Five Roseburg High School seniors have been chosen as the semi-finalists for the 2025 Future First Citizen Award. The outstanding students will share $26,000 in scholarship money, with the winner earning $10,000 toward tuition at the college of their choice. The remaining four finalists will each receive $4,000 scholarships.

The award recognizes five top seniors as future leaders, volunteers, supporters, and role models who will make a difference in their community.

The Roseburg High School Foundation is proud to announce (in random order): Annan Kohlberg, Sylvia Eckman, Owen Miller, Nilisha Patel, and Grace Harris as the Future First Citizen semi-finalists for 2025.

The students will be interviewed by a panel that includes a representative from the Roseburg High School Foundation, a past winner of the Future First Citizen award, and three local business leaders who have donated to the scholarship fund.

The winner will be announced at the Roseburg High School Foundation Scholarship Night set for 5:30 pm March 12 at the Roseburg High Student Center.

The Future First Citizen recognition and scholarship award was initiated for Roseburg High School Seniors 25 years ago. It was originally designed and financially supported by a combination of local business and individuals, many of whom are supporting the return of the award with a three-year commitment. The Roseburg High School Foundation Board assumed oversight of this valued recognition in 2020.

The Roseburg High School Foundation’s mission is to enhance and improve educational opportunities by securing and distributing financial resources for students and staff at Roseburg High School. To enrich the individual and collective lives of RHS students as the future of our community.

For more information about the Roseburg High School Foundation, and for information regarding donations, visit www.roseburghighschoolfoundation.org.

Annan Kolberg - Parents: Tim and Liz Smith - GPA: 4.00 - College Plans: University of Utah - Area of Study: Nursing and Humanities - Career Goals: Working for a Global Health Organization as a Nurse Practitioner - Activities/Honors: ASB Co-President, Certified Nursing Assistant Program, Student Instructor at Umpqua Valley Youth Orchestra, National Honors Society Treasurer, Key Club, Link Crew, Halau Hula Aulani, and My Coffee employee.

Annan Kolberg has developed her leadership skills through her role as ASB Co-President, as a student instructor and section leader in the Umpqua Valley Youth Orchestra, and through many hours as a barista at My Coffee. Annan has already begun her career path through the Certified Nursing Assistant Program through Umpqua Community College, already completing over 20 college credits. Annan enjoys traveling and has found a perfect fit for her career through her goal of working for a global healthcare organization as a nurse travel practitioner. The role she sees for herself is "traveling to underdeveloped countries to provide medical care for those in need".

Annan considers her role as Student Body Co-President as the most significant contribution she has made this year. Working with students and teachers, Annan was involved with several projects including developing a coin drive for cancer fundraising, designing school wide assemblies, and innovating a new school dance.

 

Grace Harris - Parent: Chelsie Harris – GPA: 4.0 – College Plans: University of Oregon - Area of Study: Political Science - Career Goals: US Government, Public Policy within the US Prison System Activities/Honors: Yearbook Editor 4 years, Key Club, Umpqua Valley Farmer’s Market, ASTRA, Lego Club Co-Founder, Link Crew, National Honor Society, The Berry Patch. 

Grace Harris has developed her desire to create change and pursue a political science degree through significant first-hand experiences. 

Grace volunteers at the Umpqua Valley Farmers Market, where one day, she helped an older gentleman with his order. He only spoke Spanish. Through her self-proclaimed remedial Spanish and Google Translate, they completed the transaction and the man praised her abilities. Grace wrote, “The short yet touching interaction taught me how powerful it is to simply speak to one another; sometimes a small conversation at the local market can make someone’s day.” 

With her father spending time in prison during her formative years, Grace and her brother were raised by their mother Chelsie, and it wasn’t easy for them. At times, Grace had to sacrifice her study time to help out around the house, even though she knew academics would be the best way for her to achieve her life goals. This, combined with her interest in politics at an early age, led Grace to desire a career improving the US Prison System. 

 

Nilisha Patel - Parents: Amit and Vaibhavi Patel – GPA: 3.96 – College Plans: a four-year university – Area of Study: Biology - Career Goals: Pediatric Health Care Provider – Activities/Honors: ASTRA Club Secretary, National Honor Society, Upward Bound, Key Club, VP Health Occupations Students of America, Feeding Umpqua. 

Nilisha Patel has learned empathy, the power of volunteering, and her passion for helping others in her time at Roseburg High School. Nilisha has contributed to children’s literacy through ASTRA, learned about the impact of contributing to a cause through Feeding Umpqua, and restarted the HOSA program at Roseburg High with the goal of helping future healthcare leaders. 

Her parents have modeled community service despite their busy schedules, also providing inspiration to their daughter, who hopes to become a pediatric healthcare provider because the field has helped her discover her passion for helping others. 

Nilisha worked to collect and donate free books to children attending the Brosi Pumpkin Patch as part of the Celebration of Literacy. She writes, “I have always been a quiet person so when I am part of projects for ASTRA it makes me feel like my voice is being heard.” 

 

Owen Miller – Parents: Samantha and Kyle Miller – GPA: 4.0 – College Plans: BYU – Area of Study: Biology – Career Goals: Orthodontics/Dental Professional – Activities/Honors: Club and RHS Swim Team, Tennis, Soccer, Montessori Summer Camp, YMCA Lifeguard, RHS Leadership, National Honor Society VP, ASTRA Treasurer, Link Crew, Ward Organist and Youth Choir Director within the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

A common theme in Owen Miller’s life is his desire to bring happiness to the community where he is planted. Owen has played the organ at his church since he was 14, eventually playing at other community events, like recitals and baptisms. Owen writes, “It wasn’t easy to learn the organ or to play for so many people, but it helped me grow as a person and a musician. It also showed me how much music can impact others.” 

Owen credits his mom for teaching him the value of consistent service. Her mantra of ‘an act of service a day will keep the negative feelings away’ has been engrained in Owen. He says, “service is more than just helping others, it’s a way to build relationships and spread joy.” 

Owen wants to become an orthodontist, in part to follow in his father’s dentist footsteps, but also to work with more kids, to do his part to make them happy. 

Owen plans on serving in a two-year mission for his church after his first year of college, something he has prepared for his entire life. He wrote, “I look forward to dedicating my time to helping others and bringing them happiness” through his mission. 

 

Sylvia Eckman - Parents: Nathan and Mary Eckman – GPA: 4.0 – College Plans: Undecided – Area of Study: Global Studies - Career Goals: Global Problem Solver. Activities/Honors: ASB Co-President, Key Club President, Yearbook Design Editor, Cross Country Team MVP, 2024 Conference Champion, All-State Selection. 

Sylvia Eckman counts the creation of the Campus Clothing Closet at Fremont Middle School and her work to sustain the closet at Roseburg High School as her most significant school or community contribution. Sylvia won a national grant to start the community clothing closet at Fremont through the Kiwanis Children’s Fund. Sylvia writes, “working on these closets, I’ve discovered the power of our community’s collective action: retired nurses’ wisdom, students concepts, and local donors’ generosity.” 

As ABS Vice-President, Sylvia led the re-start of the club grant program at RHS, allowing students to apply for funding directly, leading to accountability and learning how to advocate for themselves. 

Sylvia hopes to become a global problem solver through lived experience and learned knowledge in order to be an advocate, answering questions like: How can we become better global citizens?