Who was Lloyd Dexter Olson? Lloyd was a Cle Elum HS grad in 1951. He was a Navy Vet during Korean War. Earned a B.A. at CWU and Masters Degree at WSU. He was an active member of the VFW and Kiwanis in Cle Elum and in 2013 he won the Pangazi Award as a community leader. Lloyd’s passion was educating young people and sometimes served as a substitute school principal in different locations in Washington State He was also a past president of the Retired Teacher Association of Washington and was the driving force in creating the highly successful Swiftwater Alternative school in Cle Elum.
Lloyd was a good-looking, kind man with a great sense of humor… which came in handy as he and Dorothy raised seven children and were married for sixty years. Dorothy Olson passed in May, 2021.
One of Lloyd’s great interests was in literature and with that in mind an annual short story contest has been created to help fund the scholarship.
What is the Lloyd Olson Scholarship about?
After Lloyd Olson passed away on Sept 24, 2017, KXLE Radio’s Terry Cubbins and South Cle Elum’s Mayor, Jim Devere spearheaded a campaign to honor Lloyd by creating an annual $2,000 scholarship fund for students in the Upper County looking to go to collage. The first year this scholarship ran, a local girl from Easton won and in the years preceding, including last year, the winners have all been local students from Cle Elum high school. So far the scholarship has raised $10,000, all of which has gone directly to the winning students. This year we are continuing on the goal of awarding a deserving young local the same opportunity!
How is the money raised?
Well every year there is a short story competition that’s $25 per story to enter... So yes multiple stories do increase your odds of winning! All donations are welcome so you don’t have to submit a story in order to donate!
What are the prizes for the winning story entrees?
The top 3 winners of the writing competition win $100 gift card each to one of the following local restaurants: Beau's Restaurant, The Sunset cafe and Village Pizza! 1st place winner gets their choice from the 3 gift cards, 2nd place picks from the remaining 2 and you guesses it, 3rd place gets the remaining $100 gift card! The top 3 runners up (4th, 5th & 6th place) will also receive a $20 gift card each to one of the following local businesses: Pioneer Coffee Roasting Company, Salon2120..... and updates to follow...
Who was last years winner and how is the scholarship fund winner chosen?
The winner of the 2022 Lloyd Olson Scholarship Fund was Cle Elum High school student, Jesus Ochoa! The students chosen each year for the scholarship are among those students who put their names forward for consideration at their local high school.
How to donate and/or pay the entry fee?
Entry fee and/or donations can be deposited at the Umpqua Bank in Cle Elum OR you can include a check with any mailed-in story.
Please make the check out to: The Lloyd Olson Scholarship Fund.
BANK ADDRESS: Umpqua Bank, 201 E 1st St, Cle Elum, WA 98922
How to submit your story?
You can email your story to terrypcubbins@gmail.com
Or you can mail in your story to: Mr Cubbins, 2410 Bighorn Way, Cle Elum, 98922.
EXTRA DETAILS:
Deadline for submissions is June 30th, 12pm!
Story must be 1,500 words or less
Fact or fiction, any subject or topic welcome!
Original and unpublished work only!
The winners name’s will be announced on KXLE radio, published in the tribune paper and a shout out will be given on my author Facebook page and website.
Thank you for reading and I hope you will help share this great cause by word of mouth and such!
