Whatcom's vision focuses on innovation that is deeply rooted in the experience of our diverse and changing communities. Each year we celebrate students with honors and awards to recognize their educational achievements and how they contribute to the vitality of community. Our hope for all WCC students, especially those we recognize on this page, is that they will contribute powerfully to active citizenship in a global society. Whatcom Community College congratulates our 2024 honorees and awardees. 

View the 2024 awards ceremony.

 

President's Award - Alambey Byrd

Alambey decided to pursue his passion and further his education after completing five years and two deployments in the United States Navy. As a veteran, Alambey brings a unique perspective, resilience, and dedication to everything he does.   
 
Alambey began his educational journey at WCC when the world was navigating an unprecedented pandemic.  Alambey’s intellectual curiosity, diligence, and perseverance have earned him recognition in his field of study--- cybersecurity.  His unwavering commitment to academic excellence earned him an Associate Degree in Computer Information Systems in Spring 2021. Next week, he will graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Networking and Cybersecurity with a 3.81 GPA.

He was awarded an internship with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  He worked with a small team in the Office of the Inspector General, helping the agency monitor their controls over fraud and abuse. Alambey was elected by fellow students and faculty to speak and conduct a live demonstration of a simulated malware attack in an ICS environment at the grand opening of Cyber Range at Anvil Corporation in Bellingham before local elected officials and industry representatives. He served as the subject matter expert for the network at Cyber Range and advised BAS students with their capstone projects. He successfully provided oversight for network configurations and was recognized for his overall leadership for Cyber Range direction and project management.
 
Last summer he helped to transform Baker Hall into an ideal environment for our annual Gen Cyber Camp in which middle school and high school students come to WCC’s campus to experience and complete various tasks and procedures with the goal of nurturing a continued passion for S.T.E.M in education. Recently in Baker Hall, Alambey led three lab aids in the retrofitting process of various systems in the server room as well as decommissioning the previous file server and migrating the Domain Controller to a new solid-state server. He will also be extending a virtual environment for the college's Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition team. This project will allow the team who competes annually, to have a dedicated virtual work environment to allow students to practice cyber-attack and defense methodologies.

When Alambey is not in the server room, he is visiting with staff and students in the Veteran Services Office. He makes himself available to support other veterans or students with their cybersecurity courses. Veteran Services staff described Alambey as an individual with a strong work ethic, integrity, and extremely adaptable. Alambey uses his own experiences to motivate others to pursue their dreams. I have been working closely with the federal government, business, and industry to promote the support of future workforce education and training in cybersecurity.  Alambey exemplifies the type of student that many aspire to hire in the 600,000 job openings there are in this country in cybersecurity.  He has a strong academic record, has had valuable on the job work experiences during his internship, and while working on the Anvil project, and has a record of college service—assisting other students to complete their program requirements, and contributing to the development and improvement of the CIS program infrastructure.
 
Alambey, your service, both in the military and here at WCC, is a testament to your exceptional character and leadership. As you move forward into the next chapter of your life, I am confident that you will continue to inspire and lead with the same passion and commitment that you have shown here at WCC. Your contributions have made our community richer, stronger, and more compassionate. When Alambey was asked what advice he will give other students, he said “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.” 

Presented by Kathi Hiyane-Brown, College President

Laidlaw Award - Emiline Hansen

Emiline began her academic journey at WCC as a running start student and will be graduating with an AAS degree. Emiline’s dedication and service to our campus community have truly set a standard of excellence.  Her journey at WCC is a testament to the power of compassion, leadership and tireless effort.   
 
From the moment Emiline joined us, it was clear that she was not just here to earn a degree, but to make a lasting impact.  Emiline served as an Intercultural Peer Navigator in the Simpson Intercultural Center.  She also has served as the President of the Black Student Union since fall 2023. As the President of the Black Student Union, she fostered an inclusive environment for Black students, helping to build community and a sense of belonging on campus. During Black History Month, Emiline hosted several events to highlight and elevate black excellence.  She also served as the Emcee for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service community event with 350 attendees.   
 
Her creativity and organizational skills contributed to a number of other events on and off campus such as Talkin Stories held at the Intercultural Center. Moreover, Emiline has volunteered countless hours with Habitat of Humanity, Chances with Children in Arizona, and she has helped build homes for families in Kenya and Tanzania and mentor youth at her church. She has shown all of us what it means to give back selflessly. She did all of this while maintaining a 3.76 GPA. Emiline was noted by faculty as being “an extremely resilient first-generation college student who has overcome significant personal challenges only to emerge with resolute dedication to her educational and personal goals.
 
What truly sets Emiline apart is her unwavering commitment to serve others. Whether through mentoring fellow students, organizing events that bring us together, or advocating for others, Emiline has shown that leadership is about service and lifting others up. As described in her own words, “As I embark on the next chapter of my life, I am committed to strive for excellence, lead with integrity and serve others with compassion.”
 
As for what is next for Emiline, I am proud to share that she has been accepted to the Textile and Fashion Design program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was awarded their Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program (a four-year, full tuition scholarship program for undergraduate students).
Emiline thank you for your participation and dedication to your fellow students and for your service to our community—we are proud of you!

Presented by Kathi Hiyane-Brown, College President

Outstanding Service to Students Award: Returning - Alaina Hirsch

Alaina has served as the Student Body President for the Associate Students of Whatcom Community College (ASWCC), serving as the chair of the ASWCC Executive Board, and over the past year, she has impressed us with her steadfast commitment to competent governance in support of students and staff on campus. Alaina has worked to engage the student body and student leaders in civic engagement conversations and activity both at the student governance level, and at the state level. 

This year Alaina prepared a group of 7 ASWCC Executive Board members and Senators to attend Legislative Advocacy Day in Olympia, leading by example, and helping her peers feel prepared and confident. Alongside her work with the ASWCC, Alaina has been an active advocate for the needs of parents on campus, working to promote the campus as a supportive and welcoming place for parents. 

To quote her nomination: “Alaina is returning to school as a single parent and is juggling a full-time class schedule with care of her child and student leadership on top of that.  She has returned to college with clear goals and expectations for herself and is working to make a positive impact on the student body, the ASWCC leadership team, and all of the students that she has the opportunity to encourage and inspire.” 

I would also like to recognize that on April 19 at a ceremony at the Museum of Flight, Alaina Hirsch was a recipient of the Student Civic Leadership Award from the Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good, recognizing outstanding student leaders at Washington Campus Coalition member campuses for their work in civic engagement and social entrepreneurship. Congratulations to you for your advocacy and initiative!

Presented by Kerri Holferty, Vice President for Student Services

Outstanding Service to Students Award: Graduating - Magaly Aguayo Ramos

The recipient of the Outstanding Student Service Award for a Graduating Student is Magaly Aguayo Ramos who has proven themself as a generous and committed leader at Whatcom, through active involvement in many committees, clubs, councils, and other work groups across campus. Magaly has worked at the Writing Center, and at the Intercultural Center as a Peer Navigator. They are a member of ASWCC Latine Student Union, as well as the Native Indigenous Student Association, which they helped charter. They have served on the ASWCC Inter-Club council and the Campus Diversity Committee. 

Through a learning contract in their composition class last spring, Magaly conducted research which focused on linguistic justice, particularly for Latine Students at WCC, and their presentation to Faculty regarding their findings has generated productive discussion and reflection on equity within the English Department. Magaly’s commitment to diversity, equity, and social justice is evident in their scholarship and leadership, and their keen advocacy has had a great impact on their peers. 

To quote their nomination for this award: “Magaly encourages those around them to be their most true and authentic selves, and their work in the IC, the ASWCC Latine Student Union and in the Writing Center demonstrates their deep commitment to building community at WCC through service.  Magaly is a bright, insightful, and dedicated student who has served the WCC community with remarkable enthusiasm, ability, and experience.”

Additionally, I would like to share that Magaly was also recognized at the April 19th ceremony at the Museum of Flight and received the Student Civic Leadership Award from the Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good, recognizing outstanding student leaders at Washington Campus Coalition member campuses for their work in civic engagement and social entrepreneurship. Congratulations to you for your advocacy and initiative!

Presented by Kerri Holferty, Vice President for Student Services

International Student Service Award - Jovanka Wong

Jovanka began her studies at Whatcom in the fall of 2023, coming to the US from Indonesia. Although she has been here for less than a full academic year, she’s been busy finding ways to be of service to the college. She has served as an Orientation Assistant in International Programs, helping newly arrived students get settled in at Whatcom and in the community.  
 
In addition, she has been a student leader, serving as the student senator for the Associated Students of Whatcom Community College. In that role she has been an active advocate for housing accessibility and affordability and has attended a variety of conferences around the state to meet with fellow college students to lobby legislators about this important topic.
 
Colleagues describe Jovanka as kind, mature, thorough, curious, a great question asker, an advocate, a big thinker, a leader, and a wonderful human being. Congratulations, Jovanka – we look forward to your continued service to Whatcom next year.

Presented by Ulli Schraml, Director for International Programs

 

International Student Service Award - Niko Vasileiou

Niko came to Whatcom in the Winter of 2023 from Germany as an international student athlete, and he quickly distinguished himself on the soccer pitch, in the classroom, and around the college. Niko earned a lot of recognitions and served a lot of soccer roles this year:

• 2023 Men’s Soccer Captain, 2023 NWAC Men’s Soccer All-Star, 2023-24 NWAC Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Committee Student Representative, 2023-24 Student Recreation Center Student Ambassador, 2023-24 NWAC All-Academic All-Star, and the 2023-24 Orca Men’s Player of the Year. 
• Athletic Director Rob Pedicone had lots of great things to say about Niko, including…“Whenever I am in a pinch and need a student athlete to attend an event or speak for a cause, Niko never shies away. I tell people, “If we had a 100 Nikos, we would be the greatest college athletics program ever! We would never lose a game and have 4.0 gpa’s across the board”. 
 
Niko was also involved in service to Whatcom through his work in Conference and Event Services.  His Manager, Tamara Addis says “[Niko] stood out as a leader to his peers. He fosters excellence amongst those around him and instills confidence in his abilities no matter what the task.  He's got a knack for seeing the big picture, and knowing just what he can do to make sure each event is a success. Plus, he's great company and easy to talk with! One cool human! Congratulations, Niko – we wish you all the best as you continue your university education in Texas next year.

Presented by Ulli Schraml, Director for International Programs

 

All-Washington Academic Team - Katie Datskaya

Yekaterina (Katie) Dastskay’s journey to the US began at the age of 8, when her
family, consisting of her parents and 11 siblings left Ukraine in pursuit of a brighter future. Now, as a parent to two young boys, she is committed to leading by example to ensure their success. The pandemic served as a significant turning point when she and her husband unexpectedly lost their jobs, prompting her to return to school and seek a stable career path. Katie has earned her AAS-DTA from Whatcom Community College and is currently working towards a bachelor's degree in business management. 

Presented by Dr. Steven Thomas, Vice President for Instruction

 

All-Washington Academic Team - Devin Chen

Devin Chen is a seasoned professional in Computer Information Systems with over a decade of hands-on experience. He is currently enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science program in Computer Information Systems at Whatcom Community College (WCC). Devin is deeply engaged in campus life, mentoring fellow students, and competing in cybersecurity challenges. His passion lies in harnessing technology to solve real-world problems, and he firmly believes in maintaining a healthy work-life balance, cherishing moments spent outdoors and with his family. With enthusiasm for the future, Devin is dedicated to driving innovation and making impactful contributions in his field.

Presented by Dr. Steven Thomas, Vice President for Instruction

 

Academic Excellence: Accounting - Katie Datskaya

Katie Datskaya’s family immigrated to the United States in 2000 when she was 8 years old. She is one of 11 children and the oldest of 3 girls. Growing up, she lived in a 4-bedroom apartment for about 8 years before her parents were able to purchase their own home. Katie is fluent in English, Russian, and Ukrainian. During her spare time, she helps Ukrainian refugees complete and fill out American documents by translating them into Ukrainian. Katie enjoys engaging in sports like soccer, volleyball, running, and lifting weights. She recently participated in a fitness challenge and won first place and a $5,000 cash prize. She took her family to Disney World to celebrate her victory. Katie entered the running start program during her sophomore year in high school but struggled to maintain good grades. However, after Katie and her husband lost their jobs during the pandemic, she began to appreciate the value of a college education. Her parents insisted that she get a college degree, something they never had the opportunity to pursue in Ukraine. Recently, Katie was informed that she earned a Phi Theta Kappa All-USA Community College Academic Team scholarship. Katie has led a remarkable life. She is a deserving recipient of the Accounting discipline award.

Presented by John Fasler

 

Academic Excellence: Anthropology - Khaenin Rutherford

Khaenin Rutherford has taken several courses in Anthropology at WCC, and continually demonstrates intense dedication, creativity, and academic excellence. I first met Khaenin in ANTH 100, where he wrote a rap introducing the different fields of anthropology; he even found a rhyme for “sagittal crest”! In Biological Anthropology, he followed up on this work with another rap about Neandertals. He can also write strong research papers, which he demonstrated by investigating life expectancy in urban vs. rural areas and (in Cultural Anthropology) the impact of hip hop on colloquial English. In Archaeology, he completed a fantastic project analyzing a collection of projectile points he had inherited from Illinois, identifying the type of point, the time period, and type of stone for most of the collection – a great example of the kind of work archaeologists do in professional settings. Most recently, Khaenin was in my World Prehistory class, where he researched the ancient site of Monte Verde in Chile. He wrote an excellent archaeological fiction about the lives of the people who lived there. In all contexts, I have found Khaenin to be a diligent researcher and a creative thinker. I look forward to seeing where he goes from here!

Presented by Jennifer Zovar

 

Academic Excellence: Art - Keegan Chadwick

Keegan had multiple faculty nominate her to receive the discipline award for visual arts. Her creative work, dedicated work ethic, and ability to focus on projects are all attributes that make her an outstanding student and creative individual. One faculty writes, Keegan “responds to assignments with paintings as well as written parts of the assignment for their class journal/sketchbook.  Lots of students will kind skip over that "extra" work, but her responses are a pleasure to read because she's actively engaged with the art she is observing.” This engaged attitude exemplifies Keegan’s focus and drive. She works quietly in class, but with attention, and is able to get so much work done because of that attention. Her solutions to assignments are thoughtful, and she adds her own personality and insight into the work. It is apparent that school and the opportunities to learn and grow are important to her. She takes full advantage by treating assignments and creative projects as ways to grow and learn.

Presented by Rob Beishline

Academic Excellence: Biology - Kenyon Noelke

Today, we celebrate an exceptional individual whose dedication to biology has profoundly impacted our academic community. Our recipient has excelled academically, consistently showcasing his dedication to the discipline. Kenyon often expresses how hard it is to stop studying biology so he can focus on his other classes (sorry chemistry!). Kenyon’s journey is one of grit, passion, natural curiosity, and connections. On Kenyon’s wall in his room is pinned the letter from WWU dismissing him from the college due to his academic performance. But every time he receives an A on an exam, or is recognized for his work, he pins that paper on the wall. He can no longer see that letter from WWU. As we honor this outstanding individual, we are reminded of the power of curiosity, hard work, redemption, and passion for understanding the natural world. It is with great pride that I present the Biology Discipline Award to Kenyon Noelke. Your achievements have set a new standard of excellence, and we look forward to your future accomplishments. Congratulations, Kenyon, and thank you for inspiring us all.

Presented by Lauren Maniatis

 

Academic Excellence: Chemistry - Amber Durst Hicks

It is our honor and pleasure to introduce our Chemistry Discipline Award recipient, Amber Durst Hicks (she/her). Amber is working towards her goal of pursuing a career in dentistry. This quote from one of her professors, Jennifer Henderson, sums up her exemplary classroom engagement: “Amber is dedicated to her education and was a pleasure to have in my class. I appreciated her contributions to class discussions and willingness to ask questions. She was an active group member and conscientious lab partner.” Tommaso Vannelli wrote: “I have had the pleasure of having Amber not only in my General Chemistry III course, but also, as an independent researcher through a Learning Contract. It was a true pleasure to observe Amber’s curiosity at work as she connected the research project she worked on in General Chemistry and the Learning Contract to her interests in dentistry. Amber is a bright, talented, inquisitive, and cool-under-pressure student. She was a calm leader and a true pleasure to have in class and lab.” Amber is not only an exemplary student, but she also demonstrates the curiosity about chemistry and its applications that we look for in our discipline awardees.

Presented by Paul Frazey

Academic Excellence: Cybersecurity/CIS - Mathew Detsikas 

Mathew is a dedicated student in the CIS programs associate degree pathway. While working as a lab aid in the program he was instrumental in the building and deployment of state a of the art file server and domain controller for the program’s network. This positively impacts multiple programs in the department including CIS, Cybersecurity, the IT Networking BAS students as well as Computer Science and Software Development. His contributions to the program through his role are impactful. Instructors have noted that Mathew is a dedicated student who takes his education seriously. Through his work in the program Mathew has demonstrated repeatedly that this dependability and resourcefulness are beyond reproach.

Presented by Chris Pasquini

 

Academic Excellence: Cybersecurity/IT Networking - Alambey Byrd

Alambey has been a standout student, first in the AAS program at Whatcom Community College and now in the BAS program. Early on he was recognized as a superior, mature, reliable student and was asked to take on a leadership role in several important projects, including, but not limited to:
• The development and routine upkeep of our Cyber Range, a joint project coordinating the efforts of WCC staff, state and local political leaders and local business partners.
• The building and deployment of a new Domain Controller for the Technology Department network, which will keep the network modernized for many years.
• The building and deployment of an up-to-date virtualization server which future 
Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition teams will be able to use to practice for the regional competition, where they will represent WCC brand for years to come.
Alambey currently holds a 3.81 GPA while taking challenging classes as electives (He took Biology for the fun of it), working multiple hours a week as a Lab Technician for the Technology Dept. and achieving incredible successes managing all of the aforementioned projects. It has been an honor to be associated with Alambey and it is my distinct pleasure to nominate him for the BAS Discipline Award!

Presented by Chris Pasquini

   
Academic Excellence: Computer Science - Sofia Lacki

Whatcom Community College has so many great students here.  How does one go about choosing my “best” student for each program?  Every year I ask that question of the people out in industry who supervise our student Interns.  While they may answer the question differently, it can be summed up with two words: tenacity and curiosity.  They’re looking for students who will deliver a high-quality service on time.  They’re also looking for students who have that drive to continually learn, get better, and will never give up. This is Sofia Lacki’s third quarter at Whatcom Community College.  She is majoring in Cybersecurity.  She first got interested in Computer Science back in 7th grade when she took a programming class and absolutely loved it.  She enjoys working with puzzles, and card games.  She went to Skyview High School in Vancouver, WA.  She heard about the Cyber Security program at W.C.C. and decided to major in that field.  She enjoyed working with classmates to solve complex programming problems.  She also has enjoyed the ways that many of her subject have overlapped and intertwined in such fascinating ways.   

Presented by Darrell Criss

 

Academic Excellence: Economics - Nikolaos Vasileiou 

Niko was born and raised in Germany. He showed his motivation and independence when took a big risk and came to US to play collegiate soccer and develop his academic career. 

Niko is obtaining a Business Transfer Degree. As part of the program, he has been a stand out in the Economics dept: He has exceeded expectations with all of his coursework, earning top grades in all areas. But Niko brings much more, and this is what makes him truly exceptional:

- exceptional motivation: Niko always works his hardest, does his best and then asks about how he can do better.  A true learner!

- global thinker: Niko goes beyond Econ by combining his other classes/learning to evaluate the cross-discipline effects of our changing economics and society. 

- community supporter: In class, Niko would ask probing questions of his me/his peers, provide them with thoughtful guidance and support and then pose a great hypothetical that would spur more conversation.  His table was always the most vibrant and productive discussions.

Niko will continue at WCC for one more term to complete his transfer degree.  He will move on to a 4 year institution to pursue both competitive soccer and economics.  And he is doing all this while killing in on the field for the WCC men’s soccer team and earning offers of soccer scholarships at a variety of colleges/universities around the country.

Presented by Doug Robertson

Academic Excellence: Engineering - Darcy Pepa Ribada

Darcy Ribada is the unanimous choice of the engineering faculty and staff for recognition as this year’s outstanding engineering student. The word that comes to mind when thinking about Darcy is community. Darcy brings an enthusiastic attitude to building community inside and outside of the classroom. In the classroom, she diligently works to understand course material and collaborate with her classmates on projects. Outside the classroom, she has been a leader as an engineering peer mentor planning multiple events to bring students together at study nights, engineering challenges, and finals week destress nights. She also helped develop and facilitate the engineering session at the Digital Download, an outreach event for middle and high school age girls. She strives to help all students reach their full potential. Her enthusiasm is contagious and has surely contributed to record levels of participation in these community building events. Whatcom’s engineering program is proud to have had Darcy lead us forward and we wish her well as she brings her positive attitude and abilities to her future community!

Presented by Chloe Boland

Academic Excellence: English Composition - Josh Hernandez

Josh Hernandez is one of the most thoughtful and dedicated students I have ever worked with at WCC. In our English 101 and 201 courses, Josh’s intrinsically precocious thirst for learning was contagious. He produced astute and original work and uplifted his fellow writers by posing valuable questions and offering sound feedback. Never content to accept the easy way out, Josh was willing to start over entirely on major writing projects to "get it right.” This wasn’t an exercise in perfectionism; this was a genuine desire for growth. 

Josh is gentle, honest, reflective and present. His openness and commitment to learning helped shape the inclusive tone of our classroom, and he applies this same level of care to his work in the Writing Center. As the Writing Center Match for my composition courses this last year, I’ve watched Josh communicate thoughtfully with students, helping them see writing in the academy as accessible. 

Josh has committed himself to the craft of writing and is pursuing a career in journalism. He isn’t here to simply pass a class or jump through hoops; he is here to challenge himself and build community. He has done just that, and we are all better for it. It’s been an honor working alongside Josh, and I wish him success and happiness as he moves forward.

 

Academic Excellence: English Language Learner - Juan Lopez-Ventura

Juan Lopez-Ventura has been attending our English Language Learners program since fall of 2022.  He attends class Monday through Friday, almost without fail.  Juan shows up early and leaves late, and he is always ready to offer the instructor assistance with distributing materials or moving desks.  During class, Juan exemplifies a good work effort by staying on task.  He works hard to improve his English grammar and writing skills. He asks pertinent questions and makes the most of his time in class.  He also makes himself available to help other students as needed.  Since starting in English Language Learning Level 2, Juan has made consistent progress.  He is now studying in Level 5.  If he continues on his current trajectory, we should be seeing Juan in college-level classes in a few short years.  We are proud of his hard work and gratified to see him moving forward.

Presented by Laura Carney

   
Academic Excellence: English Literature - Zane Thompson

Zane Thompson has the enthusiastic support of the English Department both for the exceptionally high quality of his work and for his exemplary participation in his classes. Of Zane, Professor Andrea Romero says, 'Zane reached the status of an Eagle Scout, which aptly illustrates his stellar qualities. He is respectful in course discussions, well read, and a great listener. He definitely brings 'a special light' to the classroom, and WCC is lucky to have him.' And Professor Sue Lonac says, 'Zane has distinguished himself academically by his high degree of intelligence, his sophisticated writing, his insightful interpretation of narratives, and his generous interactions with his classmates. He is a joy to work with, and he provides a model of excellence in his work that inspires everyone in his orbit. Zane, you are truly a star!' We are proud to present Zane Thompson with the award for Outstanding Student in Literature.

Presented by Andrea Romero

    
Academic Excellence: English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) -  Ivy (Nghi) Nguyen

Ivy started studying intensive English here at WCC in Fall 2023. She has worked hard and progressed quickly through the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. We were so lucky to have Ivy in our classes! Here are some things her instructors had to say about Ivy during her time in the ESOL program: 
Ivy…
• Is outgoing and energetic
• Takes initiative on her learning goals
• Is enthusiastic about learning and participated actively in class discussions
• Always supported her classmates in their learning, motivation, and questions
• Makes the classroom better by being in it
• Regularly paired herself with new classmates who were from different language backgrounds to promote sharing and learning
• Attended class projects and activities even during personal difficulties
• Regularly engaged in extracurricular activities on campus

Ivy worked hard to progress through the ESOL and Transition Composition course sequence. She set a goal for herself and she reached it. In fact, she was able to progress through the Transition Composition courses quickly, skipping up to reach ENG 101 when she showed she was ready for it. She’s an absolute standout student. We are so excited to see what the future holds for her. Thank you for letting us be a part of your learning journey, Ivy!

Presented by Inés Poblet

Academic Excellence: Film - Saskia Saling Mayer

Saskia studied teen film directing with the New York Film Academy, taking three classes, making two short films, and writing a script. She plans to pursue filmmaking in both narrative and documentary film. She is currently in the research phase of developing a documentary about the Bellingham Public School District, Title IX, and WA state sexual harassment and violence law. Saskia's goal is to tell stories that reveal systemic brutality, reposition women into positions of power, imagine new futures, and create better roles for girls and women.

At Whatcom, Saskia has taken Film 240: Documentary Film and Film 264: Women in Film, earning rave reviews from Film professors Nick Potter and Sue Lonac. Nick has said that Saskia did "wonderful" work in his class and has lauded her involvement in the film world, and Sue has praised Saskia's deep engagement in class discussions and writing assignments, noting the fact that Saskia went above and beyond expectations with the depth of her thinking and the quality of her writing. Both Nick and Sue congratulate Saskia on her excellent work and wish her the highest success in her future.

Presented by Katherine Burns

Academic Excellence: Geography - Heather Whitehall-Thompson

Many of the professors here at Whatcom will agree that some of the students we meet online thrill us with their depth and maturity.

Heather Whitehall-Thompson is one of these students. We first connected in my Introduction to Geography online section in the Fall of 2023. While Heather faced some personal challenges during the Quarter, her maturity level in facing those challenges and scheduling her course load encouraged me. In fact, we connected well enough academically for Heather to take a World History Course Online with me Winter Quarter.

I am a firm believer in asking questions in my courses that require critical, yet artistic, thinking. Some students are content with the answers to Who, What, Where and When; I am not their favorite professor! Heather, like me, is curious about Why and How answers. I really enjoyed our conversations as we dove deeper.

When I chose Heather for the Outstanding Student in the Geography discipline, I interviewed her. As we talked, I was excited to learn parts of her story, and to see the determination, courage and perseverance that are her Whatcom (and life) story.

Heather become a mother at 16, and was able, through her hard work, to graduate with her high school class. Her academic career began at Whatcom in 2003. Through career, marriage, and parenting, Heather has persevered, and completed her course work here. I respect all the effort this success takes, and as a returning student who earned my Master’s Degree at age 55, I echo Heather’s resounding “If I can do it, anyone can!” I also applaud all the time and effort Heather spends being a cheerleader and encouraging voice to her fellow students.

Heather asked me to thank her husband, family and the staff here at Whatcom CC for the support they provided over the years. And in conclusion, she asked me to say this to you all:

“Success is not just about academic achievements or material possessions, but rather about the meaningful connections we build in our community, the lives we touch, and the memories we create along the way. True wealth comes from the richness of experiences and relationships, rather than the monetary value.”

Presented by Edward Chatterton

Academic Excellence: Geoscience - Matthew Johnson-Woodworth

We are delighted to award Matthew Johnson-Woodworth with the outstanding geoscience student award. Matthew took both environmental geology and oceanography this past winter quarter and impressed both of his professors with the commitment work and quality of his work. This strong work ethic resulted in Matthew serving as a leader in the classroom and uplifting his peers. In his environmental geology class, he was part of a team that examined the respiration of soil at the Growing Veterans farm. The work he and his team members put into the project resulted in very meaningful results for the farmers who use the soil and led to future questions we hope future students will explore. In his oceanography class, he was part of a research team examining limpet distribution at chemosynthetic sites in the ocean. This work consolidated results from many widely scattered resources and presented them in a way to allow comparisons between regions, which had not been done previously. He appears to have limitless curiosity, always asking questions to understand more about the topics. He was always enthusiastic about the topics, spreading that enthusiasm to his classmates, and eager to learn as much as possible. He has voiced interest in possibly pursuing the geosciences, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have him as a part of our community and are confident he will go on to do great things.

Presented by Kaatje Kraft

Academic Excellence: History - Forest Bracht

Good Evening! My name is Ulli Schraml. I am an Adjunct instructor in the History Department and have the honor to announce the 2024 Faculty History Award for Forest Bracht, who was one of my students this year. I would like to start with a quote from George F. Kennan, Pulitzer Prize winning historian and diplomat: “The very concept of history implies the scholar and the reader. Without a generation of civilized people to study history, to preserve its records, to absorb its lessons and relate them to its own problems, history, too, would lose its meaning.” Forest Bracht, our recipient of this year’s Faculty History Award is one of the civilized people who exemplifies these values. My colleagues and I really appreciated his contributions to our classes. Forest demonstrated his critical thinking skills and clearly integrated what he learned in class. He considers taking a year off from college to explore his interests in ecological restoration and permaculture. Congratulations and Good Luck, Forest!

Presented by Ulli Schraml

Academic Excellence: Mathematics - Michael Lewis Banham 

“Quietly confident” is the best way to describe Michael Banham’s abilities in mathematics. He has consistently scored among the top students in each of the classes he has taken.  As a tutor in the Math Center, he has a humble manner about him that sets students at ease.  He also has such knowledge and ability that other tutors will call on him when they get stuck.  Michael is the youngest in a large family of exceptional math students. They saved the best for last.

Presented by Will Weber

Academic Excellence: Music - Shuichi Irie

Shuichi Irie is a bold and adventurous student of music—a performer who doesn’t shy away from musical challenges and enthusiastically brings spirit to sound. Shuichi is a gentle soul when you talk to him, but he is the bringer of fire when he steps on stage with his saxophone.  Shuichi is passionate about the musical and technical challenges the saxophone presents and is most excited when the page is filled with more rather than less ink.  Upon arriving at Whatcom Community College, he was already proficient in global classical saxophone traditions but he believed continuing his education at Whatcom Community College was an important step in deepening his musical understanding.  Combined with talent and discipline, Shuichi is always reaching to be the best version of himself in all of his music classes, and with true delight in his heart. His character and ability is easy to notice, and has served as an inspiration to all, students and teachers alike.  Shu is a committed, kind, passionate musician and human being.  I look forward to his next musical chapters. Congratulations Shuichi

Presented by Michael-Paul Gurulé

 

Academic Excellence: Nursing - Brian Cropp

The nursing faculty would like to recognize Brian Cropp as the recipient of the Nursing Discipline Award. From day one in the nursing program to completing 120 hours of preceptorship in critical care- Brian has been an exemplary nursing student. He is the kind of student faculty are thrilled to have in their classrooms and will soon become the Registered Nurse which patients feel fortunate to have on their care team. 

Brian personifies the spirit of the nursing profession; he is reliable, knowledgeable, and demonstrates genuine care and compassion for the community he serves. He was a natural leader amongst his cohort, always eager to assist and advocate for his classmates. During his two years in the nursing program, he served as the president of the Student Nurses of Whatcom (SNOW) club. Additionally, he has volunteered for many activities such as the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center Wellness Fair and served as a student host for the Guys and Guts outreach events. It seems Brian is always seeking ways to be of service to others. Brian’s altruistic disposition, combined with his impressive academic achievements has made him a clear choice for the nursing discipline award. 

Presented by Jamie Lamb

Academic Excellence: Parent Education - Ali Mitchell

Ali has been a student in the parenting education program for many years as each of her children have attended Lynden cooperative preschool.  

In addition to exceptionally fulfilling the required lab duties of preschool registrar, and teacher assistant, Ali has gone above and beyond to provide additional support for our program:
-Registrar and public liaison 
-Secured grant for operations during covid
-Participated in the hiring process of 2 new teachers 
-Coordinated annual events, including fundraising 
-Helped implement new registration/software management system

She is valued by other parents in the program who have this to say about Ali:
- Ali is unfailingly positive and committed to the integrity and success of the co-op
- Ali dedicates herself to making sure she’s helping out in anyway she possibly can, and does so with grace and a smile on her face! Her joyful demeanor and positive attitude is infectious! 
- Ali is an unfailingly uplifting, hard working, generous and creative woman. Her heart shows through in the ways she cares for so many different people in her orbit, and I’m grateful that the Co-op and I are included in that! She is registrar extraordinaire!
- I look up to Ali as a mother and friend, as well as a human. She is exceedingly kind, thoughtful, and generous. 
- Ali is a pillar of consistency, strength, loyalty, kindness, enthusiasm and encouragement.
- She is always willing to help, yet sets realistic and respectable boundaries for her contributions, to keep her responsibilities in balance (student, parent, foster parent, full time employee).  

Presented by Carolina Olza-Kelsh

 

Academic Excellence: Philosophy - Annabelle Schudlich

There are students who will meet all the expectations that we place on them, and there are students who will rise above. I had Annabelle for three classes over the last year and a half or so, and I must admit to being surprised by her initiative to excel and how quickly she learned the discipline’s conventions. Most of my classes are entirely essay based, and I would estimate her writing to be on par with a 3rd year philosophy student, not a student who’s taken just three classes.  It’s my understanding however that she isn’t going to major in philosophy, which is probably a good idea. Whatever you decide on, environmental science, neuroscience, or whatever, they'll be lucky to have you. Thank you for signing up for my courses, Annabelle, and congratulations.

Presented by Glen Nesse

  

Academic Excellence: Political Science - Miles Starke

Miles Starke is a dream student for those of us with discussion-based classes.  I and other teachers who have had Miles, all say he is engaging, communicative and knows his facts.  Yet he was polite and sensitive to what other students were saying and always helped the discussions along in useful ways. His research always dug deeper than simply meeting course requirements. He sincerely wanted to know how things worked and what was going on in the world. I saw Miles in American government, International Relations, History of the Modern Middle East and an honors seminar on Russia, China and the US.  He was conversant and thorough in all courses, with an impressive breadth and depth of knowledge he developed in each class as he learned the material.  Whether it was the problems of political polarization, climate change or the finer points of military policy, Miles always brought information that enriched the discussions. Miles hopes to move on to Western or UW next year to major in Political Science.  We wish him well. 

Presented by Barry Maxwell

 

Academic Excellence: Psychology - Kórein Hudson

Kórein Hudson is a Romani American working towards being a nurse practitioner in psychiatric mental health. A returning student, Kórein has been a Yoga therapist and teacher, a backcountry guide for ultra runners in the summers, and worked in Africa (mainly Kenya) doing wildlife conservation, preserving ecosystems and helping the indigenous populations on that land.

At WCC, Kórein has been a consistently thoughtful and highly engaged student. This year, it was a pleasure to have Kórein as a student in General Psychology, Lifespan Psychology and my honors seminar, The Science of Happiness. Each quarter, Kórein's genuine interest in the value of what he was learning was infectious and his care for his fellow students came across in every course. Kórein worked actively to build connections with his peers. Always mindful of building community, he gently and intentionally drew out peers in his groups who hesitated to participate. Another example of his consideration was bringing healthy snacks to a pregnant peer. While keeping up a busy schedule, Kórein earned top marks in all his work, and it was always clear that he was deeply engaged with the material. Kórein's compassion, intelligence, and work ethic will serve him well both throughout his academic preparation and into his career. Congratulations, Kórein, on behalf of the psychology discipline, please accept this recognition of your excellence!

Presented by Erin Graham

 

Academic Excellence: Software Development - Tia VanderYacht

Tia Vanderyacht is also a student who has tenacity and curiosity, who delivers a high-quality service on time, and who drives to continually learn, get better, and will never give up. This is my third quarter that I have had Tia Vanderyacht as one of my Software Development students.  I’ve had her for SD 130 (Systems Analysis & Design)  last fall, CS &141 (Java Programming 1), winter quarter, and CS 145 (Java Programming 2), spring quarter. Tia is a first-generation college student, so far, the only college student in her family.  She’s worked as a Home Caregiver for 17 years, when she decided that she wanted to use her Brains over Braun.  In her own words, she wanted to integrate technology to help better improve peoples lives.  She chose to go back to school and major in Software Development.   

Presented by Darrell Criss

 

Academic Excellence: Visual Communications - Leah Tenille Girard

It's been a pleasure to have Leah as a visual communications student this year. Leah's strengths as a designer were apparent from the first projects we did in VisComm classes this year. Her "golden eye” for design produced consistently strong work, beginning with a rather stunning first assignment in our Advanced Digital Imaging class and continuing through to our most recent magazine layout project where she delivered a cover that could work on any retail publication rack. Besides her strengths as a designer, Leah is a generous classmate and can be a bit of a helpful mom in the classroom, and the instructors truly appreciate this. Her pun-tastic work and work ethic is going to be a great asset in her professional future. Congratulations Leah!

Presented by Kevin Baier