Submitted by: Whatcom Community College
Whatcom Community College students Christiana van den Heuvel of Deming, Washington and Emerson Powers of Acme, Washington have been selected for the All-Washington Academic Team, which honors students who demonstrate a commitment to success in the classroom and service in their communities. The 2017 team consists of 63 elite students representing the state’s 34 community and technical colleges.
Each team member is awarded a $250 scholarship, plus additional transfer scholarship opportunities. Based on her scores in the All-USA Community College Academic Team competition, van den Heuvel received an additional $1,500 scholarship from Phi Theta Kappa honor society and Coca-Cola as a 2017 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Gold Scholar. She was among 1,800 applicants.
van den Heuvel wants to be a nurse so she can serve and raise awareness about underprivileged communities. After graduating from WCC’s nursing program, van den Heuvel plans to gain real-world experience in emergency medicine in Chad, Africa, where she has previously provided medical care. She is involved in WCC’s international student mentorship program, Student Nurses of Whatcom, has been on the dean’s list since 2013, and is conversationally fluent in French.
Powers developed a love of learning as a home-schooled student and his drive for knowledge only increased when he entered WCC at age 15. He has a desire to help others. Powers is in Whatcom’s cybersecurity program where he is learning how to protect people from cyber-attacks. He is active in Phi Theta Kappa honor society, student help desk, IT pros club and was a mentor at Whatcom’s cybersecurity camp for middle and high schoolers.
“Christiana and Emerson are outstanding students who represent Whatcom’s mission to graduate innovators who contribute to our global society,” says WCC President Kathi Hiyane-Brown. “The entire campus community is extremely proud of them.”
About Whatcom: Whatcom Community College is a regionally and nationally accredited two-year college with an accomplished faculty and staff who serve 11,000 students annually. On its campus in Bellingham, Washington and through online courses, Whatcom offers a bachelor of applied science in IT Networking, transfer and professional-technical degrees as well as basic education, job skills training and community and continuing education classes. Based on student outcomes, the Aspen Institute recognizes Whatcom as one of the top community and technical colleges in Washington and among the nation’s leading two-year colleges. The College is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2017. For more information, visit whatcom.edu/50.
About the All-Washington Academic Team: Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Washington State Association for College Trustees, the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, along with Key Bank and the Washington State Employees Credit Union, sponsor the All-Washington Academic Team. Each team member also is a state nominee for the All-USA Community College Academic Team, which will be announced in April.
