Four Powell High School students have earned the prestigious Daniels Fund scholarship — students earn up to $25,000 a year through this merit based scholarship which helps cover costs at any accredited college or university they choose to attend.

Powell High School senior Dacovney Brochu said the Daniels Fund scholarships helps students that they observe have qualities including leadership, kindness and are charitable.

“They want to help support people they think will be leaders in the future,” Brochu said.

Seniors Owen Fink, Jade Ilg, Brochu and Abby Wambeke earned spots in this year’s list of 238 recipients following an intense application process.

For Wambeke, the Daniels Fund application process was the most rigorous she was involved in. She spent roughly a month on each phase of the application process.

“It made me do some soul searching,” she said. “You know what I mean? So I really had to think about the things that have happened in my life and that I’ve done in my life.” 

Wambeke is using the scholarship to finance her ag business degree at the University of Wyoming, which has been her dream school since she was young. 

The scholarship has opened new doors for Ilg who had planned to attend the University of Montana following a stint at Northwest College. Now that she’s earned the Daniels Fund she’s looking at every option.

“In my dreams the Ivy Leagues, but more probable? Maybe Washington,” she said.

Ilg has not decided on a major quite yet but she’s interested in either graphic design or mortuary science. 

Brochu hasn’t decided which college she’ll attend, but she knows that she’ll pursue a career in cybersecurity and network analytics. 

Fink will be using the scholarship to pursue a career in business at the University of Wyoming. The late Bill Daniels, a businessman who is responsible for the Daniels Fund scholarship, was famous for his business ethic and philanthropy. Fink, who is thankful to Bill Daniels and the fund for giving him the opportunity, is not unaware of Daniels’ legacy. 

“Obviously, his legacy of philanthropy would be something that I would strive to emulate,” Fink said. “And then also, just his integrity and honesty and his work ethic, is something I would hope to have in my career as well.”