Edmonds College student leaders moving to 4-year schools

Lake Stevens High School graduate earns scholarship

Tyler Koons, a graduate of Lake Stevens High School, has been awarded the Jill L. Renshaw Scholarship for 2020.

The son of Jeff and Julie Koons of Everett received a $6,000 award. He plans to pursue a career in computer science, focusing on machine learning at Montana State University.

In school, Koons received many awards and honors in academics and certificates in technology. He also served in student government and volunteered as a Seattle Seafair Ambassador. He was part of his school’s robotics club and received the VEX Robotics Club Award of Excellence.

Recommendations reviewed by the scholarship selection committee described Koons as “a leader, sincerely kind, empathetic, extremely bright, compassionate, patient, dependable and able to break down complex tasks and prioritize them.”

Six Edmonds College officers transferring to four-year universities

The Associated Students of Edmonds College Executive Board, the official voice of the student body at Edmonds College, has six officers transferring to four-year universities across the United States.

Kameron Kamimae is headed to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Jason Nimpoeno will attend the University of Minnesota, Brenda Obonyo is transferring to the University of Washington, Benjamin Thompson is off to the University of Michigan, Hayden Tran is going to the UCLA, and Vanessa Zelenovic’ will attend the University of Washington.

“I commend each of the executive officers for their commitment to academic excellence and community service,” said Edmonds College President Amit B. Singh. “Working together, they have provided critical support to their peers during a year of great upheaval.”

Some of the boards accomplishments this past year included distributing $100,000 toward the Edmonds College Foundation, scholarships, housing assistance for students and more, as well as facilitating two Safe Space Chats for students on the impact of George Floyd’s death and celebrating the first annual Pride Day in support of LGBQT students and allies.

EvCC wins $50,000 for student parents Weekend College

Everett Community College was one of 15 recipients nationwide — and one of only two community colleges — to receive a $50,000 Early Stage Rise Prize for the school to pilot a Weekend College for student parents.

The Rise Prize was created by Imaginable Futures, a venture of The Omidyar Group, and the Lumina Foundation, along with a group of partner organizations, to invest in innovative solutions supporting student parents.

“We are excited to win an early stage grant for the Rise Prize,” said EvCC President Daria Willis, who was a single mother to a toddler while she earned her degree from Florida State University. “The Weekend College model is our path to providing additional flexibility for students. It is an innovative concept that will increase retention and success rates for our most vulnerable populations.”

The planned Weekend College will offer hybrid in-person, weekend classes and online classes to student parents with resources that include drop-in childcare, advising, counseling and technology for parents. EvCC plans to start Weekend College in fall 2021 with up to 50 students.