Highline Community College

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY

DATE: March 24, 2008

CONTACT: Lisa Skari, (206) 878-3710, ext. 3705, lskari@highline.edu

Highline Student Earns Prestigious Honor

Academic achiever chosen for statewide award, scholarship

DES MOINES, Wash. — Highline Community College student Steve Simpkins from Des Moines, has been named a member of the 2008 All-Washington Academic Team for his academic achievement and community service. The honor comes with a $250 scholarship from KeyBank, a $500 scholarship from the Northwest Education Loan Association and a $250 scholarship from the Highline Foundation, giving him more than one quarter worth of tuition.

Simpkins was recognized on March 20, during an event at South Puget Sound Community College honoring 55 students representing each of Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges. The students were nominated for recognition through a state program patterned after the national All-USA Today Academic Team, initiated by Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year college international honor society. Former Governor Gary Locke provided the keynote address.

KeyBank of Washington is the primary program sponsor. The event is also sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa; the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges; the Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges; and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

For Simpkins, it has been a long, uphill road to recreate his dreams and aspirations. He enrolled at Highline Community College at the age of 40 to take prerequisites in order to enter a nursing program. Four quarters later, his dreams have grown. Next year, he will begin his Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, and plans to pursue a double Masters in Nursing and Public Health.

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Highline Community College

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He has adeptly handled all his extracurricular activities, while maintaining a 3.99 GPA. In 2007, he was selected as a Coca-Cola National Scholar, NELA Academic Scholar, Foundation Academic Merit Scholar, as well as a Highline Academic Achievement Scholar. “The most wonderful aspect of returning to school has been my involvement in school activities. I’ve had the opportunity to be involved with numerous clubs, many leadership events, Highline’s Phi Theta Kappa Pi-Sigma chapter, and most recently, was elected student body President,” said Simpkins.

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 day, evening, on-line, and weekend classes.

With the most diverse population of any college in Washington State, Highline takes a multi-cultural approach to education for the success of all its students and the prosperity of its surrounding communities. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida and noted author Ann Rule.

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Attachments: Photograph of Steve Simpkins