SANDPOINT -- As the end of the school year nears, a sense of joy is often tinged with the sadness of loss. As SHS faculty and staff watch the seniors they have taught and nurtured for four years walk across the stage to get their diplomas, many dedicated educators may even find themselves getting teary.

At Sandpoint High School's Scholarship Night, however, which took place Tuesday,  the overriding feeling for Jeralyn Mire, post-secondary transition counselor at SHS, was one of complete awe.

"Our community is incredibly generous," she said. 

More than 50 individuals, groups and organizations from the local area offered more than 800 scholarships totaling approximately $161,552 to graduating seniors this year. Awards were not limited to college-bound students. Those planning to enter the military or attend a technical or vocational program were also eligible for specific scholarships.

Benefactors ranged from Beta Sigma Phi to the Bulldog Bench. Civic clubs and professional organizations, charitable groups, PTAs and individuals all took part. Mire, who is SHS's primary scholarship coordinator, related a few of the special stories behind the awards.

Three years ago, a group of school bus drivers in the district -- most of them part-time -- got together to see if they could raise money for a scholarship.

"Through some fun and unique fundraising, like holding wood raffles, hosting dinners at our homes, craft sales and bake sales, we put money toward scholarships," said Karen Wallis, LPOSD Transportation spokesperson. "The first year, we raised $1,000, and we have raised more each year. We just wanted to help kids who are working hard and wanting to go to college."

SHS alumnus Jake Sleyster established a new scholarship this year: the Sleyster Unlimited Potential award. He said the award is his way of giving another student the kind of support he experienced as a member of the Sandpoint community.

"This scholarship was created due to the immense support that I received from teachers, coaches, and others in this community as I grew up in Sandpoint," he said. "The support that I received allowed me to continually strive and find my unlimited potential. Therefore, I established the Sleyster Unlimited Potential Scholarship. This was created to give back to the college-bound students of the Sandpoint community in hopes it will help them strive for their wildest dreams and find their unlimited potential."

Another donor, Ellwood Werry, appeared in Mire's office out of the blue, wanting to find out how to support a student planning to attend his alma mater.

"This wonderful gentleman, 87 years old, came in sometime in January. He said he was a graduate of the University of Idaho, and he'd like to do an engineering scholarship for a student going in to the University of Idaho," said Mire. 

"I am hoping that the student chosen for my funds will return to the Sandpoint area and become an ambassador or a positive provider of information about the University of Idaho to his friends and family here in Bonner County. I do not believe that enough students from Bonner County attend the U of I. We simply need to get more information out about what a great school the U of I actually is...and hopefully my small contribution will help in that cause," said Werry.

A couple who had created the Portz-Wanek Scholarship for students in their Nebraska hometown also began offering the academic award to students in Sandpoint where they vacation.

“In 2012, we decided to extend this scholarship to Sandpoint High School because we wanted to do something in the community where we spend so much of our vacation time. We have gotten to know several high school students during our time in Idaho, and we find them to be amazing young people. This year we chose eight students to support in Sandpoint and four in Nebraska,” the couple said.

One of the highlights of scholarship night was the scholarship presentation from the nurses of Bonner General Health. The presenter, Sharon Bistodeau, gave the award to Nan Kiebert, who Bistodeau had delivered at birth.

One of the factors that has helped the SHS scholarship program to grow has been the standardization of the registration process. Before this happened, people who wanted to give had no idea how to start. Now, they can access a standard form on the Internet that simplifies the steps.

"This is the first year we've tried to streamline the process," said Mire. "The majority (of donors) use the same due dates and the common application, but they can customize it to fit the scholarship."

Two of the students who received scholarships were feeling very grateful after the dust settled on scholarship night.

Alexis Creighton, who plans to attend the University of Idaho to study whole science, received scholarships from the Community Assistance League, the Panhandle Chapter of School Nutrition, the Dan McCormick Memorial and the University of Idaho.

"I really appreciate all the support we got from the community, and I was really surprised by all the support," Creighton said.

Her classmate, Shania Lies, will attend North Idaho College next fall in pursuit of a career as a pediatric oncology nurse. With awards from Beta Sigma Phi, Ponderay Rotary, the Lake Pend Oreille School District Transportation Department, the Bonner General Health nurses, Community Assistance League, and North Idaho College, she said she will be able to afford her education.

"I'm really thankful for the community and their support for student education," Lies said. "It gives me a lot of comfort knowing I won't have so much debt."

"We have tremendous generosity in our community," said Mire. "When you have school bus drivers raising money to honor students who rode the bus, how can you not love living in this community?"

SHS scholarship benefactors this year included: Eagles Ladies Auxiliary, Sandpoint Lion's Club/Del Brown Memorial, Louise Senft Memorial, Jensen Memorial Music, Disabled American Veterans, Don McCormick Memorial, Beta Sigma Phi, Women Honoring Women;

Kiwanis Club of Sandpoint/Key Club Awards, Angels/Lippi Family, Angels Over Sandpoint/Festival, Armed Forces/Navy, Patrick Orton/Live Your Dreams, Angels Over Sandpoint Community Service, PEO Chapter V/Alma Martin, PEO Chapter CA, Spirit of Excellence, Ambrosiani-Pastore Foundation, Friends of Scotchmen Peaks Wilderness, Selkirk Association of Realtors, Community Assistance League, Bonner County Sportsmen's Association, Darby and Amber Campbell, LPOSD Transportation;

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 890, Marilyn Rinehart Memorial, Three Letter Student Athlete, Sagle Memorial, Festival at Sandpoint Music, Bonner County 4-H Leaders Council, Youth Court, Sandpoint Junior Tackle, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Sleyster Unlimited Potential, Panida Theater;

The Rotary Club of Sandpoint, The Rotary Club of Ponderay, Panhandle Chapter of School Nutrition, North Idaho College, Farmin Elementary, Art Works "Share the Love," Bulldog Bench, Bonner General Hospital Nursing, Roberta Bostock Award, LPOEA Scholarships, Mime & Masque Club, Richard R. Gehring/Math Club;

Academic Decathlon Scholarship, French Club, Northside Elementary, Ellwood Werry, Centennial Distributing, Leonard and Helen Anderson, First Generation College Group, Bismark H. Turner, Portz-Wanek, Southside Elementary.