June 20, 2019

Media Contact:
Libby Siebens, community relations executive director, 509-682-6436 (Mon.-Thurs.)

The 2019 Wenatchee Valley College President’s Medals, Most Supportive Partner Award, Outstanding Graduate Awards and Academic Achievement Award were announced during the Wenatchee and Omak campus commencement ceremonies June 14 and 15.

Luz Esbiedy Estrada Gonzalez from the Wenatchee campus and Enereida Meza from the Omak campus received 2019 WVC President’s Medals for academic achievement, leadership and service.

Estrada Gonzalez, from Wenatchee, is a first-generation college student and has been an active member of the WVC community. She served as the student body president with the Associated Students of WVC Senate and as vice president of the Queer Straight Alliance student club on campus. She was involved in the organization of multiple events on campus, including Día de los Muertos, Stand Against Racism and the first-ever Queer Prom. Upon completing her associate in arts and sciences degree at WVC with a cumulative 3.81 GPA, Estrada Gonzalez will continue her education at Washington State University, where she would like to major in sociology.

Meza, from Omak, started school at WVC at Omak (WVCO) in fall 2014 while juggling being the mother of three children. In November 2015, one of her daughters was diagnosed with cancer and required surgery to remove a tumor from her brain. Meza finished the quarter before spending six months in Seattle for her daughters’ cancer treatment. She returned to college in fall 2017 determined to complete her degree. Despite missing school for her daughters’ medical appointments and facing challenges as a non-native English speaker, Meza graduated this spring with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 She also served as president of the WVCO Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Azlan (M.E.Ch.A) and was an active leader with her church, helping families in need of food, shelter and financial support.

Additional nominees for the president’s medals included Anna Welborn (Anna Wellborn, Duluth, Minn., bachelor of science in nursing), Jared Marshall (Entiat, associate in science transfer degree), Aidan Barger (East Wenatchee, associate in arts and sciences degree), Rafael Urrutia-Camargo (Cashmere, associate in arts and sciences degree), Ashlynn Burgess (Eagle River, Alaska, associate in science transfer degree), Maribel Garibay (Wenatchee, associate in arts and sciences degree), Elizabeth Stam (Brewster, associate in arts and sciences degree).

Luecinda Soriano-Churape wrote the winning essay nominating her partner, Henry George, for the Most Supportive Partner Award at the Omak campus. Prior to graduation, Omak campus graduates have the opportunity to write an essay that honors a spouse, parent, child, relative, friend, neighbor or housemate. The winning essay is read at graduation, and the recipient receives a plaque.

Outstanding Graduate Awards went to Cassidy Cunningham (East Wenatchee, associate in science transfer degree), Guido Davico (Ria Tercero, Argentina, associate of arts and sciences degree and associate of technical science degree in chemical dependency studies), Zachary Banken (Wenatchee, associate of arts and sciences degree), Max B. Stevens (Wenatchee, Washington State high school diploma, associate of arts and sciences degree and associate in science transfer degree), Aidan Barger (East Wenatchee, associate in arts and sciences degree), Ashlynn Burgess (Eagle River, Alaska, associate in science transfer degree), Yesenia Garcia (Wenatchee, associate of technical science degree in business computer technology (BCT), BCT-administrative assistant certificate of completion, BCT-certificate of accomplishment and computer applications certificate of completion) and Jacquelina Valdez (Wenatchee, Washington State high school diploma, associate of technical science degree in BCT, BCT-administrative assistant certificate of completion and BCT-certificate of accomplishment).

Eric Owsley (Tonasket, associate in arts and sciences degree) was the recipient of an Academic Achievement Award at the Omak ceremony.

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Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington by serving educational and cultural needs of communities and residents throughout the service area. The college provides high-quality transfer, liberal arts, professional/technical, basic skills and continuing education for students of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Visit our website, wvc.edu.

Wenatchee Valley College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment. All programs are free from discrimination and harassment against any person because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, parental status or families with children, marital status, religion, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status or any other prohibited basis per RCW 49.60.030, 040 and other federal and state laws and regulations, or participation in the complaint process. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and Title IX compliance for both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses:

• To report discrimination or harassment: Title IX Coordinator, Wenatchi Hall 2322M, (509) 682-6445, title9@wvc.edu.
• To request disability accommodations: Student Access Coordinator, Wenatchi Hall 2133, (509) 682-6854, TTY/TTD: dial 711, sas@wvc.edu.