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Top 25 students from Centralia and Chehalis along with scholarship recipients were honored at the annual luncheon.
By Sigourney Orstad
For the C-C Chamber of Commerce
It’s that time of year again!
As the school year winds down and students gear up for graduation, the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Rob Fuller Top 25 Luncheon. The event honors the top 25 students from both Centralia High School and W.F. West High School. These 50 graduating seniors earned the highest GPAs at their respective schools, demonstrating exceptional commitment to their education.
The luncheon also recognized scholarship recipients who applied through local Chamber-affiliated funds, including 11 students awarded the Rob Fuller Scholarship. The scholarship honors the legacy of the late Rob Fuller, a respected Lewis County business owner, community leader, volunteer, and philanthropist.
Keynote speaker Hillary Hull—an agricultural teacher, FFA advisor, and Worksite Learning Coordinator based in Yelm—encouraged students to take pride in their achievements. She distributed stickers as a keepsake, encouraging recipients to collect stickers during meaningful milestones and display them on a water bottle as a visual reminder of their accomplishments.
W.F. West senior Mackenzie Dotson, a Rob Fuller Scholarship recipient, expressed her gratitude:
“I’m just really grateful to have won this award,” she said. “My college tuition is very expensive, so any little penny helps at this point and really takes the burden off my family.”
Dotson plans to attend George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, and pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Another recipient, Connor Klovdahl, shared what the scholarship means for his future:
“It means a lot to have won this award,” he said. “It takes a financial burden off my back to provide a better future for myself. It’s a big help—a big steppingstone into the future.”
Klovdahl plans to attend Centralia College to earn his associate degree. He’s still undecided on his long-term path but looks forward to exploring his options.
Keynote Speaker, Hillary Hull, provided an uplifting message as a former Top 25 student.
This year also marked the debut of the PUD Commissioners Tradesman Scholarship. W.F. West senior Jaden Blanks, one of the first recipients, reflected on its impact:
“It feels pretty amazing, honestly,” said Blanks. “I just transferred to W.F. West last year, and getting these opportunities to actually do whatever I want in life and really succeed—it’s honestly amazing. And to be one of the first ones to win this award? That’s pretty cool, if you ask me.”
Blanks plans to attend Clover Park Technical College in Tacoma to study welding.
The students recognized at the Rob Fuller Luncheon have bright futures ahead. The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce is proud to support them as they take their next steps and wishes all Lewis County graduates success in their post-graduation endeavors.
