Five local students have been presented scholarships from the Alvie C. Jeffres Memorial Scholarship. Due to COVID-19, scholarship organized opted to present five scholarships this year. Receiving awards are Joel Thomas Johnson, Jenny Lydia Slaveck, and Jesiah Neff, all graduating in 2020; and Peik Karl Lund-Anderson and Mackenzie Wolfe, both 2019 graduates.

Normally the scholarship is awarded during a worship service at First Baptist Church in June, but due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, this year’s presentation was canceled.

The scholarship is awarded primarily on the bhasis of financial need to Bonner County students/residents who are able to demonstrate commitment to advance their education at a higher level. While grades, activities and recommendations are important, scholarship committee members said a strong desire to achieve success also are considered in determining awards.

Alvie Jeffres was a prominent Sandpoint businessman who owned and operated The Funiture Exchange, a local Sandpoint furniture store. he began working there when he was 17 years old and, through hard work, was able to eventually own and oeprate a successful business. He and his wife, June, raised their family in Sandpoint and, until his passing in 1989, Jeffres continued to be involved in the lives of young people in Bonner County.

His family created the scholarship in his memory. They believe that Jeffres would be most impressed with an individual who may not have the most sterling of grades, yet is highly motivated to further their education and is willing to put forth the effort to achieve their goals. The scholarship is awarded to those applicants the committee feels best demonstrates Jeffres’ ideals of hard work and determination.

Those receiving the scholarship must be enrolled in or applyiing to any college, university, trade school, or any institution of post-high school education or applying for repayment of student loans within two years of graduation. The applicant can reapply each year, for a period of four years if the student qualifies and maintains a 2.5 grade point average as a full-time student. The scholarship is for $1,000 and is made payable to the successful applicants’ respective schools.