Celebrating our Largest Graduating Class Ever!

When Merle Palmer and Rev. Al Davis began mentoring and financially supporting those two young men they handpicked from their Sunday School class more than 35 years ago, they likely never could have imagined the rippling effect they’d cause for our greater Pierce County community.

As we close out the 2018-2019 school year, we are excited to announce that we are graduating our largest class of college Scholars to date. As undergrads, these 24 Scholars have spent countless hours learning, growing, and rooting on their school’s football team. As the first in their families to go to college, many figured things out along the way, with the help of their mentors and Palmer Scholars staff. We couldn’t be more proud.

We truly understood what has been said at so many commencements before: graduation is only partly a celebration of the graduates. It is, more so, a celebration of all who have supported these ambitious young people along their journey.

If you joined us at our graduation ceremony at Pacific Lutheran University, you were lucky to meet some of our graduating college Scholars. Many Scholars had already started their exciting new careers or were making big moves to their new graduate schools. We truly understood what has been said at so many commencements before: graduation is only partly a celebration of the graduates. It is, more so, a celebration of all who have supported these ambitious young people along their journey. Our graduation ceremony was a celebration of Merle, Rev. Al and the avalanche of good will, hope, and opportunity that has come to our community since their very first Scholar. Congratulations Merle, Rev. Al, our mentors, volunteers, community of supporters, Scholars, and the families who have raised them to lead with integrity and compassion. We did it!

Follow us on social media to see some of the amazing things our alumni are up to