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Scholarships

Elaine Markley Student-Athlete Service Award

An annual award for a college-bound Corvallis High School senior who has shown success in the classroom, in sport, and in the community, celebrating Elaine's years of service to the student athletes of Corvallis.

Applications are closed for this cycle.

About the award

On March 17, 2025, at the Corvallis High School Winter Sports Dessert Banquet, we announced the Elaine Markley Student-Athlete Service Award. It is given every year as a continuing celebration of Elaine's contributions to the student athletes in our community.

The award supports a current Spartan who shares the values Elaine lives every day and has shared with our community for so long. We always welcome gifts to this fund, to keep the award going and to grow the number or size of awards each year.

Who can apply

  • A Corvallis High School senior student athlete going on to a college, university, trade school, or other higher education
  • A GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • At least 40 hours of community service in the last 12 months

Essay prompts

Answers to three essay prompts, entered directly in the application form:

  1. What is the importance of service to both the people participating and those receiving the service? (about 200 words)
  2. Reflect on how playing sports has influenced your personal growth, values, and leadership skills. (about 200 words)
  3. Explain your academic and career goals and how this scholarship will help you reach them. (about 200 words)

Documents to include

Along with the essays, the application asks for:

  • Your high school transcript
  • A current photograph
  • An admission letter or other proof of enrollment
  • Two letters of recommendation from people who can speak to your commitment to academics, service, and sport. At least one must speak directly to your commitment to serving others.

Elaine's service

Elaine taught health and PE at Cheldelin Middle School for 31 years, coached track and field, and received a Golden Apple award in 2000. Since the early 2000s she has volunteered at Corvallis High School: in the lunchroom every day, at every school dance, with the National Honor Society, the Winter Smiles program, the Benton County Career Fair, and girls flag football.

In athletics she gives more than 40 hours most weeks: registering students for sports, supporting athletes in the classroom, running the concession stands, the scoreboard, and the discus at home track meets, announcing baseball games, organizing game-day helpers and anthem singers, serving on the Spartan Booster Club board, and updating the Sports Hotline daily.

Beyond the school she helps AYSO every Saturday as a board member (AYSO Volunteer of the Year, 2002), runs concessions and game days for the Corvallis American Legion baseball team, and is lead host of the annual Mickey Riley Star Spangled Banner American Legion Baseball Tournament.

Past recipients

  • 2026: Dora Boucher, University of Utah
  • 2026: Hannah Azhocar, Western Washington University
  • 2025: Malique Sweet, Edmonds College
  • 2025: Eyra Neill, Oregon State University