Endowment for Creative Sciences

This permanent endowed scholarship was established by Bethany Long, a 2008-2012 attendee of Franklin Pierce High School.

The scholarship will be awarded to one graduating senior from Franklin Pierce High School who has exhibited creativity and academic achievement across multiple subjects and intends to pursue a 4-year bachelor’s degree, ideally in a STEM field.

The Franklin Pierce Scholarship Committee may choose any college-bound recipient who best fits the spirit of this award. For the purpose of guiding selection, preference may be given to candidates who:

• Intend to pursue a 4-year bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a similar field.
• Have displayed excellence and passion in at least one of the following subject areas: performing arts, language arts, or fine arts.

The Franklin Pierce Scholarship Committee will select the recipient and one alternate annually. The scholarship shall be awarded to the alternate selected if the primary award winner does not meet the requirements of the scholarship.

There is an unfortunate and inaccurate stereotype that successful technology professionals are as calculating and machinelike as the computers they work with. The reality is thankfully much different. Today’s companies need sharp and diligent graduates who can not only solve technical problems, but also communicate their findings, design inclusive solutions, and relate to colleagues and customers of all backgrounds.

As a means of percolating this happy news back to her alma mater, Bethany Long founded this scholarship in 2022. She attended Harvard, Brookdale, Ford, and Franklin Pierce, ultimately graduating from Pierce College Fort Steilacoom with an Associate of Arts and high school diploma in 2012 via Running Start. She then earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Western Washington University in 2015, and is currently a Senior Software Engineer for Dell Technologies. She relies daily on her performer’s instincts, leadership skills, and improvisational skills honed in symphonic, concert, jazz, and marching bands; and on her ability to research, explain, and argue complex multicultural topics as in English, Japanese, and history classes.

No two paths to success look the same, but Bethany’s wish is for today’s students to recognize the creativity they hold within themselves and share it with the world – all while working hard, as thoughtful and caring problem solvers.

• Receipt of a completed Scholarship Acceptance Form will hold this scholarship for the student. The scholarship can be held no longer than 16 months after June 30th of the year of graduation from high school.
• Upon receipt of Proof of Enrollment Form including a student ID number, funds will be released to the institution in the name of the student.