Submitted by Whatcom Community College
Governor Jay Inslee honored Whatcom Community College (WCC) students Na Eun Kim of Abbotsford, British Columbia, and Alan Alatorre of Burlington at the 21st annual All-Washington Academic Team recognition ceremony March 24 at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. The 2016 All-Washington Academic Team consists of 66 students representing the state’s 34 community and technical colleges. Kim and Alatorre are WCC’s representatives.
The All-Washington program honors students who demonstrate a commitment to success in the classroom and service in their communities. Each team member also is a state nominee for the All-USA Community College Academic Team, which will be announced in April. Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), 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 WSECU, sponsor the event. Each team member is awarded a $250 scholarship, plus additional transfer scholarship opportunities. Kim received an additional $1,000 scholarship from PTK as a 2016 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Bronze Scholar.
“Na Eun and Alan are successful student scholars and leaders at Whatcom,” says WCC President Kathi Hiyane-Brown. “We are extremely proud of them as examples of the excellent caliber of our students.”
Na Eun Kim is passionate about social justice. As the associated student vice president and chair of WCC’s social justice, equity and pluralism committee, she plans events for the campus community that discuss race, ethnicity and identities. She has served on WCC’s global citizen association, programming and diversity board, and won the 2015 Outstanding Service to Students Award. Kim plans to transfer to University of Washington, and eventually travel the world teaching English. She is one of 150 national Coca-Cola Bronze Scholar honorees from 1,900 applicants. Selection was based on scores the student earned in the All-USA Community College Academic Team competition.
Alan Alatorre transferred to Western Washington University winter 2016 to study human services. He hopes to eventually earn a master’s degree in adult education or social work. Alatorre has served as a student ambassador, president of the Latino leadership club and worked in WCC’s intercultural center. He also volunteers for Bellingham’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services. He believes kindness, active listening and connections can have a huge impact on people.
