The All-Washing-ton Academic team will be honored at noon, on Thursday, March 7 at the South Puget Sound Community College Student Union Building.
Each year, two students from each of the 34 community and technical colleges in the state are named to the All-Washington Academic Team and have a chance to be named to an All-USA Academic Team.
This year’s All-Washington Tacoma Community College representatives are students Melanie Smith and Cynthia Nelson.
Each member will receive a $250 scholarship. KeyBank sponsors the scholarships.
Smith has also been named a New Century Scholar. The highest scoring student in each state is given this distinction and will receive a $2,000 scholarship funded by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and the Coca-Cola Foundation.
Smith delayed school until her seven children were older. Now she studies at TCC with her eldest daughter. Smith has been active as the Phi Theta Kappa regional recording officer and Chi Gamma chapter president; as TRIO Club vice president; and student government senator.
She also finds time for community service while maintaining a 4.0 GPA studying interdisciplinary arts and sciences with an emphasis in psychology.
Smith plans to attend the University of Washington and earn a law degree. Her goal is to work as a youth advocate in the juvenile justice field.
After a 25-year absence from the classroom she began to realize her dreams of higher education.
She became an active student at TCC serving as the vice president and recording officer, Phi Theta Kappa, and the president, vice-president and treasurer of the TRIO Club.
Nelson enjoys tutoring and serving in her community. She has been hosting TCC international students for five years.
She intends to transfer to the University of Washington and eventually earn a master of arts in teaching.