Dotson Awarded First Ever Gary Stamper Scholarship

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The Economic Alliance of Lewis County awarded Gary Dotson a $1,500 scholarship at Senior Night at White Pass High School, given in honor of the late Lewis County Commissioner Gary Stamper, who died from Covid-19 complications last year.

This was the first awarding of the Gary Stamper Scholarship.

He will be continuing his education by attending Lower Columbia College to pursue his Bachelor of Science in Childhood Education and then onto Western Governors University to get his Masters in Secondary Education. He has already received his Associates of Arts degree at Centralia College where he is on the Dean’s List. He is also a member of the National Honor Society for all four years of high school, and Valedictorian of the class of 2022.

He has several athletic achievements in basketball where he was team captain all four years. Stamper was a notable high school basketball coach which was one of his passions.

Dotson is active in his community by assisting elderly neighbors by shoveling snow filled driveways during the winter and has helped another neighbor fix his truck bumper. He would like to stay in Lewis County and teach at a 2B or 1A school upon completion of his college education.

“Gary Stamper would be proud of the first selection of the scholarship in his name,” said Economic Alliance of Lewis County Executive Director Richard DeBolt.



The public is encouraged to donate to the scholarship fund so Stamper’s legacy can be carried out year after year.

“I just think it’s a way to honor him and the gift that he gave to the community and all of his years of service as being a commissioner and being a basketball coach and just being Gary around the community,” said Dolly Tardiff of the Economic Alliance. “He was such a happy and inspirational man and it’s the least we can do to give this tribute back to the community in his name.”

if you want to donate:

• Call 360-748-0114

• Mail checks to P.O. Box 916, Chehalis, WA 98532; Make checks payable to Economic Alliance of Lewis County

• Venmo @Economicalliance