Two Bainbridge High School seniors have made history as the first two classmates to win a massive military scholarship March 13.

William Chin and Ian Sanders were each awarded $180,000 for college tuition by the Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps, a pipeline to an officer position in the service.

Only 12 such awards were granted in the Pacific Northwest, explained Bainbridge Island School District superintendent Amii Thompson.

“It is a very prestigious honor, and it is my understanding that this is the first time that two students have been awarded from the same school,” said Thompson. “That’s a really huge honor for them, and something that they worked really hard for.”

Students are eligible for the scholarship if they meet physical qualifications, including height, weight and age standards; are “morally qualified,” and lack civil offenses; meet college admissions standards and score above a 74 on the Armed Forces Qualification Test, 22 on the American College Test or a combined score of 1000 in Math and Reading on the SAT.

On the same day, Chin received the Frank Kitamoto award from the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community, a ceremonial designation that honors the contributions of young community members in the spirit of Frank Kitamoto.

Students who demonstrate inclusion, promote civil rights and social justice, work to improve school culture and show up for their peers can be nominated for the award. Chin leads the Ethnic Multicultural Student Association at BHS.