Ten students graduating from Milwaukie High School were among 78 students across Oregon who participated in a rigorous two-year mentoring program called the ECMC Scholars, which allows them to access up to $6,000 in financial aid for college.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS – Milwaukie High School scholarship recipients include Todd Sjullie (from left, top), Alex Gonzalez (scholar advisor), Shelby Jarvis, Jordan Corder and Andres Carrasco-Paz. In the front row are Tan Nguyen, Olga Mendez, Brandy Aguilar, Jesus Conrique and Maxwell Bernardi. Not pictured: Julia Clevinger.

Unlike most traditional scholarships, students weren’t picked based on the highest test scores. Instead, they were chosen for their potential. Working with an ECMC Scholars adviser, they spent their junior and senior years building social and study skills and this spring are graduating from the program to pursue higher education.

“I have seen great strides from all of the ECMC Scholars I have worked with over the past two years,” said ECMC scholar adviser Alexander Gonzalez. “They have demonstrated a commitment to preparing themselves for the next step in their educational careers, and I’m excited to see where that journey takes them.”

The 78 qualifying students can access up to $4,000 in scholarships their first year of college and, pending completion of all requirements, qualify for an additional $2,000 for their second year. Western Oregon University also has committed to match the $6,000 ECMC Scholars financial award with an equal WOU scholarship amount offered to those students from the ECMC Scholars Program who attend WOU.

Since 2008, ECMC has provided $4.74 million to 790 ECMC Scholars students in Oregon alone —on average, 80 students per year from eight high schools across the state.