Viking Fest Scholarships:

   One of the main goals of the Viking Fest Corporation is to provide local scholarships to students who might not otherwise have this opportunity. We proudly sponsor the following scholarship opportunities:

•Gary Jones Memorial Scholarship: This is a $1,000 scholarship given annually to a student from the North Kitsap area who is graduating from high school and is enrolling in a college to pursue a career in the teaching profession. Gary was the President of Viking Fest Corporation for over 10 years and he and his wife were dedicated volunteers with the organization for many years. Gary died in 2008 after a valiant battle with cancer that caused him to step down as President in the summer of 2007. Following his retirement from active duty in the Navy, Gary began a civil service career at the Trident Training Facility at SUBASE Bangor, helping train the Sailors who man our Trident Fleet. Upon his death, it was decided to name a scholarship in his memory and offer it to a student who was similarly dedicated to the teaching profession, honoring the Jones family's longtime interest in education.

•Doug McKay Memorial Scholarship: This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to the Miss Viking Fest contestant who proposes and completes a community service project that in the opinion of the judges provides the most value to the community. Some of the past winners included suicide prevention, encouraging blood donations by high school students, mentoring of troubled youth, etc. Doug was the co-owner of the carnival that performs at Viking Fest. He was tragically killed in an accident in 2003. The Viking Fest Committee had gotten to know and appreciate Doug and his wife, Sherry, over the years and decided to create a scholarship in his memory.

•Miss Viking Fest Scholarship: The winner of the Miss Viking Fest pageant receives a $1,000 scholarship and the two runners up each receive a $500 scholarship. In addition to the scholarships, the pageant instills in the young ladies increased self confidence and poise. Please see the Miss Viking Fest page for more information.

•Barbara Krell Memorial Scholarship: This annual $1,000 scholarship is given annually to a student of the Northwest College of Art & Design. Barbara was a long time Viking Fest volunteer & a talented amateur artist and an active member of the Poulsbo Artist League, serving as the League’s Historian at the time of her death on January 1st, 2000. She found great pleasure in instilling children with an understanding of, and a love of art, serving for many years as an Art Docent at Breidablik Elementary School, near Poulsbo. She also sang in her church’s contemporary choir, taught in its religious education program, tutored for the Literacy Council of Kitsap County, and helped raise funds for breast cancer research. Barbara loved the outdoors, especially the Olympic Mountains and the Grand Canyon and scenes from her hikes there were frequent subjects of her art.