Kati Ortiz, SVC Director of Equity and Inclusion, hands award to student, Christian Cabrera
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — Skagit Valley College marked a major milestone on Nov. 20, hosting the 25th annual Champions Awards Ceremony, an evening celebrating a quarter-century of recognizing and supporting outstanding students from Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties.
The evening, held at McIntyre Hall on SVC’s Mount Vernon campus, brought together current and former Champion Scholars, families, donors, faculty, staff and community supporters. The event opened with a performance by the SVC Mariachi, followed by reflections on the program’s impact over the past quarter-century.
“Kicking off 25 years of Champions is not just about celebrating longevity,” said Kathleen Petrzelka, executive director of the Skagit Valley College Foundation. “It’s about honoring more than 2,000 students whose lives have been transformed because this community believed in their potential and invested in their futures.”
Former Champion Scholar Kelsey Gonzalez, class of 2007, shared how the scholarship shaped her educational path. Schleppy is currently enrolled in SVC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education program.
“Thank you once again, Champions, for awarding me the scholarship and for the continued impact it has had on my life,” Gonzalez said. “It has been an important part of my educational story.”
A special highlight of the evening was the recognition of Anita Ordóñez, co-founder of Champions, who was honored as a “Champion of Champions.” Ordóñez reflected on the program’s origins and the vision that led to its creation.
Ordóñez’s leadership was praised, noting her ability to see potential in students and rally partners around a shared belief in education as a pathway to opportunity.
This fall, Champions awarded scholarships – ranging from $1,500 to $6,000 –supporting students at SVC and four-year universities across Washington:
- 11 scholarships to SVC students
- 1 scholarship to Central Washington University
- 3 scholarships to Washington State University
- 12 scholarships to Western Washington University
- Eastern Washington University scholarships pending
The following SVC students received Champions scholarships this year:
- Christian Cabrera
- Amy Garcia
- Moises Lucatero
- Gabriela Medina Hidalgo
- Elizabeth Merrill
- Mia Perez
- Fernando Santacruz Lopez
- Hilda Silva-Ventura
- Alessandra Tapia
- Johanna Vieyra Garcia
Since its inception, the Champions program has supported more than 2,000 students at SVC and at five public universities across Washington: Western Washington University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, the University of Washington and Washington State University.
Through the generosity of more than 700 donors and 5,000 gifts, the community has contributed nearly $1 million in scholarship support over the past 25 years.
For more information about Champions, visit https://www.skagit.edu/campus-life/champions.html.
Media Contact Info
Marisa Pierce, Executive Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications
360.416.7957
marisa.pierce@skagit.edu