Youth Commission highlights scholarships, municipal court names student art winners

Federal Way — The council recognized winners of the municipal court student art contest and received a report from the Federal Way Youth Commission on recent activities and a scholarship fundraiser.

Judge Dave Larson introduced municipal court art winners and thanked the Arts Commission and volunteer judges. Student winners included Miriam Karpinska (Lake Grove Elementary) and Maya Gergis (Pacific Christian Academy); a third winner, Seiya Nagra, was not present. "This year ... I believe all the 2 recipients that are here tonight are first generation Americans," Judge Larson said, noting the theme "What does liberty mean to me?" for student work.

Youth Commission Vice President Asida Bangura reported the commission’s first car-wash fundraiser raised $596 for the First Step scholarship, a scholarship founded in 2018 to help youth who cannot afford recreation fees. Bangura said the event ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a steady line of cars, thanked Public Works for supplying equipment, and said the commission plans to advertise and distribute scholarships next year. She also summarized a lantern event for graduating seniors at Steel Lake on June 6, attended by more than 70 seniors.

Council members thanked commission members and encouraged continued outreach; no budgetary action was taken. The Youth Commission welcomed incoming commissioners and said it will focus on distributing scholarships in the coming year.

What happens next: The Youth Commission will finalize scholarship distribution details and continue recruiting new commissioners for the school year.