On May 1, the Stanley Ann Dunham Scholarship Fund (SADSF) awarded $5,000 college scholarships to two female members of the Mercer Island High School graduating class of 2015, Naomi Moore and Adrienne Suhm.

This is the sixth year that SADSF has awarded scholarships.  As in prior years, there were many accomplished applicants with this year’s group consisting of 15 women with strong records of academic accomplishment and community involvement.

Moore and Suhm exemplify the values of Stanley Ann Dunham, a 1960 graduate of Mercer Island High School and the mother of President Obama. Dr. Dunham worked to improve the lives of marginalized communities around the world, especially women. This year’s scholars dedicated tremendous time and energy to important issues they felt passionate about: social justice and economic opportunities for women in developing countries.

Moore joined the Mercer Island Library Teen Advisory Board in 2013. She helped refine the focus and format of the teen programs to elevate teen awareness of social justice issues through topical documentaries and small group discussions. This past February, Naomi moderated a program about race and social justice following the social unrest in Ferguson, Mo. In addition to being an outstanding student, she co-founded the MIHS Amnesty International Club and was captain of her rugby team. Naomi plans to continue her involvement with Amnesty International and to study behavioral neuroscience and psychology with a social justice focus at the University of Washington.

Suhm’s passion for business and improving economic opportunities for women around the world began when she visited Africa with her parents before 10th grade. She saw first-hand how micro credit programs for women-owned businesses could improve the financial well-being of their families and help equalize women’s status with that of men. Adrienne joined DECA in 10th grade and this year became Chapter President. As Chief Operating Office of Mercer Trade Inc., a corporation operated by the students of the International Entrepreneurship class, she oversaw the buying and selling of goods produced by small, family-owned businesses in developing countries.  The profits generated by the corporation were then donated to several Seattle-based charities.  She was also Captain of the cross country team. Adrienne plans to major in International Business studies at the University of Southern California.

Over 100 Islanders attended the award ceremony at the Burke Museum in Seattle. The event was co-hosted by the University of Washington’s anthropology department where Dr. Dunham took her first anthropology class in 1961. It also featured guest speaker Bronwen Solyom who was a personal friend and colleague of Dr. Dunham.

The Scholarship Fund would like to thank the Mercer Island Community Fund, Mercer Island Florist, Jenn Signs, and many individual Islanders for their contributions that continue to make these scholarships possible.

For more information about how you can get involved or make a donation, visit their website at www.stanleyanndunhamfund.org.