout participates in Stuff the Bus, a volunteer event that brings partners together within the local community to collect food and supplies for families in need. Krout was co-valedictorian of Washougal’s 2017 graduating class. He was also a member of the Panthers’ baseball team. Other recipients of the scholarship include:

• Makaila Heifner is from Maple Valley, Wa., and will be attending University of California, Berkeley in the fall to study International Relations, with hopes of working with an international non-profit to help make a positive impact and break the cycle of poverty.
• Andrei Blebea – University of California, Davis
• Clare McLeod – Cornell University
• Daniel Rogers – Oregon State University
• Julius Buonnano – Columbia University
• Matthew Daly – University of California, Santa Barbara
• Meagan Transue – University of California, Davis
• Shayna Chua – University of Southern California
• Serena Ngan – DeSales University
• Stephanie Dodgen – Southern Methodist University
• Steven Hong – University of California, Berkeley

“We are delighted to help our members reach their dreams and fuel the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators,” said Greg Mitchell, First Tech CEO and president. “We received hundreds of scholarship applications from First Tech members around the world who are working to research cures for diseases, design new technology, and imagine what our future can look like. It’s inspiring to see how our members are positively impacting our communities, and we’re honored and blessed to be able to support their academic achievements.” To learn more about First Tech’s scholarship program and other ways they give back to their local communities, visit firsttechfed.com/community. Applications for 2018 scholarships will be accepted from February to March 2018. For more information, visit www.firsttechfed.com.