The Seeley Lake Community Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 SLCF Scholarship.
Ava Thornsberry and Walker McDonald each will receive $1,000 towards university expenses!
The 2024 SLCF scholarship was designed for students who have graduated from Seeley-Swan High School and are enrolling in their 2nd or 3rd year of post-secondary study at a college or technical school.
Seeley Lake is lucky to have such motivated students who grew up here, and we’re delighted to sponsor a small part of their education!
Congratulations Ava and Walker, and good luck in the year ahead!
2024 SLCF Scholarship Recipient Ava Thornsberry
Ava graduated from Seeley Swan High School in 2023. Throughout her high school years, she received numerous awards both in academics and athletics. Some of her accomplishments include: Academic All-State Selection for volleyball for three years, basketball for two years, and Cross Country and Golf for one year; All-Conference selection for volleyball and golf for two years. Ava was a member of the National Honor Society for two years, student council for two years and LEOs Club for three years.
Ava is currently a student at Montana State University with a 3.94 GPA. Her goal is to graduate with a degree in Psychology and then attain her Masters in Speech Pathology.
2024 SLCF Scholarship Recipient Walker McDonald
Walker graduated from Seeley Swan High School in 2022. Throughout his high school years, he received numerous awards both in academics and athletics. Some of his accomplishments include: Academic All-State several years in football, basketball and track, currently holding the state record for discus. He was state champion in the shot put and discus and holds current school records in both. He was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated with an additional 18 college credits.
Walker is currently a student at The University of Montana with a 3.59 GPA and on the Dean’s List, as well as being an athlete for the track and field team. His goal is to graduate with a degree in Journalism.
About the SLCF Scholarship
The SLCF scholarship is designed for students who have graduated from Seeley-Swan High School and are enrolling in their 2nd year of post-secondary study at a college or technical school. The scholarship is meant to assist with costs incurred at a college, university or technical school for the upcoming academic year. The SLCF scholarship is generally in the $1,000 per student range.
The Seeley Lake Community Foundation has provided over $22,000 in scholarships to Seeley-Swan students since 2006.
Sign up for our e-newsletter list for updates on scholarship deadlines and news from the SLCF.
Related: See our Community Scholarship Opportunities page for a list of local scholarships.
Information for Applicants
Check back in the spring for the 2025 scholarship application
What to expect after you submit your application
You will be notified within a few months with a decision
If awarded, a photo will be requested
Funds will be sent directly to your school
Past scholarship awardees
2022
Bethany Hoag and Klaire Kovatch each will receive $2,000 towards university expenses!
2022 SLCF Scholarship recipient Bethany Hoag
Bethany graduated from Seeley Swan High School in 2021 with a 4.0 GPA. Throughout her high school years, she received numerous awards both in academics and athletics. Some of her accomplishments include: the national President’s Education Award for academic excellence freshman and sophomore years; Academic All-State Selection for volleyball and basketball freshman – senior years, track and field selection freshman and sophomore years and golf selection senior year; All-Conference selection for track and field freshman and sophomore years and basketball and golf senior year. Bethany was a member of the National Honor Society her junior and senior years and LEOs Club for three years.
Bethany is currently a student at Southern Utah University with a 3.96 GPA. Her goal is to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a Master’s in Athletic Training with a 3.8 or higher GPA.
2022 SLCF Scholarship Recipient Klaire Kovatch
Klaire graduated from Seeley Swan High School in 2021. Throughout her high school years, she received numerous awards both in academics and athletics. Some of her accomplishments include: President’s Choice Award and Valedictorian for her graduating class; Academic All-State in volleyball, basketball and track, and lettered, in each season she participated. She was also involved in Student Government and LEOs Club, being President of both her senior year; and served as a Student Trustee for the Missoula County School Board junior and senior years.
Klaire is currently a student at Colorado State University with a 3.7 GPA. She is a full-time athlete on the CSU Track and Field team and is a new member for the CSU Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Her goal is to graduate with a degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition.
2021
Kara Good and Nicole Williams each will receive $1,000 towards university expenses!
2021 SLCF Scholarship Recipient Kara Good
Kara graduated from Seeley Swan High School in 2020. Throughout her high school years, she received numerous awards both in academics and athletics, including: state-wide 2019 Montana High School Mathematics Award; the national President's Award for Educational Excellence from grade 9 through grade 12; the FR. Jim Hogan 2019 Search for Peace Award for outstanding contributions toward peace, social justice, and sustainability; All-Conference Selection for outstanding achievement in track and field in grades 10 and 11; and Academic All-State selection for outstanding achievement in athletics & academics in grades 9 through 12 in both basketball and track. She was also an active member of the Student Council throughout her freshman, sophomore, and junior year (2017-2019), and served as president her senior year.
Kara is currently a student at Montana State University, with a goal to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Building Energy Systems.
2021 SLCF Scholarship Recipient Nicole Williams
Nicole graduated from Seeley Swan High School in 2019 Magna Cum Laude. During her high school years, she was a member of the National Honor Society, recipient of the Missoula County Public School Most Inspirational Student award in 2019, and the National Center for Women and Information Technology Aspiration in Technology Award in 2018 & 2019. Some of Nicole’s extracurricular activities included participating with the Seeley-Swan High School Volleyball Team, member of the Seeley-Swan High School Track and Field Team, co-editor of the 2019 Backroads of the Mind magazine, member of the Carroll College Forensics Team and member of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society.
Nicole is enrolled at Carroll College in Helena. She plans to graduate in 2023 having completed her degree in English Writing and is currently hoping to study Linguistics at the graduate level at the University of Montana.
2020
Hunter Shelmerdine, Lily Mercer, and Chance Johnson each will receive $500 towards university expenses!
These students had to learn how to navigate their freshman year of college during a very unusual time due to COVID-19. Congratulations to Chance, Lily, and Hunter, and good luck in the year ahead!
2020 SLCF Scholarship Recipient Hunter Shelmerdine
Hunter graduated as valedictorian for the Seeley-Swan High School Class of 2019. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at Montana State University. Hunter writes, “growing up in Seeley Lake for most of my life meant that a lot of my life revolved around sports during the school year, and fire season in the summer.” Hunter was a Seeley-Swan LEO’s Club founding member, worked at Lindey’s and NatureScapes during high school, and is “a worthy representative of the Seeley Lake educational community” according to Dr. Kathleen Pecora.
2020 SLCF Scholarship Recipient Lily Mercer
Lily held a State record in Track and Field, and participated at the state level all four years of high school. David Cahoon writes, “I was fortunate to coach Lily in basketball and track & field during her time at Seeley-Swan high school. Lily is a hard working and diligent woman.” Currently a member of the Davison Honors College at the University of Montana, Lily became active on campus last year with marches and meetings on global warming. She plans on double majoring in Marketing and Psychology, and hopes to minor in Fine Arts, as art is one of her deepest passions. Lily was also a member of the LEOs Club at SSHS, and worked at Holland Lake Lodge during her summers in Seeley Lake.
2020 SLCF Scholarship Recipient Chance Johnson
Chance Johnson was a student trustee for the Missoula County Public Schools board during his time at Seeley Swan High School, and was a founding member of the Leos Club in 2017. Currently, he is studying pharmacy at the University of Montana. Chance was part of the football, basketball, and track & field teams for all four years earning academic all-state honors for each sport each year, and worked at Pyramid Mountain Lumber during the summers. Michael Haines writes, “Chance represents our school in a classy manner and he will be missed at SSHS.”
2019
Gabrielle “Gabby” Sexton and Elizabeth “Ibby” Lorentz each will receive $500 towards university expenses!
2019 SLCF Scholarship Recipient Gabby Sexton
Gabby has lived in Seeley Lake all her life, graduating from Seeley-Swan High School in 2018. She participated in 4-H, Student Council, Missoula Education Foundation, Poetry Slams, Leo’s Club, Volleyball, Basketball, Track, and Football Management. She achieved Honor Roll all four years of high school, as well as Academic All State, Top English Speech Award, and Most Accomplished English Senior.
Gabby is attending Montana State University, studying Agricultural Education. Her goal is to obtain a Master’s degree in Agricultural Education and become an agricultural teacher at the college level.
2019 SLCF Scholarship Recipient Ibby Lorentz
Ibby graduated Valedictorian of Seeley Swan High School in 2018. She was a Five-Time Air Rifle Junior Olympian, President of Seeley Swan Student Council, President of LEO’s Club, and Missoula County Public Schools Student Trustee.
Ibby recently completed her freshman year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, studying Computer Science with a Minor in Mathematics. Ibby writes, “My first year has taught me to prioritize, manage my time and be proactive in both school and athletics,” although she worked hard to find time to volunteer with student organizations her first year!
Congratulations Ibby and Gabby!!!
