Senior wins scholarships for grades and volunteer work

Foster High School senior Benjamin Atic received the Tukwila Police Officer's Guild TOGP Scholarship award.

The $,1000 scholarship is awarded to one student who has demonstrated commitment to Foster High School and Tukwila. Each applicant must complete an original essay that describes community activities, post high school academic plans, and describe what challenges or obstacles they have overcome in life.

Atic's family fled Bosnia 13 years ago and came to Tukwila. Atic attended Thorndyke Elementary School and was enrolled in the schools ESL program. During his time at Foster, Ben took a part-time job to help his mother make ends meet. Atic is the first person in his family to graduate from high school in the United States and attend a university after. Ben will be attending the University of Washington this upcoming fall.

Atic is involved with the Interact Club, which provides aid to various organizations around the community, and occasionally, the world. Every month it is involved in various community service projects. For example, in September, his group collected canned food and money donations to benefit the Tukwila Food Pantry outside local grocery stores.

In October, the club raised money for breast cancer research by selling merchandise on display in front of Safeway. Atic also assisted in the Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Dinner at the Tukwila Community Center. Atic also helped shop for warm clothing at Sears to help low income elementary kids in need. He was also a counselor at Camp Thunderbird and Camp Sealth over the past few years.

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