The Sumner High School Alumni Association has a new partnership with the Sumner-Bonney Lake Education Foundation.

Association President Lionel Haywood said it was challenging to raise sufficient money to maintain the $3,000 in student scholarships the group awards annually. Last year, the association’s Board of Directors met with the Foundation to discuss how combined efforts would benefit students now and in the future.

Last fall, the association voted unanimously to invest our scholarships savings account with a foundation providing fiscal management, and matching funds for students through Dollars for Scholars increasing the value of Alumni scholarships. As part of the partnership, Haywood said the group is committed to creating an endowed scholarship fund with a goal of $60,000.

Haywood said with the alumni’s initial funds and the donations we have received in the past three months of the campaign, we have raised 32 percent of their $60,000 goal.

Through the partnership, the association will continue to award scholarships to Sumner High School graduates.

“We will continue to define the criteria for selection, to interview scholarship candidates and to make the final decision on awarding scholarships,” said Haywood. “The foundation will work with the students and the college or university to transfer the funds awarded.

Contributions to the Alumni Scholarship Fund can be made to: Sumner/Bonney Lake Education Foundation, 1202 Wood Ave., Sumner, 98390.