Community College President's Award

The Community College President's Award is designed for transfer students who have leadership potential, are community-service oriented and have an excellent GPA.

Students are nominated by their community college’s president and receive a renewable full resident tuition award. (This award cannot be combined with other WSU Vancouver tuition discount programs and cannot be used with intercampus enrollment.)

We accept nominations every year from:

• Centralia College
• Clark College
• Lower Columbia College

Contact your community college President’s Office for nomination information.

2024/25 recipients

Alita Sundberg

Clark College

Alita Sundberg had always wanted to work with children. After taking psychology and sociology classes, her interest grew, and her career advisor helped her realize that human development would be right for her. She is particularly interested in helping children who had a rough childhood. She understands from experience how adverse childhood experiences can have an impact on adult life. Sundberg’s father died when she was young, leaving her mother and herself. Her mother worked two jobs and took care of her parents. Sundberg’s goal is to make sure children receive love and motivation, know that there is hope and feel confident there is a future ahead of them. Sundberg completed her associate’s degree at Clark College and is excited to be at WSU Vancouver.

Brandon Zandecki

Centralia College

A first-generation college student, Brandon Zandecki was a Running Start student for two years while completing his high school education and trying to decide on a career. He had always wanted to give back to people, especially underserved and vulnerable groups. Soon after graduating from high school, he realized he could make the most significant impact as a nurse in the health care system. He graduated from Centralia College’s nursing program in 2024 and is excited to continue his undergraduate work in WSU Vancouver’s RN to BSN bridge program.

Isha Snow

Lower Columbia College

Isha Snow is pursuing concurrent sociology and psychology bachelor’s degrees with a minor in at-risk youth. Snow has a broader vision of societal change that questions systems and traditions to reshape parenting, relationships and governance in ways that prioritize mutual respect, emotional safety and collaboration. As a WSU Vancouver student, they are balancing the demands of disabilities, single parenting, recovery and self-actualization, with a vision of contributing to global peace. Snow recently graduated from Lower Columbia College with highest honors and a 3.92 GPA and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa’s 2024 Washington All State Academic Team. In their spare time they serve as a member of their county’s action coalition, maintain an annual plot in their community garden and volunteer at the public library.

Prior award recipients