In memory of Ian Everts, a former maintenance manager for a power plant, the Ian Everts Memorial Scholarship has been established to support students interested in pursuing careers in the trades. The winner of the scholarship award will earn $500 towards a technical or trade school.
Scholarship applications are open to all Walnut High School seniors who plan to attend a technical or trade school. Ian strongly believed that technical and trade paths should be encouraged just as much as traditional college degrees. His wife and current English teacher Elisabeth Everts created the scholarship to honor his legacy.
“[My husband and I] talked about how little encouragement there is for young people who want to go into training, so it was just kind of a no-brainer to dedicate something to his memory and to Walnut High School that does not have something of this nature,” Elisabeth said.
Through this scholarship, Elisabeth hopes to empower students who have strengths in vocational skills like problem-solving, technical knowledge and teamwork and hope to pursue a career in vocation in the future.
“I hope to encourage someone who maybe school wasn’t their strongest skill but have a mechanical or spatial aptitude and feel like they can be successful in life because they were encouraged,” Elisabeth said.
Applicants are required to submit an essay of 300 words or less explaining their chosen trade or vocation and why they are pursuing it. They also need proof of enrollment in a technical or trade school. The scholarship serves as a way to continue Ian Everts’ passion for the trades and to ensure that students who share his interests receive the support they need.
“[This scholarship] helps push the value of a vocational career into the community, and it helps a lot of people,” junior Joseph Ayson said. “A lot of times people don’t get a lot of support, especially in vocational careers, so getting that financial help definitely pushes people into finding a career that they want to do and are passionate about.”
The deadline to apply is April 7 and with the deadline approaching, students interested in pursuing a trade career are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.
“I just want to make sure that there’s some young person out there that is like my husband, that feels like they can be successful in life, be encouraged and do their best and don’t feel like they have to have that kind of academic narrative; they can pursue skills and have a good life,” Everts said.
