Balreet Pawar Memorial Scholarship
1998 - 2023
The Balreet Pawar scholarship honors the memory of Balreet “Belle” Pawar daughter of Kuldeep Pawar and sister of Deepraj Pawar. Belle graduated from Pleasant Hill in 2016 and attended Whitman College where she graduated with a science degree in 2020. Belle was a shy, private person who had a deep love for animals, especially cats, and passion for social justice. She was compassionate and fierce in defending the weak. She loved science and put her heart into her family & friends along with her work at The Allen Institute devoted to brain research in Seattle.
One memorial scholarship in the amount of $2,000 will be awarded to honor the example Belle gave to all of us. This scholarship will be used to support the life goals of a fellow Pleasant Hill Billies.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
This scholarship is for a Pleasant Hill High School senior planning to attend a 2 or 4 year college or technical program, committed to pursuing the sciences or a health profession beginning the fall after graduation.
HOW DO I APPLY?
1. Scholarship Application Form
2. Transcript (the Board will reach out to Clarrissa Anderson in the High School Counseling Office to obtain a copy of your transcript)
3. OSAC Activities Chart.
4. 500 – 700 word essay describing your values, your career pursuits and how you represent a commitment to compassion for humans, animals and social justice.
5. Letter of recommendation from a coach, teacher, advisor, mentor, or boss.
WHEN ARE APPLICATIONS DUE?
Completed items above should be emailed in one PDF to amckee@phillfoundation.org by May 3rd, 2024.
WHAT CRITERIA IS USED TO SELECT A WINNER?
The scholarship is awarded on a competitive basis based on the essay on their values, pursuits, and their record as an involved and committed scholar.
WHEN WILL NOTIFICATIONS TAKE PLACE?
The Pleasant Hill Education Foundation scholarship selection committee and board will review the applications in May. Candidates will be chosen and notification will be given to the Pleasant Hill High School Principal and Counselor. The scholarship recipient will be announced at the Awards Night in June or via email.
QUESTIONS?
Email amckee@phillfoundation.org or call 541-736-0759.
Remembering Belle
Balreet Pawar,”Belle,” was born on February 22, 1998 in Eugene, Oregon to Kuldip Pawar and Pawar, with older sister Deepraj Pawar. She graduated from Pleasant Hill High school in 2016, followed by Whitman College with a degree in biology in 2020.
She then went on to work at Allen Research Institute in Neuroscience, hence why we are presenting this scholarship to those pursuing STEM. However, Belle’s real passion wasn’t science, it was actually English and Poetry, and she’d often leave notebooks full of her writing strewn around her apartment. She was a woman of many talents, she studied abroad and minored in Japanese.
Beyond her many academic achievements, Belle showed more generosity, compassion and sensitivity around her than most people can in a lifetime. While an incredible friend, her sensitivity also gave her a propensity towards animals.
Balreet had numerous pets, including a cat she rescued from a wheat field, and another toothless, senior cat from the Florence humane society. She even went so far as to take an injured crow to the vet on her way to work. Her life goals included opening a sanctuary for elderly cats.
Balreet was also a fierce advocate. She attended most protests in Seattle, whether she was fighting for LGBTQ rights or reproductive justice. She brought joy to everyone’s life around her. Her family and friends find themselves very lucky to have experienced the pure magic that is Belle. We will miss her presence, her beautiful personality, and her divine aura.
- Deepraj Pawar and Kuldip Pawar