2025 Chief Sealth International High School PTSA Scholarship Fund

Breaking News: Two NEW Scholarships Added!

We’re thrilled to announce that two brand-new scholarship opportunities have just been added to the Chief Sealth PTSA Scholarship Program for the Class of 2025!  These scholarships offer $2,000 each—$1,000 per semester—and are designed to provide extended support to students as they begin their post-high school educational journey. That brings our total number of Senior Scholarships up to seven — thank you Westside Pickleball for such a generous gift! 

Excited? You bet! These new scholarships are open to all seniors, including those who apply for and are chosen to receive one of the original PTSA scholarships.

Meet the New Scholarships:

Additinally, we’re very excited to award a $1,000 scholarship each, to up to five graduating seniors who are planning to attend a College, University, or Technical or Vocational Program. Seniors graduating in 2025 with a GPA of 2.0 or higher are eligible to apply for this award.

At Chief Sealth International High School, we’re committed to not only providing the best possible education and learning opportunities for our students but also equipping our students for a successful future beyond high school. We believe every student deserves access to the resources and support they need to succeed, regardless of their background or financial situation. The PTSA Scholarship Fund was created to help students reach this goal.

This year, we’re pleased to honor several members of the Chief Sealth community, with scholarships named in their honor. Please note that you may apply for all of the scholarships below, but each student can only receive one $1000 award.

  • The Ernest Policarpio Scholarship ($1000)

    The Ernest Policarpio Scholarship is dedicated to honoring the legacy of a long-time High School Athletic Director who has devoted his career to fostering opportunities and growth for all student-athletes. As a supporter of athletics and the school community, Mr. Policarpio’s passion has positively impacted many lives through his commitment to fairness, teamwork, and perseverance. Learn more and apply for the Ernest Policarpio Scholarship.

  • The Steadman Mathis Scholarship ($1000)

    Steadman Mathis joined the Chief Sealth family in 2021, as the Health Specialist, helping with COVID protocols. From there he quickly moved up to instructional assistant and then to head coach of the Tennis Team. He was an amazing man, loving son, father, brother, uncle, nephew, grandson, friend, co-worker, and coach. Unfortunately, a tragedy claimed his life in March of 2022. While he was at Chief Sealth less than a year, his impact on the lives of students was monumental. Learn more and apply for the Steadman Mathis Scholarship.

  • The Patrick Sand Scholarship ($1000)

    The Patrick Sand Scholarship honors the life and contributions of Patrick Sand, a proud father of a Sealth alumni and a dedicated community leader. A photographer who co-founded The West Seattle Blog with his wife Tracy, Patrick was deeply committed to serving his community through storytelling. His work as a photographer and journalist, along with his role as a community advocate, left an indelible mark on West Seattle. Learn more and apply for the Patrick Sand Scholarship.

  • The Chief Sealth IDEAS Scholarship ($1000 x 2)

    As a high school senior, you have spent years navigating the classrooms and culture of Chief Sealth, and learning from your experiences. Reflecting on your time here, we invite you to consider how we could improve the overall student experience for future generations. With a focus on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Safety (IDEAS), share your thoughts on how the school could better serve its student body. Learn more and apply for the Chief Sealth IDEAS Scholarship.

Spread the word: The deadline for all PTSA scholarships is 11:59 PM on Wednesday, April 30, and award recipients will be announced at Senior Awards Night in June.

PTSA Scholarship FAQs

1. What is the Chief Sealth PTSA Annual Scholarship Program? The Chief Sealth PTSA Annual Scholarship is a program that awards financial support to selected graduating seniors who demonstrate thoughtfulness and creativity in their response to various essay prompts. This year, the program will award five $1,000 scholarships and two $2000 scholarships to students.

2. Who is eligible to apply? Any graduating senior in good standing at Chief Sealth International High School is eligible to apply. You can apply for one or more scholarships. 

3. How many scholarships will be awarded? This year, seven scholarships will be awarded. (Also need to add two new bullets) 

  • One $1000 Scholarship: The Ernest Policarpio Scholarship

  • One $1000 Scholarship: The Steadman Mathis Scholarship

  • One $1000 Scholarship: The Patrick Sand Scholarship

  • Two $1000 Scholarships: The IDEAS Scholarship Award, which will be given to two
    (2) students who propose an idea, initiative, or change that could positively impact the school community, focusing on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Safety (IDEAS).

  • One $2000 Scholarship: The Westside Pickleball Trailblazer Scholarship

  • One $2000 Scholarship: The Westside Pickleball Voices for Change Scholarship

4. What is the essay competition about? To compete for the scholarships, students must write an essay responding to prompts inspired by past and present community leaders. Each scholarship has its own specific prompt related to its category, so be sure to check the details and write your essay accordingly.

5. What is the IDEAS Scholarship Award? The IDEAS Scholarship Award is endeavors to support students who offer innovative ideas that could improve the school community. Essays should propose ideas or initiatives that enhance the school environment in terms of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, or Safety (IDEAS).

6. How do I apply for the scholarships? Applications opened in March and close at 11:59pm on Wednesday, April 30th 2025

7. Do I need to pay back the scholarship? No, the scholarships are free money that does not need to be repaid.

8. Can I apply for more than one scholarship? Yes! You can apply for any or all of the scholarships. For example, you could submit an essay for a named scholarship category and also submit an idea for the IDEAS Scholarship Award. Students could potentially be awarded one $1000 scholarship, and one $2000 depending on eligibility, so make sure to apply!

9. When and where will the scholarship winners be announced? The winners of the scholarships will be announced in June.

10. Do I need to be an expert writer to apply? No! We are looking for thoughtful, creative responses to the essay prompts. This is an opportunity to share your ideas and showcase your unique perspective. Take your time, and don’t be afraid to be yourself in your writing.

Questions? Write to Chief Sealth PTSA. Good luck seniors, and we look forward to reading your submissions!

Donate to the Scholarship Fund

We’re sincerely grateful to Westside Pickleball and our original community donors for their support and commitment to our students' futures. Donor contribution makes it possible to recognize and celebrate the incredible talent, ambition, and potential in this year’s senior class.

We rely on our community to help provide these scholarships to our students on an on-going basis. Want to make an impact on the lives of our students? Make a tax-deductible donation to the PTSA Scholarship Fund! Every contribution allows us to help launch these deserving Sealth graduates into the next exciting phase of their lives. Just indicate on the donation form that it’s for the PTSA Scholarship. Thank you for helping our students succeed!