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 combine with other waiver programs over the cost of tuition and fees.)

We accept nominations every year from:

• Centralia College
• Clark College
• Lower Columbia College

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

2023/24 recipients

Sonia Talero

Clark College

A first-generation student from Colombia, Sonia Talero graduated from Clark College with an associate’s degree in business administration and a 3.91 GPA. She served as a peer mentor at the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “I helped students, mostly from systematically non-dominant groups, to navigate Clark College resources and to give them the chance to build community within Clark,” she said. Talero received OSWALD Awards (Outstanding Students With Academic Leadership and Development Skills) in two categories in two consecutive academic years: as outstanding student employee and outstanding student in the International Student Department. She also received the Thelma Nylund Scholarship and Jean Marie Bedecarrax Business Scholarship.

Christy Malone

Centralia College

For 16 years, Christy Malone has been a stay-at-home mom to her three children, one of whom has special needs. “Over the years, we've experienced firsthand the lack of resources for children living with psychiatric disorders as well as minimal support for families,” she said. Her goal is to attend medical school and become a pediatric psychiatrist. “I plan to strongly advocate for children and their families in Washington state, because they need a voice to help fight for more accessible mental health services,” she said. Malone is a member of Phi Theta Kappa's Iota Omega Chapter at Centralia College and was a human biology tutor. She received the Board of Directors scholarship and the Vice President and President's List award by maintaining at least a 3.8 GPA. Malone says she is following in the footsteps of her mentor, Heather Beaird, who received the same award five years ago, and she credits her partner and family, whose support enabled her to earn her associate’s degree.

Eunji Lee

Lower Columbia College

Eunji Lee has worked in the health care industry (dermatology and OB/GYN) since 2013, most recently as a peri-operative nurse in a plastic surgery clinic. She earned her nursing degree at Lower Columbia College, and her goal is to obtain a B.S.N. degree that would enable her to provide more specialized care. She’s also an active volunteer serving special needs students and homeless people. A member of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, Lee graduated with a 3.9 GPA.

Prior award recipients