Edmonds-based VFW Post 8870 at its July 16 meeting recognized the recipients of the Rock Roth Freedom Scholarship. Scholarships given through the program, now in its fourth year, were named this year to honor the memory of Roth, a Vietnam War veteran and a career naval aviator who passed away suddenly last year.

Roth had played a leadership role in conducting the Post’s youth essay and teacher recognition programs and participated in a mentoring program for the students at Scriber Lake High School. Marilyn Roth, Rock’s widow, presented the scholarships to the recipients.

The Rock Roth Freedom Scholarship was established to identify and reward deserving graduating seniors who have achieved an outstanding record of academic achievement, leadership, and community service and understand and value the freedom and rights guaranteed to us all by our Constitution. The scholarships, each in the amount of $1,000, were awarded to two students residing within the Edmonds School District and two deserving seniors residing within the Mukilteo School District. In addition to their transcript and a resume, students were asked to write a 500-750 word essay in which they explained the meaning of freedom to them and how our Constitution establishes and maintains a culture of freedom in our country.

Representing the Edmonds School District were Jessica Nguyen, who graduated from Lynnwood High School and Daniil Oliferovskiy who attended Mountlake Terrace High School. The two Mukilteo district seniors were Helen Anderson of Kamiak High School and Mariner High School graduate Grace Wainaina.

Nguyen graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA and will attend the University of Washington. She served as a volunteer teacher assistant at Lynnwood and conducted tutoring sessions for her fellow students. She has participated in the district chorus program throughout her middle and high school years. She also served in a leadership position in the school’s Link Crew.

Oliferovskiy graduated with a near-perfect GPA of 3.98 and will also attend the University of Washington. In addition to a rigorous academic schedule, he was a member of the varsity football and wrestling teams. He was a contributing journalist for the school’s Hawkeyepublication, a member of the National Honor Society, and a student government representative. He volunteers his time as a coach in the Brier Terrace youth wrestling program.