It’s that time of year again, for sunny days, graduation gowns and prom dresses, summer jobs and summer internships — and Rotary Club of Issaquah scholarships.

The group awarded nine Issaquah-area high school seniors with scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 at its May 26 meeting.

“These are all amazing, impressive kids,” said Mitch Tallman, a Rotary member on the scholarship committee.

The Rotary has been handing out scholarships since 1980, when it received a grant from club member Harvey Hand to begin the program, and has since handed out nearly $10,000 annually to graduating Issaquah seniors.

The club awarded scholarships to six Issaquah High School students, two from Liberty High School, and one from Tiger Mountain Community High School.

A new award was also ushered in this year — the Four-year Rotary Club of Issaquah and Swedish Medical Center Medical Pursuit Scholarship, which honors a student pursuing a career in the medical field. Swedish partnered with Rotary to create the scholarship, and plays a major part in funding it.

Honorees from Issaquah High School include:

Denis Chang, who will study electrical engineering at the University of Washington. Rotary members pointed out the major role he played in developing a carpool program for the high school, his involvement with the Issaquah Robotics Society, Key Club and DECA, and the three years he did Relay for Life, among other things.

Emily McCuen will be studying biomedical engineering at Purdue University, and was selected for her involvement with Relay for Life, the Special Olympics, several mission trips and exchange student trips, and two bids to the state championships for swimming.

Taryn Ohashi will be attending Scripps College for economics, and was honored for her participation with Camp Agape, a camp for children with cancer, DECA, promoting AIDS awareness through ASB, Relay for Life, and many years and awards for dance, among other things. Ohashi is also one of three co-valedictorians at IHS.

Deven Tokunon will be pre-med at Washington State University, and was chosen for her involvement in a myriad of activities. She participates in Relay for Life, volunteers at Overlake Hospital Medical Center, sits on the Issaquah and Bellevue youth advisory boards, founded a youth board and scholarship program at Overlake, and holds down a job, among other things.

Elaine Tran will be studying pediatric biology at the University of Washington, and was honored for her service as a three-time Relay for Life captain, ASB member, and her participation in soccer, track, Link and Key Club.

Elyse Edwards was given the Medical Pursuit Scholarship, and will be pre-med at Johns Hopkins University. She was an exchange student with the Moroccan Exchange, captain of the Issaquah Robotics Society and regional representative for student robotics teams, she lobbied before Washington state Congress to provide the group with funding, founded the Women in Science and Technology outreach group, and was a cheerleader, among other things.

Liberty High School honorees included:

Alex Bell, who will be studying film at the University of Southern California. He was one of 18 students accepted to the program out of 2,500 applicants, and was chosen for his involvement with Key Club, nine years of service to the Boy Scouts, and achievement of the Eagle Scout level.

Lisa Christensen will be studying to be a physician’s assistant at the University of Washington, and was honored for the two mission trips she participated in, her work with feeding the homeless, and cleaning graffiti off city buildings.

Tiger Mountain honored one student, Christina Reddy, who will be studying nursing at Bellevue College. She founded a reading program at her school, reads to students at Clark Elementary, participates in food drives and coat drives, and holds down a job.

All the students thanked Rotary heartily for the opportunities.

“It’s an honor to give these out,” Tallman said. “We feel like we’re parents to you all, too. They say it takes a whole community effort to raise a child, and that shows here, and that’s really what Issaquah is all about.”

For photos of all the scholarship-winners, see Friday’s print edition of The Reporter.