2026 Youth Rally Scholars
Nourdine Jensen Cooperative Youth Scholarship Program awards pave the way for local students
Every year in July, a group of students from San Juan County represent OPALCO at the ICUA Youth Rally leadership camp and receive $1000 towards post high school education or trade school. This year, six students were selected to attend. The 2026 Youth Rally scholars are:
Atticus Bourne
Rising Junior
Friday Harbor High School
Atticus Bourne is a sophomore at Friday Harbor High School. He has lived his entire life in Friday Harbor but he loves to travel and has had the amazing opportunity to spend time in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Mexico City, New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, and a lot of time in Vancouver BC. He plays high school soccer and saxophone/clarinet in Concert Band and guitar in Jazz Band. Music and soccer are his favorite things to do, alongside meeting new people.
Maren Ellingson
Rising Junior
Friday Harbor High School
Maren Ellingson is a sophomore at Friday Harbor High School. She is an active member in a variety of school clubs, but her favorite is Eco Club where she helps improve the environment around her. Growing up on a small farm has made her very conscious of energy related issues and has inspired her to come to the Youth Rally.
Theo Johnston
Rising Senior
Orcas Island High School
Theo Johnston is a junior at Orcas Island High School. Originally from Seattle, Theo moved to Orcas Island in second grade. He has a passion for sailing and is currently competing with the high school sailing team. He holds a WA State Boater License and a Level 1 Instructor certification, allowing him to teach all ages how to sail. He is also a musician, playing trombone, bass trombone, and a bit of electric guitar. In his free time, he enjoys fishing in all its forms. Beyond graduation he’s planning to pursue an associate’s degree in marine technology.
Atziry Orozco
Rising Senior
Friday Harbor High School
Atziry Orozco is a junior at Friday Harbor High School. She loves socializing and being around people, as well as playing soccer in her free time, going to the beach, and hanging out with her friends.
Chloe Roach
Rising Senior
Friday Harbor High School
Chloe Roach is a junior at Friday Harbor High School. Her dance background, participation in school sports, and school musicals led her to create a lunchtime drama club making the arts accessible for student athletes. Staying active in NHS and Key Club alongside volunteering and assistant-teaching ballet has been helpful in building momentum for a successful senior year ahead.
Matthew Vasquez
Rising Senior
Friday Harbor High School
Bio: Matthew Vasquez is a junior at Friday Harbor High School. He lives on Orcas Island but attends school on Friday Harbor to play football on their team. He likes to play and watch football. He also likes to go on hikes with his friends and learn new things.
Each year, one student is elected by all the students at the camp to return the following year to act as a leader to help run the Youth Rally. This year’s returning student director is Gabe Chapman.
Gabe Chapman
Rising Senior
Gabe Chapman is a rising senior at Orcas Island High School. He has lived on Orcas for five years and is a track athlete. Music is a huge part of his life, and he hopes to study environmental sciences.
