STUDENT HONORS
Transforming Lives Award A single mother who overcame homelessness to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher is Yakima Valley College’s nominee for Washington state’s Transforming Lives Award. Each year, the Washington State Association of College Trustees (ACT) Awards Committee recognizes the accomplishments of nominees from each of the state’s community and technical colleges for the Transforming Lives Award. Each awardee receives a $250 scholarship from ACT. This year, YVC’s nominee is Lizbeth Ochoa. Ochoa realized that she would need additional education to provide the life she wanted for her family. Armed only with the hope of a better life, she gave up the security of a full-time job and enrolled in college. Though she became homeless shortly after quitting her job, Ochoa’s determination to better herself through education remained strong. Committed to succeeding and excited to begin a new journey, she enrolled at YVC in January 2020. “I was happy but nervous that I would not be able to catch up as quickly. My frst Lizbeth Ochoa quarter at YVC was amazing. The professors made me feel welcome and made everything very simple and practical,” Ochoa said. While Ochoa’s grades in her classes were strong, as a frst-generation college student she found that she needed help planning her educational pathway. She found that help from YVC’s TRIO Student Support Services which helped her fgure out what career path to follow and what classes she would need to complete her degree. After Ochoa graduates from YVC in winter 2022 she will transfer to a four-year university and study elementary education. She hopes to one day teach elementary school and help Hispanic students be more successful in the classroom and build awareness of opportunities to pursue higher education.
2021 All-USA Academic Team & All-Washington Academic Team YVC is proud to announce the selection of Miguel Blancas-Alejo and Chance Goodwin as nominees for the All-USA Academic Team competition. Both students are automatically named to the All-Washington Academic Team. Each year, YVC and other community and technical colleges in Washington state each select two student nominees to represent their college in the All-USA Academic Team competition. Miguel Blancas-Alejo was born in Chavinda, Michoacán, Mexico and moved with his family to Quincy, Wash., at the age of 5. Growing up Blancas-Alejo often felt discriminated against due to the color of his skin. Based on these early experiences, Blancas-Alejo began to realize that changes needed to be made in his community and flled him with a desire to help others. After volunteering at various organizations and working as a frefghter, he enrolled at YVC in January 2019 to work on his prerequisites to pursue a law degree. He will graduate in spring 2021 with his associate degree from YVC with plans to transfer to a four-year university. Chance Goodwin was born in North Bend, Wash., and moved to the Yakima Valley when he was 5 years old. He enrolled at YVC in fall 2019 to pursue a degree in English language and literature. Wanting to help other students who were struggling, he began tutoring in YVC’s Writing Center to help students who were having difculty with their essays. Goodwin has also been involved with the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) student club. He will graduate in the summer with a transfer degree. He plans to transfer to Heritage University and pursue a bachelor’s and later master’s degree in English language and literature. Each All-Washington team member will receive a commemorative medallion and a $250 scholarship from KeyBank. Thanks to the generosity of the Yakima Valley College Foundation YVC’s nominees will receive an additional $250 scholarship. 7 Yakima Valley College
Miguel Blancas-Alejo
Chance Goodwin
