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Points of Pride: Winter 2025

Many interesting, inspiring, and noteworthy things happen across Seattle Colleges every day. We’ve collected some (but certainly not all) of these stories. Add these to our growing list of points of pride.

 

The Academy for Rising Educators (ARE): helping students envision themselves as teachers

“When you see yourself, you get the message loud and clear that this is for you, too. It is really critical to make sure that students at every level, at every age see themselves reflected,” says Dr. Pat Russell, Executive Dean for Healthcare and Human Services at Seattle Central College.

The Academy for Rising Educators (ARE) launched at Seattle Central in 2018 to help bolster the ranks of K-12 teachers in public education in Washington state and to help those teachers reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. The program offers candidates a six-quarter Associate of Arts degree with a focus on education and social justice. Graduates have the option to directly transfer into teaching programs at Seattle University, City University, and Central Washington University.

ARE was recognized at Seattle Colleges’ 52nd Annual Community Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. this past January, and in 2020 the program earned the Eduardo J. Padron Award for Institutional Transformation from Campus Compact, a national coalition of over a thousand colleges and universities.

Seattle Central Creative Academy alum Cam Karsten builds a career he loves

Camaeron KarstenOur graduates are definitely points of pride, and Cameron Karsten (‘12) is a stellar example. After developing a passion for photography while backpacking and blogging across the globe, Karsten was eager to turn his passion into a career. Now, as a highly sought-after commercial photographer with an expansive clientele, he has made a living from capturing those very things he loves.

At Seattle Central’s Creative Academy, Karsten found the structure and mentorship he needed to hone his craft. He credits his professors, Tomas and Milne, with imparting the technical skills necessary to make his career but also offering mentorship that bridged the gap between the classroom and the professional world.

As Karsten prepares for his next project — photographing warm-water fishing in Baja California for Grundéns — he reflects on the impact Seattle Central has had on his less-than-traditional path. “Seattle Central gave me the tools, the trust, and the freedom to build a career I love.”

Alum Thomas Getachew says South's Automotive Technology program prepares graduates to be successful at any shop

Alum Thomas Getachew, Section Manager, King County Metro, reflects on his experiences as a student at South Seattle College and a graduate of its Automotive Technology program. "The Automotive Training here, it sets you up well for any shop that does automotive repairs. When they hear South Seattle's name, they can't wait to on board you. It's not just they're making you become a mechanic—it's more about delivering your whole self into the work. And I learned so much about the industry and what the industry expects out of you, so it really kind of prepared me to be successful at any shop...That freedom of you can get employed anytime, it's just a huge reward."

The recently renovated (2022) Steve and Sharon Huling Automotive Technology Center offers an ideal setting for the program. And new and continuing partnerships with the likes of Toyota and Mercedes Benz of Seattle add even more opportunities for students in the program.

From passion to profession: Jamie Nguyen’s path to a Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management

Jamie NguyenBorn and raised in Vietnam, Jamie Nguyen enjoyed helping manage her family’s home improvement store, where she practiced her problem-solving and management skills. Later, she decided to pursue a degree in hospitality and tourism management to further her path towards a career that would allow her to interact with people of diverse backgrounds on a daily basis.

After earning her Associate of Science degree, Jamie wanted to further her education, so she enrolled in South Seattle College’s Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Hospitality Management. “I chose this program because it would allow me to combine my career interests with my cultural heritage,” she says.

South's program is distinctive in its focus on providing applied management training, preparing students for management, marketing, human resources, and technical positions in all facets of the hospitality industry, including tourism, hotel operation, restaurant management, catering, cruise ship-casino operations, and travel.

Painting the past, inspiring the future: Seattle Colleges' James Baldwin mural

Yvonne Ferguson, Julius Lloyd, D'Andre Fisher, and Kelda Martensen discuss the legacy of James Baldwin, the namesake for Project Baldwin and the centerpiece of the stunning new mural in the library at North Seattle College. They talk about Baldwin's impact on society as well as the collaborative process behind the mural, designed by Yvonne Ferguson and completed by Kelda Martensen's mural arts class in Spring 2024.

Winning ways continue for North Seattle College business students

Mariyam Abdulkarim, Maila Jenner, Jane Madiz, Anna Kharzhevskaia, Khat Khongor, Michelle Sentevski, and Roger Tang standing as a group in front of the Foster School of Business sign

 

Seven students earning a range of degrees proudly represented North Seattle College at the Women Entrepreneur Business Solutions Competition in the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business on Feb. 1, and their ideas won. Students Mariyam Abdulkarim, Maila Jenner, Anna Kharzhevskaia, Khat Khongor, Jane Madiz, Michelle Sentevski, and Roger Tang were in three of the teams that tied for first place.

Professor Alif Laila Tisha (Tish), the business faculty member involved in organizing the event and ensuring it was open to undergraduate students, said, “I have full faith that students at North will continue to put forth incredible ideas and keep on winning.”

Nausica Zorzi, interim associate dean for North's Business and Accounting programs, added, “As I reflect on another great accomplishment by our NSC students, I continue to remain inspired by their resilience and evermore motivated by the life-changing work all the members of our institution advance in our community.”

 

Taking flight – a new discovery each year – at Discover Seattle Colleges

You may have noticed a few new additions to the Discover Seattle Colleges campaign this year. Or maybe you noticed more than one. The series—now in its fourth year— looks to introduce new elements and make improvements each year.

For 2025, we partnered with the King County Jobs Symposium, expanded community invitations, and added a whimsical animated airplane on digital advertising, billboards, and transit ads across the city.

The campaign spotlights Seattle Colleges and our individual campuses, training centers, and academic programs as vibrant, engaging, and fun places to get a relevant education. While Discover Seattle Colleges serves primarily as a recruitment event, it and its promotional campaign both reinforce and enhance our public image and reputation.

Thanks to all who participated.