An e-newsletter for friends and alumni of Highline College.

Table of Contents

Alumni Reception
Giving Tuesday
Alums Span the Globe
Inspiration in the A.M.
Highline Wins Diversity Award Again
Calendar of Events

What’s happening? Below is a partial list of upcoming events. Check here for the full schedule.

Nov. 14: Black & Brown Male Summit

Dec. 1: Giving Tuesday

Dec. 10: Annual Alumni Reception

Dec. 17: Argosy Cruise Christmas Ships & MaST Center Open House

Jan. 8: Multicultural Soccer Event

Jan 24: Unified Basketball Tourament

March 23: Senior Signing Day 

April 23: HC Foundation Gala

May 14: Young Educated Ladies Leading Female Summit

Dollars Add Up, Thanks to You

Seventy supporters of the Highline Foundation helped raise $239.26 over the summer through the Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program. These funds will go to Highline’s Tutoring Center to help support the wonderful work they do to support our students.

Do you shop at Fred Meyer? Sign up for the Rewards Program and link your card to Highline College. Search for us by name or by nonprofit number (87125). You’ll earn donations for Highline and earn Rewards Points, Fuel Points, and Rebates for yourself.

Highline Ranks in Top 100 Degree Producers

Highline earned national recognition from Community College Week as one of the top 100 associate degree producers in 2015. Highline ranked 64th out of the top 100 associate degree producers in the Asian American student category. Community College Week used data from the 2013–14 academic year provided by the U.S. Dept. of Education for these rankings.

Free Career Service

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About This Newsletter

Highline Connections will be published electronically four times a year in February, May, August and November for friends and alumni of Highline. Do you have questions or comments? Email Madison Gridley: mgridley@highline.edu.

Highline College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 17,000 annual students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education.

DISCLAIMER: Highline College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, or status as a veteran of war. Prohibited sex discrimination includes sexual harassment (unwelcome sexual conduct of various types).

Annual Alumni Reception

 

No Need to Gamble on a Good Time…Come to Casino Night!

Thursday, December 10, 2015
 6–8 p.m.
Highline Student Union (Building 8)

We are rolling out extra fun at this year’s Alumni Reception with a casino-themed party, perfect for a festive night filled with food and games. Come for the chance to win prizes (and bragging rights!) and reconnect with former classmates, faculty, staff and retirees.

Tickets are $10 per person and include dinner, beer, wine, nonalcoholic beverages and Highline Bucks to play with for the evening.

In addition to great prizes, top winners for the evening will get to designate Highline Bucks to benefit the Highline department, program or athletic team of their choice.

Purchase tickets online by Monday, December 7. Guests are welcome. Limited tickets will also be available at the door.

For questions or to R.S.V.P., contact Madison Gridley at mgridley@highline.edu or (206) 592-3312.
Join the Giving Tuesday Movement

Save the date for Giving Tuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. You can be part of the worldwide event on Tuesday, December 1, as charities, families, businesses, community members and students come together to celebrate generosity and to give.

Your participation in Giving Tuesday will help us raise funds for Highline's new Unified Sports teams, which are made up of students with and without disabilities. Sponsored by Special Olympics of Washington State, Unified Sports seeks to integrate all students on campus and to develop relationships beyond the classroom. Help us provide uniforms, travel and training for our growing Unified Sports Program!
Highline Alums Span the Globe

In September, President Bermingham visited China to help the city of Yangzhou celebrate its 2500th anniversary. While in the hotel one day, he heard “You’re my president!” from one of the hotel staff members.

The excited hotel worker is a Highline College alumna who graduated from

the Hotel Hospitality Management program, a dual degree program Highline shares with Yangzhou Polytechnic University.

Also while in Yangzhou, Bermingham participated in a formal ceremony where he was given the equivalent of the keys to the city. That special honor followed his recognition earlier this year when he was named a 2015 Distinguished City Guest by the city and its mayor, Zhu Minyang. (For the full story, see Highline College President Honored by Chinese Officials.)

Yangzhou, a city of about five million in Jiangsu Province, is a sister city of Kent. Highline’s relationship with Yangzhou dates back to 1998. The college hosts exchange programs for Yangzhou Polytechnic University students and faculty.

Inspiration in the A.M. 

On October 28, approximately 65 supporters of Highline College came together to enjoy a morning of inspiring stories at the Foundation’s annual breakfast. The event raised more than $5,000 to benefit student scholarships.

The event featured the moving account of Jordan Hanssen’s journey of a lifetime when he rowed across the Atlantic Ocean with three teammates. Attendees learned how in 2006, Hanssen, together with three college friends, set out to row a 29-foot fiberglass boat in the first-ever race across the North Atlantic Ocean. It was a journey of immense proportions, both in the 18-month preparation leading up to the race as well as the 71 days spent rowing from New York to the United Kingdom, covering a distance of more than 3,000 nautical miles. Hanssen shared the team’s captivating story of courage, determination, and friendship.

Special thanks to Highline student Josefus Tolo and Highline alumnus Yosef Woger for sharing their stories of perseverance and to Dr. T.M. Sell for serving as master of ceremonies.

Thanks to everyone who attended for supporting Highline students.
Highline Earns Award Again and Again and Again

 

For the third straight year, Highline received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Given by Insight into Diversity, the largest and oldest diversity magazine and website in higher education, the 2015 HEED Award was presented to only 91 institutions across the nation. Highline was one of only two colleges in the state — and the only community college in Washington — to receive the 2015 HEED Award. To learn more and read other campus news, visit Highline’s news site.