2026 Jimmy Gabriel Memorial Scholarship Class Announced

The 2026 Jimmy Gabriel Memorial Scholarship class, clockwise from upper left: Xavier Ayala, Rylee Hall, Stefan Lucenko, Melanie Uhrich, Emery Samuelsen and Shreyas Prabhu.

Washington State Legends of Soccer has selected six young people from around the state as recipients for the 2026/27 Jimmy Gabriel Memorial Scholarship. They bring the number of WA Legends scholarship recipients to 38 since 2019.

“Our family is delighted to see the Jimmy Gabriel Memorial Scholarship awarded to this year’s six deserving recipients,” the Gabriel family statement reads. “Throughout his life, our father was committed to fostering the next generation of players. We’re proud to see how his legacy continues to support such hard working young people in pursuit of their athletic and academic dreams.”

Jimmy Gabriel was a Scot born in humble circumstances. He saw soccer as his way to a better life and sought every day to better himself. Gabriel, already acclaimed for a career in Scotland and England, became a legend in Seattle through playing and coaching at many levels, including the Seattle Sounders, University of Washington and Washington Youth Soccer. He was described as a whole-hearted and inspiring coach, ever-humble, generous and popular, who left his mark everywhere he went.

The Jimmy Gabriel Memorial Scholarship was created in 2023 by his many friends and family members, to extend his legacy to future generations. Applications for the 2027/28 scholarship will open early next year.

Donations for the Jimmy Gabriel Memorial Scholarship can be made here. Washington State Legends of Soccer is a 501(c)3 registered charity and dedicated to celebrating Washington’s soccer past and preserving its future. For more about WA Legends, visit the website or its extensive online museum.

The six recipients, their hometown, high school and future college are as follows:

• Xavier Ayala, Vancouver, Wa./Hockinson (Washington State University, Pullman)

• Rylee Hall, Olympia, Wa./Capital (The Evergreen State College, Olympia)

• Stefan Lucenko, Olympia, Wa./Olympia (Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles)

• Shreyas Prabhu, Bellevue, Wa./Sammamish (Georgia Tech, Atlanta)

• Emery Samuelsen, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome (Northwest University, Kirkland)

• Melanie Uhrich, Bremerton, Wa./Bremerton (Tacoma Community College, Tacoma)