SHS Class of 2025's Karla Mondragon Awarded Alumni Endowed Scholarship

Karla Mondragon, a recent graduate with an impressive 3.84 GPA, has been awarded the prestigious Alumni Endowed Scholarship. This recognition highlights her outstanding academic achievements and dedication to her future in public health.

Karla is preparing to start her journey at Washington State University this fall.

Karla is the proud daughter of Silvia and Serafin Mondragon and the first in her family to graduate from high school. She is set to attend Washington State University in Pullman this fall, where she aims to pursue a career in the public health sector, with aspirations of becoming a physician.

Throughout her high school career, Karla has actively participated in multiple leadership roles, including serving as the Historian for the Latino Culture Club and as the Editor for the Key Club’s social media. In addition, she excelled as the President of the WE Club and was a dedicated member of the cheer squad in 2022. Her involvement extends to various clubs and activities, such as the Honor Society, DECA, Science Club, and the annual Science Fair.

Karla takes great pride in her community service contributions, which include volunteering for the annual Family Night event organized by the Latino Culture Club over the past four years, teaching crafts at a drama camp, and assisting with Santa's Workshop through the Key Club for three years.

“At the forefront of healthcare, becoming a physician means being a leader and responsible for making critical decisions that affect lives,...”

Her exceptional achievements have not gone unnoticed, as she has received several awards, including the STEM Rising Star Award and multiple accolades at local and regional science fairs.

In her scholarship application, Karla expressed her passion for serving underserved Latino communities, emphasizing the importance of cultural understanding in healthcare. She recounts a pivotal experience shadowing a nurse practitioner, where she witnessed firsthand the impact of bilingual support in patient care. “At the forefront of healthcare, becoming a physician means being a leader and responsible for making critical decisions that affect lives,” Karla stated. “I am committed to pursuing continuous learning and contributing to research in a specialty of my choice.”

Karla Mondragon receives a $3,000 scholarship check for her future success, presented by retired educator and Alumni Fund founder, Mr. Pete Marquez.

Karla Mondragon is an inspiring example of dedication and service, and her achievements mark the beginning of an impactful journey in the medical field.

Additional Information about the SHS Alumni Fund's Endowed Scholarships

In 2025, the Sunnyside High School Alumni Scholarship Fund is able to award three scholarships each at $3,000 a piece. These funds come from investment earnings that are generated by contributions from donors over the past 10 years. This is an increase from 2024 when the Fund awarded two $2,500 scholarships. Recently Sunnyside School District staff have been making voluntary payroll deduction contributions each month. The Fund is extremely grateful for their support. As contributions continue to grow, hopefully additional scholarships will be available to SHS graduates in the future. Learn more about our Endowment Fund by PRESSING HERE!