Standout Sariah C. Wise Maldonado Receives SHS Class of 1967 Memorial Scholarship

The Sunnyside High School Graduating Class of 1967 is awarding Sariah a $3,000 scholarship through their endowment, supporting her pursuit of higher education while honoring their classmates who have passed away.

The SHS Class of 1967 Honor UW bound Scholarship Recipient Sariah Wise-Maldonado.

Sariah is the daughter of Ruth Maldonado (Sunnyside) and Abraham Wise (Snohomish), and the eldest sibling to five brothers and sisters. She earned a 3.77 GPA at SHS and thanks SHS staff, especially Mrs. Chaves Burke, Alison Spidle, Mr. Martinez, and her uncle Mr. James Wise, for their support and mentorship.

Sariah C. Wise Maldonado, a proud Sunnyside native and trailblazer for Latinas in medicine, has been named a University of Washington Presidential Scholar. This prestigious recognition honors her academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to uplifting Yakima Valley’s underserved communities.

From a young age, Sariah was driven by a deep sense of purpose. After witnessing a traumatic gang-related shooting in her hometown, she recognized the urgent need for hope and guidance among local youth. “Young people in my town weren’t just poor—we lacked hope and direction,” she reflects.

“The joy it brings her patients to see that their healthcare provider is a fellow Hispanic woman motivates me, she says.”

Determined to be a force for change, Sariah began volunteering at 15 for Latina city council candidates, interned with political organizations, and advocated for Yakima Valley youth in Olympia. She founded Sunnyside’s City Council Youth Advisory Board and led a local march for immigrant and environmental rights, stating, “That day, I felt like I was a voice for the young people who needed it.”

Sariah will be attending the University of Washington this fall as a Presidential Awarded Scholar.

Sariah’s service extends beyond activism. She worked as a dance instructor, classroom assistant for Special Education students, and held leadership roles in school and church. Inspired by her mother, a local dentist, Sariah seeks to become a Family Physician—offering both care and much-needed representation for Hispanic communities. “The joy it brings her patients to see that their healthcare provider is a fellow Hispanic woman motivates me,” she says.

With this scholarship and Presidential honor, Sariah is one step closer to her dream of serving Sunnyside and inspiring the next generation of Latinas in medicine.

About the Class of 1967 Memorial Scholarship

The Sunnyside High School Graduating Class of 1967 has established an Endowment with the SHS Alumni Scholarship Fund to continue supporting SHS graduates in their pursuit of higher education. Read more about the SHS Class of 1967 HERE on our website or HERE in an article in the Sunnyside Sun.

Created July 4, 2026