WE HAVE A WINNER FOR THE 2024/2025 $10,000.00 SCHOLARSHIP
Congratulations to Nathan Ojeda Lopez, graduate of Burlington Edison High School. Nathan will be attending Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. His goal is to become a nurse. His winning essay is below. We wish him all the best and applaud him for having the courage to be himself. Good luck, Nathan!!!
The word “family” has always had a different meaning for me than my peers who come from a Latinx background like me. For most Latinos, Familia means “blood is thicker than water” and “no matter the cost we’re always there for the family”. But my parents told me a different version of that story. In my family, both my mom and dad weren’t meant to meet each other but once they did their love sparked like a thousand fireworks being blown on the 4th of July. Their parents disapproved of their marriage because they came from different backgrounds. Like Romeo and Juliet, my parents chose each other, and their families turned away from them.
As time passed by both sides of the family came back together, and my parents gave birth to three beautiful boys. Me being the youngest I grew up not knowing any of my relatives. Coming from a Hispanic culture this was unheard of before- a child having no ties at all with anyone. But in this case my parents did this on purpose to show a lesson not just to their siblings but to both family’s trees. If you turn away from familia, you turn away from alegria. Growing up wasn’t easy not knowing any blood relatives to the point where I didn’t even know my grandparent’s names. But I did know one thing that my parents made sure was engraved in my head. My brothers and I grew up very close because we were the only family we had, “Los tres hermanos Ojeda: even when life gets tough you must be there for one another” my parents said.
Having a small family unit meant that I’ve built a bigger “chosen family.” My parents always told me family comes in all shapes and sizes. I have learned that “blood is thicker than water” is just not true. Some of the best people I’ve known in life aren’t blood but they sure do feel like family. I met my best friend in 2nd grade; it’s senior year of high school and we’re still pushing through school together. Nothing in this world could have sent me a better little sister than I could have hoped for, and she shows up for me like a family member would. During homecoming of junior year, I came out to my best friend and told her I was bisexual. The thoughts that ran through my head beforehand kept becoming worse and more anxious until I finally realized. We have lived every core memory together and every aspect of our childhood together, and even been through situations that most kids shouldn’t have to go through growing up. We’ve fought for our rights next to each other side by side. Even just the little moments like playing jump rope during grade school become moments like picking our senior prom outfits with our dates. I knew it was time to tell her. She said to me after I came out to her, “I got you don’t worry,” and gave me the biggest hug. You could imagine how that could have made me cry. She made me feel seen and heard but because she made me feel safe. No aunt or cousin could have done more than what my best friend has done for me in my life. That’s why she’s my sister and, to me, the meaning of family runs deeper than any blood.
2022/2023 Winner
The DReim Big Scholarship Fund
PFLAG Skagit is proud to announce the recipient of the 2022-2023 DReim Big Scholarship. This scholarship is given to honor the dedication of the Robert Reim family to the PFLAG mission of support, education, and advocacy for the LGBTQ community, family, and friends. Helping young people achieve their dreams is the closest hope of their hearts.
Alyssa Baydak from Sedro Woolley High School is this year’s winner. She demonstrates a strong commitment to living authentically and being an example for others in our community. She has been awarded a $1500.00 scholarship which will be sent to the University of Washington where she will be attending in the fall. She also received a Chrome Book courtesy of Bill (the late) and Sally Pfeifer’s generous donation. Kathy and Robert Reim presented Alyssa with the award at the ceremony at the high school.
Best of luck Alyssa.
Thanks to everyone who made these awards possible.
Contact your school counselor to be advised of the 2023/2024 scholarship award application period.
2021/2022 Winners
The DReim Big Scholarship Fund
PFLAG Skagit is proud to announce the recipients of the 2022 DReim Big Scholarship. This scholarship is given to honor the dedication of the Robert Reim family to the PFLAG mission of support, education and advocacy for the LGBTQ community, family, and friends. Helping young people achieve their dreams is the closest hope of their hearts.
Jake Bronoske from Burlington Edison High School has been awarded a $1000.00 scholarship to attend the Cornish School of the Arts in Seattle. We wish him the best of luck as he pursues his art career. In his time in high school, Jake demonstrated a respect for diversity and equality. PFLAG Skagit is grateful to the generosity of its donors for making this award possible.
Contact your school counselor to be advised of the application period for the 2022/2023 scholarship award.