Seattle Central Community College Students Honored in Olympia
SEATTLE — Seattle Central Community College is pleased to announce that two of its students have been named to the All-Washington Academic Team.
Brian McDonald and Mary Michaud both of Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood were recognized as top community and technical college students for their academic achievement and community service. The two are part of a group of students representing the state’s two–year colleges. The students were nominated through a state program modeled after the national All-USA Academic Team, initiated by Phi Theta Kappa, the two–year college international honor society.
The two were honored at an award ceremony on Thursday, March 22, at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. Each scholar received an All–Washington Academic Team medallion, a $750 scholarship, and was personally recognized by Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Mary Michaud, 31, spent her twenties exploring the world and dabbling in hobbies. At the age of 30, she decided to focus her thirst for knowledge and become a scholar in art history. After enrolling at Seattle Central, she found it a welcoming place for her inquiring mind. She earned a 3.69 GPA and joined Phi Theta Kappa. She found both her education and involvement in PTK so rewarding that she now has PhD aspirations.
Brian McDonald, 41, spent his formative years on a farm and has since cleaned offices, photocopied boxes of legal documents, admitted patients to an emergency room, and tested software. He accidentally fell in love with science while pursuing additional computer training. He maintains a 3.62 GPA and currently works in Seattle Central’s chemistry lab, presides over the Phi Theta Kappa chapter, contributes to the school newspaper, and plans for a research career at the intersection of molecular biology and biochemistry.
The All-Washington Academic Team has become the showcase for Washington’s community and technical colleges because it honors the academic high achievers, the men and women who have demonstrated a commitment to success in the classroom and in the communities in which they live. This recognition demonstrates the state’s commitment to scholarship and community service on the part of those attending the state’s public community and technical colleges.
This year, KeyBank and the Northwest Education Loan Association (NELA) have continued their sponsorship of the program. KeyBank will be granting $250 scholarships to each member of the All-Washington Academic Team. NELA will add an additional $500 to each scholarship. NELA is a not-for-profit guaranty agency that partners with schools, banks and other lending institutions to help students continue their education.
To learn more about the All-Washington Academic Team, go to http://www.spscc.ctc.edu/allwa.