Bend teen gets $5K scholarship from Wells Fargo, Blazers

Six hard-working, smart, community-minded high school seniors in Oregon each received a $5,000 college scholarship in a program sponsored by Wells Fargo, the Trail Blazers and Portland guard Wesley Matthews. The honorees include Abby Stevens of Bend, a 17-year-old student at Redmond Proficiency Academy.

The students can use the funds to help pay for a 4-year, 2-year or trade school education. This was the second year for the scholarship program.

Wells Fargo Regional President Tracy Curtis presented the scholarships during halftime of the Trail Blazers game on March 30 at the Moda Center in Portland.

“I want to congratulate Abby on being chosen for this honor,” said Curtis. “She is well deserving. Her hard work at school and commitment to helping others are an inspiration to everyone. We wish her well in her continued education and journey through life.”

More than 600 students applied for the scholarships. A committee made up of representatives of various nonprofit groups and the Trail Blazers (including Matthews) selected the six winners, based on their grades, community involvement, volunteerism and a brief essay.

Stevens volunteers as her school’s student activities coordinator and is editor of its student magazine. She also tutors other students, teaches children music at the Antioch Youth Group and volunteers for the nonprofit Kilns Bookstore in Bend. She is planning to study journalism in college.

“The importance of education in the lives of young people can never be understated,” said Matthews. “I’m proud to be associated with this scholarship program, and with a great Trail Blazers corporate partner like Wells Fargo. Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients. We wish them the very best as they pursue their dreams.”

The other grant recipients live in Happy Valley, Philomath, Portland and Union,