An e-newsletter for friends and alumni of Highline College

Table of Contents

College Valentines
Nursing 50th Anniversary
Annual Alumni Reception
Alumni Meet the Challenge
Free Career Event
Annual Fundraising Breakfast
Calendar of Events

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

Feb. 24: Career Connections

April 18: MaST Center Earth Day Beach Clean-Up

April 18: Annual Highline College Gala

April 24: Distinguished Alumni Nominations due

June 11: Commencement

June 12: T-Bird Athletics Golf Tournament

Interested in volunteering? Check here for a full list of volunteer opportunities.

Buy a credit at Highline

If you won’t be attending this year’s Foundation Gala on April 18, there are still many ways to support Highline students. Consider buying credits for students through the Jumpstart Scholarship program.

It’s your chance to help a Highline student succeed in that all-important first quarter by making it affordable to start the college journey. Contribute at the level that fits your budget:

1 credit = $107
2 credits = $214
4 credits = $427
8 credits = $855
15 credits* = $1,333

Donate today by visiting the Highline Foundation.

*Full-time attendance for one quarter

1,200 pounds & $2,000

The December 2014 campus food drive was a huge success, thanks to the generosity of Highline alumni, faculty, staff, and community members. Together, we donated more than 1,200 pounds of food and $2,000 to help our neighbors using the Des Moines Food Bank. The food-raising effort exceeded by 400 pounds the December 2013 donation of 800 pounds. The food drive was spearheaded by the Highline College Classified Staff and supported by the Highline College Foundation.

In Memorium

The Highline College community was deeply saddened by the recent loss of three individuals. Our sincere condolences go out to their friends and family.

Ron Beard

Highline’s Distinguished Alum of 2014, attorney Ron Beard, passed away in November 2014. He spent his 21-year law career at the Seattle-based firm of Lane Powell law firm where he became a partner and specialized in maritime and banking law. Beard was an active volunteer and mentor in the Seattle community. He frequently volunteered at a homeless shelter for men and served as a board member for the Crisis Clinic and the University of Washington Law Foundation. As a mentor for young lawyers, Beard received the Excellence in the Legal Profession Award from the Loren Miller Bar Association.

Terry Nuzzo

Longtime instructor Terry Nuzzo passed away in December 2014. A certified public accountant and dedicated instructor, Nuzzo taught courses in accounting at Highline since 1982. He counted among his many friends those in the accounting and auditing fields in addition to his Highline colleagues. Nuzzo made a significant impact on the success of many Highline students, and it is clear that they thought highly of his teaching and mentoring. 

Nancy Warren

Nancy Warren passed away in December 2014. Since 1999, she called Highline home. Warren gave a tremendous part of her life to serving Highline students, staff and colleagues, and our state’s community college system. With students, she was known for her strong teaching skills. The college benefitted greatly from her leadership in many areas, including cooperative education, Tech Prep, Airport U and Port Jobs. Statewide, she garnered respect for her curriculum-development skills.

Warren was also an accomplished musician and a dedicated volunteer. She combined these passions during her time serving on Highline’s Foundation board, when she spearheaded an initiative to bring a beautiful Estonia grand piano to campus. The attendance of several hundred at her memorial speaks to the impact she had on our community.  ​

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 16,500 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).

Who was your college valentine? 

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Campus abounds with stories of students meeting and falling in love. With February 14 not long past, now is the perfect time to share such stories. Here is one favorite about two Highline alums who not only married, but also went on to become Distinguished Alumni Award winners. Read about the lovebirds and then share your story of love blossoming during your time on campus by emailing Madison Gridley at mgridley@highline.edu.

Highline alumni celebrate 

Highline alumni had many reasons to celebrate in December at the Nursing program’s 50th Anniversary Celebration and the annual Alumni Reception.

Nursing graduates celebrate 50 years of success  

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Carol (Rathke) Jowle, left, and Sandra Cravens-Robinson flank a uniform they would have worn as two of the first students in Highline’s Nursing program. The 1966 graduates went on to have illustrious careers in nursing and have remained friends for the past five decades. The two returned to Highline on December 13 to help celebrate the Nursing program’s 50th anniversary during a daylong event that included an open house and celebratory dinner for alumni, faculty and supporters

Cravens-Robinson was the first African-American graduate from the program. She retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Army after 20 years, worked for the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Healthcare System and recently completed her nurse practitioner degree in psychiatric nursing. She will begin her own practice at the age of 70.

Highline’s president, Dr. Jack Bermingham, said of the event, “The 50th anniversary for our nursing program not only brought alums back to campus, it also underscored the program’s significant impact on health care in the region.”

Highline celebrates grads at annual Alumni Reception 

More than 150 Highline alumni, faculty, staff and retirees gathered together for a night of fun, food, games and prizes at the 4th annual Highline Alumni Reception on December 16.

The Student Union was filled with laughter as attendees reconnected with friends and former instructors over dinner and enjoyed games and activities, including miniature golf, virtual bowling, ping pong and holiday cookie decorating.

Highline Alumni Council Vice-Chair Duncan Taylor was the host of the night and welcomed everyone back to campus and encouraged them to become involved in the newly formed Alumni Association. We’re already looking forward to the 5th annual reception in December.

Alumni meet the challenge 

Highline asked and you responded to the 2014 Alumni Service Challenge. The goal of the Alumni Service Challenge was to recruit Highline alumni to serve 2,014 hours of community service, find 14 new mentors and identify four new work-based learning sites during 2014. By the numbers, here are the impressive results:

- 2,202 hours of community service completed
- 76 volunteers participated
- 23 service opportunities created
- 10 mentors connected
- 3 employer connections established

Thank you to all who participated and helped make a difference in the community! Even though the Service Challenge is complete, there are still many way to volunteer with Alumni Relations! Check out the full volunteer opportunity list here.

Campus Connections

Free hiring, career and resume tips 

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Career Connections
Tuesday, February 24
5–7 p.m.
Building 2



You have the degree, but now it is time to land the perfect job. Receive free hiring, career and resume tips from an expert during February’s Career Connections event.

Learn about the people behind Filter Digital, an innovative Seattle-based company that specializes in digital content, and meet recruiter and Highline alum, Stephanie Falls. Falls, who has been a recruiter at major employers including Amazon, will share information and employment opportunities at Filter, as well as her insight and expertise on the job market and strategies for a successful job search. She will also answer your questions.

The event will also give you the chance to network and catch up with fellow Highline alums and current students. Come for the presentation and Q-and-A session from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by networking and appetizers from 6 to 7 p.m.

Foundation Fundraising Breakfast 

On February 4, more than 60 supporters of Highline College came together to enjoy a morning of inspiring stories at the annual Foundation Fundraising Breakfast.

More than $5,000 was raised to benefit student scholarships. The event also featured speeches by special guests and former Seattle Sounders players (left to right) Roger Levesque, Fawzi Belal (Highline Class of ’00) and Darren Sawatzky. Thanks to everyone who attended and for your support of Highline students!

Distinguished Alum nominations now open

Do you know of a former Highline student who has made significant contributions through community service, noteworthy professional achievement and/or recognized leadership? Nominate him or her for Highline’s 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award. Eligible nominees are former students who attended Highline prior to the 2010–2011 academic year.

Highline began the award in 1990 with Norm Rice, former mayor of Seattle, chosen as the first recipient. Past recipients have included Junki Yoshida, founder and CEO of the Yoshida Food Group; Joan Enticknap, president and COO of Homestreet Bank; and Dr. T.M. Sell, professor of journalism and political science at Highline.

Nominations may be submitted by faculty, staff, students, friends of Highline, or any alum. Nominees will be asked to submit a resume and personal profile questionnaire for review by a campus selection committee. The person selected will be recognized at Highline’s commencement exercises on June 11, 2015.

Nomination forms are available online. Send submissions by April 24, 2015, to mgridley@highline.edu.