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

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 filled him with a desire to help others. After volunteering at various organizations and working as a firefighter, 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

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 difficulty 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.