The Friends of Magnuson Park is an organization with two missions: To celebrate the aviation history of the naval airbase that once operated here at Sand Point, and to support the young people who now live here. This summer, the organization awarded a $5,000 scholarship to UW freshman and Sand Point Housing resident Elroe Yaiso.

Elroe already earned an associate degree from Seattle Central College while still in high school, which allowed her to jump straight into her Computer Science studies at the UW this fall.

“She is more than just a positive voice in our community. She is a positive force who takes initiative to improve the world around her and the lives of others.”  ~Oliver Alexander-Adams, Children and Families Program Manager 

“I have participated in many programs to prepare myself, such as Girls Who Code and Changemakers in Computing,” Elroe says. “I also created a club, called Women in Tech, at my high school. My friend and I created this club to bring more women into the tech field and share our experiences. Participating in these programs offered me the opportunity to learn computer programming.”

“More importantly, I have met many women that work in the computer science industry through this program, and it has given me the opportunities to ask questions and learn more about programming from professionals,” Elroe says.

Oliver Alexander-Adams, the Children and Families Program Manager at Sand Point, can attest to Elroe’s tenacity and hard work. “She is more than just a positive voice in our community. She is a positive force who takes initiative to improve the world around her and the lives of others.”

Outside of school, Elroe shows a deep commitment to her community. She helped found a Black Student Union at her high school, developed a vision for a community-driven park with Seattle Parks and Recreation, and is now a mentor to younger students at Sand Point.

This blog post was adapted from a Friends of Magnuson press release.