Our Scholarship Story

Art, a SHS class of ’72 graduate, is one of the original founders of the Scholarship Fund. Art is currently employed as a professional fundraiser for non-profit organizations all over the U.S. and presently serves on a number of boards whose missions are to assist those in need.  

Henry (Hank) Stamschror, from the Class of ’72, is one of the original founders of the Scholarship Fund. Hank is currently retired after spending over 40 years as the President of Sunnyside's Mountain States Construction Company responsible for a wide variety of projects in the Northwestern US and Alaska.​

Karst, a SHS class of '72 graduate, is one of the original founders of the SHS Alumni Scholarship Fund. Karst's spent most of his career as an educator and school administrator. Recently retired, Karst serves as the Alumni Fund's secretary/treasurer.

In 2023, Tom joined the SHS Alumni Board as a director, to represent the Class of 1967. Prior to retiring in 2019, Tom was an electrical engineer and CEO of his own company, specializing in automating municipal infrastructure.

Pete Marquez started the SHS Alumni Scholarship Fund.  He had a dream to help SHS graduates navigate the post secondary educational roadblocks. He quickly realized that financial support was direly needed and began supporting graduates with small contributions with some out of his own pocket.

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Pete is a retired educator with close to 40 years in the classroom at SHS.  He is also the current SHS Head Baseball Coach.

Jim Tree currently resides in the Yakima area  and is a '72 SHS graduate. He attended the University of Hawaii and later BYU where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1982.  Jim has been admitted to both the Utah Bar and the Washington Bar.

He previously served as a JAG officer in the U.S. Air Force as a military attorney. His current practice specializes in Social Security Disability.

Craig Schilperoort is a graduate from the Sunnyside High School Class of 1974 and has been on the Board of Directors of the Alumni Scholarship Fund since it's inception.

Craig is currently retired and resides in the Sunnyside area and has made his mark in the Yakima Valley Agriculture/ Farming Industry.  

Elaine (Padgham) Vandervert (SHS class of '68) spent her career in occupational safety and health research for the federal government, specializing in mining and oil and gas extraction.   She earned several degrees from Gonzaga University, including a BA ('72),  MBA (1992), and a PhD (2004).  She is very proud that her Padgham family were pioneers in Sunnyside, and that her aunts, uncles, and siblings are Sunnyside Grizzlies.

Marilyn (Bos) Mears graduated from SHS in 1972 and married Blaine Mears in 1978. They have three grown children and five grandchildren, ages 15 to 23, as well as two great-grandchildren, ages 1 and 3. Marilyn is happily retired after 33 years with the US Postal Service. They enjoy traveling as much as they can with their kids and grandchildren. Marilyn has been a long-time volunteer for the Alumni Fund, and it's great to have her on board as a Trustee!

Mary is a Sunnyside High School Alumna from the Class of 1972 and spent 48 years in Public Education in the Yakima area, teaching all grades from kindergarten through college. She has volunteered extensively, including over a decade as a national trainer for the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life". She has traveled the US to help community organizers raise money for cancer research, patient care, and education in the battle against cancer!.