FORKS — The Forks High School Senior Class of 2024 is hosting the 60th anniversary edition of the annual Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction on Saturday and Sunday.
The auction will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Forks High School, 261 Spartan Ave.
This longstanding tradition is unique to Forks.
The auction fuels scholarships for graduating seniors or any alumni of Forks High School to further their education.
It is always heavily supported by the community, with donations coming from businesses, individuals and even the neighboring Olympic Correction Center inmates, who have contributed since 1987.
Since its inception, it has raised around $2 million to assist Forks graduates with scholarships to colleges, or for technical training, with several record-breaking years.
David Hurn, chairman of the Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction (QVSA), is hoping that another record can be broken this year and set the goal at $180,000.
Handmade items — ranging from baked goods to jewelry, clothing and, often, furniture — are offered along with experiences such as two rounds of golf at the Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course and a variety of gift certificates.
The auction is always organized by the graduation class. It is put on this year by several members of the Class of 2024.
At this year’s auction, the senior parents will provide concessions for hungry bidders, with the proceeds going to Senior Safe Night.
Tradition
QVSA began as the Quillayute Valley Scholarship Fund.
Organizers felt that, due to the remoteness of the community, the cost of college or trade school education was not always within reach for many Forks families. So they met in February 1964 to begin the drive for scholarship funds.
The first auctions were via radio. By 1980, the event had been moved to the Northwestern National Bank lobby and later to the Bank of America building.
In 2012, it was moved to the Forks High School Commons.
A 501(c)(3) organization sponsors the annual auction and provides scholarships to FHS graduates. It is independent of the school district, but scholarship applications are available at Forks High School.
The application deadline is April 15.
Donations can be made at https://qvsa.org or mailed to PO Box 763, Forks, WA 98331.
