Rory Heywood receives counties group scholarship

The Washington Association of County Officials has announced the five individuals to receive the 2016/17 Washington Counties Scholarship Fund award.

One of the recipients is Rory Heywood, a 2016 Wahkiakum High School graduate.

Both the Washington Association of County Officials and the Washington State Association of Counties administer the scholarship. The scholarship awards five eligible dependents of county employees or elected officials $3,000 annually. To date the organizations have awarded over $205,000 to deserving individuals.

"We are very excited to see individuals from geographically diverse parts of the state win this year," says Washington Association of County Officials Executive Director Scott Blonien, "It is a testament to the hard work and ambition of students throughout the state."

This year's recipients are Jay Bartunek, Grant County; Heywood, Wahkiakum County; Madden Shanks, Island County; Matthew Waldrop, Clallam County and James Whitbread, Jr., Stevens County.

Heywood plans on attending Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas with a planned major in mechanical engineering. Rory is the daughter of Wahkiakum County Court Commissioner Heidi Heywood and Cathlamet Public Works Director Duncan Cruickshank.