WIAA Smart Choices Scholarship Program Awards $18,000 to 10 Outstanding Washington Athletes
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) has announced the 2026 Smart Choices Scholarship winners, recognizing 10 exceptional student-athletes who have demonstrated outstanding achievement both on the field and in their communities. The program, sponsored by GESA Credit Union and the Dairy Farmers of Washington, distributed $18,000 in total scholarships across the state.
Top Honors: Catherine Doherty and Abel Garcia Earn $5,000 Scholarships
Catherine Doherty of Hermiston High School and Abel Garcia of Royal High School each received the program's top prize of $5,000, recognizing their exceptional all-around contributions to their schools and communities.
Doherty is a seven-time varsity letter winner in tennis and slowpitch softball, earning two State Tennis appearances while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA and completing nine AP and Honors courses. The Hermiston Class of 2026 valedictorian serves as ASB President and has logged over 600 hours of community service, earning recognition as Hermiston's Outstanding Youth Citizen. Her leadership extends through FFA, where she has garnered national and state awards. Doherty plans to attend the University of Southern California to pursue agricultural law, hoping to advocate for farmers and rural communities.
Garcia is Royal High School's first student-athlete to start and win in four-consecutive State Football Championships, accumulating eight varsity letters across football and track and field. Named varsity football team captain, Garcia demonstrates leadership both on and off the field. He helped launch Fiesta Royale, a multicultural celebration of Mexican heritage that brought together more than 250 students. Beyond athletics, Garcia serves on Royal's Student Council and the WIAA LEAP Committee, and is involved with Future Business Leaders of America. The standout athlete plans to study aerospace engineering and eventually launch a startup focused on sustainable supersonic flight.
Eight Additional Scholars Recognized
Eight additional $1,000 scholarships were awarded to student-athletes demonstrating similar excellence:
- Brooke Berens, Crosspoint Christian
- Greta Leonard, Tahoma
- Brayden Meyer, Okanogan
- Lucas Mortensen, West Valley (Spokane)
- Kaiyah Sandridge, Onalaska
- Carson Siadal, Meridian
- Cienna Smith, Cle Elum-Roslyn
- Lucinda Weaver, College Place
The Smart Choices Scholarship Program celebrates Washington's finest student-athletes, recognizing that true excellence extends far beyond athletic performance. These young leaders represent the values that make Washington State high school sports exceptional, proving that dedication, character, and service define champions.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiThis article was created with AI assistance. Stats and results sourced from public records.