Congratulations to Olympia High School senior Imani Mabwa-Childress! He was recently awarded a $1,000 Thurston Group of Washington State Scholarship during the organization’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. banquet at South Puget Sound Community College.
The Thurston Group provides scholarships to high school students in the Tumwater, Olympia and North Thurston school districts. In its more than 20-year history, the Thurston Group has helped more than 800 students by distributing more than $6 million in scholarship funds.
Olympia High School Career Counselor Jen Boelts encouraged Mabwa-Childress to apply for the scholarship in part because of his involvement in numerous activities on campus and in the community. Boelts said he is a kind and selfless student who not only “recognizes the needs of others” but acts on those needs and does anything he can to help. She credits him with providing support to fellow students and school staff. When challenges arose at the Olympia High senior fundraiser, Mabwa-Childress “ended up saving the entire event,” said Boelts.
Imani will use the scholarship to help pay for tuition, housing or books next year when he heads off to college. So far he is undecided on his destination, but he is considering Columbia College in Chicago, Cornish College of the Arts, Pacific Lutheran University or South Puget Sound Community College. He intends to study student graphic design or illustration at one of the schools.
In his free time, Imani works on art and music projects with aspiring rap artists. We wish you the best of luck in your future Imani!