June 21, 2009

The Joseph A. Aliseo Foundation awarded scholarships to two Cle Elum residents. This year’s scholarship winners Krystal Blanscet (Joey takes you to school) and Alexandra Owens (Life’s a Journey) have different career paths, but share a desire to help others that made them stand out as scholarship applicants.

Krystal Blanscet, a graduating senior from Cle Elum High School, will be attending Central Washington University and wants to become a special education teacher. “Ever since I was in the sixth grade, I have wanted to be a special education teacher”, Krystal says, “I believe that seeing someone enter my classroom with a learning disability, then working with them to help them progress, would be an incredibly rewarding job.”

Alexandra Owens, a student at Bluestone Academy in Ellensburg, hopes to someday become a psychologist, but in the meantime wants to make the world better as a hair stylist. “Giving good haircuts which make people feel better about themselves”, Alexandra says. “It (giving haircuts) may seem trivial to some, but it is just another way that one person can help to make another person’s life easier and more enjoyable. And this is exactly the kind of impact I hope to have when working with people when I get out of school.”

Both scholarships, established in memory of Roslyn-native Joe Aliseo, are based on the six words that exemplify Joe’s values to his family and friends: give, enjoy, remember, share, dream and help. The Foundation gives out two types of scholarships. The first, “Joey Takes You to School” is given to a high school senior for post-secondary education. The second, the “Life’s a Journey” award, is for those wanting to make life changes that don’t include a four year-learning institution. Scholarships come from the proceeds of an annual dinner that both honors the memory Joseph A. AliseoJr. and raises money to help people working to make life changes.

The Foundation still has funds to award one more, “Life’s a Journey” grant. This vocational training can be used to help to help someone with the costs of making career changes, such as changing careers, getting help in starting a vocation To be eligible to apply individuals must have resided in Kittitas County for more than three years, or have attended Kittitas County schools for at least two consecutive years. The deadline to apply for this award is September 15. More details about what can be funded under the scholarship and application materials are located on the Foundation’s website.

Albert Rooks, chair of the Foundation’s scholarship committee encourages anyone who thinks they might meet eligibility requirements to apply.

In the meanwhile, plans are underway for this year’s Eat at Joe’s dinner. This year’s dinner will be held at the Cle Elum Senior Center on September 19. Those interested in buying tickets, making donations, or volunteering for the event can visit the foundation’s website.