PENDLETON – The Happy Canyon Association has awarded $750 scholarships to Amanda Doherty of Pilot Rock High School, Carrie Sampson of Belle High School and Rolla Technical Center in Belle, Mo., and Pendleton High School graduates Nicholas Hawkins, Chelsea Pahl, Jill Quesenberry and Jessica Wells.

“These young people have shown not only excellence in their academic lives, but in their commitment to their communities as well,” said Happy Canyon Director David Blanc. “We are proud of all their accomplishments and happy to be able to help them as they seek higher education.”

Doherty is the daughter of Helen and Patrick Doherty of Pilot Rock. She was president of her class, vice president of the National Honor Society chapter and served as captain for the school’s basketball, volleyball and softball teams.

She won three citizenship awards, an academic excellence award for physical education and twice was on the Top 10 Academic All-State team for basketball and softball. She was named to numerous conference all-star teams in basketball, softball and volleyball. She has been a Happy Canyon usher the last two years.

Doherty plans to attend Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls and play basketball and softball.

Hawkins is the son of Kelly Hawkins of Pendleton. He played football for four years at Pendleton, serving as captain his senior year and being named to the Intermountain Conference honorable mention all-star list. He was recipient of the PHS football coaches award. He made the honor roll at PHS.

Hawkins has acted in the Happy Canyon Night Show for the last 15 years. He plans on attending Lane Community College in Eugene before transferring to a state university. He wants to earn a bachelor’s degree in business or electronics.

Pahl is the daughter of Rod and Shelley Pahl of Pendleton. She lettered in volleyball three years at Pendleton and four years in softball and basketball. Among her academic honors were four straight years on the honor roll, membership in the National Honor Society and Who’s Who Among America’s High School Students.

She has been a cast member of the Happy Canyon Night Show since 1993 and also sold programs and attended many parades during her father’s time on the board. She plans to attend a four-year university, majoring in elementary education, and becoming a teacher and coach.

Quesenberry is the daughter of Bill and Teresa Quesenberry of Pendleton. During her senior year at Pendleton she earned 22 college credits at Blue Mountain Community College. She made the honor roll all four years of high school, won first place in the Umatilla/Morrow Skills Challenge for Spanish II, and received awards for her performance on the volleyball court and softball field.

She has appeared in the Happy Canyon Night Show for several years. Quesenberry plans to attend Blue Mountain Community College to earn her associate of arts transfer degree and then major in sports therapy at a four-year school.

Sampson is the daughter of Trisha Sampson and the late Curtis Sampson. In high school she was an honor student, a member of the National Honor Society and received several perfect attendance awards. She also was a member of the student council and was active in Vocational-Industrial Clubs of America.

At Rolla Technical Center she is a certified nurse’s assistant and has received her CPR certification, working 100 clinical hours. After graduating from practical nursing school she plans to continue her education and graduate as a registered nurse.

Wells is the daughter of George and Carol Wells of Pendleton. She played varsity volleyball, basketball and softball at Pendleton. She was a member of the Spanish Club and was named to the honor roll all four years. She won second place at the Blue Mountain Community College Skills Challenge in biology. She has also volunteered as an assistant coach for a sixth-grade girls basketball team and volunteered at the Pendleton Veterinary Clinic.

Wells has volunteered for Happy Canyon for eight years, and for Round-Up for 12 years. She plans to attend Linfield College in McMinnville, majoring in biology. She would like to become a veterinarian, serving a rural community.