EVERETT — Arlington residents and Everett Community College students Olivia Wallace and April Ketchum were honored on March 21 as members of the 2013 All-Washington Academic Team.
The two were recognized in a ceremony at South Puget Sound Community College. The award honors outstanding students who have a demonstrated commitment to success in the classroom and in the communities where they live.
Wallace, 17, is a Running Start student who is earning her degree at Arlington High School and taking classes at EvCC. She has a 3.82 GPA and plans to become a kindergarten teacher. She’s inspired by her father, a double amputee, and enjoys helping her younger brother. She also volunteers with her dad talking to families of amputees, and recently led a food drive that brought in 2,815 pounds of food.
Ketchum, 43, was a stay-at-home mom until her husband was hurt and could no longer work. Twenty-six years after graduating from high school, she decided to earn her college degree to better prepare herself to support her family. She plans to transfer to a four-year school and then become an art teacher.
Wallace and Ketchum, by virtue of their inclusion on the state team, received $500 scholarships from Key Bank.
For more information on the All-Washington Academic Team and the ceremony, visit www.spscc.ctc.edu/allwa.