2024 Denny Sullivan Award Winners
This article was originally published on our previous website and has been brought over as part of our archive. While we’ve done our best to preserve the original formatting, you may notice some quirks in layout or styling. Thanks for your understanding as we continue refining and improving the experience for all visitors.
Hall of Fame Members of the Month
The Denny Sullivan Scholarship Award was established to honor its namesake, who was Grant High School's cross country and track and field coach from the early 1950s to 1962.
During his tenure, Sully's teams had five consecutive years of undefeated dual meets, several city relay and track and field championships and the a state of Oregon championship in 1961. Sully’s track teams were the best in Grant's history at the time.
“His” athletes were required to remain academically eligible each season, to remain on course to be eligible for entrance into an institution of higher learning, to be competitive in their sport, and to establish and accomplish goals.
Annually from 2022 to 2024, The Denny Sullivan Scholarship Award honored the top graduating Portland Interscholastic League male and female cross country/track and field athlete as nominated by their school. The winners of the $10,000 Denny Sullivan Scholarship were selected by an independent committee taking into consideration outstanding academic achievement, outstanding cross country/track and field achievement, community/school involvement and financial need.
The winners were honored at the annual Portland Interscholastic League Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held each October.
2024 Denny Sullivan Scholarship Winners
First Place Male - Benati Louvouezo - Grant High School - $10,000
Accomplishment Highlights: Cumulative GPA: 4.0 (Honor roll) Utah Valley University (UVU) academic merit award - accepted to UVU Honors Program Chapman University (Dodge College) Dean’s Scholarship for outstanding artistic talent & academic merit PNCA Bridgetown artistic merit award UVU Division 1 track & field athletic scholarship for sprints & jumps Personal Bests: 100m-10.91, 4x100m-41.87, triple jump-45’6”, long jump-22’0.25” Grant High School All-Time High school records: 1st –4x100 relay, 3rd–long jump, 4th–triple jump, 8th–100 meter 2024 Grant Varsity Sprint Team Captain Current PIL Rankings: 1st–triple jump, 2nd-100m, 3rd-long jump, 1st-4x100 2023 PIL Championships: 1st–4x100m, 1st–long jump, 1st–triple jump, 2nd-100m 2023 Oregon State Championships: 2nd–triple jump, 4th -4x100m, 9th–long jump, 13th–100m 2024 Nike Jesuit Twilight Relays –1st-4x100m, 3rd-triple jump 2024 Sunset Team Challenge – 1st-4x100m 2023 Centennial Invitational - Bill Cook most outstanding male high point scorer
First Place Female - Tie - $10,000 each
Havana Alonso - Roosevelt - $10,000
Accomplishment Highlights: Class Valedictorian with a 4.218 weighted GPA, straight A's taking 8 of 11 offered AP classes at Roosevelt, earned Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish. Plans on attending Oregon State University. Freshman year placed 5th in PIL district for javelin and 8th in discus. Went to state and broke school record for girl's javelin. Hurt during sophomore year but participated as team manager. Junior year placed 1st in PIL districts in javelin, 5th in discus and 5th in shot. At state won 2nd in 6A Girls javelin and broke her own school record in javelin. Team Captain and won Rider Award for her dedication, hard work, leadership skills, and ability to remain positive throughout the season, in the class and on the track and field. Senior year as Team Captain has thrown for another school record in javelin.
Josie Fale - Ida B.Wells - $10,000
Accomplishment Highlights: 321 weighted GPA, # 1 Class Rank, Honor Roll every semester, has signed letter of intent to run for University of Utah and study Biology Member of Wells Athletic Leadership Council, Positive Coaching Alliance and Athletic Leadership Program. 3rd place in the 1500 at OSAA Oregon State meet (2023) 5th place in the 3000 at Oregon 6A state meet (2023) 7th place in the 800 at the OSAA state meet (2021) 7th place at the Oregon Cross Country State Meet (2022) PIL district champion 3000 in track and field (2023) Runner up in the 1500 at PIL District track and field championships (2023) 4th place finish in the 3000 at PIL district championships in the 3000 (2022) Voted MVP on track and cross country teams (2022,2023) Voted most dedicated on cross country and track and field team (2022, 2023) Team captain Cross Country and Track and Field (2022-present) Has qualified as an individual and team member for every state meet in cross country and track and field all four years. PIL all-league every year in high school All time # 2 for Ida B. Wells in the 800, 1500 and 3000 as well as anchoring the all-time #5 4x400m relay
Congratulations to our Second Place Award Winners!
Ethan Aman - Franklin High School - $7500; Amelia James - Lincoln High School - $7500
Final Congatulations to the Coaches of all the Winners!
Kent Siebold – Grant; Jacob Michaels - Franklin; Jonquil Vann - Roosevelt; Thor Esbensen - Ida B. Wells; Eric Dettman - Lincoln
Special Thanks to the Denny Sullivan Scholarship Committee for their work to honor these student athletes and provide financial assistance!
Butch Lumby
Tom Haley
John Bakkensen
Shannon Sullivan