Marine Corps lieutenant Meagan Reed, Bothell High grad of 2002, received the Bothell High Alumni Association scholarship that year with plans to enter Whitman College. What followed makes me dizzy just trying to absorb all of her many accomplishments over such a few years. Meagan “can’t wait until our first reunion,” she wrote to association president Chuck Kaysner, class of 1963.

“I am indeed continuing my education, having received a combined degree in politics, philosophy and economics (an independently planned major) from Whitman (College) in 2006. I also minored in music and studied abroad in Nantes, France.

“I’m currently halfway through my J.D. (law degree) at Yale Law School. I still play the oboe, though I’ve progressed beyond the high school marching band to a community orchestra. I’m also studying Spanish (to the detriment of my French skills), as I plan to spend the summer in Argentina doing a research project with Yale University’s Brady-Johnson Grand Strategies Program on transitional governments and the rule of law … while spending my free time tango dancing, a recently-developed passion of mine!

“In August 2006, I received my commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, though I believe I’m due for a promotion to first lieutenant soon. (A lot has happened in the last five and a half years, now that I think about it.) I’m going to serve for at least four years as a military lawyer (called a Judge Advocate General, like in the TV show “JAG,” the movie “A Few Good Men,” etc.) after I graduate in 2009. I intend to request overseas deployment for some or all of my contract.

“After completing my military service, I hope to be a federal prosecutor at the United States Attorney’s Office in Seattle. Ultimately, perhaps I will find a way to participate in local or state politics. Which reminds me, I think I listed my “future career” in the BHS yearbook as “Senate Majority Leader.” I’m not exactly ready to launch my campaign, but maybe someday.”

In contrast to this exceptional success story, earlier this summer we gathered some exceedingly alarming numbers about the condition of education in this state, thanks to Trish Dziko, director of the Technology Access Foundation. Trish left her promising job in the high-tech world to establish a program for the underserved community of youngsters and adults who lack access to computers — so necessary in this day and age.

First, Washington state ranks a dismal 43rd in per-student funding of kindergarten through the 12th-grade public education. As a result a single school counselor is expected to look out for an average of 500 students.

Of the state’s high-school graduates entering a four-year college or university in Washington, 48 percent of them must complete a remedial class in order to begin their college education. Think of the additional cost of higher education as a result. For those entering community college, the number is 52 percent.

Of Washington state residents 65 and older, 92 percent have a high-school diploma. In the age grouping of 18 to 24, only half as many have graduated from high school.

COSTLY TUITION — Recognizing the staggering impact of rising college tuition costs, a volatile investment market and troubling economic times, the trustees of the Northshore Scholarship Foundation have moved to increase the value of their scholarships, even if it means fewer scholarships may be available each year. President Eric Barnum notes the move is an attempt to make the scholarships more meaningful and more helpful in making a difference in a graduate’s ability to finance a college education. The minimum scholarship to be offered in 2009 through the foundation’s 50 endowments will be $1,500 — up from the previous level of $1,000.

The $1,500 will cover barely half of a year’s community or technical college tuition and fees. But it won’t cover a quarter’s tuition at one of Washington’s state four-year colleges whose annual tuition and fees combine to range between $6,000 and $7,000.

The foundation has provided more than 80 scholarships averaging $1,700 for the past five years. The goal is to get that average to $2,000 and above. As a result of the decision, some scholarships likely will be offered only on alternate years, but at a more “meaningful” value to the recipient.

DOUG HART — I want to note the passing late last month of a long-long time resident of Bothell, Doug Hart at age 95. He was a 1932 graduate of Bothell High. We became acquainted after his sister, Dorothy, had established a scholarship in memory of Richard A. Hart, his father. Doug was a regular at the May breakfasts held to recognize recipients of Northshore Scholarship Foundation scholarships. With Doug, we not long ago interviewed a woman from France who had prepared Doug and fellow Army doughboys a Thanksgiving dinner when he was on duty in Europe. He brought her to meet his Bothell family in a most emotional and unique reunion.

His family suggested memorials to the Hart Family Scholarship, N.S.F. at P.O. Box 173, Bothell, WA 98041.

John Hughes was owner-publisher of the Northshore Citizen from 1961 to 1988 and is active in local nonprofit organizations.