Since 2006, I have been a volunteer college mentor. I help first generation (children of immigrants) write essays for college and scholarship applications.

This school year, I have been mentoring Dennise at her parent's home wearing masks. She was accepted at the prestigious University of Washington! With my help, Dennise has applied for 42 scholarships so far. So far, she won:

1. Washington Apple Education Foundation: $9,400/year for four years. (She won scholarships from three fruit packing companies totaling $9,400/year).

2. Washington Opportunity Scholarship: $22,000/year for four years.

3. University of Washington: $24,000 for her freshman year.

4. Public Employees Organization: $1,000.

5. Wenatchee Rotary Foundation: $1,000.

6. Fisk and Lila Gerhart: $2,400.

7. Jack and Dede Hill: $1,100.

8. Everett and Roy Hill Music scholarship: $9,400.

Universities deduct the amount of scholarships students win from financial aid they give the student. This aggravates me to no end.

Dennise will need more than tuition and dorm lodging. She will need: books, school supplies, clothes (warm raincoat, umbrella and boots for Seattle's endless rain), toiletries, laundry, gas to drive across the Cascade Mountains to visit her parents, money to eat out with new friends when she gets tired of dorm food, etc.

"Don't report scholarship checks you get in the mail to UW," I told Dennise. "Save that money for your expenses in college."

Dennise will major in applied math, and minor in music (viola and percussion).