Highline College students Laura Yanez and Rebecca Ring earned statewide recognition recently for their achievements. Both have been named members of the 2015 All-Washington Academic Team for their academic achievement, community service and involvement on campus.

Additionally, Yanez was selected as a 2015 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Gold Scholar, a national award that further recognizes students who are selected for their statewide academic team.

“We are proud to have Ms. Yanez and Ms. Ring as Highline’s All-Washington Scholars,” said Jack Bermingham, president of Highline College. “Each of them overcame extraordinary challenges to gain access to college, making their academic achievements even more remarkable. Their outstanding success both inside and outside the classroom demonstrates character and leadership that merit national recognition.”

Yanez, Ring and other top scholars from the state’s 34 community and technical colleges were recently recognized during an awards ceremony at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. KeyBank honored each team member with a $250 scholarship. Yanez also received a $1,000 scholarship from the Washington Trustee Association of Community and Technical Colleges at the event.

Yanez of Federal Way is Highline’s student body president, pursuing a degree in social work. Born in Colombia, she came to the U.S. in 2008 without speaking any English. She began taking ESL courses shortly after, but struggled to progress through the ESL levels and lacked a plan for her future.

With encouragement from her instructors, Yanez applied for and was awarded Highline’s Jumpstart scholarship, which assists upper-level ESL students in transitioning to college-level courses by covering their tuition for the first 15 credits. Now, Yanez is also an Honors Scholar and has been recognized for her dedication and leadership in the ESL Club and Center for Leadership and Service. She also advocates for and mentors other immigrant and refugee students on campus.

Additionally, Yanez was named as a 2015 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Gold Scholar. She receives a $1,500 scholarship.

Ring of Des Moines is a political science major with plans to open her own direct trade business. She is in the Honors Program, an Academic Achievement Scholarship winner and an active member of Phi Theta Kappa.

Despite her impressive accomplishments, Ring did not always excel academically, overcoming many struggles including not being able to attend school as a child and homelessness.

Ring is passionate about environmentalism and social justice and volunteers with the Highline Sustainability Task Force, EarthCorps and Red Light Revolution, an organization that fights against human trafficking. She has plans to open her own fair and direct trade business to empower small business owners in developing nations.

The All-Washington Academic Team program is sponsored by Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges, Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and Phi Theta Kappa.

For more information, visit www.spscc.ctc.edu/allwa.