Our Named Scholarships

Bill & Judy Putnam Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Students from single-parent homes.

Bill & Judy Putnam are known for their generous hearts. Bill could often be found in his workshop making personal gifts for others. Judy loved to host their “melting pot” family. Whether it was cooking meals, washing their guests’ clothes, or taking someone shopping, she blessed others with her thoughtful generosity.

During their granddaughter’s, first year at UCA, Bill died unexpectedly in his sleep. He never got to see the beautiful grounds and buildings or experience the wonderful caring community that had such a large influence in his children’s and grandchildren’s lives.

After his passing, Bill’s family wanted to pay tribute to this wonderful, caring couple who brought so much love and joy into their lives, and they decided to establish a scholarship in Bill & Judy’s honor.

Apply for a Bill & Judy Putnam Scholarship

GIVE to the Bill & Judy Putnam Scholarship Fund

Class of 1985 Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Students with financial need, student Leadership.

In December of 2021, Doug Jorgensen, the 1985 Senior Class President, joined the FoundationONE board. One of his first moves was to lead his class in establishing a Class Scholarship. Mindy Weber, FoundationONE president and a member of the Class of 1985, eagerly joined Doug in reaching out to classmates. “It is not so much about gift size as it is about showing support,” they said. “UCA set us up for success, now let’s show our gratitude and help current UCA students. We have over 100 class members; we can easily do this!”

Class members began to give. Some chose to set up a monthly donation. Others gave a year-end lump sum gift. Then, in October 2022 someone offered a matching challenge. This was just the incentive the Class of 1985 needed. In less than one year they achieved their first benchmark--$25,000!

Apply for a Class of 1985 Scholarship

GIVE to the Class of 1985 Scholarship Fund

Class of 2007 Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Financial need, demonstrates an attitude of generosity/hospitality, being a friend to all.

In 2021, an anonymous member of the Class of 2007 spearheaded an initiative to raise funds for the very first Class Scholarship. This individual said, “Attending UCA was not a given for me, but I was fortunate to receive one of the first FoundationONE scholarships! UCA was a wonderful place to grow. It was a safe place to ask questions about God, about life. Now I want to do something to give back and help others attend UCA.”

The Class of 2007 caught the vision and within two years they had raised $25,000—the minimum to begin awarding scholarships. Even young alumni who are still paying off college loans and getting their careers and families established can make a difference when they do it together!

Apply for a Class of 2007 Scholarship

GIVE to the Class of 2007 Scholarship Fund

Dan Davis Family Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Financial need.

Dan Davis’s mother joined the Adventist church when he was six years old, and she decided that her children must have a Christian education. But the closest Adventist school was 140 miles from the Davis family ranch, near Big Hole, Montana. So, late each summer, Mr. Davis would take his wife and the children to Missoula and settle them in for the school year. Then when spring came, he would move them back home for the summer.

Eventually, Dan grew up, got married, and had a family of his own. He and his wife, Odita, educated their children in Adventist schools too, and they freely invested their time, talents and resources in Adventist schools. When Dan’s grandchildren were ready for Academy, several of them came to Upper Columbia Academy. Thus, it was, that Dan and Odita Davis began investing in UCA.

The Davis Fireside Room at UCA and the Davis Family Scholarship are two of the many involvements of this this wonderful Christian family.

Apply for a Dan Davis Family Scholarship

GIVE to the Dan Davis Family Scholarship Fund

Daniel Neil Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: 1. A passion for outdoor adventures, 2. A love for people.

Anybody who knew Daniel Neil (Class of ’13) knew that he was a fun-loving, adventuresome, “love the outdoors” kind of guy. He feared nothing. If he did, you would never know it. His goal when he was younger was to keep up with his older brother in spite of being 4 years his junior. Daniel was jeeping before he was born, tent camping at 6 weeks of age, snowmobiling on his own sled at age 5, and tearing down the trails on his mountain bike at age 10. There was no end to his outdoor adventures. Adventure was in his blood from the start.

But in addition to of his love for adventure, Daniel also had an incredible love for people. In the words of a friend, “Daniel’s unquenchable thirst for outdoor adventure was only surpassed by the kindness and compassion he had for people.” Daniel’s smile and laugh could light up a room, and he was a friend to all. As one of his fellow nurses said, “He will be remembered for his warm smile, big heart and adventurous spirit. He will be missed by all who were blessed to know him.”

Daniel was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in Richland, WA, April 14, 2023, leaving behind his wife Alyssa and their daughter, who was born in September, 2023.

Out of their love for Daniel, some of his friends suggested that a scholarship in his honor be established with FoundationONE.

Apply for a Scholarship

GIVE to the Daniel Neil Memorial Scholarship Fund today!

Eric Molstead Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Female UCA freshman, interest and academic achievement in science and math, plan to pursue a career in science or math.

Eric Molstead, a member of the Upper Columbia Academy Class of 1980, died in an airplane accident while returning from his 25th Class Reunion in 2005. The Eric Molstead Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established to encourage and support young women interested in Math and Science careers. "Educational research has shown that women are under-represented in science and technology. Hopefully the Eric Molstead Scholarship will enhance girls' beliefs about their math/science abilities," says Richard Molstead, Eric's father, and Fund Agent. This scholarship is renewable each year for students who remain at UCA and who maintain a 3.5 GPA.

Apply for an Eric Molstead Memorial Scholarship

GIVE to the Eric Molstead Memorial Scholarship Fund today!

Faye R. (Prewitt) Kwapien Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Financial need, current resident in the UCC Conference, maintain a 3.0 GPA.

Faye R. (Prewitt) Kwapien, ’51, never got to graduate with her UCA class. It was not due to a lack of appreciation, however. In fact, she loved UCA. But, her father had just passed away, and her mother was struggling to pay the medical bills and keep food on the table for her nine children. So, Faye decided the best way to help the family was to quit school and get a job.

Despite her own financial challenges, Faye found a way to send her four children to UCA. Her whole life she believed in the life-changing nature of Christian education. Because of this, her husband, Ted, after her death in May 2014, decided to establish a Named Scholarship Fund to assist students with obtaining a Christian education at UCA..

Apply for a Faye R. (Prewitt) Kwapien Memorial Scholarship

GIVE to the Faye R. (Prewitt) Kwapien Memorial Scholarship fund today!

Grandview Pioneer Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Financial need, current or incoming UCA students, active in your local church.

The Grandview Seventh-day Adventist Church was started in the early 1900’s by a group of people who were very dedicated to the Lord and to the furthering of the gospel. From the very start they realized that Christian education was important and they established a school. The church and school grew until in the 1950’s and 1960’s the church had more than 500 members attending and a school of 70-100 students.
Those early pioneers were very liberal in their support of the church and especially of Adventist education. Thus, the Grandview Pioneer Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to keep alive the memory and vision of those early pioneers—people who gave sacrificially so, not only their own children, but also the children of those that could not afford Christian education, could attend Adventist schools.

The Grandview Pioneer Memorial Scholarship honors these families:

• Adams
• Anderson
• Atkins
• Bock
• Boyd
• Burke
• Burkhart
• Carrier
• Christianson
• Crooker
• Crouch
• Davis
• Dickie
• Dorner
• Dunham
• Aunt Gravey
• Guenther
• Hunt
• Hunting
• Jorgensen
• Liedig
• Ludden
• Mackouski
• Maxted
• Merritt
• Meyer
• Mohr
• Morgan
• Nelson
• Neuharth
• Parker
• Payne
• Reiber
• Rogers
• Schoeplfin
• Schultz
• Vance
• White
• Williams
• Wilson
• Yates

Apply for a Grandview Pioneer Memorial Scholarship

GIVE to the Grandview Pioneer Memorial Scholarship

Harvey & Verna Mohr Family Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: An earnest desire for a Christian education, be accepted to UCA, have educational and spiritual goals, must demonstrate financial need.

Harvey and Verna Mohr considered themselves blessed to have had the opportunity of attending Adventist schools. Throughout their lives they eagerly supported the grade school in Grandview, Washington, the Academies their children attended, and Walla Walla College.

The Harvey & Verna Mohr Family Scholarship Fund was established by their son, John, to acknowledge his parents’ positive influence. John says, “They taught me by example that God blesses as we share His blessing with others. This helped shape my philosophy of life. So now with this endowment we wish to continue to share God’s blessing to our family with others. Beccie and I have seen over and over again that the friends we make in our formative years deeply impacts our lives and our relation to God. We praise God for His blessing in our own lives and the lives of our children. Adventist education is not a sacrifice—it is an investment in our children’s future!”

The Harvey & Verna Mohr Family Scholarship Fund was established in June 2018.

Apply for a Harvey & Verna Mohr Family Scholarship

GIVE to the Harvey & Verna Mohr Family Fund

Lamberton Family Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Students with financial need and a strong work ethic.

Many parents would deem educating 14 kids in an Adventist boarding school an impossibility, but Henry and Katie Lamberton stepped out in faith, and God “parted the waters.” According to YVA & UCA alumni records, Henry and Katie had students at UCA every year for 27 years, from 1923 to 1950! The next generation of Lambertons also sent their children, and the next. Now four generations of Lambertons have attended, and the number of Lamberton alumni stands at more than 100. One of Katie and Henry’s sons, John and his wife, Thelma, Lamberton taught at UCA (1952 – 1958).

In 2011 Henry and Katie’s oldest grandson, Jerry Dawes, decided it was time the Lamberton family began demonstrating their gratitude. Jerry began passing the hat at the annual Lamberton family reunion. This generated the seed money to start the Lamberton Family Scholarship Fund. Then in 2016, Henry Lamberton, ’66, and Dan Lamberton, ’67, brought the Scholarship Fund to fruition.

They decided to not only honor the family, but the Brewster community where the Lamberton family lived and grew and loved!! Brewster is a prime region for growing cherries and apples, and many of the Lamberton children earned money to attend YVA or UCA by working in the orchards. It is fitting, then, that the purpose of the Lamberton Family & Brewster Heritage Scholarship is to assist students who have a very strong work ethic.

Apply for a Lamberton Family Scholarship

GIVE to the Lamberton family Scholarship fund today!

Leadbetter Family Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Must excel in one of the following areas: History, English, or music performance, maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The Leadbetter Family Scholarship was created by Ray Leadbetter, a 1954 graduate of Upper Columbia Academy. When Ray was five years old, his father, Cecil, was killed in an automobile accident. Ray’s mother did her very best to meet the needs of her three growing boys, but the Great Depression was raging. It was all she could do to keep food on the table.

Eventually, Ray’s mother remarried and had two more children. When her second marriage broke up, Frances moved her family to Colville, Washington, to be close to relatives. At the time of the move, Ray was 12 years old. He attended the local Colville public high school grades 9-11.

One day an Upper Columbia Academy (UCA) faculty member visited the Colville Church and talked about UCA. Ray decided UCA was the place for him! That summer he got a job, but at the end of the summer the farmer paid him only $80. Eighty dollars was not nearly enough to enroll at UCA. What a disappointment!

Ray was determined and enrolled anyway, promising to work his way through. He worked two jobs—for the maintenance department and as a monitor in the dormitory. With God’s blessing he was able to pay his school bill. “Going to UCA was a life-changing experience” Ray says, “UCA pointed me in the direction of a fulfilling life of service.”

Following college, Ray taught History and English at Auburn Academy for eight years; then he transferred to Andrews University where he served 33 years. Ray retired as a full professor in 2000.

Apply for a Leadbetter Family Scholarship

GIVE to the Leadbetter Family Scholarship Fund

Littler Family Scholarship (Spirit Of Generosity)

Eligibility Criteria: Financial need, a spirit of generosity.

The Littler family is a quiet, hard-working farm family from Troy, Idaho. They love YVA/UCA, and when Walter Littler made out his will, he designated $15,000 for an endowment for student scholarships. He said, “Four generations of Littlers graduated from YVA/UCA, and we just want to say Thanks!”

GIVE to the Littler Family Scholarship fund today!

Londa (Slawson) Raines Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Financial need, participate in UCA’s vocal music program.

The Londa (Slawson) Raines Scholarship was initiated by Larry and Linda Slawson, Londa’s brother and sister-in-law. “Four generations of Slawsons have been educated in Adventist Schools,” they say, “and we would like to help other students experience lifelong friendships, a top-notch education, and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Londa graduated from Milo Adventist Academy in 1974, then went to Walla Walla College where she earned an Associates Degree in Office Administration. At Walla Walla, Londa’s roommate was Linda Emick. Larry’s roommates were Scott Raines and John Lowry. As it turned out, the Slawson siblings all ended up swapping roommates—Larry married Linda, Sheryl married John, and Londa married Scott!

Londa enjoyed music. She and Scott sang duets and performed with numerous choirs and musical groups. Londa held various administrative jobs including one at the Upper Columbia Conference office and one at the North Pacific Union Conference office.

Londa is remembered as a supportive friend. She also packed a lot of attitude in her petite frame. Along with words of encouragement, she sometimes shared words of counsel. More than one of Londa’s bosses insisted they were not her boss, Londa was theirs.

Her feisty personality would prove useful in later years. It helped her fight cancer twice—first putting breast cancer into remission for five years, and then surviving stage IV terminal cancer for 20 months. During her long battle Londa expressed her strong faith as “Sky high!” and proclaimed “I BELIEVE!” On Saturday, July 13, 2013, Londa went to her rest.

Apply for a Londa Slawson Scholarship

GIVE to the Londa (Slawson) Raines Scholarship Scholarship Fund

Nancy Driscoll Engle Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Female student, financial need, active in their local church, enjoys music, has aheart for giving to and serving others.

Nancy Driscoll Engle, PhD, endeavored, through her book, Influential Women of Spokane: Building a Fair City, to impact society--she hoped to raise the level of respect for women for future generations. She was also a mother, musician, and community volunteer.

Having attended Adventist schools, Nancy was eager to see Adventist schools thrive, so she freely shared her time, talents, and treasure with the schools her children attended. In 2004, when FoundationONE was established, she became a founding board member, serving tirelessly for 15 years. FoundationONE would not be what it is today without Nancy’s vision, energy, and commitment!

In 2020, about the time COVID began to impact our lives, Nancy began struggling with her health. The doctors tried various drugs, but nothing seemed to help. Her health steadily declined until, on May 10, 2021, at the tender age of 58, Nancy passed to her rest. Following her death, her husband, Daniel, and children, Amber and Zach, decided to establish an endowed scholarship in Nancy’s memory.

Apply for a Nancy Driscoll Engle Memorial scholarship

GIVE to the Nancy Driscoll Engle Memorial Scholarship Fund

Olin Peach Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Strong work ethic, financial need. (No application – UCA Staff nominate and choose recipients.)

Mr. Olin Peach served as UCA’s beloved History teacher, mission trip coordinator, and ski club facilitator for more than 40 years. While Mr. Peach loved all students, his heart was especially drawn to achievers—those students who studied hard even though they may have achieved only average grades, those students who developed a positive work ethic and contributed significantly to their school bill.

Following Mr. Peach’s death, April 9, 2010, his family decided to continue his legacy by recognizing student achievers. Former students, parents and friends who wish to acknowledge the positive influence Mr. Peach had in their lives are encouraged to support the Olin Peach Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund.

GIVE to the Olin Peach Memorial Scholarship Fund today!

Roberts Family Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Be accepted as a student at UCA, and demonstrate financial need.

In early 1937 Kate Roberts found herself in a most difficult situation. Her husband had just died suddenly, leaving her with nine children. Timing couldn’t have been worse—it was the depths of the great depression.

Kate was a woman of faith, a committed Seventh-day Adventist. She was a devoted mother, not afraid of hard work, and she resolved to, somehow, some way, keep her nine children in Christian schools.

The family was faithful in church attendance and God blessed. They not only survived, they thrived! “Mother was never anxious about money,” says Rich. “She kept the family finances under control and taught us to give thanks for our simple life. We learned to work together and help each other.” God answered Kate’s prayer. All nine of her children were educated in Adventist schools, and all nine became productive, contributing citizens.

In 2017, Barbara, the 6th child, was in a care center and not expected to live. Her husband, Dr. Clarence (Bud) Carnahan, began reflecting on his mother-in-law’s determination, commitment to Jesus, and the impact that Christian education had had on the Roberts family. He wanted to honor Kate, and the entire Roberts family, and he decided to spearhead a new endowment fund—the Roberts Family Scholarship Fund. The first Roberts Family Scholarship(s) will be awarded in the fall of 2018.

Apply for a Roberts Family Scholarship

GIVE to the Roberts Family Scholarship fund today!

Sheila lynn Larson Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Financial need, attend UCA, demonstrate an interest in music, home economics, or industrial arts, maintain a 3.0 GPA.

Sheila Lynn Larson was a stellar homemaker, a fine craftsman, and a lover of music. The Sheila Lynn Larson Scholarship is for Upper Columbia Academy students who have an interest in some of the things Sheila enjoyed—music, home economics, and industrial arts.

Sheila loved to crochet! She taught herself to crochet, and each Christmas she blessed family and friends with beautiful hand-made Afghans, table runners, and doilies.

Sheila worked alongside her husband, Allen, in the cabinet making shop, operating the machines with precision as she cut and assembled cabinet parts. One of the last projects that she and Allen did together was the cabinets in the new UCA cafeteria.

Sheila did not, as a child, get to learn a musical instrument, but she saw to it that her kids did! Bryan, her son, says, “Mom encouraged both Tonya and me to learn the piano. Then we learned woodwinds, trumpet, and guitar. This impacted me greatly, as I now have a lifelong love of music!”

In recognition of her dedication to God, family, and community, her husband has established a memorial scholarship fund to benefit Upper Columbia Academy students.

Apply for a Sheila Lynn Larson Scholarship

GIVE to the Sheila Lynn Larson Scholarship fund today!

Tony Henneberg Memorial Scholarship (The "ENCOURAGER")

Eligibility Criteria: Financial need, encourager of others, compassionate and kind.

Although Tony Henneberg spent his career in the medical profession, he always had a pastor’s heart. His care and concern for patients, his ability to encourage and build people up, and his love for others was evident to all who knew him.

The scholarship fund in Tony’s memory was suggested by someone whom Tony had encouraged during an especially difficult time of life. Tony’s encouraging spirit was known by all who knew him, and is characterized by this statement from a coworker: “He was so positive and caring! All the nurses and his patients felt cared for and respected. I loved those years working alongside one of the kindest doctors I ever had the pleasure knowing.”

Tony loved and supported Upper Columbia Academy throughout his life, and currently UCA is being blessed by the 5th generation of Hennebergs.

Apply for a Tony Henneberg Memorial Scholarship

GIVE to the Tony Henneberg Memorial Scholarship Fund today!

Wayne Hooper Memorial Brass Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria: Passionate about Brass playing, Consistent practice/show progress, leadership qualities, consider a career in music.

Wayne Hooper was born for music! He dedicated his entire life to composing, arranging, singing, playing, recording, publishing and directing. For the glory of God and the promotion of His Gospel. His original music and arrangements total more than 1,500 songs, including his best-loved We Have This Hope, which was written for the 1962 General Conference session of the Seventh-day Adventist church, and is still loved and sung in Adventist churches around the world.

Wayne particularly enjoyed brass instruments. He played trombone, French horn, and baritone horn; and he composed many arrangements for brass. In recognition of this passion, Wayne and his family, before his death in 2007, envisioned a perpetual endowment that would encourage budding musicians to develop their talent, thus continuing Wayne’s tradition of excellence in sacred brass music.

Apply for a Wayne Hooper Brass Music Scholarship

GIVE to the Wayne Hooper Scholarship Fund today!