Last week, Spokane Public Schools students received four of the top six prizes for their academic achievements from the Spokane Scholars Foundation. These four students received $5,000 scholarships to recognize their dedication, intellect, and hard work in an academic discipline.
We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments and asked them to share what this recognition means to them.
Sally Peterson, English, Ferris High School
“It makes me very proud of myself and my school and my district. I’m grateful for all the teachers and staff who have helped me along the way. The life of a scholar isn’t very glamorous. There’s a lot of hard work that not a lot of people see, so it’s very special to be recognized for that.”
Brayden Martin, Science, Ferris High School
“Being a Spokane Scholar award recipient for science really feels like I’m finally getting recognized for all the effort that I’ve put into my schooling. Sometimes it feels like you don’t get as much recognition as you might deserve or want, and it just it feels awesome.”
John Ko, World Languages, Lewis & Clark High School
“It’s cool! I really like that Spokane Scholars has a World Language section because it means that people in Spokane are working to learn other languages. It’s always been a passion for me, so it’s really uplifting.”
Jessica Morozov, Fine Arts, Ferris High School
“I hope with this recognition that I can inspire other students. Grit and consistency are what you get you to your goals.”
Watch a recording of the 2026 Spokane Scholars Awards Banquet: