Park City High School seniors received 149 scholarships totaling approximately $199,300 during this year’s annual scholarship awards assembly, as students, families, educators and community members gathered to celebrate graduating seniors and the network of support helping them move into their ne xt chapter. The scholarships — funded through local businesses, nonprofits, alumni groups, civic organizations and individual donors — recognized students pursuing a wide range of futures, from traditional four-year universities and community colleges to trade programs, healthcare careers, aviation and entrepreneurship. But while scholarship names, donors and recipients filled much of the morning, speakers repeatedly returned to a broader message: Student success is rarely achieved alone. A scholarship donor takes a selfie with students during the scholarship awards ceremony at Park City High School. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record Programs like Back to Our Roots and Bright Futures supporting first-generation students featured prominently throughout the ceremony, with speakers emphasizing mentorship, encouragement and community support alongside financial assistance. Bright Futures Counselor Pepper Elliot said approximately 250 students are now receiving support through first-generation programs at the school, a significant increase from previous years, made possible by the Park City Education Foundation. “The seniors are fantastic,” Elliot said. “They’re going to do really well in college and life beyond.” Throughout the ceremony, presenters represented nearly every corner of the community — from healthcare organizations and sports groups to local businesses, alumni organizations and community nonprofits — reinforcing the level of community investment behind graduating students. Scholarship advisor Monica Settlemire emphasized the role community support plays in creating opportunities for students while introducing donor Tommy Tanzer and recognizing his years of supporting students pursuing higher education and trade programs. “He is a Park City local, kind and passionate about supporting students to continue higher education in college or trade school,” Settlemire said. As Tanzer later called scholarship recipients to the stage, students stretched nearly the full width of the Eccles stage. Back to Our Roots program scholarship recipients fill the stage at Park City High School’s scholarship awards assembly. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record For Park City High School alum Ashley Nava, returning to speak at this year’s assembly meant giving back to programs and people she said helped shape her own path after graduation. “As a proud first-generation college student and as a daughter of immigrant parents, pursuing higher education came with a lot of challenges,” Nava told students. “But I was fortunate to have people who believed in me and encouraged me along the way.” Since graduating from Park City High School, Nava earned associate degrees in health sciences and dance teaching while completing a minor in English through Weber State University, and she later earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Joyce University in 2025. Along the way, she also became a mother. “Balancing school, work and motherhood taught me resilience and perseverance and the importance of community,” Nava said. “It truly does take a village.” Nava credited family members, mentors and programs supporting first-generation students for helping her continue pursuing higher education. “My family has been my foundation, making countless sacrifices so I could continue pursuing my goals,” she said. She also thanked mentors from programs including Bright Futures, Dream Big and Back to Our Roots, saying their encouragement helped shape her path. “These scholarships helped me continue furthering my education,” Nava said. “Today I stand here as a nurse, a college graduate and a mother.” Nava said she hopes to continue her education with the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner and giving back to the community that supported her. The emphasis on family and community support continues throughout the ceremony. While presenting the Lala G. Martinez Scholarship, Elli Reyes recognized the role families played in students reaching graduation. “I’m happy to present the Lala G. Martinez Scholarship, which is named after my mother, a lifetime educator. She would be so proud for the students to receive the scholarship today.” she continued in Spanish, saying, “I would like to recognize all of the parents who are here today. It’s thanks to your support that your students are graduating. Thank you and congratulations.” Others reflected on the community connections that inspired their scholarships. Kelly Thomas, whose family gives several scholarships annually, said the awards reflect both family traditions and long-standing ties to Park City. “Our scholarships are very important to our family, as the Park City community is very important to our family,” Thomas said. Audience members applaud students on stage as they receive scholarship awards at the Eccles Center. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record Tami MacFarlane said scholarships created in memory of her late husband, David, were founded on a simple belief: “Every hardworking student deserves the opportunity for a higher education.” Another Park City High School alum spoke about her experience as a first-generation Latina. After graduating in 2022, she went on to complete an honors degree in political science at the University of Utah, with plans to pursue a master’s degree and later become an attorney. “As a daughter of Mexican immigrants, education has always represented sacrifice, opportunity and the hopes my parents carried when they came to this country,” Jessica Hinojos said. “Being a first-generation student is incredibly meaningful, but it can also feel isolating at times, especially when you’re navigating spaces without a clear roadmap or family experience to lean on.”  She thanked Tanzer and his work with Back to Our Roots for providing a “sense of belonging and support,” and encouraged graduates not to underestimate the importance of maintaining connections beyond high school. “Those relationships do not end at graduation,” she said. “They continue to shape your future in ways you may not even realize yet.” Park City High School senior Finley Kelley holds a scholarship award certificate during the schools awards assembly. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordLatinos in Action teach Jacob Jobe stands with program seniors who received LIA scholarships. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordPark City High School senior Madeline Jaquet holds a scholarship award certificate during the schools awards assembly. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordCredit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordPark City High School senior Kylee Bassett holds a scholarship award certificate during the schools awards assembly. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordAudience members applaud students on stage as they receive scholarship awards at the Eccles Center. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordAudience members applaud students on stage as they receive scholarship awards at the Eccles Center. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record The post 149 scholarships send Park City graduates off on their next adventure appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less