EVCC students earn statewide honors

The Everett Community College board of trustees honored six students who recently received statewide honors during its regular meeting May 19.

Students Ivonne Salazar and Dustin Wagner were named recipients of the President’s Student Civic Leadership Award on April 17 at a ceremony in Seattle.

Students Ryan Campbell, Karen Kishida, Kinya Mwirigi and Ali Wilson were honored April 23 at a ceremony in Lacey as members of the 2026 All-Washington Academic Team.

Student Civic Leadership Awards

The awards recognize outstanding student leaders for their work in civic engagement and social entrepreneurship. The Washington Campus Coalition organizes the awards, and EvCC’s leadership team selects the winners based on nominations from the campus community.

Salazar, 21, serves as Associated Student Body president at EvCC, where she has worked with students, college partnership leaders and administrators to address campus needs. Her contributions include coordinating stakeholder groups to identify potential new spaces for the campus Pride Center and providing regular updates to the board of trustees. Recognized for her collaborative approach and servant leadership style, she advocates for students at the state and federal levels.

Wagner, 39, helped reestablish the Work Study Foundation within the Veteran Resource Center at EvCC. Through his involvement in STEM outreach and his role on the VA Work Study team, he has strengthened both the VRC and the broader campus community. He volunteers with youth clubs and represents EvCC at national cybersecurity and engineering conferences, highlighting student innovation and increasing visibility for the college’s programs. His civic engagement and leadership inspired his interest in pursuing a cybersecurity career. Wagner also was selected as runner-up for the Governor’s Student Civic Leadership Award.

All-Washington Academic Team

The All-Washington Academic Team recognizes top scholars from the state’s 34 community and technical colleges for academic excellence, leadership and community service.

Campbell, 39, transitioned from a career in precision machining to composites, overcoming a steep learning curve through persistence and collaboration. At EvCC, he advocates for ethical quality control and the revitalization of domestic manufacturing. He hopes to coordinate apprenticeships and workshops to help build a skilled workforce prepared for changing economic and technological demands.

Kishida, 19, overcame language barriers to become a leader at EvCC. As a Phi Theta Kappa officer and Student LIFE ambassador, she promotes inclusion by listening to diverse perspectives. Beyond campus, she mentors Japanese students navigating the community college-to-university transfer pathway. Her experience reflects a commitment to service-driven leadership and demonstrates how empathy and communication can turn personal challenges into community strengths.

Mwirigi, 44, is driven by a passion for community service and technology. At EvCC, she balances work at the Center for Disability Services, academics and volunteer work with the Tech Hub to gain experience in her field. Her leadership includes resolving logistical issues at events and spearheading an electric fence project that eliminated dangerous wildlife encounters in her home community. She plans to use her technical expertise to empower others in cybersecurity and ethical leadership.

Wilson, 32, transitioned from retail into CNC machining, inspiring her to pursue further education. As a single mother, she attended school full time while working in a work-study position at EvCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Training and Education Center. By combining administrative and technical skills, she became a mentor and leader among students. Wilson said she is committed to breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty by guiding others toward education and sustainable manufacturing careers.

Members of the All-Washington Academic Team are eligible for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $30,000 at Washington public and private colleges and universities. Kishida and Mwirigi were named among the Top 16 scholars in the state and received an additional $750 scholarship each. Wilson received the $1,500 New Century Workforce Scholar award and a $2,500 Coca-Cola World Impact Scholarship.