Five Local Students Awarded Salem Retired Educators Association Scholarships

By Julie Oakes, For The West Side Newspaper

Five local high school seniors are going off to college with accolades and extra money in their pockets thanks to the Salem Retired Educators Association.

The SREA awarded its annual scholarships at a lunch ceremony on May 15 in West Salem. The winners each receive $1,500, which is up from $1,000 given previously. The scholarships are funded by SREA members and given to graduating scholars from Salem-Keizer School District.

“Our 2026 scholars are among the brightest, most talented and most dedicated students,” said Val Luukinen, area president of SREA.

The 2026 Scholars Team recipients are:

• Ellis Deister, from West Salem High School, won the Hayward Memorial Scholarship. Deister will study film and television production at Chapman University in Orange, Calif. Deister’s accomplishments include mock trial, fencing, music, cinematography, and founding the Empty Wallets Productions, a film club.

• Allison Meng, also of WSHS, won the Haverkate STEM Scholarship. Meng will attend Oregon State University to study chemical engineering. Meng is involved in two orchestras, the swim team, and is a member in both the Science and French National Honors Societies.

• Andrew Lovely, WSHS, is awarded the Presidential Scholarship. Lovely will go to Biola University in La Mirada, Calif., to study pre-nursing/nursing. Lovely’s high school activities include football, track, singing in three choirs, and working in Spanish education with local elementary school children.

• Kiara Bailey, of Roberts High School, won the Ruth Aydelott Memorial Scholarship. Bailey is going to Western Oregon University to study pre-nursing. She won for her academic success and leadership, including serving on the WSHS student council and being a member of the National Honor Society.

• Carson Colello, WSHS, is awarded the Scholarship Selection Committee scholarship. Colello will study civil engineering at George Fox University in Newberg. He testified before the Oregon Legislature about Keizer Rapids Park, where he played lacrosse, and helped secure $750,000 in funding for park upgrades. He also did volunteer work for the Lions Club.

Each year the SREA invites two high schools in the Salem-Keizer School District to apply for the awards. West Salem High School and Roberts High School students were invited to apply this year. About 90 people, including the winners and their families and teachers, attended the awards lunch at the West Salem Roth’s event center.

“Each year they are brighter, they are more goal oriented, and are a real epitome of what the education system should be,” Luukinen said.

SREA also honored four 4th-graders from Washington Elementary in Salem for their artwork, which was displayed at the event. They won school supplies.

Additional scholarship support comes from the Roth’s Benefit Education Foundation, Marion and Polk Schools Credit Union (MAPS), and scholarship-focused businesses and individuals.

SREA is a nonprofit public charity and part of the larger Oregon Retired Educators Association. They meet at Center 50+ (2615 Portland Rd NE in Salem) on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

To donate toward future scholarships can donate to SREA (TIN#93-6095875), P.O. Box 5090, Salem. For more details, contact Luukinen at valluukinen@gmail.com.