Somers/Lakeside PTA offers $1,000 scholarship

For the first time, the Somers/Lakeside Parent-Teacher Association is offering a $1,000 scholarship to its senior graduates.

“We thought it was a good idea,” said Kelly Siblerud, president of the Somers/Lakeside PTA. “We’re one of the largest feeder schools into the high school programs.”

Somers Middle School graduates an average of about 70 students from their eighth-grade class every year. District 29 feeds into are Flathead, Glacier and Bigfork High Schools.

Applicants are eligible if they went to Somers Middle School in seventh and eighth-grade or if they went to school in the Somers district for four consecutive school years.

The scholarship is funded through the PTA’s annual Holiday Festival that takes place on the first weekend in December. The festival usually raises $8,000-12,000 and funds the PTA’s Leap into Life grant program.

The grant program is designed to fund programs that enhance the educational experience of the students in the Somers School District.

“We (the PTA board) felt that this scholarship also did that,” Siblerud said. “The scholarship also enhances the experience of the kids in our district.”

Since this is the first year the PTA is offering the scholarship, it is a work in progress. Depending on how many applications they receive this year, they might offer two scholarships next year.

The money can be applied to tuition, fees or course-related expenses at a trade school, university, college, community college or any other eligible educational institution.

Applications are available at the Flathead, Glacier and Bigfork High School career centers and are due at the same location by April 2.

The winner will be announced at the winner’s high school senior awards ceremony. Flathead High School’s is May 23 at 6 p.m., Glacier High School’s is May 16 at 6 p.m. and Bigfork High School’s is May 31 at 10 a.m.

Anyone who has any questions or wants an application can also call Silberud at 261-3666.