SEATTLE – At a time when a college degree is an increasingly necessary stepping stone to a good-paying job, access for many is challenged by rising costs and higher demand. That’s why the work of legislators such as Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (D-Seattle) earns high marks from leaders in the state’s two-year college system who recently awarded her their 2010 Outstanding Advocate for Equity Award.
The Seattle Community Colleges nominated Kenney for the award saying she has been an effective spokesperson for under-represented and under-served students in Washington state and a “long-term advocate for social equity and student access and retention.”
Jill Wakefield, Chancellor of Seattle Community Colleges, noted in her nomination of Kenney that “she has been the legislator in the House who has consistently spoken up for the needs of community colleges.”
Some of the examples cited by Seattle Community Colleges include Kenney’s sponsorship of the Opportunity Grant program in 2006 which provides millions of dollars for low-income adults wanting to gain new skills or retrain at a community college. She has worked tirelessly to secure resources for Seattle’s community colleges to expand programs for low-income students and increase access to high-demand programs such as engineering.
Kenney also helped create a Certified Nursing Assistant program for Spanish-speaking students at South Seattle Community College, a partnership program with Swedish Hospital, the University of Washington and Sea-Mar. The nursing program has since become a nationally recognized model known as I-BEST (Integrated Basic Skills and Education Training) and has been mentioned by President Obama during speeches on education.
“Our state’s two-year colleges are an incredibly important gateway for thousands and thousands of people in our state,” says Kenney, a former Seattle trustee. “These schools not only provide an opportunity for students to quickly get the skills they need for a good job, the schools also ensure we have a well-trained work force for our state’s employers. A vibrant, well-supported college system is one of my lifelong priorities and I’m honored to partner with such talented leaders to make that happen.”
The Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges presented the award to Kenney late last month.