Graduating students, together with friends, family and Highline College staff and faculty, packed the ShoWare Center in Kent on June 13. Together, they celebrated during the college’s 2019 Commencement ceremony.

More than 730 students participated in the ceremony — a record number — representing close to half of the 1,588 students who graduated as part of the class of 2019.

As is typical at other colleges and universities, students at Highline apply to graduate before all coursework has been completed. The college expects to award the following credentials for the 2018–19 academic year:

• 1,867: total number of credentials (degrees, certificates and diplomas); some students earned more than one credential
• 1,358: two-year degrees, including 627 associate of arts degrees and 402 associate of applied science degrees
• 57: applied bachelor’s degrees
• 193: high school diplomas
• 141: GED diplomas

The 2019 graduating class reflects the diversity of the college campus. Here are a few facts:

• 17: age of youngest graduate
• 73: age of oldest graduate
• 42: veterans who used VA education benefits while attending college
• 227: number of immigrants
• 46: number of refugees
• 181: number of international students, representing 15 countries
• 66%: students of color (of the 1,263 students reporting their race/ethnicity)
• 64%: female graduates

Capping his year as student body president, Maxwell Brown speaks to graduates at Highline’s 2019 Commencement. Brown, who turned 18 in May, earned his high school diploma and associate degree simultaneously as a Running Start student.

Among the graduates are those from five of the college’s six applied bachelor’s degree programs: Cybersecurity and Forensics, Global Trade and Logistics, Respiratory Care, Teaching and Early Learning and Youth Development.

In spring 2019, Highline added an applied bachelor’s degree in Integrated Design. Students will begin the program in fall 2019, with the first cohort expected to graduate in spring 2021.

Congratulations to the 57 students who earned bachelor’s degrees in 2019, including the first cohort from Teaching and Early Learning:

Gaebriel Min Wilson speaks to the 2019 graduating class. (See more Commencement photos.)

Graduating with an associate of applied science in visual communications, Wilson has spent the last two years enjoying her time inside and outside of the classroom.

She worked at Highline’s Center for Leadership and Service as a community leadership consultant, cultivating the club community on campus.

She also served as a Marketing Outreach Design consultant, creating visual marketing pieces for the campus community. After Highline, she will pursue a degree in graphic communications from the University for the Creative Arts in England.

During the ceremony, a number of students were recognized for their academic achievements with the following premier academic awards and honors:

• All-Washington Academic Team
• Highest Scholastic Achievement
• Honors Program Graduates
• Next Step Scholarship from the University of Washington Tacoma
• Shirley B. Gordon Award for Academic Excellence

Commencement is also a time to recognize the Student Legacy Award winners. These awards are open to all students, not just those graduating.

Vaishali Vakharia

Highest Scholastic Achievement Award

The Highest Scholastic Achievement Award is presented each year to the graduating student — or students — who has attained the highest GPA and who has completed all degree requirements by the end of the spring quarter of the academic year of graduation. This year, 24 graduated with perfect 4.0 GPAs, qualifying them as Highest Scholastic Achievement scholars:

Honors Program Graduates

During the 2018–19 academic year, 12 students challenged themselves to graduate as Honors Scholars as part of their participation in Highline’s Honors Program. These students completed at least 25 to 30 honors option credits, depending upon their degree, all while maintaining a minimum 3.5 GPA. In addition, they showed their dedication to the campus community by serving as club and student government leaders, participating in service learning, and much more:

Fuifui Ah Kuoi

Next Step Scholarship: University of Washington Tacoma

Fuifui Ah Kuoi was selected as the University of Washington Tacoma’s 2019 Next Step Scholarship recipient from Highline College.

The scholarship provides up to $6,000 in support each academic year for two years, for a total value of $12,000.

Born and raised in Samoa, she participated in the AANAPISI program as a student ambassador and plans to be an educator.

Shirley B. Gordon Award for Academic Excellence

Abdalah Adan won the Shirley B. Gordon Award for Academic Excellence, awarded annually by the Highline College Foundation. Adan earned a $4,000 scholarship for the 2019–2020 academic year. The award is based largely on academic achievement, but also considers the student’s community service activities and community college experience. Dr. Shirley B. Gordon was Highline’s president from 1976 to 1990.

Student Legacy Awards

A number of students received recognition for high achievement (Legacy Scholar Awards) and contributions to campus programs, services and activities (Legacy Leader Awards). While some of these students are graduating this year, others will return. They were honored during a special May 22 ceremony on campus as well as being listed in the Commencement program.

2019 Legacy Scholar Awards

2019 Legacy Leader Awards