Jason and Mary Peterson Memorial Scholarship

This Scholarship is funded annually by contributions to the Foundation by Richard Peterson to honor the memory of his wife, Mary, and their son, Jason Peterson, a 2000 graduate of Franklin Pierce High School.

The scholarship will be awarded to two graduates – one each from Franklin Pierce High School and Washington High School.

• Must be a graduating senior with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, exhibiting hard work and focus on high school academics/vocational studies.
• Must have shown good citizenship while in school and exhibited a positive influence on friends and classmates.
• Financial need may also be a consideration.
• The recipient may attend a college, university, or vocational school.

The Faculty Scholarship Committee of each high school will select one recipient and one alternate annually. The scholarship shall be awarded to the alternate if the primary award winner does not meet the requirements of the scholarship.

Jason Peterson started his education at James Sales Elementary. From there he moved to Keithley Middle School where he received a Certificate of Honor award for outstanding participation and leadership and was recognized with “Lunch with Dr. Jackson”, his principal. Jason next attended Franklin Pierce High School where we was awarded an Academic Letter of Achievement and was a member of Honor Society.

Following high school Jason attended the University of Washington, Tacoma. There he made the Dean’s List for academic achievement and carrying a 3.6 grade point average. Jason graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In addition to his academic pursuits, Jason enjoyed baseball and was considered to be an outstanding pitcher. He also taught himself how to play the guitar. He loved to play solo and with his band.

Shortly after graduating from UWT he was diagnosed with a rare disease called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). It is estimated that LCH occurs in only one to two adults per million people. He endured radiation treatments and chemotherapy. Through it all he maintained a positive attitude and fought hard to keep his condition in check. He made good progress with the treatments and was almost in control of the disease when a car accident took his life in February of 2015.

Jason lived life to the fullest. He was a kind, positive person with many friends, many of them saying he made a positive effect on their lives. He will always be missed by his family, friends and all who loved him. It is hoped that these scholarships will honor his memory by helping two deserving young students to further their education and pursue their dreams.

Jason and his mother, Mary, had a beautiful bond.  Mary Peterson (Olive) passed away in March of 2021. Mary had a huge influence on the person that Jason became. Mary and Jason had a special relationship though out his life. They were each other’s best friend.

Mary was an amazing person. Not only was she beautiful on the outside but she was just as beautiful on the inside. She was warm, kind and generous. She always put Jason’s happiness before her own. That love and selflessness showed through in the playful and loving bond between them.

These scholarships were her idea and they reflect her desire, not only to honor the memory of her son, but through her generosity, to help other young people like Jason in their voyage through life.

• 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.