Students of Distinction

06/16/2026

Because Our Community Cared.

This year, the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation awarded more than $130,000 in student scholarships through our family of scholarship programs, including Students of Distinction, the Heron's Key Scholarship Fund, the Minerva Scholarship Fund, the Coach Joel Wingard Scholarship, and other donor-supported funds.

Behind every scholarship is a student taking the next step toward their future—and behind every award is a donor, volunteer, committee member, educator, mentor, business, or community supporter who helped make that opportunity possible.

To every student who received a scholarship: congratulations.
To every person who helped open the door: thank you.

Together, we are building a stronger community, one opportunity at a time.

05/10/2026

Join us as we celebrate some of the Peninsula School District’s most inspiring graduating seniors at the 2026 Students of Distinction Awards Dinner!

Each year, Students of Distinction honors young people whose leadership, perseverance, creativity, service, academic achievement, and heart have made a meaningful impact in our schools and community. These students represent the very best of what the next generation can be — thoughtful, driven, resilient, and deeply engaged in the world around them.

Come help us recognize and encourage these remarkable students as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives.

📍 Ocean5, Gig Harbor
📅 Wednesday, May 20, 2026
⏰ Doors open at 5:30 PM

Your attendance also helps support scholarships for local graduating seniors through the Students of Distinction program.

🎟 Tickets available here:
https://gghf.info/sodawards

Let’s show these students how proud their community is of them.

05/05/2026

Proud to support the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation and the many people, programs, and partnerships helping strengthen our community. Today is GGHF’s 20th birthday and WA Gives — a great day to support local work that makes a real difference close to home.

Today, communities across Washington are coming together through WA Gives to support the places and people that matter most to them.

Here at home, that support looks like scholarships for local students, outdoor learning for children, connection and care for seniors, stewardship of the natural places we all share, and neighbors continuing to show up for one another year after year.

In uncertain times, strengthening local community may be one of the most meaningful things we can still do together.

While we may not be able to fix everything, we can still make a real difference close to home.

This is what community looks like.

If you’d like to support the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation during WA Gives today, you can give here:
bit.ly/GGHFGiveBIG

Thank you for caring about this community and the people who call it home.

05/04/2026

For 20 years, the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation has invested in the people, programs, and places that make this community home.
From scholarships and senior programs to environmental stewardship, nature-based education, and Basket Brigade, every dollar given stays local and helps strengthen the greater Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula community.
As we celebrate 20 years of community impact during GiveBIG 2026, we invite you to be part of what comes next.
❤️ Give local. Impact local.
bit.ly/GGHFGiveBIG

Happy Monday! We’ve raised more than $1 million for local nonprofits so far during Early Giving. Let’s continue the momentum being built ahead of the main giving day that starts tomorrow.

This is our moment. to stand up for our communities. Donate to your favorite nonprofits now!

https://www.wagives.org

05/04/2026

For 20 years, the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation has invested in the people, programs, and places that make this community home.

From scholarships and senior programs to environmental stewardship, nature-based education, and Basket Brigade, every dollar given stays local and helps strengthen the greater Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula community.

As we celebrate 20 years of community impact during GiveBIG 2026, we invite you to be part of what comes next.

❤️ Give local. Impact local.

bit.ly/GGHFGiveBIG

04/29/2026

A huge thank you to the community leaders, educators, artists, entrepreneurs, coaches, public servants, and volunteers who gave up their Saturday morning to serve as panelists for this year’s Students of Distinction interviews.

Because of you, 33 outstanding students had the opportunity to share their stories, showcase their accomplishments, and practice the very real-life skill of sitting down for a thoughtful interview with community leaders.

These conversations go far beyond resumes and applications. Students spoke about leadership, perseverance, creativity, service, future goals, and the experiences that have shaped who they are becoming. Your time, attention, encouragement, and thoughtful questions made that experience meaningful.

And to the many students who applied but were not selected this year: please know that your effort, courage, and accomplishments matter too. Putting yourself forward takes vulnerability and heart, and we hope you continue to pursue opportunities to lead, create, serve, and grow.

Students of Distinction has always been about more than awards alone. It’s about creating a moment where young people feel seen, heard, and recognized by the broader community around them.

Thank you for helping make that happen.

04/28/2026

Students of Distinction celebrates the many ways young people contribute to our community—through leadership, perseverance, creativity, service, and achievement.

As part of the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation family of programs and scholarships, this work reflects a shared commitment to supporting the next generation and investing in the future of our community.

As we head into WA Gives and GiveBIG, we invite you to support the work that matters most to you.

bit.ly/GGHFGiveBIG

And we’re off and running! Today is the start of Early Giving! It’s up to us to support the nonprofits that make communities across Washington flourish. Help these organizations build positive momentum ahead of the main giving day on May 5 by donating now and encouraging your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to also give.

to show up for nonprofits. Whether you give a little or a lot, every gift creates BIG change!

https://www.wagives.org