Event has raised over $227,000 for Tualatin High scholarships
Over the past 12 years, the Cpl. Matthew Lembke Scholarship has been awarded to 89 Tualatin High School graduating Seniors. Including this year, the grand total of funds awarded is $227,500.00. This scholarship was set up to honor and remember Matt, a 2005 graduate of TuHS, who died while serving in the Marines after sustaining injuries while on foot patrol in Afghanistan in July of 2009. The Regatta Run was established that same year as the main fundraiser for the scholarship, and the 5k fun run/walk has been held every year in October in conjunction with the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta. Due to the pandemic this past year, the Pumpkin Regatta and the run were canceled, but approximately $8,000.00 in donations were received. We are pleased to award scholarships to 4 graduates from the class of 2021.
The joint efforts of many volunteers, business sponsors, Tualatin High School, Timberwolf Support Organization, and the City of Tualatin have made the Regatta Run and the scholarship a success, and something our family is extremely proud of. We feel so fortunate to have the support and enthusiasm of this community, and we are grateful that we have had this opportunity to pay tribute to our son. We hope that the scholarships not only help students achieve their goals of a college education but will also be a reminder of the sacrifice of those who serve in the military.
After much discussion, our family has decided to step back from the fund-raising efforts for the scholarship, including our involvement with the Regatta Run. We will miss the fun and excitement of the run and we’ll miss meeting so many great people who came out to volunteer or participate each year. The scholarship might continue, but just on a smaller scale.
We are especially grateful to Kathy Hollamon for her tireless efforts in organizing the run and TSO for helping to administer the scholarships. Kathy is a Physical Education and Health teacher at TuHS and has been the driving force behind this event. She has been involved from the very beginning and we could not have done it without her.
This year’s Cpl. Matt Lembke Memorial Scholarship awardees are:
Darian Miranda Darian is going to study Biology at the University of Oregon. He has served on ASB for 4 years and has played Cello in Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. Darian has also been a member of Key Club, National Honor Society, Activism Club, and Football. He also has acquired the Oregon State Seal of Biliteracy. Darian has been a member of Young Life Club, has studied photojournalism, where he has been featured in LA Style Magazine. He has participated in the Oregon Association of Student Councils Summits and interned for Marcus Harvey/Portland Gear last summer.
Sidney Dering Sidney is going to Kent University, where she will be playing Lacrosse and studying Biology/Pre-Med. In high school, Sidney has excelled in both Basketball and Lacrosse, has been a 4-year member of HOSA(Health Occupations Students of America Club). She has been the Tees Manager and Promotions Lead for Advanced Business Procedures. She has been awarded National Chemical Society’s Outstanding Chemistry Student of the Year, as well as a 2-time Under Armour All-American. She started and directs Alpha Mentality, an organization for Girls Lacrosse. She has been a volunteer with Hope’s Table, NW Children’s Outreach, Parenting with Intent, a Junior Counselor at Horse Camp, and a 3d Oregon Lacrosse coach.
Kate Vohland Kate has been a Soccer and Tennis player at Tualatin, as well as playing rec Basketball. She has been a part of National Honor Society, Key Club, Young Life, Crimsonnaires, Kindness Club, and A Cappella club. Kate has volunteered for the Little Mermaid production, and has also volunteered at an animal sanctuary, the choir firework stand, Oregon Food Bank, the Tualatin Food Pantry, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, and coordinated a service project for the elders in our community she named the Heart Project. In the fall, she will be attending Boise State University and plans on studying Speech Pathology.
Lily Hughes Lily has been a 4-year member of Key Club and a 2-year member of National Honor Society. She earned a varsity letter based on her volunteer hours with Key Club. She is an IB program member, a Cross Country and Track athlete, and has founded a club at TUHS called Every Body Athletics, which is a club where volunteers assist disabled athletes as they work out and build their social skills. Lily has also volunteered at Meridian Park Hospital. Lily has also volunteered at the NW Mothers Milk Bank, helped TEAM Tualatin and peers to improve city parks and run city events. This fall, she will be attending the University of Oregon to study Human Physiology.
A message from Kathy Hollamon:
I have been honored to volunteer as the event coordinator and work with the Lembkes to grow this wonderful community event which has honored Matt and helped 89 TuHS grads go to college. This has been one of the best accomplishments of my teaching career! It looks like the Tualatin Rotary may be interested in taking over the Regatta Run as a fundraiser for their scholarship for Tualatin High School grads. I am hopeful that the community support we’ve grown for the Regatta Run- started to honor and recognize the sacrifice of one of Tualatin’s own, Corporal Matthew Lembke- can continue to support ongoing Rotary scholarships for future Tualatin High graduates. A huge thank you to the Tualatin Community who has embraced this event and through their support, has helped to share the legacy of Corporal Matthew Lembke with many. I hope to see you in October!)
