Kelley Palmer-McCarty, who graduated as co-valedictorian of her class at Lopez High School, has won a $3,000 scholarship to help her continue studies at Fairhaven College of Western Washington University in Bellingham. She is the daughter of San Juan County Sheriff’s dispatcher Charles McCarty.

Kelley was one of just five students chosen from 187 applicants to receive the award. The scholarships are given annually to the children of county employees by the Washington Association of Counties Officials (WACO) and Washington State Association of Counties (WASAC).

Ms. McCarty is in her second year at Fairhaven, studying environmental sciences and visual arts. She says that she hopes to do environmental field work “in the wild” and also stay active in the arts.

In addition to being an outstanding student, she has trained and participated in bird banding projects for Audubon Society for more than three years and has twice traveled with groups to Nicaragua to do community service work – helping to pave roads and working in women’s clinics.