2023 Grads

Aiden Aho (he/him)

Associate of Arts

“Two years ago, I wasn’t quite sure where I was going. I decided to do Running Start, and juggled that high school and college. I made a lot of friends. If I didn’t do Running Start, I don’t know where I would be … I found my community. I’m now transferring to Central Washington to earn my business degree.”

Lucy Annah Benson (she/her)

Associate of Arts in Pre-Nursing

“I am transferring to St. Martin’s University to get my BSN. I plan to be a fertility specialist, and to be the hope for families, make the world a better place and celebrate the good things that happen with families.”

Samantha Childers (she/her)

Associate of Applied Science in Accounting

“I chose a community college to get my associate’s degree in this country. I would like to have an accounting career. Later, I plan to come back and get a higher degree … now, I plan to work for awhile, and take some art classes, like painting.”

Nashika Forsman (she/her)

Associate of Arts

“This is my safe place. The staff, the school environment and its resources were all easy and accessible.”

Elizabeth Hadnot (she/her)

Associate of Applied Science in Human Services

“I plan to work with women coming out of incarceration and to help them with get the right resources and advocate for them to get an education. I hope to work with a non-profit or start my own … there are so many angles with the Human Services program, which is why I chose it. It’s such an umbrella to help people advocate for themselves.”

Dominique Johnson (she/her)

Associate of Applied Science

“Lots of doors opened up for me when I started at TCC. And work study is how I found my current job.”

Melissa Letham (she/her)

Associate of Arts, Psychology Specialization

“How far I've come, and how well I've done. It's been amazing. I'm kind of sad, leaving the campus, because it's been such an amazing experience.”

Helen Mitera (she/her)

Associate in Nursing

“I got hands on experience and interactions with patients. The clinical experience was the most rewarding. I will continue my education to get my BSN at UW Tacoma. But for now, I’m going to have some fun. Go on trips. Celebrate. And hit the books in the fall.”

Rucha Nimbalkar (she/her)

Associate of Arts, High School Diploma

“I was able to focus really nicely at TCC. Most of it was online, which was great because I was able to work -- I was an essential worker. I got a lot of support from my teachers. I felt heard, I felt seen, and it was easy to get resources.”

Mark Selivan (he/him)

Associate of Arts, Psychology Specialization

“I met a bunch of great people, learned a lot, and got a lot of free food. It really helps when you're broke.”

Makenzie Todd (she/her)

Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education

“I would like to open up my own child care business. I love kids. They need good role models. It’s just fun to be silly and energetic with kids, but you’re teaching them, too … I plan to attend Pierce College and earn my BAS in education and continue to make a difference.”

Jazmin Washington (she/her)

Associate of Arts, Psychology Specialization

“This experience put me in a position to want more for myself, and to advocate for myself. I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. OSE has completely changed my life. I built relationships that I see as forever. I learned so much about so many different cultures. It's completely different when you're working in student life.”

Justin Alvis (he/him)

Associate of Applied Science in Human Services

“I plan to specialize in chemical dependency and drug and alcohol counselor. I would like to fuse my other degree in culinary arts and use food as therapy. My own recovery journey and life skills will help others heal, and move their life forward.”

Elijah Brack (he/him)

Associate of Science in Business and Global Logistics, High School Diploma

“I’ve had a lot of obstacles, and I’ve had a lot of loss … I was in and out of school during my entire life. I decided I wanted to prove something to myself, and TCC was my first step. I wanted to make a change. I believed in myself, and I would say to others to believe in yourself too, even if nobody believes in you. You can be successful and trust yourself.”

Emmanuel Lewis Ching'umba (he/him) 

Associate of Applied Science in Accounting

“My dream is to be an accountant and I plan to open my own business … I was a teacher in Tanzania. I taught history and language. Now, I’ve come back as the student. I have had a lot of experiences, from taking ESL, ABE, AA and now I’m going to get my Bachelor’s in accounting at UW Tacoma. My journey here has let me change my career, gain new experiences.”

Chyna Gates (she/her)

Associate of Applied Science

“I did it, I’m here, I showed my kids I can do this … what has made me smile during my time here? Getting good grades. Seeing the reward of my hard work. It was so exciting and that kept me going. Now, I am going to take a nap. Every day. Then I’ll plan to earn my BAS in HIM.”

Pensihda Jack (she/her)

Certificates in Human Resources, Accounting, Customer Service

“At first, I wanted to study medicine. After taking the classes, I wasn’t sure that was what I wanted. And I found that HR was the right program for me. I found what I wanted to do, and now I am sure. TCC helped me with that. I plan to earn my BAS in Applied Management at TCC.”

Belinda Laju (she/her)

Associate in Nursing

“My dream is to own my own practice and provide affordable, accessible care for women. I’ll combine medicine, holistic alternatives for patients, and give them choices. I am transferring to UW Tacoma to earn my BSN, and plan to get my DNP to be a practitioner and mid-wife specialist for women and newborns.”

Ty Mancao (she/her)

Bachelor of Applied Sciences, Health Information Management

“I worked full-time, and I have three sons. Work-life-balance was a struggle. But I got very good at multi-tasking. You would see with my laptop at my sons’ practices … it was hard but worth it. Tested me in a lot of different ways. Now, here I am, 16 days before graduation, and I can say that I did it.”

Martell Naranjo  (he/him)

Associate of Arts, High School Diploma

“When I first came here, I found TCC to very welcoming, and there were a lot of opportunities that opened me up as a person … I found new ways to benefit myself, and helped me discover what I want to do. It was a very transformative experience in my life. I’ve settled on majoring in political science, and I am transferring to UW.”

Nikolle Ray (she/her)

Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health

“I feel great! It’s such a nice accomplishment. I’ve got a couple more years, as I plan to transfer and get my sonography degree. It’s great to have my three boys see my hard work pay off. I also want to make a shout-out that I’m from Flint, Michigan!”

Svetlana Sokova (she/her)

Associate of Applied Science in Accounting 

“I started here as an ESL student. I kept moving up, and I got bored, and decided it’s time to get my degree. I love numbers. Math is my good side. Accounting is my subject. I plan to keep going and get my BAS degree in Applied Management at TCC. I’ll keep going. I am double happy.”

Roxana Vasquez (she/her)

Associate of Arts, Elementary Education Specialization

“I'm just excited to be moving forward and to be able to say, 'I did it!' And to have my diploma finally.”

Amber Wong-Wilson (she/her)

Associate of Arts

“I graduated from high school, and did some soul searching. I’m so glad I did that. Taking the time to get to know myself helped me commit. I’m now transferring to UW T to get a degree in business administration.” 

Alexis Andres (he/him)

Associate of Arts

“I definitely learned how to communicate with others. I went to Dolores Silas High School during Covid, so mostly everything was online. There was a lot to learn about communicating with other people. I didn’t have a lot of experience with this. At TCC, I learned how to communicate with other students, instructors, work on group projects. I got better at communicating about asking what I needed, and what instructors and others wanted from me. This has really helped me work with other people, and I believe that good communications will not only help me make better decisions for myself in the future, but will provide me better opportunities, too.”

Alena Bolotov (she/her)

Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health, Medical Billing Specialist Certificate

“I wanted to do something for myself. We had just moved here, near TCC. One day, in August, I decided to stop by and see what was available. I ended up enrolling into college on the same day, and I’ve been here since to get my degree. I was determined to do this. For myself, for the kids, and to show them I am a college student.”

Doris Ebea (she/her)

Associate of Arts

“I am an International student. It was a wonderful experience, very diverse in education, instructors were calm and patient, and took the time to explain. I hope to transfer to UW in Seattle and study biology.”

Katrina Gibbs-Egan (she/her)

Associate of Arts

“I’m a shy person. But I got involved with Phi Theta Kappa, and it really brought me out and I made friends and it has been really fun. I’m transferring to UPS and study biochemistry with a minor in neuroscience. I’m hoping to get into research.”

Melani Jimenez (she/her)

Associate of Arts

“It’s bittersweet this is happening. I got pushed into Running Start. I made a lot of sacrifices. I worked really hard. I was a little afraid, and it was hard to make friends at first. My favorite part was volunteering with the Office of Student Engagement. It was nice to meet students who were so engaged, so interactive with each other, so fun. The college environment really was positive and the instructors were so supportive. Now, I feel I can say that this is the best school you can go to.”

Brandon Lee (he/him)

Associate of Arts

“I plan to become a software developer. I am interested in deep learning, in the machine route. I will transfer to WGU to get a degree in computer science. For me, it’s just interesting. And I would say to other who are interested in this field: Apply, dig into the content, and dive in. Honestly, that’s half the battle.”

Patrick Matias (he/him)

Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management

“I got to learn about the other side of health care, the more administrative work, the behind-the-scenes … I like looking into health data analytics and better understand populations as a whole, and have data help us understand what improvements need to be made.”

Ahnalise Neagle (she/her)

Associate of Arts

“It took some time, but I made friends. Now, I am taking some time off, taking a gap year. It’s what I need to do to figure out what I want to do.”

Mei Sakamoto (she/her)

Associate of Arts

“It feels really weird to be graduating. It's something I've always known I'd do as a kid, but as soon as it happens it's like, 'Woah! Really?!'”

Tiffany Thorp (she/her)

Associate of Applied Science, Paralegal Program

“Even through the struggles, you make it through.”

Chanry Yann (she/her) & Thi Huynh (she/her)

Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management & Bachelor of Applied Science in Community Health

“It feels amazing to here. I dealt with a lot, such as divorce and my mom’s death … my colleagues really pushed me. If they hadn’t, I’m not sure I would be here. My instructors motivated me, too. They were so encouraging. They were all my push.” - Yann

“Every time I put on my regalia, I get emotional. I feel so proud of my journey, and I encourage all refugees and immigrants who speak English as a Second Language to show they can do this as well as anyone else.” - Huynh