Congratulations to the Class of 2021 Mattress Lot Scholars! Thanks to our customers and supporters, Mattress Lot contributed more than ever toward helping top Portland students go to college.
The graduating seniors pictured here received scholarships ranging from $500 to $8000 (over 4 years) for a total of $10,000 awarded this year.
All of them told us about how the past year changed their lives. They wrote about the effects of Covid on themselves, their families and school life. Some wrote about caring for family members stricken by Covid. They wrote about hardships and hard-earned victories. They wrote about job losses and financial despair. They wrote about racial justice and the local protest movement. And they all wrote about a very bright future with a college education and eventually giving back to the city they love.
Imara Moore from Jefferson High School told us how during the pandemic she and a friend founded an online fashion blog for young black women. Anna Vu from McDaniels High wrote about her new-found desire to study public health.
Cecelia Wu, who is going to Stanford with an $8000 Mattress Lot Scholarship, wrote about her mom losing her restaurant job during the pandemic. Cecelia told us how she started an organization devoted to helping immigrant Mandarin speakers like her parents navigate the employment benefit system.
We started our scholarship giving back in 2015. Since then, we have awarded $50,000 + to local students.
We are so proud of these top students. They all contribute so much to our region on so many different levels. And we’re grateful for the support we receive from our neighbors and community members who choose to shop local at Mattress Lot. Without you, these scholarships would not be possible. Thank you Portland!