The Auburn Optimist Dollars for Scholars Foundation Scholarship recipients recently were announced. Pamela Schmidt, club president, and Jim Fletcher, foundation president, presented the awards.

The following students were named recipients:

Lucrecia Lopez, 18, Auburn High School (11 candidates): 3.52 GPA, ranked 66 out of a class of 416. Lopez comes from a single-parent family with three children. She plans to become a radiology technician. She plans to attend Green River Community College for an associate degree before obtaining her four-year degree at Bellevue College for Radiology. Lopez received several awards for forensic participation, soccer, gymnastics and DECA competitions. She is recognized for her leadership and work as Latino Club president, Camp Auburn counselor, church youth group representative and Relay for Life volunteer. She successfully took AP classes in physiology, psychology and debate.

Spencer Darrington, 18, West Auburn High (three candidates): 3.10 GPA, ranked in the top 10 percent of the class. Darrington comes from a single-parent family with three children. He plans to become a computer graphics designer and attend Seattle Arts Institute. He participated in many civic projects and received several academic and school activity awards. Darrington's special interests include computer design, computer graphics and community service. He participated in ASB office, activities with the Auburn Valley YMCA and art displays for school, civic and community events.

Jessica Heg, 18, Auburn Riverside High (eight candidates): 3.27 GPA, ranked in the top 10 percent of the class. Youngest of four in his family. Heg wants to become a veterinary technician after attending Pierce College at Puyallup. She currently works part-time at a veterinary clinic. Heg successfully took several honors and AP classes, including architectural drafting. She participated on the fastpitch team and Auburn Parks, Arts & Rec teams. She enjoys reading, writing poetry and short stories, making macramé jewelry, drawing and architectural drawing and modeling.

Nathan Froelich, 18, Auburn Mountainview (12 candidates). 3.59 GPA. Nathan is the third of five siblings in his family. He will be attending Brigham Young University, where he will pursue studies in the medical field or possibly biology and music. Froelich will graduate with an associates degree from Green River Community College. His interests are the sciences, anatomy, physiology and music performance. He plays the viola and is an Eagle Scout. A four-year Honors Society member, Froelich was named a national merit scholar. In music, he received excellent and superior ratings in competition and is a member of the Tacoma Youth Symphony.

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