"Sending handwritten thank-you cards is a thoughtful gesture," I told Dennise. "People appreciate it." It's hard to get young people to write thank-you cards.

Today Dennise and I completed thank-you cards for twelve scholarships she won. I addressed envelopes while Dennis wrote in the cards. Mission accomplished.

So far, Dennise has won $51,400 in scholarships. Four are renewable through four years. More to come. Next week, she has an interview for a scholarship from a local Rotary Club. With my help, Dennise applied for 43 scholarships and four universities.

Dennise was accepted by the prestigious University of Washington. Starting in September, the UW is requiring all students to be fully vaccinated. Excellent.

She will major in applied math and minor in music (viola and percussion instruments).

Dennise will be the first person in her family to graduate from high school and go to college. Her Spanish-speaking parents are immigrants. "I hope to help my parents buy their first house," Dennise wrote in her goals.

"I couldn't have done it without you," Dennise said today.