Benefactor gives $1,000 scholarships to two Sutton students

Two Sutton Elementary School students each received $1,000 scholarships from an anonymous benefactor Thursday morning. The two students, Jenny Kudlacek and Sunni Danielowski, were given the checks at the elementary school's annual end-of-the-year assembly.

According to teaching principal Dan Kitchen, the benefactor and his wife, both retired Mat-Su teachers, are strong believers in higher education and wanted to give something back to the community.

All students in the fifth grade at Sutton Elementary were required to submit an application, essay, and references from people in the community.

The essay of 200-250 words was to explain their desire for higher education, their goals, and how higher education would help them achieve those goals.

A committee consisting of the principal, a fifth-grade teacher, another classroom teacher, a classified staff member, the benefactor, and two community members reviewed the applications.

"The concept of the award is partly academic," Kitchin said, "but we were also looking for students with character, tolerance, and empathy, who were goal-driven, highly motivated, had the ability to carry through, worked to their potential, were driven by a curiosity to learn, had a sense of humor, had a desire to improve their performance, had the ability to keep and make friends, didn't have any discipline issues, and had a sense of community spirit."

For the elementary school students, a sense of community spirit meant they helped out with senior citizens and cleanup activities, and, in the case of Kudlacek and Danielowski, were active members of the Girl Scouts.

According to Kitchin, Kudlacek and Danielowski are good friends. Up until the actual presentation of the award, both were under the impression there was only one award. When they found out they were both winners, they were shocked and pleased.

The anonymous benefactor will escort the two girls to a stock broker in Anchorage, where they will invest the money. The money will be invested for the next seven years, or until the girls graduate from high school. It must be used before the girls turn 21, and will be paid directly to the institution they choose to attend for higher learning.

"Rarely do elementary school principals have the opportunity to give an award like this," Kitchin said. "This is one of the most fun things I've ever done."