06/16/2026
HHS Alumni Foundation Awards Record Total of $117,000 in Scholarships; Honors Longtime Volunteers With “Alumni of The Year” Awards
The Highline High School Alumni Foundation awarded a record total of $117,000 in 29 scholarships to 2026 HHS Seniors. New scholarships were added in the name of the late Joan Dehn Whidden and by Tony Hayes for the Classic Easts Culinary scholarship. The organization also increased each scholarship to at least $4,000.
The Foundation has awarded a total of 545 scholarships totaling $1,425,500 since its inception in 1995.
“The record amount of money given is reflective of the strong support from our alumni and the effective stewardship of dollars by our dedicated volunteers,” said Foundation President Jeff Ashley. “Donors know that every dollar they give goes straight to support for students.”
Three key Foundation volunteers were honored as “Alumni of The Year” at the scholarship award event. These individuals were recognized for their many decades of service to the Foundation and to the wider community. Those honored were Cathy Low (Class of 1967), Sally Newton (Class of 1970) and Scott Salzer (Class of 1971). Low and Newton have managed the annual golf event for decades and Salzer has served as Treasurer for many years. Low served as Membership Chair for the Foundation as well, along with active involvement with the Hi-Liners performing group and other community benefit groups. Newton served as Vice President and President of the Foundation and as a member of the Scholarship Committee. Salzer was Senior Class President at Highline, where he also starred in football. He was selected to the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame.
The Highline High School Alumni Foundation welcomes donations and new members. For more information, check the organization’s web site at hhsaf.org or contact the Foundation at P.O. Box 66647, Burien, WA 98166.
Scholarship winners are, back row, left to right: Elizabeth Ortiz Rojas, Asli Gutierrez Oseguera, Emily Esperanza-Gutierrrez, Delina Desta, Isabella Sarmiento, Qeriya Mohamed Haji, Jesus Tremillo Rodriguez, Noah Ball, Robert Luu, Leslie Sanchez Soria, Rihanna Lloyd-Evans, Sofia Lucatero, Jenny Matias Gonzalez, Itzel Pineda Lopez, Valeria Farias Rivera.
Front row, left to right: Betzahira Vazquez Vergara, August Tran, An Mai, Katelynh Le, Lina Duong, C.D. Du, Simone Gordon, Charlotte Binns, Ariana Strzelecki, Marina Lobos Lobos, Makenzi Strong.
Not Pictured: Muneera Mohamed, Alysson Bertrand Gomez.
HHS Alumni Foundation President Jeff Ashley, left, and Vice President Tricia Anderson, far right, present the Alumni of The Year awards to, from left to right, Cathy Low, Sally Newton and Scott Salzer.
