JULY 3, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3
KeizerCommunity
KEIZERTIMES.COM
MHS besties claim Keizer Heritage scholarships
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
McKinsey Jarnagin and
Jorie Skipper have had a lot
in common over the course of
their last four years at McNary
High.
Not only did the two stu-
dents become best friends in
their respec-
tive freshman
years,
they
also each had
a 4.0 grade-
point average
t h ro u g h o u t
high school
and
served
in National
Honor Soci-
ety together.
But
the
compar isons
don’t
stop
there. Jarnagin
and Skipper
were doubles partners for the
McNary girls’ tennis team last
season and were in the Mc-
Nary science club together.
“We have been best friends
for the last four years. We are
a lot alike in so many ways,”
Skipper said.
To put the cherry on top of
each of their high school lives,
Jarnagin and Skipper were not
only named two of McNary’s
valedictorians, they were also
the two recipients of the two
annual Keizer Heritage Foun-
dation scholarships — which
awards Jarnagin and Skipper
$1,000 to go straight towards
tuition costs.
“ A nyo n e
could
have
won it. All
that applied
were
wor-
thy. But what
separated
(Jarnagin and
Skipper) was
their contin-
uous
direct
investment in
the commu-
nity,” said Bet-
ty Bolin, the
administrator
for the Keizer Heritage Foun-
dation. “They were there to
help their classmates and the
community in any way they
could.”
“It’s important for a small
community like Keizer to
take care of our kids. I know
$1,000 isn’t a lot, but even if
Submitted
McKinsey Jarnagin (left) and Jorie Skipper were this year’s
recipients of the Keizer Heritage Foundation Scholarships.
it makes a little bit of a differ-
ence, it’s well worth it.”
When Jarnagin fi rst found
she was the winner, she had a
hard time controlling her ela-
puzzle answers
tion.
“My mom called me when
she got in the mail. When she
told me I won, I was freaking
out. I was so excited,” Jarnagin
said.
Jarnagin will be attending
Western Oregon University
(WOU) in the fall to study
chemistry. Her eventual goal is
to either become a chemistry
teacher or work in a research
lab.
“I really like the small-cam- to a private college allows me
pus feel of WOU and that it’s access to a better education.”
Skipper became passionate
close to home,” Jarnagin said.
“And I’m really glad I get the about nursing after being a
opportunity to study some- nursing assistant at a camp for
thing I’m passionate about. foster kids for three years.
“I love helping people and
I’ve always loved science. It has
always been challenging and I feel like being a nursing assis-
tant at camp really opened the
interesting to me.”
Jarnagin volunteered in door to me on how important
dozens of different capacities nurses are,” Skipper said. “All
the work that I
in her time at
did I think re-
McNary. But it
ally acclimated
was the work “This small
me to pursue
she did at the
Simonka House town of Keizer nursing as a
profession.”
that really had
No matter
an impact on has brought
what happens
her — Simonka me up in such
in college, both
House, which is
Jarnagin
and
located in Keiz- a fantastic
Skipper con-
er, is a shelter
way.”
sider themselves
for women and
fortunate
to
children.
— McKinsey Jarnagin
have grown up
“I went back
in Keizer.
to serve there
“I just feel so blessed to
several times. I wanted to help
those kids in any way that I be able to grow up in Keizer.
Being at the only high school
could,” Jarnagin said.
While Jarnagin is heading in town means that everyone
to WOU in the fall, Skipper is backing you. I have had the
will be attending Seattle Pacif- privilege to be infl uenced by
ic University (SPU) to study a great staff and so many great
teachers that changed my life,”
nursing.
“I chose SPU because of Skipper said.
“This small town of Keizer
their great diversity and I real-
ly love the closeness between has brought me up in such a
the faculty and students. I fantastic way. The people here
also really appreciate that it’s a have been kind to me and they
Christ-based school,” Skipper have inspired me. One day, I
would love to teach in Keizer
said.
“School is really important and be able to give back,” Jar-
to me, and I believe that going nagin added.
COVID-19
has created a
greater need for
donations to the
Keizer Community
Food Bank
Please consider
donating food or
fi nancial help.