Highline Community College
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR
RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY
DATE: November 16, 2007
CONTACT: Lisa Skari, (206) 878-3710, ext. 3705,
lskari@highline.edu
Highline Community College Benefactors Honored
Among
Nine Others for Their Contributions to Community Colleges
Des Moines, WA —Highline
Community College alums, Junki and Linda Yoshida, were recognized as Council
for Resource Development (CRD) Benefactors of the Year at a gala awards banquet
held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, November 2, 2007. More than 500 community college development
officers, presidents, and friends were in attendance.
This
year’s benefactors include individuals, small business owners, charitable
foundations and community trusts. The
Yoshidas, along with nine other honored donors have contributed more than $50
million to community colleges in the United States. They were selected
from nominations representing donors who support nearly 1200 community colleges
nationwide.
Junki
and Linda Yoshida met while they were both students at Highline Community College,
and have continued their support of higher education through their association
with Highline and Mt. Hood Community College (OR). Yoshida’s Gourmet Sauce was Junki’s first product in what would become a multi-million
dollar conglomerate, The Yoshida Group.
The Yoshida Group has raised thousands of dollars for scholarships and
emergency assistance for students, and the Yoshidas have encouraged others to
do the same.
(more)
Highline Community College
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They
have given their time as directors of the Mt. Hood Community College foundation and been
strong advocates and fundraisers for both colleges.
In
recognition for their support, Junki was named Highline’s Distinguished Alumni
in 2003 and the American Association for Community College 2004 Outstanding
Alum. The Yoshidas were honored with the
Mt. Hood Community College Community Partnership Award and Mt. Hood’s
Patron Saint Award in 2006. Together,
they are helping to create opportunities that change student lives immediately
and forever.
The
Council for Resource Development (CRD), representing over 1600 members at more
than 700 two-year colleges, is an affiliate council of the American Association
of Community Colleges. CRD supports professionals and develops leaders engaged
in community college resource development through education, advocacy and
mentoring.
Highline
Community College was founded in 1961
as the first community college in King
County. With
approximately 9,500 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s
largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of
academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with online,
day, evening and weekend classes, and takes a multi-cultural approach to education for
the success of all its students and the prosperity of its surrounding
communities. At the core of Highline’s mission and vision are the principles of
stewardship for all students, regardless of their backgrounds. Highline does
this by participating in and leading innovative local, state, national and
international initiatives. Alumni include former
Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida
and noted author Ann Rule.
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