OLYMPIA — For his legislative accomplishments in lowering dropout rates and broadening future economic opportunity for students, Rep. Tim Probst of Vancouver received awards last week from two organizations long-experienced in advocating for education.
The national Jobs for America’s Graduates dropout-prevention organization recognized Probst’s support for its Washington state chapter and his successful sponsorship in 2011 of the Pay for Actual Student Success (PASS) bill, which funnels money to high schools with proven records of reducing dropout rates.
The Washington Student Association, which represents undergraduate and graduate students at public colleges and universities in the state, gave Probst its “legislator of the year” award for “his focus on securing our state’s prosperity through innovative solutions.” The association cited his success in 2011 in creating the Washington Opportunity Scholarship program, which established a public-private partnership to finance scholarships for students working toward bachelor’s degrees in high-demand fields.
“While these awards are personally gratifying,” Probst said, “what’s really significant about them is their endorsement of our strategy of creative investment in talent and opportunity — especially in those cutting-edge fields that hold the key to prosperity.”