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C O M M U N ITY A N D MEMO R IALS C HOL ARSHIP F UN Dwww.marshfieldalumni.orgVOLUME 15 n 2020John Whitty, 30-Year Member of theMHS Scholarship CommitteeHospital in the 1970’s. This requiredJohn Whitty was born in North Bendnot one but two local bond elections—ain 1933, the second of the Coos Bayhuge challenge. John and two otherfamily’s four sons. He entered Marshfieldcommunity leaders worked tirelesslyHigh School in 1946 and, for three years,to achieve passage of the second bond,had the unwelcome distinction of beingattending more than 90 meetings withthe shortest person in school. Duringservice clubs, labor unions and othershigh school John was manager of theto advocate for the new hospital. Johntrack and basketball teams and thesays, “I personally made more than 60assistant football team manager. Johnpresentations during the three-monthwas elected Student Body President at theperiod before the election, and when itend of his junior year and graduated fromwas held, it passed by a greater majorityMarshfield in 1950. After high school hethan the first vote.”attended the University of Oregon.In describing his reasons for wantingFrom the time John entered collegeto be a member of the Scholarshiphe knew he wanted to become a lawyer.John Whitty,Committee, John said, “I had prepared aHe took pre-law courses, followed by lawMHSClass of 1950couple of estate plans for people who leftschool, graduating in 1956. Hard work inlaw school earned him a second place finish on the Oregon money to the School District to provide scholarships, andState Bar Exam. John served in the U. S. Air Force until 1959 found it to be a rewarding thing to do, so when the ideaand, in April of that year, met Teri Berg. The couple married arose for forming a committee to handle the scholarshipsthe following year and settled in Coos Bay. John began his and solicit more of them, I was ready.” Over the years,law career and welcomed daughter Kelly in 1961. Five more John worked with other clients who established significantchildren joined the family over the years, with the youngest, endowed scholarships. John said, “Usually the idea forBrian, making his appearance in 1974. John tells us that the scholarship came from the client, but sometimes Iall the Whitty children are doing well. “Kelly has her own encouraged people with charitable feelings to create amarket research business in Portland, George is a keyboard fund. I talked with the client to see what kind of scholarshipmusician and has won Grammy and Emmy awards, Lucy they wanted, then drafted the will or trust to create thehas her own public relations firm in Sacramento, Kevin is scholarship fund. It was enjoyable work.”Our community and the MHS Scholarship CommitteeAssociate Dean of the Engineering school at University ofUtah, Jeff is a playwright and won a Tony award for Avenue owe a deep debt of gratitude to John for his 30 yearcommitment to the establishment and success of aQ in 2004. Brian works for a law firm in San Francisco.”John has been actively engaged in community life, scholarship program that has been ranked by the Oregonserving as a Port Commissioner, Vice-Chairman of the Student Access Commission as one of the best in the state. InOregon Transportation Commission, a member of the his 30 years on the Committee John oversaw the writing andboards of the Bay Area Hospital District, the Coos County amending of our bylaws, helped the Committee establishEconomic Development Board, and the Coos Art Museum. endowed funds with the Oregon Community Foundation,He was on the Coos County History Museum Steering and shared his approach of using data and spreadsheets toCommittee which raised the funds needed to build the evaluate as many as 80 scholarship applications each spring.county’s new history museum. John was a member of the In his letter announcing his retirement from the CommitteeMarshfield Scholarship Committee from its inception in John said, “My work on the scholarship committee has been1990 until the spring of 2020. In recognition of his many meaningful to me in many ways. It gave me a chance to docontributions to our community, he was named Coos Bay a good thing for the community, to help young people goto college, and to work with clients of a charitable nature. ICitizen of the Year both in 1988 and in 2014.One of John’s most lasting accomplishments was liked the planning and implementation of scholarships andsuccessfully spearheading the effort to build Bay Area feel that they are very important.”
VOLUME 15 n 2020PAGE 2Vocational Technical Scholarship WinnerTryce Greiner – MHS Class of 2020MHS Class of 2020 graduate TryceGreiner was in Pirate shop classes all4 years at MHS. He loved to weldand planned to attend a communitycollege and become a welder. InJanuary of his senior year, a WyoTechrepresentative visited his shop class.Tryce had always enjoyed workingon cars with his father and when theWyoTech rep made it seem possiblethat he could have a career workingon cars, he was hooked. However,the 34,000 cost of the program wasscary. After adding up the 1000 Trycehad saved working at the Sizzler andthe Pell Grant he would receive fromthe federal government, he still wouldhave to come up with about 25,000.The WyoTech rep and Mr. Crook, theMHS shop teacher, encouraged Tryceto apply for scholarships.Tryce didn’t think he was a goodenough student to be awarded ascholarship, but he was determinedto attend WyoTech and was willingto do everything he could to makeit possible.He completed theMHS Scholarship application andincluded three references that werevery positive about his likelihoodof success. The Voc/Tech applicantinterview with the MHS ScholarshipSub-Committeeconfirmedthestatements in the references thatThank YouNotes:I would like to thank you forbelieving in me and helping me onmy way to becoming a successfulperson and reaching my goal ofbecoming a successful businessowner one day. — ESFrom the bottom of my heartthank you so much for believingin me as a student and person.I will be attending Oregon StateTryce Greiner,MHS Class of 2020Tryce was a determined and capableyoung man.In the first week of June, duringthe 2020 MHS Senior ScholarshipAwards Announcement Slideshow,presented by a YouTube video linkdue to the pandemic restrictions (Seeit here: www.marshfieldalumni.org)Tryce was surprised and very pleasedto learn that he had been awardedthe following scholarships for a totalof 25,000: Stamper Family V/TScholarship, FW Smith V/T Scholarship,the Knife River V/T Scholarship, theRay Gapp Memorial V/T Scholarshipand the Pirate Shop Scholarship. Trycewas shocked and excited that hewould now be able to attend WyoTechwithout constantly worrying abouthow he would repay his student loans.Tryce is currently a student atWyoTech in Laramie, Wyoming,studying Automotive Technology andis loving the experience. His coreprogram will take 6 months and thenhe will spend 3 months studying highperformance power trains. He hastaken several tests successfully and isoptimistic about his future. He is livingin a dorm and he says that the studentsare nice and that the instructors arereally helpful.Tryce plans to return to Oregonand work as an automotive technicianat a car dealership. Tryce has a brightfuture ahead of him and the MHSScholarship Committee, MarshfieldHigh School and our community arevery proud of his determination toaccomplish his goals.University. I want to thank youagain for not only changing mylife, but also the lives of many ofmy classmates all for the better.— SWmy studies instead of worryingabout how I will pay for it. Youhave made a huge impact on mylife and future and I will forever begrateful. — AGI plan to begin the pre-nursingprogram at SWOCC. Thanks tothis scholarship I will be able topay for books and tuition. Thankyou for helping me and my family.This scholarship means everythingto us. — MCI am so thankful that I was pickedfor this amazing scholarship. I amgoing to Wyotech in Septemberto do the automotive technologyprogram. I am so thankful for thisamazing opportunity that I havebeen given. It will help me payfor most of my schooling. I feelblessed. I want to make everyoneproud and I know I can do it. — TGThanks to your generous donation,I will have more time to focus on
2020 n VOLUME 15PAGE 3Scholarship Recipient Success Story: Cheyenne McNeely2016 Marshfield graduate Cheyenne McNeely is doing work she loves,teaching third grade in Dayton, Oregon.Thanks to scholarships“I am a 22-year-old teacherwith a master’s degree andno student debt.”She tells us, “I think I knew I wantedto be a teacher by the time I was inthe first grade. I would go home afterschool and re-enact my school day infront of my stuffed animals. I still enjoyevery aspect of teaching—I just love it.”During high school Cheyenne tookadvantage of the expanded optionsprogram offering college creditcoursework—at no cost to the student—at Marshfield. Cheyenne said,“While classes like this helped me beacademically prepared for college,they also helped me with the transition to college. I graduated with myAA/OT degree the day before I graduated from MHS. This allowed me to gostraight to Portland State Universityand skip the prerequisites. Becauseof the expanded options at MHS, Ifinished a bachelor’s degree and thenearned a master’s in teaching in fouryears combined.”Cheyenne McNeely,MHS Class of 2016Cheyenne’s extracurricular activities at Marshfield were also helpful in preparing her to succeed. Shecredits her work on the staff of TheMarshfield Times with improving herwriting skills and her role as a studentcoordinator of the Mr. MHS community charity program for teaching herabout leadership. She said, “I learnedthat leading means sitting at the tablewith others and working together.This is something I have brought withme into my classroom.”Cheyenne says that the scholarships she received were a huge help.“I received enough in scholarshipsfrom the MHS scholarship committeeto completely fund my first year of college. That made it possible for me toenjoy my college experience withoutworry and gave me the time to volunteer in schools. Thanks to scholarships I am a 22-year-old teacher with amaster’s degree and no student debt.I could not be more thankful for that.I can now focus on my career and therest of my life, and not begin my adultlife with thousands of dollars in debtlooming above me. I am forever grateful to the scholarship committee.”Cheyenne sought out a small townfor her first teaching position. “Myheart was pulling me to smaller communities more like the one I grew upin,” she said. “I feel I am able to makea bigger impact in a small community.This year, I want to build relationshipsand help my students navigate a global pandemic and disastrous wildfireswhile, at the same time, many of themalso battle food insecurity, poverty,and other struggles. While this yearhas started from a distance due toCOVID-19 and our first day of schooltook place under eerie smoke-filledskies, I am in love with my school, myjob, and my students. The best part:we are the Dayton Pirates. You knowwhat they say - “Once a Pirate, alwaysa Pirate.”Can a Scholarship Really Make a Significant Difference?With the staggering cost of post HS education, wecan understand why one might ask this question. But thefeedback that we receive reminds us that there are significantbenefits that translate into a deeper, more meaningful collegeexperience.One hidden benefit reveals itself in the thank you notesrecipients write to the Committee. Students frequently writehow scholarships demonstrate the Committee’s belief inthem as someone who can be successful, and that this beliefmotivates them to pursue their education.Still another benefit, less often acknowledged, is thatscholarships give some students the financial freedom to havepersonal and/or professional experiences that impact theirfuture. Three examples follow that illustrate the possibilities.One recipient was studying machine tool technology atan out of state school. He said that the scholarship allowedhim to only have to work a weekend job while in school. Thismade it possible for him to take full advantage of the learningopportunities available and become more employable upongraduation. Without the scholarship he would have had tohave taken on an additional job and would only have beenable to do just enough to get by at his school.Another student stated that his scholarship allowedhim to have minimal debt at graduation. He had started abusiness while in college. Since he didn’t have to get a timedominating “real job” to make student loan payments, he wasable to fully devote himself to developing his business upongraduation. His business has become very successful.Finally, one student attributed numbers of hours that shecould pursue activities of value to her as the benefits of herscholarship. She attended college in the state of Washington,where the minimum hourly wage was eleven dollars. Herannual 2,200 scholarship equated to 200 hours that shecould use to study, perform community service, and take fulladvantage of the educational opportunities at her college,instead of using those 200 hours to work at a minimum wage job.We may never know all the ways scholarships affectstudents. It is clear, however, that being awarded a scholarshipmatters greatly to students and has a positive effect on theirlives.
VOLUME 15 n 2020PAGE 4MHS Scholarship Program Steering CommitteeThe MHS Scholarship Program operates under the auspices of the Coos Bay School Board, who created a permanent committee to review applications for scholarships andto administer scholarship funds received by the School District. According to the organization’s bylaws “The committeeshall consist of not less than eight nor more than 25 members appointed by the School Board”. While the entire Committee meets twice a year to review applications and selectrecipients, a smaller sub-committee works year-round tocoordinate the bookkeeping and see that scholarship recipients fulfill the enrollment requirements and that appropriate payments are disbursed to the proper institutions. Then,they work to prepare the subsequent year’s application andafter the due date, collect and coordinate the duplication ofcompleted applications, transcripts, and recommendations,for the consideration by the entire committee.This steering-committee brings a cumulative total ofover 150 years of experience in the field of education/administration and are proud to serve in their respective roles withthe MHS Community and Memorial Scholarship Committee.(See our website for complete list of selection committee,www.marshfieldalumni.org.)JENNIFER BUNNELL**(As a regular part of the ScholarshipNewsletter, we try to feature a memberof the MHS Staff. So, here, we will kill 2birds and introduce MHS Staff memberJennifer Bunnell, who is also a memberof the MHS Scholarship Steering Committee. She is the important liaison betweenthe MHS Staff and student body, and most importantly, thesenior class as they consider their options as they relate toscholarships.)I graduated from MHS in 1985 and started working at Marshfield High School in 2003 and instantly became involved withthe MHS Local Scholarship program. I am currently the College and Career Specialist, the MHS Scholarship Coordinator, the ASB/Leadership advisor and I also run the MHS Charity Program. I enjoy working with students in their journeyto decide what they will be doing once they graduate fromMarshfield High School. My favorite event of the year isthe scholarship assembly when the recipients receive theirawards. I am honored to be part of this committee and Ihope to continue for many years to come.LES ENGLEI attended Marshfield Jr High and graduated from Marshfield in 1962. Aftergraduating from Oregon State in 1966, Ireturned to Coos Bay to a very rewarding35-year career with the Coos Bay SchoolDistrict as a teacher, coach, counselor,Guidance Director and Director of Student Activities. My role with the MHS Scholarship Programbegan in 1986 and continued as a volunteer after my retire-ment in 2002, until present. I have been very fortunate tohave had the support and mentorship of many dedicatedteachers/coaches, administrators, and colleagues. My community has given much to me and I hope that I will be able torepay the debt of gratitude through my service.CAP SHARPLESI worked at MHS from 1987-2004 ascounselor and as counselor/GuidanceDirector. I also worked as an elementary/middle school teacher and a communitycollege advisor. I have been involved inthe scholarship program continuouslysince my first employment at MHS. Overthe years I have become increasingly aware of how important a post high school education is to young peoples’ futureprofessional and personal opportunities. The cost of education is an overwhelming barrier to obtaining an educationfor many students. Scholarships give such students hopethat they can afford to pursue their education who, otherwise, would not think it possible. I thoroughly enjoy my workon the steering committee.KATE SHARPLESI started my educational career workingas an aide in Special Education at Marshfield Junior High and Marshfield HighSchool. I earned an elementary teachingdegree and then taught at Allegany, CoosRiver, Milner Crest, and Charleston Elementary Schools. I was laid off becauseof budget shortfalls, but I was subsequently hired to teach inNorth Bend School District in the late 1980’s and finished myteaching career in North Bend. I never lost my commitmentto Coos Bay School District and when the position of MHSScholarship Recipient Advocate was offered I jumped at thechance. My job is to make sure that award recipients complete the requirements to receive their scholarship awards.This involves a lot of phone calls, emails, texts, to ensure thatdeadlines are met every step of the way.GINA SUTHERLANDI worked as a commercial geologist for afew years after college. I found I did notenjoy it as much as I had hoped and so Ipursued a teaching credential at PortlandState University. After substitute teaching for a couple of years, I was offered aposition teaching eighth grade earth science with Coos Bay Public Schools. I later taught ninth gradephysical science at Marshfield High School. After twentyfive years in the classroom, I became an administrator andconcluded my career as Assistant Principal at Marshfield. Ijoined the MHS Scholarship Committee fourteen years agowhen I retired and very much enjoy helping Marshfield students take the next steps in their lives.
2020 n VOLUME 15PAGE 5Distinguished AlumniJohn A. Busterud — MHS Class of 1939John’s family had deep roots in Oregon.Student Body President 1938-39His great grandfather John Kruse (1835Student Body VP 1937-381896) was a master shipbuilder with A.M.Sophomore Class President 1936-37Simpson Co. in North Bend. Both of his parFootball 4 Yearsents were very involved with several civicDebate 3 Yearsorganizations in Coos Bay and the state levExtemporaneous Speaking,el as well. Mr. Busterud was born on MarchCoosCo. Champion 1938-397, 1921, in Coos Bay, and after graduatingefforts to save the Marin Headlands and layfrom Marshfield High School in 1939, hethe groundwork for the Golden Gate Nationwent on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa fromal Recreation Area.the University of Oregon in 1943. He servedIn 1971, President Nixon appointed Mr.in WW II as an Infantry officer with the U.S.Busterud to be the first Deputy AssistantArmy’s 90th Infantry Division in the EuroSecretary of Defense for Environmentalpean Theater. During combat operations,his Battalion captured the vast German John A. Busterud, 1921-2016 Quality. Subsequently, he served as a memMHS Class of 1939ber and eventually Chairman of the Presigold reserves and priceless art treasuresdeep in a salt mine in Merkers, Germany. He was awarded dent’s Council on Environmental Quality under Presidentthe Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge for his service Ford. During h
I plan to begin the pre-nursing program at SWOCC. Thanks to this scholarship I will be able to pay for books and tuition. Thank you for helping me and my family. This scholarship means everything to us. — MC Thanks to your generous donation, I will have more time to focus on my stu
