Martin Scholars History

LaKenya Brimmer

Highline College North Seattle, Seattle Central, Bellevue Colleges

2024 Martin Honors Scholar

 LaKenya Brimmer, affectionately known as Kenya, was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She is a graduate of Foster High School and entered Bellevue College. She received her certification as a medical assistant at Highline College and is now proudly in the Nursing Program at the University of Washington.

Kenya is the youngest child of 14 and the wife of a 10-year veteran of the US Army. They love to travel but together they actively seek out new local places and experiences to share their talents to better the lives of others.

Kenya was raised in a Pentecostal church, where she continues to serve as a self- taught musician, singer, and youth leader. She has a deep passion for youth mentorship and truly believes that children are the future leaders of tomorrow and that it takes a village to prepare and support them on their journey to success. She is the founder and visionary of The Journey Experience, an annual youth event that displays youth in the community who have diverse talents in music, arts, and spoken word. It is an opportunity to encourage, uplift, and challenge youth, teens, and young adults through one-on-one interactions and workshops.

For the past 10 years Kenya has spent her healthcare career at Seattle Children’s-Odessa Brown Clinic, located in the heart of Seattle, Washington’s Central District, and at HealthPoint in Federal Way, Washington. She serves by providing quality care with dignity to the unhoused, uninsured, underserved, and marginalized communities while working with a variety of specialties such as obstetrics, gynecology, subsistence and drug abuse, and holistic healthcare.

In reflection on this journey towards this scholarship, Kenya knew the value of alleviating stress and the extreme financial burdens of becoming an excellent nurse for diverse populations, therefore this scholarship would be the asset needed.

Kenya’s near and long-term goals: Kenya is motivated to obtain her BSN degree and work as a Labor and Delivery Nurse at a local hospital after she graduates. She is interested in becoming an ARNP in the future. She knows that earning this scholarship will enable her to completely focus on the present, obtaining this important life changing degree, and on the future, excelling in her service career as a healthcare clinician.

Kenya’s tips for future applicants: Some tips would be to choose recommenders who can truly speak to who you are as a person, people who you actually have relationship with. Also, give them ample time to complete a letter for you. Be vulnerable, talk about the pros and also the cons and how you have overcome obstacles/how they have shaped who you are now.

Isaias Duenas

Columbia Basin College

2024 Martin Achievement Scholar

I am the oldest of four children in our household, born and raised in Kennewick, Washington. My parents immigrated here a year before my birth looking to give me a shot at a better future that they were not able to pursue. Currently, I am attending CBC and about to earn my AA in science and technology. Once my time at my community college comes to an end, I plan on transferring to the University of Washington to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

One of the main reasons why I want to go into this field is due to my passion for designing. Ever since I was a little kid, and still to this day, I’ve been playing with Legos and that’s where my love for designing came from. Even as I grew older, I continued to design things. Me and my dad have built a special bond through this as in my high school days we would work together on fixing cars in our front yard. As a result, I’ve wanted to pursue my passion for designing on a larger scale. That end goal being the ability to design cars that are sustainable for the environment.

As a first-generation college student, I’ve encountered some challenges, such as financial concerns, navigating college and the transfer process. However, I’ve learned to balance being a full-time student as well as a part time worker, and to take advantage of the available resources at my college. For example, this summer I hope to participate in the RENEW-HEP internship at PNNL. Also, next academic year, I will assist in the creation of the CBC chapter of The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) as well as tutoring math for the MESA program. Furthermore, once I learned about the great opportunity the Martin Achievement Scholarship had to offer, I knew I had to apply as it would be a huge breakthrough towards helping me afford my degree. By earning this scholarship not only would it be a huge honor but also a way to show my parents that I was able to accomplish the dreams they were never able to. As time has gone by, I often blamed myself for me being the reason that they were unable to pursue higher education. Now I finally realize that this entire time my parents supported me to chase an education so that they could live their American dream through me.

Isaias’ near and long-term goals: In the future I plan on pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. With this degree I hope to be able to design cars that are sustainable for the environment.

Isaias’ tips for future applicants: The number one tip I would give to future students who want to apply for this scholarship is to ask yourself the hard questions. Truly try to think about who your are as a person and what you want to accomplish in life. Don’t worry about comparing yourself to others as comparison is the greatest thief of joy as I have learned while completing my application. You do belong here and have put in much time and effort to getting to this point.

Chris Ellis

Everett Community College

2024 Martin Honors Scholar

 I am a husband and father of two wonderful children. I returned to school after two decades of aerospace machining to pursue an engineering degree. I graduated from Everett Community College and am starting at UW this coming fall as an Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering major.

While space flight was always something that sparked passion in me, I never felt like I had the ability to work as an engineer. Working for NASA was a pipedream. My high school offered classes in machining, and I learned I enjoy making things with my hands. I graduated from high school, and began working in a machine shop making avionics hardware.

After a career machining aircraft parts, I found myself in a manufacturing engineering role. It was here that I discovered my love of solving complex problems. In my late 30’s, I had found my path. I wanted to be an engineer. With the commercial spaceflight industry growing, I now had an opportunity to work on rocket engines.

While searching for a schedule that would allow me to pursue my education, I found a local spaceflight company that was hiring a weekend shift manufacturing engineer. This was a perfect opportunity to get my foot in the door in an industry I wanted to work in while pursuing my education. An application and brutal interview later, I found myself walking up on a build stand one day to marvel at an orbital class rocket engine. This was my opportunity to help propel humanity into the stars.

As the sole provider for my family, applying for The Martin Honors Scholarship was a no brainer. It is important that my family does not suffer as I pursue my education. Not having to worry about what I can and can’t afford allows me to focus on the things that matter; my family, my academics, and my career.

Chris’ near and long-term goals: In the near term, I plan to focus on finishing my bachelor’s degree while pursuing departmental honors. While in school, I will also continue to build my career and reputation so that I can achieve my long-term goals of transitioning to a design engineer role. I want to contribute to the design of the next generation of rocket engines and help propel humanity into the stars.

Chris’ tips for future applicants: Take the time to reflect on who you are and your academic goals. Ask yourself how your goals are going to benefit not just the future you, but humanity at large? Can you articulate these goals clearly and concisely? This will give you everything you need for your essays. Utilize your available resources to write clearly and concisely. These essays are a lot of work. Ensure you give yourself enough time to not just complete them but have them reviewed by multiple sources. Your peers, your college’s writing center, and your favorite instructors are all great resources. Remember that you’re always networking. Having solid letters of recommendation are critical, and you won’t get good recommendations unless you put your best foot forward every day. Show kindness and work hard daily. Help your peers be successful and lift up those around you. Reflect on how your actions will make it easy for your favorite professors to write you a glowing recommendation.

Biniyam Gebreyohannes

North Seattle, Seattle Central Colleges

2024 Martin Honors Scholar

My name is Biniyam Gebreyohannes, and I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the University of Washington. Technology has always been a driving force in my life, inspiring me to think creatively and find ways to solve real-world problems. I am particularly fascinated by artificial intelligence and its potential to revolutionize industries and improve lives. Over the years, I have honed my skills in programming and problem-solving through various academic and personal projects, allowing me to explore innovative solutions in diverse areas.

Beyond my academic work, I enjoy spending time with people, getting to know them, and appreciating who they are. I find it important to connect with others and understand their perspectives. I’m also passionate about learning about different cultures, as it gives me the chance to see the world from various viewpoints and gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity around us. By engaging with people from different backgrounds, I feel that I have grown as a person, gaining valuable experiences and insights that shape how I see the world and interact with it.

My motivation for applying for this scholarship comes from both personal and academic goals. As a first-generation college student, I’ve seen how education can open new doors and create opportunities. This scholarship would give me the chance to fully focus on my studies and the community work that matters to me, helping me make the most of my time in school without any added distractions.

In the future, I hope to use my degree to build innovative solutions that address key issues in education and healthcare, particularly in underserved regions like Ethiopia. This scholarship will play a crucial role in helping me reach these goals, empowering me to further my education and make a meaningful impact on the world.

Biniyam’s near and long-term goals: In the short term, my goal is to make the right decisions every day and gain as much real-world experience and knowledge as possible. Longer term, I hope to use my expertise to create innovative solutions that address real-world problems, particularly in underserved communities, and to contribute to the development of impactful technology in education and healthcare.

Biniyam’s tips for future applicants: Be authentic, and don’t hesitate to share your story.

Thania Guerra

Highline College

2024 Martin Achievement Scholar

My name is Thania. I am a first generation college student, illustrator, graphic designer, and storyteller. I was born in Siguatepeque, Honduras. My family and I immigrated to the United States when I was four years old. From the moment I learned how to speak English I became my family’s cultural navigator, ensuring they could have a basic understanding of how to navigate the American systems. Those moments were shaping my understanding of what it meant to show up for community. My humble beginnings created a burning desire within me to live a life I could be proud of. When I graduated from high school I did not know the direction in which I wanted to go. It took a couple of years of dealing with life to understand what I was truly passionate about. During the gap in my education I dove into my interests and found that graphic design was something I was deeply passionate about. It was the perfect blend of art and language.

In 2022 I had the opportunity to restart my journey as a student at Highline College. At Highline I was met with great instructors that inspired me to continuously challenge myself. I am currently pursuing my associates degree and plan to transfer to the University of Washington to receive a Bachelor of Design with a major in Visual Communications. I applied for this scholarship because having additional financial support would lessen the financial burden of attending a four year institution. This would allow me to primarily focus on my studies rather than worrying about financial matters. In addition to the monetary award, I applied for this scholarship as a means to overcome my fear of academia. I am excited for my future! Getting this far into the scholarship process is something I am proud of!

Thania’s near and long-term goals: My short-term goal is to continue to overcome my fear of public speaking. I know practice makes perfect so I aim to place myself in uncomfortable positions to master this skill. My long-term goals are to receive my four-year degree, grow my portfolio, build meaningful relationships with my peers, and serve others.

Thania’s tips for future applicants:  Present your best foot forward in a way that showcases who you truly are. Be confident that your story matters and the world deserves to hear it. Feel free to seek help while writing your essays, ask your instructors for feedback, and use your writing center. You are worthy so seize the opportunity!

Evelyn Martin

Edmonds College

2024 Martin Honors Scholar

 Hi there! My name is Evelyn Martin. I am a first-generation Mexican American student. I grew up in a few different cities of Washington but have spent the last 8 years in Renton. I am an incoming Junior at the University of Washington and am majoring in Psychology with a minor in Law, Societies, & Justice.

Outside of my responsibilities I really enjoy being in nature, truly any form it comes in, hiking, swimming, camping, etc. Along with that I enjoy photography, mostly film photography, I semi-recently learned how to develop my own film which was awesome! I’m huge on music, fashion, things of the more artsy realm. Over the summer I was able to start volunteering more as well, specifically within minority communities and it is truly a beautiful thing to get to volunteer my time to help people who are not as privileged as I am, connecting with people of different life paths has grown me so much as a person.

I am proud of who I am and my heritage but because of my background I have not had the privilege of having a financial support system and have had to work and pay my own way through college. I have struggled in asking for help in the past because of my independence but as I’ve grown I recognize that asking for help is not a weakness but a strength. The Martin Honors Scholarship was an opportunity I came across once I was accepted to UW and I took what felt like a leap of faith into a potential new world. Receiving this scholarship means that I have an opportunity to branch out and try new things without worrying about finances, this will open many doors as far at networking and completing my goals.

Evelyn’s near and long-term goals: My near term goals are to seize my opportunities by joining RSOs on campus and I hope to continue to help my communities by volunteering my time in and around Seattle. My long term goals would be to establish myself as a lawyer and open my own immigration law practice that focuses on keeping costs low.

Evelyn’s tips for future applicants: I want to start off with good luck and mentioning how deserving you are of help and support. Recognize how hard you have worked to get to the point you are at now and know that the challenges you have faced are no small thing. Be genuine and vulnerable, it pays a lot to be authentic and it makes it easier to write the essays when you channel from within. Find a good support system, whether that is family, friends, books, music, anything that will motivate you through the process. Overall tell a story that truly encapsulates the strength and commitment you have, through every question and essay.

Gabriel Nuñez-Sanchez

Edmonds College

2024 Martin Achievement Scholar

 Hello, my name is Gabriel Nuñez-Sanchez and I go by Gabe. I’m a carpenter, student, husband, and entrepreneur. I’ve been pursuing an associate degree in construction management for 2.5 years now as a first-gen student. Next year, I’ll be finishing a Business DTA with the intention to pursue a bachelor’s degree in construction management at UW Seattle. In my free time, I love to go on road trips, discover new music, and go out with my family.

Having come from a smaller city, I always felt compelled to leave my home and chase a big adventure. At the time, those plans didn’t include college. Yet here I am with a passion for learning and an aching desire to better my community.

What motivated me to apply for this scholarship was the fact that I’ve held onto a dream that seemed impossible when I first started. With each step forward I’ve learned to question what I’m truly capable of and my application was an extension of that.

I plan on using this opportunity to help my brother grow his construction company and make our late mother proud. My parents always wanted to become entrepreneurs, but their plans were cut short when one of them passed away. That’s why I’m so honored to be a Martin Scholar; I get to live out the dreams that my parents never could.

A gift like this one is rare, and being on the receiving end feels like a movie. Even though I have a story to tell, I never thought so many people would care – and I am truly touched.

Gabe’s near and long-term goals: I’ll be focusing on my studies and applying for internships very soon. After graduation, I’d love to work in land development/procurement. I plan on using my education and expertise to help expand my brother’s business into a large-scale development company.

Gabe’s tips for future applicants: Think about what you’ve been through and find a way to write it down. Then expand on the parts that show who you truly are. Lean into how your background has prepared you for the future and what that means for those around you. During this whole process, my motto was “how did you find the courage to grow?”

Ahmad Hilal Abid

Edmonds College

2023 Martin Honors Scholar

I immigrated to the United States in 2018 at age 17 from Afghanistan and established the House of Wisdom in 2020 during the pandemic in my father’s garage, originally accommodating 20 local immigrants and refugees. Over time, the organization has expanded its reach and now provides personalized tutoring, cultural learning programs, and other valuable resources to hundreds of students. I hold two degrees in paralegal and general studies from Edmonds College, and I am pursuing further studies in Political Science at the University of Washington starting this fall.

During my time at Edmonds College, I held various leadership positions such as Chair for the Student Trustee Committee, Chair for the Student Government Selection Committee, Executive Officer for Diversity, etc. I have received numerous awards and accolades for outstanding work both as a student and through the House of Wisdom. Notably, I was honored with the Governor’s Student Civic Leadership Award and nominated as one of two students from Edmonds College for the All-Washington Academic Team. The Washington State Senate also passed a resolution acknowledging my contributions to the House of Wisdom. Several local news outlets, including the Seattle Times, Everett Herald, My Edmonds News and Lynnwood Times, have featured and recognized the impactful work of the House of Wisdom. In my free time, I love to read books, go to hike, play soccer and gym.

I applied for the 2023 Martin Family Scholarship because when l checked the requirements, I felt confident that I was eligible for this great scholarship. In addition, I was very concerned about paying my undergraduate degree tuition.

Ahmad’s near and long-term goals:

My short-term goal is to complete my undergraduate degree in political science and get involved in UW student body leadership. My long-term goal is to work to sustain the House of Wisdom nonprofit organization and attend law school for human rights.

Ahmad’s tips for future applicants:

Begin your scholarship search and application process well in advance. Scholarships often have deadlines, and applying early can give you more time to prepare a strong application. Always check your spelling and sentences and make sure to get your work reviewed by an academic advisor before submitting. Be confident, never get disappointed, and always have hope.

William Crosby

Tacoma Community College

2023 Martin Achievement Scholar

I’m Willie. I am a single father to a 4 year old son. I am also a mechanical engineering student at TCC and a mechanic at Nordlund boats in Tacoma. My life leading up to the last two years was chaotic, but filled with learning experiences.

Neither of my parents made it through college. My mother taught at an early learning school in Fife when I was a kid and she really encouraged me to love learning, my father on the other hand encouraged me to work hard. I started pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering in 2010 at Tacoma Community College. I dropped out after a few quarters.

After I left school I fell into addiction, I then lost my mom to leukemia and I lost my relationships with the rest of my family. I have worked since then with friends I met through AA and NA on developing my character. Through introspection and patience I found that I wanted to be more disciplined and reliable so I’ve been learning how. I’m learning how to be prepared for the future and to be the father that I want to be.

I don’t know the challenges that the future holds or the problems I may face in the future, but I am working to be prepared when things do arise. That’s part of what makes the work of becoming educated so worthwhile to me. It seems that by embracing hard work and finding ways to become better each day that I am growing and becoming reliable and comfortable in more and more stressful circumstances. In the end what I want more than anything is to be a strong, loving, and responsible person; I think having those attributes will prepare me to be useful to my family and to my community.

I met people during my time as an addict who needed help but who seemed unreachable to me at the time. It affected me deeply that I didn’t know how to help. I think now, as I grow in my recovery, that I am learning tools that I can use to help addicts like the ones I knew back then. I’ve had the opportunity to give back a small portion of what was given to me by going to panels and meetings and sharing my story with addicts who still struggle but there is so much more to do. I want to give back what’s been given to me.

I believe in the path that I have been on. I have seen many blessings unfold since I started living cleanly and there is so much more of life to enjoy from this point forward.

Willie’s near and long-term goals:

Short term I want to get the best education I can in order to provide well for my son. I also want to be a good brother to my sisters and a good friend, I think by continuing to grow personally I can do that. In the long term I want to make a difference in my community, or at least lessen the suffering of my community by applying the lessons I have learned to those that they can help.

Willie’s tips for future applicants:

Present yourself honestly, and be open. Dig deeply and ask yourself why you’re getting an education. What have you overcome to be here and what do you hope to become by the time you’re done?

Joshua Fox

Shoreline Community College

2023 Martin Achievement Scholar

Joshua Fox is an artist and Behavioral Health Professional who was born and raised in rural Eastern Washington. He spent his late teens working as an Actor in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. When he was 20, he played Gabe Goodman in a musical called Next To Normal. This show was highly centered on themes of grief, mental illness/health, suicide, and drug abuse. A good amount of this show is set in a Psychiatrist’s office where psychotherapy is provided for one of the characters. This was Joshua’s first introduction to therapy.

Just before, during, and after Next To Normal; Joshua was starting to become in tune with the effects of his childhood trauma and how it was affecting his thoughts, body, and behavior. Following the closing of the show, Joshua enrolled in Therapy at a community mental health center. Through therapy, Joshua started to develop tools to challenge his destructive thought patterns, as well as some self confidence. Therapy showed Joshua that he had strengths, wisdom, and value too. This is also where Joshua’s passion for Clinical Social Work sparked. He still remembers his first therapist, Suzanne, saying “You would make such a great Social Worker.” He’d never thought that he was capable of helping others through Social Work, but Suzanne helped him start to see he could! Though he knew that a career as a Social Worker was a long ways away, he wanted to start building relevant skills as soon as possible.

During the pandemic, Joshua started working at a Behavioral Health agency that focused on delivering progressive Applied Behavior Analysis services. Joshua started as a Registered Behavior Technician and Peer Mentor, but eventually became a Staff Trainer and Manager of Peer Mentorship Proposal. Through training, working as a peer mentor, and developing the agency’s Peer Mentor program, Joshua’s passion for supporting others expanded and became more concrete. Through these positions, Joshua discovered the power of self determination and helping others establish their own goals and values.

In Spring of 2021, Joshua enrolled in college at Shoreline Community College on a whim. Though he graduated High School with a 2.2 GPA, he now has a 3.9 college GPA. Despite his academic success, Joshua found that life as a first-generation, independent college student can be financially stressful. At the thoughtful recommendation of Nicole Guenther from UW-Seattle’s School of Social Work, Joshua applied for the Martin Achievement Scholarship hoping to find help in alleviating this financial stress. He hopes that this scholarship helps him complete his “road map” to becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a support for vulnerable populations.

Joshua’s near and long-term goals:

After finishing my AA at Shoreline Community College, I plan to pursue a Bachelor’s of Arts in Social Welfare (BASW) as well as a Master’s in Social Work (with an emphasis in Clinical Social Work) from the UW-Seattle. After completing my Master’s degree, I plan to work as a Licensed Therapist in King County and start a family of my own!

Joshua’s tips for future applicants:

“Start your application early!”

• I worked on my application for almost 2 months and poured a lot into it. This gave me time to outline, draft, revise, and finalize my essay question responses.

“Give your mentors an advanced notice, check in with them periodically, and communicate what message you’re trying to send with your application.”

• I asked my mentors if they would write me a letter about 2 months before the application was due. I also checked in with them when I didn’t hear back from them in a timely manner and when the deadline was approaching. Finally my letters of recommendation and my essay question responses all communicated very similar messages which, I felt like, made my application much more powerful. I was able to do this because I shared the selection criteria with my mentors as well as some information about my relevant goals and values. I think this information was helpful to my mentors in their writing process (which benefitted me in the end!)

“Use any academic resources you have access to to get some help on your essays and application.”

• I reached out to a English professor at my college to ask for feedback about my essay question responses. If you don’t have a trusted professor, have a friend, family member, or someone close to you proofread your responses!

“Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and authentic.”

• Feel free to share the hardships or adversity you’ve experienced through life. At the same time, focus on the message behind your experiences and how that message might relate to your relevant goals or values. The trying experiences you’ve endured and accomplishments you’ve achieved help you stand out and shape who you are and how you’ve gotten to where you are.

Somto Obi-Iwuagwu

Green River College

2023 Martin Achievement Scholar

Hello, my name is Somto Obi-Iwuagwu, but I go by Sommie. I am currently a pre-nursing major at Green River College. I plan to transfer to the University of Washington Seattle to obtain my BSN degree. My family and I moved to the United States a year ago from my home country (Nigeria). So, you can imagine that most of my formative years were done back in Nigeria. I come from a close-knit family, and I love my parents so much. My main priority is to make my parents proud, give them a more comfortable life and much later, I hope to take care of them properly just as they have done for my siblings and me.

I decided to study nursing because I find it really fascinating. I have always loved learning and reading about the human body and how our organ systems work together to maintain homeostasis. The human life is of great value and being given an opportunity to contribute to ensuring the well-being and care of others is a really good feeling. I know this a very challenging and tasking course to study, but with determination, resilience and hard work I know that I would be able to achieve my goal.

I enjoy listening to music, planning, traveling, journaling and trying new things. I am currently a member of the nursing organization in my school which is made up of amazing nurses and future nurses who come together to perform certain roles and responsibilities. Honestly, I decided to apply for this scholarship because my professor, Dr. Leo recommended it and I saw it as an opportunity to enhance my educational goals and interests. I hope that this scholarship will enable me to gain valuable experience and skills that will help me achieve my future career goals.

Sommie’s near and long-term goals:

I plan to volunteer at Good Samaritan Hospital very soon and hopefully get my CNA license as well. I hope to complete my BSN degree and get a master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner someday.

Sommie’s tips for future applicants:

I would say be completely honest about everything and ask questions when necessary.

Sohrab Osmany

Shoreline College

2023 Martin Honors Scholar

Sohrab Osmany is a first-generation student studying Computer Science at the University of Washington. He is planning to pursue his Bachelor’s Degree within the next two years. Sohrab was inspired by his mother who helped him through his life to be a better person and make a good change no matter how small in the community.

Sohrab was born and raised in Afghanistan. His story starts when he left his third year of university in Afghanistan, moved to the U.S.A. back in 2020, and started a job at Fred Meyer. He knew very little English, but he started learning more by talking to customers and employees. He worked hard to learn the language and culture to start college once again from the beginning and continue his dream. Sohrab started Computer Science in 2021 at Shoreline Community College and worked part-time at different jobs to be able to pursue his degree. He knew what he wanted to do with his life, and his goals were set in his mind. He was successfully transferred to the University of Washington in the spring of 2023 and started his new journey in Computer Science.

Throughout his journey, Sohrab was passionate about helping new immigrants and connecting them with the resources that they needed. As a result, he started volunteering at Seattle Public World School in 2021 as a teacher assistant in STEM classes. Sohrab also helped new Afghan students at the school to find the right resources, use available resources, and stay connected with their teachers and peers during school hours.

Sohrab’s near and long-term goals:

My near-term goals include securing a research opportunity in the upcoming quarters and securing a 2024 summer internship. In the long term, I aim to pursue a Master’s and potentially a Ph.D. in Computer Science to contribute to technology through research and innovation.

Sohrab’s tips for future applicants:

Good luck on your journey! You deserve to be here. Start early and try to get other opinions on your essays. Write about your extra curriculars and tell the Martin Family Foundation how much you deserve to get the scholarship. Be honest, dig deep in yourself, and write about your true self. It’s important to start early and go through your application many times.

Charlie Patnode

Cascadia & Edmonds Colleges

2023 Martin Honors Scholar

Hello! My name is Charlie. I am a junior at UW and a biochemistry student. Outside of the school, I am a huge nature enthusiast. My favorite thing about living in the Seattle area is that we have a vast array of diverse ecosystems all around us. When I have free time, I hike with my mycology and plant field guides and seeing if I can identify the plants and mushrooms that catch my eye. I recently picked up powerlifting as a hobby, and participate in beginner weightlifting competitions. I enjoy lifting because it challenges my mind and body, encouraging me to go outside of my comfort zone.

Coming from community college, I was able to work part time through school to pay for school and living expenses. I am proud to be a first-gen college and latinx student, but I don’t have the same social or financial resources some of my peers do. Transferring to a university to finish my education came with a daunting cost that I was not certain I could pay for. I am incredibly thankful that I heard about the Martin Family Foundation Honors Scholarship. Being a recipient of this award means I can worry less about how I am going to pay for my future, and take more time to find community on campus, focus intently on completing my degree, and pursue my dream of becoming a biochemical researcher.

Charlie’s near and long-term goals:

In the next two years I want to do undergraduate research while I complete my bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. Eventually I would like to work in the development Alzheimer’s or cancer treatment.

Charlie’s tips for future applicants: 

When choosing your mentors to write your letters of recommendation, avoid asking those who have only seen your victories. Ask mentors who have played a significant part in guiding you toward your ambitions. They have likely have seen you struggle, and have knowledge on how you draw motivation, your work ethic, and how you overcome difficulty. They can provide an in-depth illustration of what makes you a capable learner, inside and outside the classroom.

Gabriel Sison

Highline, North Seattle & Shoreline Colleges

2023 Martin Honors Scholar

Gabriel is a computer science and math double major interested in learning more about machine learning and developing software that helps maximize efficiency for others. At his previous institution, he helped revive his schools Computer Science’s Club online community as its Web Content Manager, was the sole TA for introductory CS coursework, a math tutor for coursework such as linear algebra and differential equations, and a data analyst volunteer for a Seattle-based non profit called TakeOnCollege. But Gabriel didn’t always have things figured out for himself. Growing up, although he was always a curious kid, his low-income first-generation background made it hard for him to explore what he really wanted out of life. By the time he reached high school, he was just another C-student with no sense of direction in life, with little exposure to the potential of America.

This all changed when he enrolled at Highline Community College, and was given the opportunity to take coursework he was interested in. Being hired as a math tutor allowed him to buy food and supplies he needed to become successful, and made money less of a concern.

When he got accepted into both UW Seattle’s computer science and math program, he didn’t want to let go of the once in a lifetime opportunity and was willing to do whatever it took to be able to attend. He applied to multiple scholarships, with the hopes of at least winning one. And now, he’s able to attend UW this Fall through the generosity of both the Martin Family Foundation and the Washington Nasa Space Grant Consortium.

This scholarship will give him the privilege of being able to focus solely on his interests in research and taking advanced coursework without the constant thought of money that’s plagued him all his life stopping him.

Gabriel’s near and long-term goals:

Gabriel wants to become involved in research at UW surrounding machine learning and its intersections with math. After UW, he wants to start his own company, making use of the knowledge he’s gained, developing software that helps other companies become more efficient.

Gabriel’s tips for future applicants: 

Develop a clear vision for yourself. Going through the application was a lot easier for me to do once I realized which aspect of myself I wanted to show in the best way possible.

Elishah Webb

Everett Community College

2023 Martin Achievement Scholar

Hello, my name is Elishah. I am a first-generation student who grew up in Mooresville, North Carolina. I am currently studying at Everett Community College pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering and looking to transfer to the University of Washington.

When I was younger I always loved learning about how things worked and making things go fast. Fighter jets in particular were a large part of my interest. I would often help my neighbors build and work on racecars, which is what gave me my first real hands-on experience with putting things together and taking them apart, having a machine that is constantly pushed to its performance limits. These are the things that I believe helped me get into the field of STEM even more.

I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force prior to graduating high school and was in basic training 3 days after getting my diploma. Since then I have finished serving in the military and gained professional experience in various technical support roles. Still having a feeling of wanting to do something more, I’ve gained hobbies like building drones. It was because of this that my passion for things that fly was reignited, but it wasn’t until learning a little something about myself that would push me to pursue school again. That being diagnosed as an adult with ADHD. This made me understand myself much better and put so many pieces together for me to reflect on. Since this discovery, I have been able to learn and use tools obtained through therapy to help keep my focus and drive. And have since been enrolled in school and excelled beyond what I thought I was capable of when in high school. I am active in my schools extracurriculars being a part of TRIO, MESA, as well as being the president of the STEM Club which also helps me succeed in school and gain experience.

Being able to pursue my goals of getting a degree and higher education in Aerospace Engineering is what motivated me to apply for the Martin Achievement Scholarship. Being assisted financially will be a major pillar in my future success as this will enable me to focus more on my education rather than worrying about how I may afford to go to school.

Elishah’s near and long-term goals:

My near goals is to continue my education and complete my bachelors degree while maintaining my honors status, along with gaining internship and research experience. A long term goal is to continue my education and pursue a PhD with the end goal of to help develop/create something that will help the people of this world within the Aerospace spectrum.

Elishah’s tips for future applicants:

Make sure that you set aside time to go over the application and put together a thoughtful essay that really speaks to who you are and your goals. It is important to share your story and where you want to end up at, maybe add some examples of how you have already put some of these methods to work, or new ones you might try. Having peers check out what you have put together will also help with ensuring your essay is complete and touches on all the needed points. One other thing is to make sure you have some faculty that are willing to write you a letter of recommendation and that you get this information to them in time before the submission deadline!

Shayne Jones

Shoreline Community College

2022 Martin Honors Scholar

Shayne grew up in the small town of Camas, WA which is just outside of Portland, OR. Despite struggling scholastically throughout his young adult life, he had one goal: To spend his life making a positive impact on the people around him.

Once COVID hit, Shayne realized that even with his extensive work in treatment centers, youth on the Spectrum, and at-risk young adults, he was going to have to get a degree in order to make the difference he wanted to. With this in mind, Shayne registered at Shoreline Community College a week before winter term of 2021. He went into the beginning of his college education thinking he was going to face enormous challenge within a classroom setting, but much to his surprise, Shayne found himself not only accomplishing his educational goals but also thriving.

Early on in his education, Shayne’s classes prompted him to start identifying currently neglected and underserved minority demographics. As a queer transgender man, he found a passion for homeless and at-risk youth ignited when he learned that 20-40% of homeless youth identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. After taking a criminal justice class, Shayne learned about the life long negative consequences for those within the prison system and decided to get his Criminal Justice Advocacy Certificate. His latest efforts are homeless rehabilitation and harm reduction. Most importantly, Shayne realized how short community resources are failing those struggling with substance abuse and addiction. Because of this and his background working with those who are underprivileged, Shayne decided to devote his life to working with those struggling with substance abuse and decided to pursue a career as a mental health therapist. He intends on getting his Bachelors of Social Work and minoring in Law, Societies, and Justice as well as Human Rights. After his Bachelors is finished, Shayne plans to pursue a Masters of Social Work at the University of Washington. Shayne believes that due to his own personal life changes, anyone with the desire and support in doing so can become their potential.

Shayne recognizes that without a support system filled with love and acceptance, each of us struggle to become the positive force in the world we are meant to be. In large part, his educational and professional goals stem from a core support system made up of his parents, Mark, Cheryl, and Robyn, his sisters, Sydney and MiMi, his chosen family, Eric, Karen, Lucas, Sammie, and Abby, and the families he nannies for, Matt, Rachel, and Molly, and Bianca, Joanna, and Cy. Shayne is eternally grateful to each of these people for their tremendous impact in spurring him to finding his life purpose. To each person listed and unlisted who’s given him the hope and courage to become his best self, he extends a sincere thank you. You’ve changed his life for the better.

Shayne’s near and long-term goals:

To finish my Masters of Social Work and to become a mental health therapist.

Shayne’s tips for future applicants:

Have set life goals in mind for yourself and your career path and practice conveying these. Speak with passion and show the board how giving you the opportunity will better the world around you. Pre-write your essays and revise them until they are clear and concise. Don’t underestimate the importance of your letters of recommendation! Choose those recommending you wisely.

Carlos Morales

Whatcom Community College

2022 Martin Honors Scholar

These days, it seems more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of connecting with our food. Getting people excited to know where our food comes from, how it affects our bodies and how fun cooking can be: this is Carlos’s dream. Carlos is originally from Columbia, SC and moved to the northwest from Atlanta, GA. As Carlos’s knowledge as a chef expanded, he decided to open his own small restaurant, “Chop Chop Next,” in July 2015. He immediately gained a special appreciation for the local businesses and found that most of us did better independently when we supported each other collectively and worked together. Carlos began sourcing only locally grown produce and found the customers loved knowing where their food was coming from and they were yearning for a deeper connection and so was he. Carlos was hungry for more of an understanding of how our food systems work. When a community comes together, it provides support, encourages growth and flourishes on trust and cooperation. Weak soil produces weak crops, and strong communities birth incredible individuals which create an unwavering network of cooperation. Carlos is interested in finding and exploring the intersection between our food systems and health systems through pursuing a career in Public Health. Through his research he had discovered the Martin Family Foundation and was impressed and affected with Benn Martin’s compassion and tenacity to help others. Carlos thought to himself that this is an amazing foundation and opportunity to support. With this opportunity it will allow Carlos to reconnect people to the land. He feels like this is the missing piece to solving a lot of our country’s issues. A huge disconnect has been created through the birth of industrialization which has evolved and spread like wildfire through our nation, severing those relations to the land and each other.

Carlos’s near and long-term goals:

Carlos’s near term goal is having a positive impact on the community in Whatcom county where he recently moved from. Carlos currently has the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors of the Bellingham Food Bank and want to enact change towards anti-racism as an organization. His longer term goals include getting his MPH with a focus on policy. Policy constantly assists communities or quite the opposite, it can get in the way and create barriers. He is most focused on breaking down these hurdles and talking with communities and creating policies that better serve what those people are needing and looking for while nurturing a holistic approach to personal and economic growth for each individual.

Carlos’s tips for future applicants:

When applying for a scholarship it can be easy to be overcome with excitement and anxiety all at once. I would ask you to remind yourself of everything that it took for you to get to this particular place in which you have the opportunity to apply for the scholarship in the first place. Give yourself the space to breathe before you start writing and ask yourself, “What do I want to bring into my potential future? What vision and impact do I want to have on the community that I’m serving?”. If you have the time, please give yourself plenty of it to think about how you are going to show up as a student, peer, and leader at UW. Be thoughtful, but most of all just be yourself and be clear with what you want out of this experience.

Axel Rochel

Everett Community College

2022 Martin Honors Scholar

My name is Axel Rochel, and I am a first-generation college student and DACA recipient born in Durango, Mexico. I migrated to the United States at age five and have lived in North Lynnwood ever since.
As a young boy, I managed to blend in with others rapidly. Learning English and trying to hide my Hispanic ethnicity. I would not dare to speak Spanish as I was afraid to be different from others. But I knew this was not going to be easy. Knowing my family’s sacrifices and my desire for education got me through it all. I am ambitious to have a chance, an opportunity, to be able to pursue a degree and one day give back to the family. The more I grew up and understood things, the more proud I became of my ethnicity and the journey my parents and I went through to get to where we currently are. Being a DACA recipient and living in a state that supports immigrants to further my education is why I can obtain this opportunity to pursue a career in the field of STEM.

What motivated me to apply for this scholarship was to decrease the financial burden on my parents to zero, as this scholarship would cover personal expenses that would help me financially to move closer to campus and not have to commute like I was planning on doing. My parents have already invested a lot of time and money to put me in my position. It’s only right for me to complete my collegiate journey independently so they can focus on supporting their loved ones back home.

As a proud Hispanic Scholarship Fund scholar and SPEEA ACE scholar, having financial support from organizations will help me prioritize my academics and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to complete my objectives and be at the forefront of today’s innovations in power and electricity in the field of automotive/aeronautics or energy utility.

Axel’s near and long-term goals:

My immediate goal is to land an internship next summer in the field of automotive/aeronautical vehicles or energy utility and explore areas that interest me. And continue seeking opportunities to be involved in projects and competition teams to develop my knowledge and skills in the power and electrical systems field. My long-term goal is to obtain a leadership position in a company that suits my passion and curiosities and become a mentor and a career guide for first-generation and Hispanic students.

Axel’s tips for future applicants:

Begin the essay on time! Ensure you don’t feel rushed completing the essay and other requirements to put out your best self and increase your chances of being selected. And once you have your essay completed, reach out to your local faculty members or peers to review your essay.

Arian Ariaye

Green River College

2022 Martin Achievement Scholar

Hi! My name is Arian. I’m a first-generation student studying at Green River College toward an Associate of Science degree. I plan on transferring to the University of Washington, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in biology. My story begins when my parents decided to take a huge risk of moving from our home country, Afghanistan, to Turkey. They’ve spent days and nights getting through dangerous roads. I was 9 years old and the only thing I could realize was the hope in my parent’s eyes. Turkey was a much safer country. However, there were not enough opportunities for my brothers and I to continue our education in the long run.

In March of 2019, we moved to the United States which was another life-changing decision. Although I had no prior English knowledge, that didn’t stop me from wanting to achieve my goals. I dedicated all the time I had to my studies and took the most out of every opportunity offered to me. I had younger brothers looking up to me, and parents who sacrificed their entire life just so their children can live a better life. Thus, I was willing to give my best shot in all aspects. Ultimately, I aim to become a physician assistant/associate (PA) and advocate the critical role that PAs play in the medical industry just like physicians. The Martin Achievement Scholarship is going to greatly assist me in completing my undergraduate journey at UW, without stressing too much about paying any loans before applying to the MEDEX Northwest PA Program.

At GRC, I’m one of the officers of Math Club where we create a friendly environment for students to socialize and de-stress from the heavy workload of college through various math related fun activities. Besides, I’ve been practicing a Japanese martial art called Aikido for over 7 years. One of my other goals is to have a place of mine where I can teach others (from variety of ages) about the magnificent art of Aikido and inform the future generations to carry on this sport over decades.

Arian’s near and long-term goals:

During summer of 2022, I’ll be taking certified nursing assistant (CNA) and phlebotomy trainings so I can start completing the required clinical hours of PA school. I’m very excited to gain new skillsets while making great friendships along the way. Eventually, other than going to PA school, I look forward to continuing to share my story with people all around the world. I want to be a source of motivation for people like me because if one person can do it, this means all of us are capable of making our dreams come true.

Arian’s tips for future applicants:

My #1 recommendation is to begin your application ahead of time. You’ll most likely have many things going on as a college student while completing your application, and it’s so easy to push things aside just because you have a couple of months before the deadline. Don’t let yourself fall into this trap :).

Christopher Kleeves

Whatcom Community College

2022 Martin Achievement Scholar

I grew up in Magalia, California. I struggled through school and had little to no motivation to pursue further education. After graduating from high school I worked for a few years at a grocery store climbing up to the position of department manager. Wanting to further my education, I attended Butte Community College for a year, studying Drafting and CAD technologies. Within that year I learned that I did not want to pursue that educational path and that I was also fascinated by physics after I took an introductory physical science class.

I then put my education on hold and decided to join the United States Coast Guard. I spent 4 years in the Coast Guard, working on almost every ship system on the 87ft patrol boat I was stationed on and also conducting at sea safety boardings of recreational and commercial vessels. While in the Coast Guard I fostered an interest in how the machinery worked and could be improved, especially with energy efficiency in mind. While my time in the Coast Guard was coming to a close, I began my education anew at Whatcom Community College, with the new goal of Environmental Engineering.

I quickly got in the groove of online education, due to the ongoing pandemic, and am even working 3 part time jobs to support myself financially alongside the other financial aid I am receiving. To alleviate the financial stress I am currently in and to gain support for higher education, I applied for this scholarship. This scholarship also provides a way for me to connect with other students and scholars who have come from a variety of backgrounds and find a sense of community within the landscape of academia.

Christopher’s near and long-term goals:

I plan on finishing this quarter strong then, over the summer, I will be conducting research at UW through the Clean Bridge to Energy research program under Alexander Mamishev. As I move forward with my education I hope to conduct further research within the realm of energy transfer systems, water sanitation, and waste reuse.

Christopher’s tips for future applicants:

If your school has a writing center, use it. I got help from wonderful people who helped me clarify my essays and resume so that I could apply with a fully flushed out and complete application. Be honest with your experiences and how they shaped you. While there are only so many words to explain who you are and where you are going, being honest and straight forward pays off and helps you know yourself a bit more.

Anaelsin Lopez Lopez

Skagit Valley College

2022 Martin Achievement Scholar

Anaelsin Lopez was born in Phoenix, Arizona but was raised in Mount Vernon, Washington, where she began working in agriculture fields alongside her family. Anaelsin is a first-generation college student at Skagit Valley College where she is completing her pre-requisites to transfer to the University of Washington where she will pursue her degree in communications.

Anaelsin’s passion to advocate for immigrant and migrant communities is depicted in her extracurricular activities: Migrant Leaders Club, Underground Writing program, CAMP, and Interning for IRIS (Immigration Resources Immediate support) – a nonprofit organization that serves immigrant families who are survivors of violence. Anaelsin’s passion to stand for her community has allowed her work to be published in the anthologies, What No One Ever Tells You and When the Dust Rises. Anaelsin’s greatest achievements are a representation of her dedication to bringing greatness to her family, community, and future.

Anaelsin is optimistic for the future, she hopes to one day serve immigrant and migrant communities through a social justice platform. She also plans to continue advocating for underrepresented communities through the diverse environment at the University of Washington. Having experienced agricultural work at an early age motivates Anaelsin to not only pursue higher education but also to inspire others with similar experiences that through hard work anything is possible.

Anaelsin’s near and long-term goals:

One of my many goals is to start a podcast that is meant to empower, inspire, and mentor immigrant and migrant students through their education. I want to begin this journey in hopes to create more opportunities for students who might not have an advantage in their family, school, and/or communities.

Anaelsin’s tips for future applicants:

Do not underestimate the power of your story. Your story is what makes you unique and sets you apart from everyone else. Take your time answering the prompts and speak your truth to people who can help you reach your dreams. As you complete the application, remind yourself why it is important to your future and set this application to be your priority.

Linh Nguyen

Highline College

2022 Martin Achievement Scholar

Linh was born in Vietnam and raised in Seattle, Washington. He comes from a low-income family that immigrated to the United States with the hopes of giving their kids a better life and had dreams for them to be the first ever scholars in the family. As Linh started his academic journey, he was met with adversity. As English is his second language, he struggled with being able to meet the standards of the education requirements and performed poorly. Uncertain of where his academic future may lead, he decided to enlist into the Marine Corps to find his true sense of purpose.

During his Marine Corps service, Linh was exposed to being independent and was mainly drawn to the financial side of independence. Financial literacy was not a topic that was discussed in his home and Linh became curious about it and started to develop a long-term goal of incorporating an educational journey and the pursuit to help his community. He started to learn how to manage his finances and was introduced to the finance world as a young adult and it slowly provided him the tools, he needed to start building his future.

With his new mindset, Linh made the decision to continue where he left off on his academic journey and settled on pursuing a career as a Finance Manager. His goal is to help other families in his community that are experiencing the hardship of being financially unstable. Whether it is the pursuit of higher education, building a better understanding of financial literacy, or helping out with the English language, he wants to be able to reach out and encourage as many people as he can and allow them to see that it is possible to achieve their goals. Receiving this scholarship will be a tremendous help in fulfilling his long-term goal. Not only will it help financially but more importantly it is a confidence booster as Linh can continue on the path of achievement.

Overcoming the doubts that were created in his early years of education, Linh is currently enrolled at Highline College, pursuing his associate degree in business to later on transfer to UW Foster School of Business to finish his B.A. degree in Finance. He is a member of the TRIO program, which helped him navigate through the educational system. In conjunction, he also spends time in the Veteran Service Office to help enroll and guide veterans to pursue their higher education.

Linh’s near and long-term goals:

One of my near term goals is to become a better writer so can communicate effectively to my peers, coworkers, and future clients. For my long term goal, obtain my B.A. in Finance and work towards my career as a Finance Manager.

Linh’s tips for future applicants:

Prepare yourself for the essay. Spend time writing and really express yourself. This your time to tell your story and the challenges you have faced to get to where you are now. Use resources too, like the Writing Center to help if you have problems with articulating what you are trying to convey. Also believe in yourself during the process! You will achieve your goals.

Amanda René Capella

North Seattle College

2021 Martin Achievement Scholar

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him…We need not wait to see what others do.” – Mahatma Ghandi

Driven by the belief that our actions contribute to the net outcome of our societal experience, René is an individual dedicated to offering her time, resources, and skills to building a community where every person feels equally safe, creative, and motivated to be their best selves.

Growing up on a 12-acre plot of old farm land, René spent her childhood exploring nature. The solace therein provided space for creativity and introspection which developed into a lifelong pleasure. At Miami University, René studied philosophy, exploring ethics and phenomena. Years later, this rich history and practice of critical thought contributed to Rene’s ultimate decision to step back from the workplace as a professional Software Engineering Lead and commit all energy to scholarship and community.

René currently hopes to study Computer Science and Psychology at the University of Washington to deepen her awareness of possibilities and interactions between technology and the human mind. She attends North Seattle College where she is the Computer Science Club president and Google Developer Student Club Lead for the North Seattle College Chapter. She also actively mentors for all peers in the technology industry. René’s goal is to further the dialogue concerning ethics in technology. She also focuses her energy on creating community with peers to experience how anyone can come together and create positive change.

Outside of school, René is a meditation teacher. She also spends every spare moment with her active and curious children and family who share her passion for improving the lives of their community though service and intention.

René’s near and long-term goals:

My short-term goals are focused on the development of the Computer Science Club’s robustness and role as a rich experience for students and demonstration of community service. Currently awarded the Google Developer Student Club Lead position, I’ve been offered the resources necessary to expand my efforts.

For long-term, my goal is to continue scholarship and community building at the University of Washington with the extra long term goal of dedicating my knowledge and skills to the betterment of my community at home and at large.

René’s tips for future applicants:

Introspection and brainstorming are key to fully answering essay questions. Always searching deeply for your motivations and aspirations is helpful. Also, connecting your motivations to the community (if that pertains to you) is so helpful in conceptualizing and communicating your personal vision to others and how investment in YOU is investment in our community. Your future is everyone’s future. Dream big, dream ethically, and put the effort in :).

Mya Leonhard

Highline College

2021 Martin Achievement Scholar

At the age of 18, Mya has already jumped through many hurdles in life. Her mother had a near-death experience in 2018 with sudden massive hemoptysis lung bleeding, only later to get diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Mya has emotionally and mentally carried those around her while also battling her own mental health struggles. Working two jobs, she helps her family financially especially since her father was laid off in the pandemic last year. Yet, her resilience remains strong.

As a stellar student at Highline College, her next goal is to transfer and graduate with a B.A. in Psychology from UW. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and works at Highline’s Inter-Cultural Center, showing her emphasis on both studies and getting involved with her community. Her leadership skills as president of the Just a SEC: Social Equity Club led to recruitment by Communities for Our Colleges Coalition. This non-profit organization focuses on racial and economic equity through pushing for better state funding in community and technical colleges (CTCs) where many low-income and/or students of color go to for higher education. She successfully worked alongside legislators to pass a law that provides $33 million for CTCs, which includes allotment to grow mental health counseling services at each college.

Through her life experiences witnessing mental health struggles around her and working in communities to alleviate mental health stigmas and provide resources, she is driven to pursue a medical career in psychiatry after receiving her bachelors. She is passionate in her ultimate goal to become a well-rounded physician that leads with empathy and compassion. She has seen how human connections save lives and keep people going. She has many dreams, but never stops dreaming. She has put those dreams into action and will continue to do so.

Mya’s near and long-term goals:

My main near-term goal includes spending more time with my family because without them, I wouldn’t have had the support to get to where I am today. With my mother and father’s support, I always had supportive people around me that would encourage me to try my hardest in my academic and professional goals. That has translated into my motivations to transfer to the University of Washington for my B.A. in Psychology, continue my education for a medical degree, and leading me to pursue a career in psychiatry.

Mya’s tips for future applicants:

Before sending a request to a letter of recommendation writer, it would be good to prepare a resume, curriculum vitae, or a “brag sheet” for the writer to use as a reference. That way, they will be able to write good and applicable points about you that are on paper, along with their own personal input as well. Additionally, it would be best if a request is sent out around a month in advance to allow for time as many letter writers are quite busy with other tasks. For the personal statement essays, the more time you have, the better! I remember starting the application around a month before the due date and got a nice draft 2 weeks in before the deadline. The last 2 weeks were saved for meeting with my advisors and adding my own edits to make sure that the essay includes all the crucial parts I wanted to add in. The last, but definitely not least, tip of all is to reflect on your story and your life. The Martin Board wants to know all about you, so showing your authentic self is most likely going to be your biggest support in this scholarship application.

Mirian Mencias

Highline College

2021 Martin Achievement Scholar

Mirian Mencias is a first-generation student. She is currently a Passport Peer Mentor with TRIO and a member of the conduct committee at Highline College. She is from Honduras la Ceiba, a multiracial student raised in Miami, Florida. Mirian is the mother of five beautiful girls. One of her desires is to demonstrate to her daughters that it is possible to prevail in life no matter the circumstances. She has encountered many challenges, including a car accident that changed her life forever. Mirian had no choice but to reinvent herself and return to school. Her intended major is in Political Science.

Mirian believes knowledge is power, so the only way to fight is by knowing the rules of the game in society. Taking the time to educate herself is the best investment she has made for herself and anyone can make for themselves. She believes that she will continue to use that energy to help propel her forward because those challenges made her a stronger person.

Mirian aspires to advocate for her community and help in whichever way possible by becoming their voice. She has declared herself a fighter and an advocate for her community. Mirian spends a lot of time reading, trying to learn, and when she is not reading or researching for fun, she loves to spend time with her five beautiful girls. She enjoys cooking, gardening, and teaching her girls how to study. Her plan is to one day help her community change for the better, and perhaps even the world, by continuing to support and help those who feel they do not have a voice. Mirian hopes to one day have the privilege of working with our government to continue to make our community a better place.

Mirian’s near and long-term goals:

I would like to be able to achieve an internship with our local government. Hopefully one day in the future I will work with government to make our community a better place for our children.

Mirian’s tips for future applicants:

You are worth it! So stop questioning yourself, and go for it. Take your time, don’t rush; make sure you give yourself plenty of time to write and review your essay. Read it to yourself out loud, and pour your heart out. Try to convey it in the writing. I know it will be challenging at first, but once you start it will flow and becomes more natural. Write your essay about your own experiences, achievement and challenges. Be authentic, but most importantly, you have to believe in yourself. You belong here. Remember this is beginning, so start by applying. Good Luck!!

Clarissa Perez

Seattle Central College

2021 Martin Achievement Scholar

When Clarissa was younger, domestic violence, poverty, and drug addiction plagued her family. Despite this, she always made the top of her class. She found refuge in studying and doing good in school. However, her ambition came crashing down when depression and suicidal thoughts entered her life. She went from being a star student to barely graduating the eighth grade.

When Clarissa transitioned to Chief Sealth High School, it was a fresh start where she could reclaim the power she felt that she had lost. She was a full International Baccalaureate student and a member of various organizations related to youth empowerment and environmental justice. She also found a love for studying abroad when she got to study in Brazil, Germany, South Africa, and Guatemala- all on scholarship! Her high school experience didn’t come without challenges, though. During her sophomore year, Clarissa’s brother was murdered. In the middle of her junior year, she almost passed away in a suicide attempt. Finally, during her senior year, her mother died of a drug overdose.

Clarissa longed so badly to be a leader in her community that would get into college and have nothing stop her, but the pain was too much. Clarissa’s grades fell and she almost, again, barely graduated her senior year. Although she got admitted to UW Seattle her senior year, she knew that she needed to take a gap year to heal her pain. She took an internship at the Inspiring Children Foundation in Las Vegas, NV.

Clarissa’s internship consisted of helping struggling youth learn mindfulness and meditation tools to help them persevere through their adversity. Moreover, Clarissa has spoken at festivals, community gatherings, and formal settings around the country to give talks on mental health and her personal story. During her gap year, she also applied to seventeen colleges and got rejected from all of them! She decided not to give up and now prides herself in attending Seattle Central College.

For so long Clarissa felt that her circumstances would be the end of her. Now, she aspires to become the first person in her family to graduate from college. She has the dream of going to medical school and becoming an emergency medicine doctor. Clarissa’s story is one that shows that no matter what your past entails, you can always rise above it.

Clarissa’s near and long-term goals:

I hope to be a healthy and happy college student! My long-term goal is to get into medical school and eventually become an emergency medicine doctor.

Clarissa’s tips for future applicants:

Remember to pour your heart out into your essays. It is the time where you are able to share you who are, your passions, and your aspirations. Be honest and open, to the extent in which you are comfortable, with the struggles and barriers you’ve endured in your pursuit of higher education. This is your chance to have your story heard- good luck!

Mussie Tsegay

South Seattle College

2021 Martin Achievement Scholar

Mussie is an immigrant who is chasing the dream of being successful in a country of freedom. He came to the United States from an African country, Eritrea, in February 2019. Growing up in Eritrea was one of the many challenging experiences in his lifetime, as people are stripped of their basic human rights. As a result, Mussie’s life depended on education; the more he learned, the more freedom he could acquire.

To find a change, at age 17, Mussie started his journey to America. He had to cross the Eritrean border illegally on foot. He chose to forget everything he achieved in his education and move to a place he only knew through the media. In addition, Mussie had to take responsibility for his two siblings and protect them from the wild animals and the Eritrean soldiers who secured the border. After three scary days and nights and with the help of some smugglers, he and his siblings were able to cross the border alive. After eight months, he was able to reunite with my parents in the USA.

As an active TRIO member at South Seattle College, Mussie plans to earn his Associate of Science Degree and transfer to UW to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. Growing up in a less developed country taught him that education is essential to solve our world’s problems. Mussie hopes to use his education to improve electric power access and make the world a safe place to live.

Remembering his friends in Eritrea who didn’t have the opportunity to use their talents reinforces Mussie’s strength to finish school. He now takes another step toward becoming the first one from his family to go college and change his future. He plans to face the obstacles and challenge them while enjoying the journey to success that will change life for himself and his family.

Mussie’s near and long-term goals:

Academically, my near-term goal is to get my Associate of Science Degree in South Seattle college and transfer to UW. Additionally, I plan to practice and further my art skills as a hobby. My future goal is to obtain my engineering degree, perhaps including a master’s, as needed. On the way, I want to learn more about this country and further my plan on using my education to be successful and help people in need.

Mussie’s tips for future applicants:

I would advise future students to use the principle of “work smarter, not harder.” Appling to scholarships is much easier than working hard to get the money. Besides, don’t forget the patience and the experience you develop by applying will prepare you for your future. So appreciate all the hardships you overcome and enjoy your success, As success is how far you got from where you started.

Harry Furey-Soper

Pierce College

2021 Martin Honors Scholar

My name is Harry, and I enjoy hiking, lifting weights, and working on cars. My academic interests include physics, astronomy, engineering, mathematics, and computer science. I am currently working on a robotics development project called the Artemis Challenge, hosted by the Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium. This fall, I am transferring from Pierce College to the University of Washington to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering.

Growing up, I struggled with ADHD and ASD, and I performed poorly in high school. Pierce College gave me a second chance to turn things around. I was much more comfortable in the college environment, and I worked hard towards improving myself academically. I took on a rigorous STEM-focused workload, served as vice president of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, received the 2021 Outstanding Student award for Engineering, and finally graduated with my Associates in Science. I feel that my time at Pierce has effectively prepared me for this transfer, and I am excited to get started at UW this fall.

I plan to major in Aeronautics and Astronautics and minor in Experimental Physics, while taking advantage of the many opportunities for undergraduate research programs offered by the College of Engineering. I also aim to complete a capstone project in spacecraft design during my senior year.

After completing my undergraduate program, I hope to remain at UW to obtain my MSAA, which will propel me towards my goal of becoming a NASA astronaut. While working for NASA, I wish to assist in researching advanced propulsion systems that will help mankind explore further into our universe than we have ever gone before. I also intend to help research and develop cleaner propulsion systems, which could allow us to move away from reliance on fossil fuels and work towards a healthier planet.

Harry’s near and long-term goals:

As for short-term goals, I hope to make connections with my classmates, professors, and professionals in the aerospace industry while completing my undergraduate program. I also wish to involve myself in research programs at the UW, such as the plasma science department. My long-term goals include remaining at the UW to pursue a graduate degree in the sciences of aeronautics and astronautics, which will allow me to achieve my dream of becoming a NASA astronaut.

Harry’s tips for future applicants:

Start your essays early, read the prompts thoroughly and carefully. Your essays are used to evaluate your candidacy, so it is important to put a decent amount of time and effort into writing them. If your community college has a writing center, don’t be afraid to ask them for help with proofreading and syntax.

Susan Muthoni

Highline College

2021 Martin Honors Scholar

My name is Susan Muthoni and I am a first generation student studying a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. I look forward to working towards getting a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and partaking in research, and innovations from a global health lens so that I can increase the accessibility of healthcare services to third world countries and remote areas.

Growing up in a small town in Kenya, I witnessed firsthand how access to healthcare services is hindered by factors such as lack of awareness, finances, proximity to healthcare clinics and shortage of workers. At the age of 19, I immigrated from Kenya without any immediate family. Thus, I did not have a safety net for when things went wrong and lived paycheck to paycheck. I had to overcome mastering a whole new system, finding a place to live, eating and working all by myself.

Once I stabilized, I enrolled at highline College to study an associates in Pre-Nursing. However, during the pandemic, I found myself couch surfing and facing food insecurity as I took my core science classes. However, I was able to graduate with honors. While at Highline College, I was part of the TRIO program, engaged in research through the Honors program and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa. In my community I volunteered with different organizations such as Kingdom Mysteries International and Seattle Gospel Mission in supporting the homeless community.

“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” – Kofi Annan

Susan’s near and long-term goals:

Ultimately, I hope to pursue higher education and acquire a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). I hope to use the opportunity to engage in research and equip myself so I can serve my immediate community in Seattle to bridge access to healthcare services to minority communities. My long term goal would be to help my home country and other third world countries in gaining more access to healthcare services.

Susan’s tips for future applicants:

Do not be afraid to tell your story. Be willing to be vulnerable and talk about your life experiences and how they have shaped you. Choose a topic that matters to you when it comes to essay writing. Practice your interview, be prompt and listen to the questions carefully.

Sam was born in Everett, Washington in 1985, has an older brother, and was homeschooled by his mother. He chose not to enter college immediately after high school because he was unsure of the career he wanted to pursue. In 2015 he was exposed to articles Nikola Tesla had written a century prior regarding Tesla’s thoughts and ambitions related to electricity. Realizing that electricity is now involved in almost every aspect of modern life, Sam decided to join the electrical industry by becoming an electrician.

Before he could begin that journey, however, Sam received critical injuries in late 2015 and he needed extensive medical care for the following year. Along with needing to rebuild his physical strength from scratch, including the ability to walk, nerve damage and joint stiffness left him with a disabled arm. After recovering, Sam assessed his situation and realized that his best career choices would now need to rely on his mind and not his physical capabilities. He decided to become an electrical engineer and began attending Everett Community College in the fall of 2018.

Within weeks of starting his first quarter he joined STEM Club where he was elected as the club’s vice president. Throughout the year he supported the club’s several engineering project teams, helped arrange events and tours, and consolidated the club’s communication and documentation systems. After being nominated by his peers, Sam was selected as EvCC’s 2018-2019 Club Member of the Year.

At university Sam intends to focus his electrical engineering studies on the power and energy field. He’s interested in improving how we generate, transmit, and utilize electricity and has a particular interest in wireless energy transmission. He hopes advancements in those areas will have beneficial ripple effects throughout society.

Sam’s tips for future applicants:
Show how you are committed to your education as well as anything that may be unique about you and your journey. Take advantage of the essay prompts that allow you to share who you are, what you’ve gone through, and where you hope to go in the future. Talk to your advisors. They have a wealth of information and would love to help you succeed.

Allegra Keys was born and raised in the Central District of Seattle by a strong single mother, while her father was in and out of prison, battling his addictions. As an infant, Allegra was diagnosed with a degenerative neuromuscular disease that had a prognosis of two years. Her mother was told to “just take her home and love her,” but instead she fought the prognosis and set Allegra up for a life of challenging expectations and flourishing in the face of adversity. By the age of two, Allegra was one of the youngest people in the state to have a power wheelchair that she was able to drive herself.

Despite frequent hospitalizations and only being able to utilize two fingers, Allegra always excelled academically. In 2010, she graduated high school with honors and was set to be the first person in her family to go to college. However, due to a life-threatening hospitalization prior to starting her freshman year at UW Seattle, she was not ready for the academic and social stressors and left school after two quarters.

At this point, Allegra was nearly two decades past her life expectancy and she decided to spend the next several years checking items off of her bucket list – she traveled to new countries, lived independently and began passionately writing and publishing her poetry. Two years ago, Allegra began receiving the first FDA approved treatment for her type of muscular dystrophy – a dangerous and painful ongoing treatment that has reversed the progression of her disease. With hope and health abundant, Allegra enrolled in college with the final goal of Master of Fine Arts; she has already seen some of her writing published in literary journals. Allegra strongly believes that the voices of marginalized populations – women, people of color, and people with disabilities belong in the literary world.

In her free time Allegra volunteers with Crisis Text Line, because if her life has taught her anything, it’s this: we all just want to be heard.

Allegra’s tips for future applicants:
Though it’s hard talking about your hardships, those are the things that make you unique so don’t be afraid of talking about them. Also, don’t try to write everything at once, take your time. Lastly, just be authentic and honest.

Kayla can be best described as a highly driven scholar with an entrepreneurial spirit. She is set on making an impact in her community and, one day, the world. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Kayla comes from a low-income family who has struggled to break the cycle. Working tirelessly at different jobs, spreading herself thin between the office and the demands of being the head of her family, she knew something had to change. So last year she decided to move to Washington and now calls it her home. However, a change of location couldn’t be the only difference made.

As a former high school drop-out, she went on to complete her diploma online. Soon after, applied to Highline College and now is working on earning a BA in Communication Studies. Throughout Kayla’s journey, she has overcome many obstacles in the pursuit of her degree, including being a first-generation college student from a single-parent household. But the reward of achieving her goals and being someone that not only her family can look up to but others as well keeps her resolve strong.

Kayla’s natural business talents have lead her to accomplish several professional achievements. She has also already begun working on some of her book ideas, seeking to fulfill her goal of being a public speaker and notable author. However, her ultimate goal is to inspire the community with her leadership skills, to make positive changes, whether it be in someone’s personal life or at a higher level. Strong integrity and devout passion to help others permeate her work.

Kayla’s tips for future applicants:
Get it done! I admit as the deadline for this scholarship was approaching I was uncertain if I was going to participate. I experienced some setbacks and was unsure whether I had the time or drive to finish it. So don’t doubt yourself! Make the decision to commit to completing your application and give it your all. Use it as an outlet to express yourself and your goals. A place to reflect on the struggles you rose above. But more importantly, start counting your accomplishments and be confident there’s more to come.

Cassie hopes to transfer to the University of Washington to pursue studies in civil engineering and education.

Moving to Seattle at age 17 sparked her interest in transportation engineering, when she gained access to more well-developed public transit systems and the ability to travel around the city with ease. After having lived in an area dependent on cars as transportation for most of her life, she was grateful to be able to use the bus. It allowed her to experience rush hour traffic without the stress of driving, but also see Seattle neighborhoods and the importance in having transit access in all communities. This sparked her curiosity in how transportation planning worked, and the ways public transit or traffic systems could be improved to support those in the Seattle area that depend on their development.

However, it took a lot of effort for Cassie to unlearn self-doubt and insecurities in her ability to succeed in both school and STEM. After unwelcoming experiences with STEM and difficulty connecting to formal education, neither felt like her path, despite interest. Like many teenagers, she struggled with how to define her future and her own identity development, while also experiencing the sudden loss of her father in high school.

After being welcomed into a youth development program not long after, she found a valuable community and experience that helped shape her future pathways and confidence in her ability to succeed. It made her passionate about developing quality curriculum and programs that engage with youth, particularly to support those who endure challenging circumstances in school and feel a sense of non-belonging. She hopes to promote opportunities to young people interested in STEM that are welcoming, culturally inclusive, and utilize informal teaching strategies – and incorporate both her passions of study into future work.

Cassie’s tips for future applicants:
Don’t convince yourself it’s not worth applying, and try not to compare yourself to other potential applicants. Everyone’s history is meaningful, so find a way to share yours in essays and what matters to you. When you do decide to apply: reach out for help and resources when you need it, and spend ample time working on those essays!

Camila is a computer science student at the University of Washington who is inspired to put her learning into action by volunteering for different organizations. For her, it was a moment of enlightenment when she decided she wanted to become a Software Engineer. Growing up, mathematics, science and technology were far from her reality. She was born and raised in a low-income family in the Southeastern part of Brazil and decided to move to Seattle six years ago.

In 2017, while working tirelessly in a full-time job she enrolled at college to be the first person in her family to acquire an associate degree. Unsure of the career she wanted to pursue, it wasn’t until a year later that she found her passion for technology during a conference that connected young women to companies in the Seattle area. After losing her childhood friend to cancer and having her mom being diagnosed with cancer twice, Camila decided she wanted to pursue a career in which she could make an impact in the lives of others. She decided to become a Medical Software Engineer.

Through her passion for computer science and diversity & inclusion, she learned how she can make an impact in her community. She volunteered at Girls Who Code – an international non-profit organization dedicated to close the gender gap in technology – serving as a role model to the young girls. Furthermore, she is the former president of Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) where she focused on enhancing the experiences of women in STEM by creating a collaborative and supportive environment and she volunteered at a mobile food pantry in Burien providing nutritious food to low incoming individuals diagnosed with Type II diabetes.

Camila’s tips for future applicants:
Believe in yourself, applying for a scholarship can be stressful and overwhelming but you can do it. Start early, get organized and have a second pair of eyes to check your application. When writing your essay, reflect about your story, past experiences and make sure to share what matters the most to you. You got this!

Audrey’s tips for future applicants:
Before applying, have the confidence in yourself that you can write powerful essays, believe in everything that you have accomplished in your life, and share your story. As for the application itself, make sure that you allow enough time for the essays, be respectful of other’s time (especially when asking them to write letters of recommendation for you), and make sure that you reflect on everything you have achieved and talk about your goals. Take a deep breath and remember you CAN do this.

Morel was born in Yaounde, Cameroon, a country located in Central Africa. In an environment where parents were skeptical about putting their children through school, and would rather have them work in their farms, his parents still decided to invest in his education. After seeing his desire to learn more about how machines they were using for their farms work internally, they introduced him to one of their friends, Mr. Gweth, a Computer Science graduate.

After spending a summer in 11th grade with Mr. Gweth, and bothering him with millions of questions about how electronics work, Morel fell in love with Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. One of Mr. Gweth’s goals is to provide a more concrete way of teaching engineering, so he experimented with that teaching style on Morel. They spent the whole summer breaking down old machines and building circuits from the remaining parts. Although he could not fully understand everything, he knew that with this knowledge, he would be able to build devices that could better the lives of the people around him.

His parents, understanding his eagerness to learn and impact his community, did everything possible to send him to the US, where he would be taken care of by his uncle. Unfortunately, his uncle passed away two years after he moved. As he was trying to emotionally cope with the circumstances, he was faced with the reality of having to provide for his family back home, so he dropped out of school and started working full time.

To stay connected with his education, Morel spent his time off work mentoring and teaching international students, as well as high school students from Cameroon. But to get to the point where he is fully motivated to pursue his education and achieve his goals, he had a lot of help from his friends and family. As his journey at the University of Washington as a Computer Engineer is about to start, he is now looking forward to accomplishing those goals: building technology that would improve the lives of his community in the medical and agricultural fields.

Morel’s tips for future applicants:
The number of essays and rounds can discourage you to apply, but you miss all of the shots that you don’t take! Besides, this scholarship is not principally about your academic achievement. The Martin Family Foundation is really making an effort to know you as a person and understand what you have to offer to your community and the world. So, pour your heart on those essays and be confident!

My name is Yonas Abraha and I was born in Ethiopia and grew up in Eritrea. As long as I can remember I have always gravitated towards mathematics and science, tinkering with electrical appliances and fixing some of them that needed repair. The country where I grew up, Eritrea, had shortage of electricity and so every household was allowed to have only 12 hours per day of access to electricity and so I was using candles to do most of my home work. One time, when I was only 13, I attended a seminar about solar energy, and I was fascinated by the technology and so with the ambition I had to solve the shortage of electricity, I see solar energy implementation as my new path to solve the problem and that is why I wanted to pursue an Electrical Engineering career. But I had to flee my country because my faith was abandoned by the government of Eritrea and I had to live in a refugee camp in Sudan and finally moved to the U.S. after passing through several South American countries.

Once I got into the U.S., I was given the opportunity to seek asylum and I was granted to stay here and was excited to pursue the American dream. I was accepted for who I was and the once glimpse of hope of fulfilling my dreams came to reality. My parents spend their whole life encouraging and supporting me to acquire education so I can be of great contribution to my community. So, I grew up knowing the importance of education and I value it above anything else and so I resumed my education at Seattle Central to pursue my childhood dream of becoming an Electrical Engineer with a focus on power and solar energies.

Besides my regular job as a driver, which helps me cover my expenses, I am an active member of MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement) and the African Association Group at Seattle Central. I also volunteer as a Math tutor for underprivileged people who didn’t get to graduate high school at Goodwill Seattle. It feels extraordinarily fulfilling to be able to change the lives of people and impact them with a positive energy at a nonprofit organization which provides people with employment training and community services to better their lives at no cost to them.

Yonas’ tips for future applicants:
Don’t think your story is embarrassing or isn’t worthy telling. Everyone has their own struggles in life and so don’t be afraid narrating them on your essays. And apply for as many scholarships as you can and you will definitely win some of them. Give your back to giving up!

Raymond Haug
Everett Community College
2019 Martin Achievement Scholar

My teen years were challenging. I became involved in the juvenile legal system when I was 14 years old, began struggling with addiction issues before age 15, and dropped out of high school after 9th grade. At that time, I never thought I would enter a classroom again. Nine years later, the day I was released from Monroe Correctional Facility, I walked from the local transit station to Everett Community College in my state-issued gray sweatsuit and enrolled in my first classes. My greatest challenge was not adapting to the academic culture, but overcoming my feelings of shame and misplacement; I didn’t think I belonged on a college campus. After months of keeping my head down, I mustered the courage to apply for a job at the college tutoring center. I explained my past to the hiring board and they still hired me. Encouraged by my success, I applied to and received my first foundation scholarship, which gave me concrete proof that my past no longer had to hold me back or define my future. My self-discipline, study habits, and focus on achievement drove me to accept an invitation into the Everett Honors Program. Personally, I want my professional and academic achievements to set an example for those coming up behind me who face the same struggles that, they too can overcome hardship and social stigma. I want my story to also serve as an example to the broader community that change is possible in everyone. Professionally, I want to become a mechanical engineer and work in the automotive industry. My passion is motorcycles, and I would like to attain a career position in performance motorcycle design.

Raymond’s tips for future applicants:
Get involved in your college community: attend a club recruitment festival, network with fellow students, apply to an honors program. All these opportunities broadened my knowledge of what resources were truly available to me. Secondly, be real in telling your story. The events and situations in your life which you think may have held you back are actually strengths which you can build upon to carry you forward.

Christopher Ponce
Highline College
2019 Martin Achievement Scholar

Chris is currently an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with aspirations of one day becoming a physician. The idea of becoming a doctor never seemed feasible, especially as a first-generation student navigating through the academic process without proper guidance.

Chris was raised in South Central Los Angeles. Although his parents split up when he was young, he always had their continued support. During his junior year of high school, he met his wife, Teddy. Coming from a low socioeconomic status, he thought he wasn’t mentally capable of handling the rigors of college, so he enlisted in the Marine Corps as a Rifleman to try and become successful. A year later, he married Teddy. They now have a lovely three-year-old and are expecting another child.

Chris’s family gave him a strong foundation, but the Marine Corps molded him. The Marine Corps gave him a strong work ethic, enhanced his character, and gave him confidence. With this newfound confidence, Chris realized he could do anything he sets his mind to. Chris wants to show his children that the possibilities are endless with the proper mindset, and that’s when he decided he wanted to obtain a college degree.

After witnessing a fatal motorcycle accident, and feeling helpless, he decided he wanted to complete an EMT course. During the course, he discovered his attraction to medicine. His experiences as an EMT have only solidified his desire to become a doctor.

Chris is now attending Highline College majoring in Biology in hopes of transferring to the University of Washington to finish his pre-medical studies. Chris is involved in TRiO’s Student Retention Program, where he is receiving the proper guidance he was missing and is volunteering at the local fire department as an EMT to give back to his community.

Christopher’s tips for future applicants:
When writing your essays, give yourself an ample amount of time to write them, use as many resources as you can to help with the process, and do not sell yourself short when telling your story!

Sreynin Sam
Highline College
2019 Martin Achievement Scholar

Sreynin Sam is a newcomer to the United States. Her family moved here as immigrants in 2018 from Cambodia.

As an 18 years old girl, Sreynin has encountered so many life challenges. She is a first-generation student. She has strong hope with education. After her parents got divorced when she was 6, Sreynin was the only one focused on excelling in her educational pursuits. Her family members hold a very traditional view of the role a female should play in the household and becoming educated and self-reliant are not a part of their transitional mindset. Despite this, Sreynin kept pushing forward, and earned one of the top scores in Cambodia on her National High School Diploma Examination.

After arriving in the United States, she decided to attend Highline College and get her Associate Degree in Communication as her starting point. Being in Washington for 8 months by herself away from her family, who live in Massachusetts, she not only maintains a good GPA, but also is an active member at TRiO, Phi Theta Kappa, AANAPISI, Center of Leadership and Services at Highline. She is also an outreach ambassador at Asian Counseling and Referral Service, a member of Cambodian American Community Council in Washington, and volunteers in the community over the weekends.

Even though she is a young girl, her dream is to make a great impact to the world by running a non-profit community organization to help students who just entered the U.S. like her, cultivating their potential again. With passion and hope, Sreynin will involve more in communities, help the society and develop herself to be a potential woman in United States. She desires to help make the world better by cultivating the abilities and perspectives of youths in developing countries so that they will be able to make their countries grow.

Sreynin’s tips for future applicants:
You can do more than you might think. If you found that this scholarship is a good fit for you and motivates you to keep doing what you are doing right now, please do not hesitate to apply. Do it with your true passion, and seek help from resources provided in your college as much as you can. Also, do not forget to share your story and your goal. You will make it.

Virginia Burton
South Seattle College and Shoreline Community College
2019 Martin Honors Scholar

I am a 46 year old mother of three. I am also an adult first generation college student. As a young child I believed my destiny was to become an attorney. Little did I know I would spend decades in the criminal justice system as a defendant. After years of domestic violence, addiction and incarceration, I made the decision in 2012 to change my life no matter what it took.

After being clean and sober 4 years I was victimized by my husband in my home. Not knowing if I would recover from the event, I decided to take charge of my life and return to school in 2017. I passed each quarter with honors while supporting a family by supervising three programs with Catholic Community Services and attending trial to testify against my husband. It was during this time I recognized the power I held in my own life and my obligation to change the system. I knew in my heart that without help, my husband would walk out of prison the same as he went in. This is when I knew I needed to change the system.

I am passionate about creating hope, changing lives and prison reform. Because of my own transformation, I know it is possible for others to overcome life circumstances. In the midst of my life challenges I decided I needed to aid in changing the system that is affecting so many lives in our country. It is my goal to change the way prison time is structured and help people create lives that are sustainable and independent of the prison system. In order to do that, I must move forward and obtain a degree in Law, Society and Justice at the University of Washington.

Ginny’s tips for future applicants:
Take your time and put your heart into your essays. Don’t be afraid to share about yourself, your life, your struggles and your accomplishments.

Ardi Madadi
Tacoma Community College
2019 Martin Honors Scholar

Ardi Madadi was born in Bern, Switzerland. At the age of 7, he and his family were forced to turn a visionary trip to Iran into a permanent move when his father was not permitted to leave Iran and return to Switzerland. As a child, Ardi became enamored with technology while watching Knight Rider. Obsessed with the idea of an autonomous vehicle, he found himself sitting in a K.I.T.T. prototype, speaking to it as a best friend. As K.I.T.T. evolved in the show, so did Ardi’s ideas. He imagined a spaceship that could converse with him. Each night he would hop into a spacecraft (his bed) and give it verbal commands before “blasting off.” Now, he dreams of programming robots that will roam other planets.

A decade after moving to Iran, Ardi and his family moved to Turkey, convinced that serving in the Iranian military would put his life in danger. The move would prove pivotal in his life as he later converted to Christianity, becoming actively involved in refugee aid efforts and training underground Iranian church leaders. This meant that going back to Iran was not an option. With his Turkish visa soon to expire, he applied for refugee status with the UN and was accepted into the United States. In the summer of 2016, Ardi’s efforts and involvement with refugees was recognized by the State Department when they invited him to speak in Washington, DC.

After moving to the U.S., Ardi began pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science at Tacoma Community College (TCC). In March 2019, he worked with the TCC robotics team to compete in the ASME competition, where the team ranked in the top 16 nationally.

Ardi aspires to develop software that would run on flight systems and robots and ultimately, help make interplanetary habitation possible for humans. He enjoys volunteering with Girls Who Code, where he focuses on inclusion of minority communities and empowering young women to become independent thinkers.

Ardi’s tips for future applicants:
Start early and do a lot of free writing. Contact your references as soon as you decide to apply. Try to schedule multiple times in a week when you write as opposed to just one or two sittings. Have your friends or family members read your essay multiple times throughout the process.

Caroline Paxton
Skagit Valley College and Everett Community College
2019 Martin Honors Scholar

Caroline’s love of space travel stems from a lifelong love of science fiction. As a young child, while other kids would make up faeries and animals as imaginary friends, she always imagined hers to be robots and aliens. At eight years old, she declared to her family that she would one day be an astronaut. When the government retired the space shuttle in 2011, she felt the hope for a spacefaring future dwindle; however, she held on to her dream and decided to do something about it. Throughout high school she devised a plan to learn how to design better spaceships. She knew she wouldn’t have to travel far to do it. UW’s Aeronautics and Astronautics program offered exactly what she needed to achieve her dream.

Caroline graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 2016 and enrolled in the local Skagit Valley College satellite campus, where she started the foundation courses for her aerospace engineering degree. She quickly excelled in these courses and became a tutor, helping other students learn chemistry and math. She then moved on to enroll in Everett Community College’s more expansive engineering program, which gave her the necessary prerequisites to transfer into UW’s Aeronautics and Astronautics program. There, she joined STEM Club, where she became involved in their rocket project, a multi-year plan to build a twenty-foot-long hybrid rocket and launch it in the Spaceport America Cup. In May 2019, she launched her first high-powered rocket and became a Level 1 certified rocketeer through the National Association of Rocketry.

Caroline aims to work in aerospace research and development to develop the next generation of reusable spaceflight vehicles. She is passionate about STEM outreach and wants to ensure that students of all ages and skill levels have the opportunity to join in on the incredible journey of exploring the universe.

Caroline’s tips for future applicants:
Never self-select out of a scholarship. Applying for scholarships can be daunting when you see previous winners who seem far more accomplished and interesting than yourself, but you never know who else is applying this year. Regardless of how your background compares to others, your story is worth telling.

Mohammed Mahdi Alghezi
Shoreline Community College
2018 Martin Honors Scholar

Mohammed’s dream to become a neurosurgeon is not a mere childish fantasy. While he was an avid and curious reader during his childhood, it was in October 2009, when his uncle was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease that his passion for neurobiology was ignited. His dream began to see the light after receiving a scholarship to Damascus medical school, the most prestigious school in Syria. However, during his first year in medical school, the civil war broke the harmony of his life. His college studies were in constant conflict with the movements of fear and changing nests. Eventually, unable to attend school, he started tutoring high school students in the morning and worked at his uncle’s clinic by day. Being deprived of his studies and needing to escape the suffocating silence of the night, where sounds of children’s peevish whines mixed with the echoes of angry bullets, he found solace in self-studying.

Despite his efforts to break the chains of despair with the strength of resilience, his family was forced to succumb to the successive death threats by terrorists and were forced to leave home. He crossed the Syrian borders and watched as he grew further away from the tenderness and warmth of his homeland. Living among a community of orphans, elderly and destitute people, he wanted to find a way to share the warmth of optimism. So, he found an opportunity to volunteer as a paramedic with the Lebanese Red Cross inside the camp, where he delivered necessary medication to the patients. In return, the hymns of joy and happiness quenched his desiccated soul.

After 5 months of being a camp refugee, he was fortunate to be embraced by the kindness of Seattle where he returned to college with renewed focus. At Shoreline Community College, he pursued an Associate degree in Biology with honors. He has been the vice president of the pre-med club for a year. He currently volunteers as medical interpreter and caregiver for senior and Alzheimer patients. Throughout his experience with the American health system, he realizes the urge to provide patients, regardless of their ethnicity or immigration status, with affordable medical assistance. Therefore, his goal is to be an active member of public health organizations that devote themselves to the health and well-being of the unfortunate communities.

Liban Hussein
Highline College
2018 Martin Honors Scholar

Born in Columbus, Ohio to Somali immigrant parents, Liban never thought he would earn an Associate’s degree in engineering or be accepted into the University of Washington’s Electrical Engineering program. With many life-changing events occurring frequently, moving from state-to-state seeking better opportunities became a norm and adjusting to unfamiliar academic and social settings proved to be all the more arduous. The road has been extremely difficult, with obstacles constantly obstructing Liban from reaching his goals. After all, he was a first-generation Somali-American student with little to no understanding of how to go about navigating the turbulent academic waters that would soon make themselves apparent.

College was an ideal instilled into Liban at a young age as his own parents’ education had been limited in Somalia. To let the challenges ahead get to him and quit meant not only failure for himself, but for his entire family. He believed that to quit meant that he was not putting in 100% of his effort into the very thing his parents had so desired for his family, namely, an education to help not only Liban succeed as an individual, but for the many generations to come. To truly make good of the sacrifices his parents made for him, Liban had to make use of every opportunity that presented itself.

Liban joined the Running Start program at Highline College as a junior in high school, as well as the ACE Mentor Program in which high school students like himself worked on a year-long project with actual engineers and present their final projects to local engineering companies and business executives. Furthermore, he worked as a Math Academic Excellence Workshop Facilitator in the Highline College MESA, where he created weekly workshops to address student confusions and concerns. At Highline College, he took advantage of many other opportunities, such as working as a Mathematics Tutor, as well as serving as the President of the National Society of Black Engineers Chapter, the first of its kind in a Washington community college. In addition to this, Liban conducted laser research with a team of 5 students and his physics professor to build a Fabry-Perot Interferometer. As for social work, Liban has worked as a lead junior event organizer and interpreter for non-profit organizations, working to help individuals like himself around the world receive basic necessities.

It seems that a tide is turning and that the possibilities are endless for Liban to pursue his dreams. Liban’s goal is to ultimately use his degree in Electrical Engineering to rebuild his homeland in Somalia, namely by revolutionizing the renewable energy sector. Although electrical engineering is Liban’s highest aspiration, he wishes to do more than this, namely by bridging the gaps between different cultures and peoples. At Highline College, he has been involved in several dialogues and tribal talks, bridging gaps between Somalis, Ethiopians, and many others. We live in a troubled world, and Liban has learned through his dialogues with students and staff alike, positive change can spring into existence, regardless of the discussion’s length. Education is key to making a positive impact, and by earning a degree in Electrical Engineering, Liban will work to not only make the lives of those easier in the Horn of Africa, but, ultimately, the world.

Liban’s Tips for Future Applicants:
Be genuine and passionate when reflecting on the required essays! Tell your story, detailing past struggles and how you’ve overcome them. Many of our journey’s have been bumpy, and we’ve needed help along the path from others, among them loved ones and friends. Mention how these individuals have helped you in the process of achieving success.

Christopher Leyva Vera
Skagit Valley College
2018 Martin Honors Scholar

Originally from Tijuana, Mexico, Christopher and his family moved to Whidbey Island in 2003. He went on to graduate from high school in 2012. He took some time off from school until finally deciding to head back to school in 2015 after becoming a DACA beneficiary.

Christopher enrolled at Skagit Valley College in the Fall of 2015 and quickly became involved on campus, serving on various clubs, committees, and other organizations on campus. He served as Student Body President of the Whidbey Island Campus of Skagit Valley College. He was also the Vice President and Secretary of his Phi Theta Kappa chapter. Other clubs he was involved with included Rainbow Alliance, DREAMers Club, and Journalism Club. Committees were also of importance, and that is why he served as a student representative in the following: Student Tech Fee Committee, Services & Activities Fee Committee, Diversity Committee, as well as Student Services Committee. He was employed on campus too, serving as a Program Board Coordinator under the campus’ Student Life office. As a student leader he lead several projects that helped his local community, organizing food and clothes drives to help those who needed it the most. His schedule kept him busy but his grades never suffered — he maintained a 4.0 throughout it all, making the honor roll every quarter he attended Skagit Valley College, winning a President’s medal from his college for this achievement.

He received the highest honor at Skagit Valley College, going on to win the Yates “Student of the Year” Award. His scholastic work resulted in a departmental award from the Social Sciences department at Skagit Valley College as well. Christopher was also a part of the 2018 All-Washington Academic Team; he was a top ranking member and received a medal from the Governor’s office. He has accumulated over 1,500 hours of community service work while attending school full-time. Due to his scholastic and community service endeavors, he has gone on to win various scholarships and other awards — both local and national.

Christopher credits his parents with inspiring him to go above and beyond just simply being a student. He watched as they worked tirelessly to provide both him and his brother with a future in this country. All of his achievements thus far are because of those sacrifices his parents made early on. He aims to succeed in all that he does to show not only his gratitude, but also prove to them that their hard work was not in vain and has paid off — his success does not only belong to him, but also to his family.

Christopher has been admitted to the School of Social Work and hopes to graduate with a Bachelor’s in Social Welfare, double minoring in Human Rights and Law, Societies, and Justice. He wants to continue working and being a part of programs and organizations that provide services that focus on helping disenfranchised minority groups, working towards a much more inclusive perspective that aims to connect individuals of all diverse backgrounds and experiences with the tools necessary for their own success within our society.

Christopher’s Tips for Future Applicants:
Opportunities, no matter how small they may seem to you, can open up doors for your future. Get involved both on campus and off to differentiate yourself from others. Being a great student goes far beyond just grades, it’s about how you apply all that you’ve learned in the classroom in the endeavors you choose to take on in life outside your classes.

Cara Stacy
Highline College
2018 Martin Honors Scholar

Cara recently graduated Highline College with her Associate of Arts, emphasizing in chemistry. She began at Highline to earn her high school diploma through the Pathway to College program. Throughout her freshman and sophomore years, Cara actively participated in the TRiO Student Support and Retention Program. She was asked to join TRiO’s student staff as Lead Tutor, working with low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities. Cara has trained with Highline College’s Math Resource Center and earned certification as a Level Three Master Certified Tutor. She seeks to be involved with biochemical research, and is planning to major in biochemistry when she transfers to the University of Washington. Her ultimate goal is to improve the lives of others, particularly in marginalized groups, through research and service.

Cara had started her journey at Highline College as a high school dropout, having overcome substance abuse and homelessness. After reaching rock bottom, she received treatment and began her life over again with a renewed sense of purpose. Cara has been involved with Oxford House Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides housing to those in recovery from substance abuse. For this nonprofit, she has served as secretary of Chapter 15 in Washington State. Additionally, Cara has been a member of Justice Scholars Society of Change, a club at Highline that encourages community and campus involvement in students impacted by the justice system. Through overcoming her personal struggles, Cara has developed perseverance and integrity that has contributed to her educational success. Cara hopes, by sharing her story, to eliminate the stigma associated with substance abuse. She seeks to continue serving others as she transitions to the University of Washington, and is excited to discover where her journey will take her.

Cara’s Tips for Future Applicants:
Take advantage of on campus and off campus resources. Do not be afraid to share both your successes and your failures.

David Zarate
Yakima Valley College
2018 Martin Honors Scholar

David Zarate was born in Bucaramanga, Colombia. After the passing of his father, Zarate’s mother decided to move his family to the United States – first settling in East Wenatchee, WA and later Miami, FL. After graduating from high school in 2010, he worked a series of jobs and was unable to pursue higher education due to his immigration status and financial burdens. When president Obama signed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in June 2012, Zarate saw an opportunity to do more. He enrolled part-time at Miami Dade College and began working on his prerequisite courses to pursue a degree in chemistry. After having relocated to different parts of the country and having attended different community colleges, Zarate’s experiences as an immigrant and minority showed him a new goal: to pursue a degree in Computer Science with a focus on Data Science as a way to create change in the community. Zarate deeply believes in the power of information, and how this can help tear down barriers and narrow the divisions in our country. On June 2018, Zarate graduated with a DTA in Computer Science from Yakima Valley College and starting this fall will be pursuing a degree in Computer Science at the Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering.

Jade Cutter
Tacoma Community College
2018 Martin Achievement Scholar

Jade’s passion for atomic physics and space flight began at a young age, spurred by Brian Greene and her grandfather’s innovative work as a manager for Boeing. As a child, she sat on the kitchen counter multiplying fractions to bake half-recipes with her grandfather, and spent evenings with her mother in secondhand bookshops reading voraciously. Growing up, she was an avid Girl Scout and loved the outdoors.

However, her potential would not be realized until much later, as her late teen years were spent struggling with addiction and homelessness. At nineteen, Jade became pregnant, but soon lost her daughter due to poor health. At twenty, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Her fight with it was brief and successful, but it cost her her fertility. The following years were spent recovering and training at an aikido dojo, and remembering her old passions for engineering.

At twenty-four, Jade returned to college with renewed focus. She is pursuing a Bachelor of both Electrical Engineering and Industrial Systems Engineering, with a concentration in photonics. She has been a member of Phi Theta Kappa for two years and was elected the Public Affairs officer of TCC’s Engineering Club. She oversees major club projects and acts as a liaison between the club and her community. Jade also volunteers for local kids’ science fairs and supervised a regional science team competition. She has been invited to intern at a forensic engineering company and is excited to start field work before even finishing her associate’s.

She currently trains tutors and tutors students herself at the school’s Math and Resource Center, and hopes to one day to work with a major spaceflight contractor, assisting with shielding spacecraft electronics from cosmic rays or advancing photonic laser propulsion. Jade believes the best approach to eliminating gender-based discrimination in the scientific community is for more driven, determined women to enter the industry and prove their competency. She joins the field knowing that every obstacle she conquers is one the next generation may not have to suffer.

Jennifer Franzen
Everett Community College
2018 Martin Achievement Scholar

Jennifer is currently attending Everett Community College and is part of the college’s Honors program there. Additionally, as part of the Honors program, Jennifer will be completing a capstone project on the philosophy of Martin Heidegger over the course of the 2018-2019 academic year. She plans to transfer to the University of Washington in Fall 2019, where she intends to major in both Philosophy and Mathematics. Furthermore, she is an active member in the campus’ German club and plans to minor in Germanics. Beyond that, she hopes to earn her master’s degree in Library Science to become a librarian.

Before she started at Everett Community College in the spring of 2016 at the age of 25, Jennifer had been out of school since she was thirteen, having dropped out due to severe anxiety and panic attacks. For much of her adult life Jennifer had felt as if she was too far behind to have any hope of catching up, both academically and socially. However, overcoming this feeling, she was eventually able to find the will and motivation to give college a shot. Time and money were concerns for her, so, in an attempt to reduce the total number of classes she would need to take, she self-studied all the mathematics that she missed over the years. After spending several months teaching herself math, she was successful in placing directly into calculus. While studying, Jennifer discovered she really enjoyed math, and, as a result, eventually decided on Mathematics as one of her majors. Her newfound love of math also motivated her to apply for a peer tutoring position on campus shortly after the start of her first quarter. Through tutoring she helps her fellow students in math for both the campus’ drop-in tutoring center as well as the TRiO program.

Catherine (Kate) Tanski
North Seattle College
2018 Martin Achievement Scholar

Kate grew up on the coast of Maine, spent ten years working on boats, and is now going to school for mechanical engineering.

Her goals as an engineer are not only to improve the efficiency and accessibility of objects and systems, but to use her education and experiences to open the door of opportunity for as many people as she can. Many years of exploration have taught Kate that she practices her values—normalizing learning challenges, non-traditional skillsets, and compassionate communication—through engineering.

When Kate was growing up she had a very difficult relationship with formal education. Instead of going to college, she went to trade school for traditional wooden boatbuilding. Working in various roles (as marine carpenter, experiential educator, deckhand, mate, assistant engineer, and marine regulatory administrator) gave her the chance to explore practical, non-academic experiences that helped her learn how she learns, and how to teach others to teach her.

Boats, shipmates, students, and the ocean have taught Kate the most valuable lessons she’s learned so far. Those lessons—caring for people and the ecosystems around us, patience with the unexpected, the vital importance of regularly learning new things, that every person has something to contribute, and that every experience has something to teach her—combined with her varied experiences, have brought Kate here, to school for mechanical engineering.

She’s finally figured out how to combine her values of service, compassion, and hard work with her strengths of creative problem solving, incremental systems improvement, and mechanical aptitude. Kate is looking forward to the adventures to come.

Kate’s Tips for Future Applicants:
There are a lot of people out there who would love to help you figure out how to write the essays, manage the deadlines, and follow all the guidelines for scholarships. They want to see you succeed. Connect with them. Nurture your community, and lean on it when you need a hand. Dream big, work hard, and ask for help when you need it.

Taylor Moreno
Grays Harbor College
2017 Martin Honors Scholar

Growing up and into his first years of high school, Taylor was very focused on the here-and-now. His future seemed too distant to concern himself with, so he remained content with doing well academically and helping those around him in his church and community. With career choices ranging from web designer to astronomer, Taylor hadn’t found a clear life focus. He just knew that he wanted to do something that would impact people’s lives.

A few days after celebrating his 15th birthday in January 2013, Taylor’s mother was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In the course of nearly three years, she battled that cancer four times. During these times, Taylor acted as her full-time caregiver and stayed with her at virtually every hospital and clinic she went to. He thus gained the opportunity to talk with many different healthcare professionals as well as many cancer patients, their families, and their caregivers. After learning the stories and motivations behind so many patients and practitioners alike, Taylor realized that a passion for the medical sciences had grown in him and decided to focus on it.

On September 21, 2015, his first day of college became his last day with his mom. Although the whole experience was incredibly painful, Taylor says his faith, family, and friends helped get him through it and consequently gain the motivation he has today. Taylor is now transferring to major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology in order to prepare for a career in medical research. The academic journey ahead will be a long one, but he is looking forward to it as he explores the impacts he can make to better himself, help those around him, and one day hopefully join the fight against cancer.

Max Steiner
Seattle Central College
2017 Martin Honors Scholar

Born in Boston, Max grew up in Austria before ultimately moving to Seattle after his twentieth birthday. Based on his background in music, he initially aspired to develop behaviors, cultivate a mindset, and make connections that would allow him to advance his musicianship. In that pursuit, Max spent five years on practicing, rehearsing, recording, performing and touring while covering finances with part-time work.

Through a recent string of experiences abroad, Max’s focus shifted to the natural sciences, in particular chemical engineering. He quickly realized that it offered many aspects he appreciated: collaboration between experts of different fields, direct application of skill toward a specific project or product, opportunities for independent research, relevance in a larger societal context. He was hooked. In one form or another, Max had encountered these qualities in music as well but had never been able to fully develop them on his own. With chemical engineering, however, he seemed to have found a definitive pathway to exercise those principles he deemed important personally as well as professionally.

The two years Max attended Seattle Central College taught him more than what the required coursework had to offer. He was inspired by the diversity of the student body and each of his cohort’s unique background. It pushed him all the more to reach out to get involved: he worked in student leadership, tutored chemistry, and math at MESA, assisted as a TA in a Research Writing class, participated in a chemistry research project, and was employed as an assistant laboratory technician in the SCC chemistry labs. Max’s studies and experiences undoubtedly shaped his long term intent as a chemical engineer: he plans to contribute to advances and applications of clean energy technology. This path is intimately related to environmental sustainability issues in which he hopes to gain a voice. Max feels that completing his undergraduate degree at UW is a significant step toward achieving that goal.

Erin Herman-Kerwin
Olympic College
2017 Martin Achievement Scholar

Erin is a driven woman motivated by her past and inspired by what she can do for her community as a future doctor and statistician. Her dream of increasing access to health care with statistics and medicine would not be possible without a strong education. Olympic College offered Erin a rare opportunity to rebuild her academic foundation. After community college, she is attending the University of Washington to major in Statistics. There she will learn the tools necessary to be involved in the medical solution, redesigning and evaluating clinical trial results in preventative health care and affordable medications.

Today her experiences inspire her and push her to reach beyond herself and into community service. She volunteers at a women’s health clinic as a health advocate, tutors developmental mathematics, and volunteered at the 2016 Seattle King County Community Clinic. Her pursuits in academia are so much more than a degree or a career. It is a validation there is a life after crisis and the key exists within healthy communities, and education.

Sharon Jang
Tacoma Community College
2017 Martin Achievement Scholar

Sharon is currently attending Tacoma Community College and plans to transfer to the University of Washington in the fall of 2018. Her ultimate educational goal is to receive a terminal degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences with a specialization in audiology or speech-language pathology.

There are several reasons why she finds this field of study fascinating and inspiring. One reason close to her heart is the Deaf community’s development of strong resilience in a world filled with hearing individuals. Similarly, what she finds most inspiring about audiology and speech-language pathology is knowing that her interventions will help facilitate an individual’s process of communication and that those skills will help them throughout their everyday life.

Along with her tenacious dedication and motivation to this field, Sharon’s affinity for a sustainable focus in extracurricular activities led her to demonstrate the continuous ability to step out of her comfort zone. This includes starting a club that works on a small scale to increase raising awareness of the North Korean humanitarian crisis by defining North Korea by its people rather than its politics. At the same time, she is enthusiastic to continually advance her leadership skills as she takes on an officer position in Phi Theta Kappa. Sharon took this opportunity to implement the leadership skills she is learning with a network of fellow scholars and servant leaders and to expose herself to another facet to increase productivity and cultivate her school community. She is beyond thrilled to continue advancing and strengthening her leadership skills as she imagines the greater number of opportunities she will be open to when transferring to UW.

Tam Mai
South Seattle College
2017 Martin Achievement Scholar

Tam Mai was born and raised in Viet Nam, a developing country, for 18 years. Her family moved to the United States two years ago. Living in a different country has not been easy for her. As an immigrant, Tam has had to face many challenges and difficulties such as differences in culture, language, finances, the education system, etc., but the most difficult thing for her is the language. When Tam started school in the US, she didn’t understand anything or anyone. She felt like she didn’t belong to this country. However, she learned never to give up on her dream. That’s why she decided to take ESL classes for one year and just focus on English. After a year working hard to learn the language, she is able to attend her college classes and do well. She feels this experience has taught her that persistence will always pay off eventually.

Working on computers and learning about programming is Tam’s favorite thing to do. That’s why she is getting an Associate of Science degree at South Seattle College. Then she plans to transfer to the University of Washington to get a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. With one more year before transferring, she is working hard to maintain good grades. She also spends a lot of time volunteering at South Seattle College and within her community to create a good environment where she and her family live. In the future, Tam wants to use her knowledge of Computer Science to create new education applications for children, so they can study wherever and whenever they want, which will give them the opportunity to develop their perceptions and personalities.

Tekhong Meach
South Seattle College
2017 Martin Achievement Scholar

Born and raised in Cambodia, Tekhong Meach immigrated to the United States in 2014. He started working as a food assembler before he began his educational journey at South Seattle College in Winter 2016. Despite his language barrier, he decided to go back to school because of his passion in science classes. Eager to get involved and learn more about resources available on campus, he joined the TRiO Student Success Services program, the AANAPISI program, the Women in STEM club, and the Ready Set Transfer Academy. Those resources have helped advance his academic understanding and encourage him to keep working hard to achieve his goals. With his outstanding academic performance, Tekhong is also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Tekhong is working two part-time jobs while attending school full-time. Besides his off-campus job on weekends, he also works as a peer tutor at TRiO, where he has the opportunity to work with his peer students. He helps explain and share his knowledge of math and physics to his peers who have difficulties understanding the lectures in class. He helps them to better understand the subjects, gain academic and educational support, and become more self-reliant students. With his desire to help improve his community, Tekhong also volunteered as a study zone tutor at KCLS library. He worked with kids and adults and helped them improve their math skills. Tekhong is majoring in Computer Science. His interest in the field of Artificial Intelligence inspires him to explore and learn about programming languages. He constantly expands his curiosity through research in the AI field. He is looking forward to participating in undergraduate research at UW to obtain more knowledge in AI. He wants to use his knowledge in AI to explore more innovations that will positively impact and help improve the community.

Musa Abdi
South Seattle College
2016 Martin Achievement Scholar

Andre Bland
North Seattle College
2016 Martin Honors Scholar

Jane Harrell
Tacoma Community College
2016 Martin Achievement Scholar

Robert (Bobby) Pedersen
South Seattle College
2016 Martin Achievement Scholar

Patricia Saya
Highline College
2016 Martin Honors Scholar

Khatsini Simani
Seattle Central College
2016 Martin Honors Scholar

Clare Campbell
Everett College
2015 Martin Honors Scholar

Mahboobeh Hosseini
Bellevue College
2015 Martin Achievement Scholar

Elizabeth Jatta
Highline College
2015 Martin Honors Scholar

Sarah Ann Phillips
South Seattle College
2015 Martin Achievement Scholar

Keino Robinson
Green River College
2015 Martin Honors Scholar

Sugar Sylvain
South Seattle College
2015 Martin Achievement Scholar

Austin Tugade
South Seattle College
2015 Martin Honors Scholar

Uri Zvi
Highline College
2015 Martin Honors Scholar

Andrew Escobedo
South Puget Sound Community College
2014 Martin Honors Scholar

Niloofar Ghodsian
South Seattle Community College
2014 Martin Achievement Scholar

Katrin Hosseini
Green River Community College
2014 Martin Achievement Scholar

Claudia Janeth Linares
Highline Community College
2014 Martin Honors Scholar

Elizabeth Oestreich
North Seattle Community College
2014 Martin Honors Scholar

Benjamin Pennant
Cascadia & Everett Community College
2014 Martin Honors Scholar

Raegan Ramynke
Yakima Valley Community College
2014 Martin Honors Scholar

Amina Sheikh
South Seattle Community College
2014 Martin Achievement Scholar

Tim Sundine
Everett Community College
2014 Martin Achievement Scholar

Justin Andersen
Highline Community College
2013 Martin Honors Scholar

Mason Christensen
Highline Community College
2013 Martin Achievement Scholar

Jessica Johnson
Green River Community College
2013 Martin Honors Scholar

Eric King
Seattle Central Community College
2013 Martin Achievement Scholar

Pooja Sethi
Everett Community College
2013 Martin Honors Scholar

Lydia Smith
Highline Community College
2013 Martin Achievement Scholar

Anna Johnson
Seattle Central Community College
2012 Martin Achievement Scholar

Siyu Lu
Edmonds Community College
2012 Martin Honors Scholar

David Olsen
North Seattle Community College
2012 Martin Honors Scholar

Elizabeth Reid
Green River College
2012 Martin Achievement Scholar

Miriam Williamson
Seattle Central Community College
2012 Martin Achievement Scholar

Sebastian Anderson
South Seattle Community College
2011 Martin Achievement Scholar

Dmitry Antipov
Shoreline Community College
2011 Martin Honors Scholar

Holly Battersby
Whatcom Community College
2011 Martin Honors Scholar

Koffi Noel Fadonougbo
Highline Community College
2011 Martin Achievement Scholar

Sean Huertas
South Seattle Community College
2011 Martin Achievement Scholar

Buchheng Kak
South Seattle Community College
2011 Martin Achievement Scholar

Irene Malloch
North Seattle Community College
2011 Martin Honors Scholar

Bradley Pierce
Bellevue Community College
2011 Martin Honors Scholar

Patrick-Gabriel Clarke
North Seattle Community College
2010 Martin Family Honors Scholar

Danna Culhane
South Seattle Community College
2010 Martin Achievement Scholar

Bronsyn Foster-Springer
Olympic College
2010 Martin Family Honors Scholar

Heather Fuentes
Seattle Central Community College
2010 Martin Achievement Scholar

Muhamedarifeine Manhsour
Seattle Central Community College
2010 Martin Achievement Scholar

Ava Marie Munson
Shoreline Community College
2010 Martin Family Honors Scholar

David Opincarne
Green River Community College
2010 Martin Family Honors Scholar

Dylan Ward
Seattle Central Community College
2010 Martin Family Honors Scholar

Jason Yabandeh
Bellevue College
2010 Martin Achievement Scholar

Gregory Bertsch
South Seattle Community College
2009 Martin Honors Scholar

Jaison Briar
South Seattle Community College
2009 Martin Achievement Scholar

Sochetna Chhay
South Seattle Community College
2009 Martin Achievement Scholar

Jeung Hwa (Victoria) Choe
Green River Community College
2009 Martin Honors Scholar

Vincent Ethier
Seattle Central Community College
2009 Martin Honors Scholar

Amanda Neice
Everett Community College
2009 Martin Achievement Scholar

Johonna Nutter
Seattle Central Community College
2009 Martin Achievement Scholar

Alexander Ruiz
Columbia Basin Community College
2009 Martin Honors Scholar

Nickolas Stelzenmuller
Seattle Central Community College
2009 Martin Honors Scholar

Ephrem Yemru
Highline Community College
2009 Martin Honors Scholar

Eric Evangelista
Everett Community College
2008 Martin Honors Scholar

Jason Flint
South Seattle Community College
2008 Martin Honors Scholar

Nhi K Lac
South Seattle Community College
2008 Martin Achievement Scholar

Jennifer Marker
Everett Community College
2008 Martin Honors Scholar

Diem Hong Thi Nguyen
South Seattle Community College
2008 Martin Achievement Scholar

Diem Hong is on a pre-pharmacy track at South Seattle Community College. Since receiving the Martin Achievement Scholarship, she has been tutoring for Student Success Services and volunteering in her community through the Gift of the Earth event and White Center Food Bank.

Diem Kieu Thi Nguyen
South Seattle Community College
2008 Martin Achievement Scholar

Jarica Quick
Cascadia Community College
2008 Martin Honors Scholar

Steven Simpkins
Highline Community College
2008 Martin Honors Scholar

Shauna Stadnik
Green River Community College
2008 Martin Honors Scholar

Anna Zinchenko
Highline Community College
2008 Martin Honors Scholar

Anna is a Nursing major and intends to graduate in 2010. She has been supporting her field of study through volunteer work at St. Francis Hospital Emergency Department and participating in research at Harborview’s Burn Center.

Joseph Burnett
Highline Community College
2007 Martin Achievement Scholar

Katherine Byrne
Cascadia Community College
2007 Martin Achievement Scholar

Mary Hake
Pierce College
2007 Martin Achievement Scholar

Alice Lee
Highline Community College
2007 Martin Honors Scholar

Jeremy Matthews
Edmonds Community College
2007 Martin Honors Scholar

David Moore
Seattle Central Community College
2007 Martin Honors Scholar

Chris Garrido Philp
Everett Community College
2007 Martin Achievement Scholar

Lara Schrier
Seattle Central Community College
2007 Martin Achievement Scholar

Alice Shieh
Olympic College
2007 Martin Honors Scholar

Conan Storlie
North Seattle Community College
2007 Martin Achievement Scholar

Crystal Tallent
Highline Community College
2007 Martin Achievement Scholars

Ashley Baker
Seattle Central Community College
2006 Martin Honors Scholar

Bryan Bartley
Seattle Central Community College
2006 Martin Honors Scholar

Lisa Esperum
Skagit Valley Community College
2006 Martin Honors Scholar

Byran S. Francisco
Seattle Central Community College
2006 Martin Achievement Scholar

Donna Freedman
North Seattle Community College
2006 Martin Honors Scholar

Seth Gordon
Seattle Central Community College
2006 Martin Honors Scholar

James Gray
Seattle Central Community College
2006 Martin Achievement Scholar

Celeste Hoffman
Seattle Central Community College
2006 Martin Achievement Scholar

William Mari
Bellevue Community College
2006 Martin Honor Scholar

Alexander Otier
Seattle Central Community College
2006 Martin Achievement Scholar

Siv Prince
Shoreline Community College
2006 Martin Honors Scholar

Jennifer Reilly
Highline Community College
2006 Martin Honors Scholar

Kathleen Silva
Seattle Central Community College
2006 Martin Achievement Scholar

Matthew Goodwin
Seattle Central Community College
2005 Martin Honors Scholar

Jayson Jochim
North Seattle Community College
2005 Martin Honors Scholar

James Krieger
North Seattle Community College
2005 Martin Honors Scholar

Ming Li
Wenatchee Valley Community College
2005 Martin Honors Scholar

Beth Scholler
North Seattle Community College
2005 Martin Achievement Scholar

Ethopia Zerfu
South Seattle Community College
2005 Martin Achievement Scholar

Shamim Ghandami
South Seattle Community College
2004 Martin Achievement Scholar

Severin Gose
North Seattle Community College
2004 Martin Honors Scholar

Peter Perez
Seattle Central Community College
2004 Martin Achievement Scholar

Elise Saba
North Seattle Community College
2004 Martin Honors Scholar

Igor Tikhonov
Shoreline Community College
2004 Martin Honors Scholar

Maliha Ayub
South Seattle Community College
2003 Martin Achievement Scholar

Myung Suk Chee
Seattle Central Community College
2003 Martin Achievement Scholar

Colby Harris
South Seattle Community College
2003 Martin Honors Scholar

Jan Edward Lauderbaugh
Seattle Central Community College
2003 Martin Achievement Scholar

Loyce (Mbewa) On’Gudi
Seattle Central Community College
2003 Martin Achievement Scholar

Brandon Stogsdill
Pierce Community College
2003 Martin Honors Scholar

Thao Ha Vu
North Seattle Community College
2003 Martin Honors Scholar

Adriana Cardenas
Seattle Central Community College
2002 Martin Honors Scholar

Yen Hoang Duong
North Seattle Community College
2002 Martin Achievement Scholar

Cesar Escobar
North Seattle Community College
2002 Martin Achievement Scholar

Andria Green
Bellevue Community College
2002 Martin Honors Scholar

Edward Gonzales
Seattle Central Community College
2002 Martin Honors Scholar

Shahra Jafari
South Seattle Community College
2002 Martin Achievement Scholar

James Larrabee
Seattle Central Community College
2002 Martin Achievement Scholar

Anna Le
North Seattle Community College
2002 Martin Achievement Scholar

Amanda Morgan
Seattle Central Community College
2002 Martin Honors Scholar

Tina Norman
North Seattle Community College
2002 Martin Achievement Scholar

Cristina Pacheco
Peninsula College
2002 Martin Honors Scholar

Cynthia Peacock
Highline Community College
2002 Martin Honors Scholar

David Atik
Seattle Central Community College
2001 Martin Honors Scholar

Joyce Barnet
South Seattle Community College
2001 Martin Achievement Scholar

Alicia Cole
South Seattle Community College
2001 Martin Achievement Scholar

Lisa Cooper
North Seattle Community College
2001 Martin Achievement Scholar

Jennifer Devine
Yakima Valley Community College
2001 Martin Honors Scholar

Zaedryn Ensor-Estes
Seattle Central Community College
2001 Martin Honors Scholar

Emily Bernadette Gardner
Seattle Central Community College
2001 Martin Honors Scholar

Susan Gregory
South Seattle Community College
2001 Martin Achievement Scholar

Gwendolyn Jackson
South Seattle Community College
2001 Martin Achievement Scholar

Diana Kramer-Spence
North Seattle Community College
2001 Martin Honors Scholar

Cynthia Masterson
Seattle Central Community College
2001 Martin Honors Scholar

Mathew Nguyen
South Seattle Community College
2001 Martin Honors Scholar

Kiana Parker
Shoreline Community College
2001 Martin Honors Scholar

Charity Ranger
South Seattle Community College
2001 Martin Achievement Scholar

Mahnoosh Shadbakht
South Seattle Community College
2001 Martin Achievement Scholar

Johnson Steele
South Seattle Community College
2001 Martin Achievement Scholar

Terrace Strand
Seattle Central Community College
2001 Martin Achievement Scholar

Medina Tadele
North Seattle Community College
2001 Martin Achievement Scholar

Joao Teodoro Filho
Seattle Central Community College
2001 Martin Achievement Scholar

Luan G. Truong
Seattle Central Community College
2001 Martin Achievement Scholar

Mitchell Gaikowski
North Seattle Community College
2000 Martin Honors Scholar

Dawit (Teklemichael) Gebrekidan
Seattle Central Community College
2000 Martin Honors Scholar

Max Hunter
Seattle Central Community College
2000 Martin Honors Scholar

Michelle Fallon
Everett Community College
1999 Martin Honors Scholar

Jonathan Fay
Seattle Central Community College
1999 Martin Honors Scholar

Cristina Pacheco
Peninsula Community College
1999 Martin Honors Scholar

Angela Lim
North Seattle Community College
1998 Martin Honors Scholar

Chris McGann
North Seattle Community College
1998 Martin Honors Scholar

Kendra McQuiston
Peninsula Community College
1998 Martin Honors Scholar

Jodi Judge
South Puget Sound Community College
1997 Martin Honors Scholar

Ray Robinson
Seattle Central Community College
1997 Martin Honors Scholar