Sandy Mountain Festival scholarship program expands Three Sandy High School seniors receive awards

By Emily Lindstrand, The Sandy Standard

With an increase in both the number of awards distributed and number of students applying, it’s been a year of growth for Sandy Mountain Festival’s college scholarship program.

This year, the festival received applications from 40 students — double the amount from 2025.

“I think there’s just more kids that are realizing they can get scholarships and have started applying,” said Lisa Snider, president of the Sandy Mountain Festival. “We’d like to be able to give scholarships out to everyone that applies. They’re all such deserving students.”

The scholarship application is available for any Sandy area senior who plans to attend a trade school, two year college, or four year college. In the past, the festival has awarded two scholarships, and this year that number expanded to three. 

Sandy High School seniors Ivan Joseph Valencia, Abby Haney, and Autumn Collman

each received a $1,000 scholarship from the Mountain Festival. Valencia plans to study business management at Clackamas Community College, Haney plans to study journalism at Maryville College Tennessee, and Collman plans to study medical imaging sonography at Oregon Technical Institute.

“It’s very exciting to be able to give back,” Snider said. “We’re making a difference in these kids’ lives. They've got such high aspirations, and it's so exciting that the Mountain Festival can play a part in that, that we can actually help them achieve their career goals. I'm so thankful that the festival gives back in that way.”

Both Snider and Sandy Mountain Festival Hospitality Coordinator Clarissa Flores enjoyed the awards night on Wednesday, June 10, where the scholarship winners were announced.

“The awards night was really fun to be part of. There are just so many impressive students at Sandy High. We have a really awesome community, and it’s great seeing how involved the students are. These are kids that are going to make a real difference,” Flores said.