Four high school graduates have been given a boost for next year’s college adventure.

The Optimist Club of Washington awarded Rachel Lang, Ben McKeithan, Greyson Schmitt and Rob Zerniak with the club’s annual scholarships. Each rising freshman will receive $1,500 to help with college expenses next year, according to Patty Peebles.

Lang, a graduate of Northside, will attend North Carolina State University; McKeithan, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; Schmitt, UNC-Wilmington; and Zerniak, N.C. State.

Each applicant for the scholarship was required to write an essay, and entries were judged by out-of-town volunteers who do not know the applicants, Peebles said.

Of note, the four chosen to receive scholarships this year were all on the same Optimist Club soccer team — when they were four years old. Peebles said she and Katy LaBarbera were coaches for the team and when she pulled out the team picture, she was surprised to see the younger versions of the scholarship winners.

“That they were all on the same team, that’s just amazing,” Peebles said.

The scholarship banquet is held annually to honor students whose academic and extracurricular resumes are outstanding — this year’s event was on June 6, at Ne’er Do Well restaurant in Washington.