Peninsula Senior Wins $5,000 Scholarship

Graduation is still a little more than eight months away, but local student, Kaitlyn Ready, is already looking forward to college next year.

The senior at recently won a $5,000 college scholarship from the Seattle Seahawks as part of the Seahawks Leadership Challenge.

On Oct. 2, she and 11 finalists, including another PHS senior and captain of cross country team, Curtis King, were invited to the football game at the CenturyLink Field.

During the pregame ceremony, the Seahawks announced the winners for the grand prize. They presented two $5,000 and ten $1,000 scholarships for 6 boys and 6 girls.

Ready said Peninsula's former athletic director, Curtiss Hall, nominated her last year for her commitment in academic and athletic leadership and community service.

This summer, she went through an interview process in Seattle where she competed against 25 girls from local high schools.

"One thing they were looking at is how much community service that you're involved in," she said.

During her freshman and junior year, Ready clocked more than 140 hours of community service, including Husky Helpers, a mentorship program at , and camp counselor at .

Ready, who served as the class president during her sophomore and junior year, is currently the Associated Student Body (ASB) secretary.

On the track, she said she's improved her 5,000-meter time by more than 3 minutes.

Ready said when she heard her name in front of more than 60,000 fans, she was thinking about her family and her future.

"My mom is a single mom, and I'm thinking of my sister," she said. "I really want to go to college...This is going to take me one step closer."

Ready hopes to attend the University of Oregon next year to become a teacher.