The Des Moines Dollars for Scholars Foundation (DMDSF) awarded scholarships totaling $10,000 to 18 local Des Moines area high school and community college students at the Des Moines Yacht Club, Wednesday, May 26, 2010.

The mission of DMDSF is to provide scholarship opportunities for students of all ages who live or attend school in the cities of Des Moines and Normandy Park.

Funds for the $500 to $1,000 scholarships were provided through contributions from the following local organizations and one state department: Des Moines Dollars for Scholars Community Scholarship Fund, Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Endowment Scholarship Fund, Des Moines Yacht Club First Mates, and the Steven J. Underwood Memorial Scholarship Fund. Additional support was provided by the Des Moines Rotary, Powell Homes, Des Moines Kiwanis, Southwest Seattle Business & Professional Women, and the Washington state Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Recipients of the Dollars for Scholars Foundation Scholarship from Mount Rainier High School were Mackensie Lofthus and Lewis Thomson. Briana Ruth of Kennedy Catholic also received an award. From Highline Community College, Theresa Amell, Debra Eads, and Jordan Wilkins received the award.

The Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Endowment Fund recipients were Felicia Doubek of Kennedy Catholic, and Brian Murray and Amanda Powell of Mount Rainier High School.

Des Moines Yacht Club First Mates Scholarships were awarded to Dorothy Franks, Daniel Matthews, and Giovanni Tinoco Mejia of Mount Rainier High School.

Andrea Pacunski of Mount Rainier High School and Nathaniel Korzeniecki of O'Dea High School received Steven J. Underwood Memorial Scholarships.

Bertha Vo of Mount Rainier High School received the Des Moines Rotary Club Scholarship, and Michael Molina, also of Mount Rainier High School, received the Powell Homes Scholarship.

The Des Moines Kiwanis Club Scholarship was awarded to Suhmiin Chern of Mount Rainier High School, and the Southwest Seattle Business & Professional Women Scholarship was awarded to Yessica Zapata of Mount Rainier High School.

Members of the 2010 Des Moines Dollars for Scholars Board of Directors are Vickie Bergquist, Bob Houston, Marilee Wamsley, Maggie Steenrod, PMI, Jill Erickson-Keeney, Trish Keenan, Chris Panganiban, Tony Piasecki, Brian Snure, Virg Staiger, and Dr. Bonnie Verhunce.

For more information about the Des Moines Dollars for Scholars Foundation and Scholarship American programs, visit www.scholarsgetdollars.com and www.schoarshipamerica.org.