Gov. Chris Gregoire recently presented medals to Cascadia Community College students Patrick Connors and Athena Mace and the other members of the 2010 All-Washington Academic Team during a ceremony at South Puget Sound Community College.

“Patrick and Athena are great examples of Cascadia’s commitment to active learning in the classroom and the community. We are proud of their accomplishments and congratulate them on their success,” says Dr. Ann Beaulieu, vice president for Student Learning.

Connors is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and the Cascadia chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success. He worked as a volunteer at Kamiakin Junior High in Kirkland. Connors intends to transfer to Central Washington University to pursue an education degree and plans to teach middle-school science.

Mace is active with Cascadia’s Service-Learning Center, is an AmeriCorps Student in Service and serves as community service chair for Cascadia’s chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success. She is currently working on a mural project at Maywood Hills Elementary School in Bothell. Mace will transfer to Cornish College for the Arts this fall to pursue her passion for using art to educate and create social change.

As members of the All-Washington Academic Team, Connors and Mace each won a $750 scholarship from KeyBank and the Northwest Education Loan Association (NELA). They are also eligible for scholarships at all public and several private four-year colleges and universities in Washington ranging from $1,000 to $14,000.

Every community college in the state is invited to select two students to the All-Washington Academic Team. Students are selected based on high academic achievement and commitment to community service.