WVC at Omak Foundation awards Nelson Accounting Scholarships

Media Contact: Jennifer Short, Omak Foundation board executive secretary, 509.422.7835, or, Libby Siebens, community relations executive director, 509.682.6436 (Mon. – Thurs.)

The Wenatchee Valley College at Omak Foundation awarded three Nelson Accounting Scholarships to current WVC at Omak students pursuing degrees in accounting. The Nelsons are one of the Omak campus's largest annual donors; the scholarship is one of the largest scholarships offered to an individual student.

Maria L. Arroyo, of Bridgeport, received $2,000 from the scholarship. Arroyo would like to open her own office one day. "I hope one day to be able to help other students achieve their goals as the Nelson Scholarship Committee has helped me," she said.

Christopher R. Bonel, also of Bridgeport, received a $2,000 scholarship and would like to become a certified public accountant and open his own firm in Omak.

Maria Salas, a Running Start student from Tonasket, received a $1,000 scholarship. Salas said that she is pursuing accounting because she likes keeping things organized and also wants to run her own business.

The Nelson Accounting Scholarship was established in 2009 by former Omak High School graduates, Richard "Dick" Nelson and Susan Featherstone Nelson, who believed in giving back to the community that helped them. Following Richard's recent passing, Susan continues the generosity of the Nelson family with this annual scholarship. She is a former certified public accountant and certified financial planner, now retired.

Other organizations and people interested in making a tax-deductible donation are encouraged to contact Jennifer Short, WVC at Omak Foundation board executive secretary, at jshort@wvc.edu, or call 509.422.7835. Donations can also be mailed to P.O. Box 1374, Omak, WA 98841-1374. WVC at Omak Foundation is an I.R.S. Code Sec. 501(c)(3) Charitable Corporation and all donations are tax deductible.

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Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington by serving educational and cultural needs of communities and residents throughout the service area. The college provides high-quality transfer, liberal arts, professional/technical, basic skills and continuing education for students of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Visit our website, www.wvc.edu