Every Day Heroes – Honoring Women and the Women in Student Services

Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. In addition to this observance, it is important to me that I acknowledge and recognize my number 1 hero, Lauren Walker-Reader.  Lauren is not only my life partner but an astonishing mother who brought us two beautiful children (certainly a superpower), Kennedi, 4 years old and Davis, 3 months old. She has been and continues to be the rock of our household and the fabric to why we are such a loving family. She personifies “Superhero”. Her love and compassion for our children shows in everything she does. She’s made ample sacrifices for each of us and continue to do so every day. I’ve learned from her how to be generous, caring, compassionate, strong, and empathetic.

Lauren, has always had that “hero” mindset. She’s always striving to be better and will not accept defeat. She’s confident and always has a plan. She stares fear in the eye and never backs down. Lauren makes the balancing act appear effortless; whether it’s developing home school curriculum, planning personal and professional growth, showing a continuous desire to learn and grow and always thinking about family. In addition to being a working mom, she is a friend, a confidant, an amazing chef, and dozens of other critical things that hold the household together. And, oh yeah, doing these things flawlessly during multiple pandemics.

Similarly, the women of Student Services are every day heroes. They have been the holders of institutional and divisional history, and provided the intellect, creativity and implementation of so many of our long-standing initiatives and departments.  While the women of Student Services show up daily and continue to demonstrate their commitment to student success while representing Student Services, please believe they are hero’s in their own right. Many of which are balancing more than what is visible or talked about.  While being talented practitioners of higher education, they demonstrate the strength of one thousand warriors during the most difficult times. Out of the 28 different roles within the Student Services Leadership Team, over half of those positions are filled by the women of Student Services, in which they bring a level of leadership, wisdom and awareness that is critical to the work of Highline.  Some have brought beautiful children in to this world while leading from the front and the margins.

They are mothers, partners, community activist, veterans or in the reserves, volunteers and survivors.  They are homeschooling their children, advancing social justice and equity, fighting and overcoming illness, working through grief and leading large institutional efforts. These women provide firm yet warm advice to their children away at 4-year colleges. They provide examples of how to lead with love and care for loved ones. This is what every day hero’s look like.

The next time you communicate or interact with these remarkable women, join me in saying, Thank You for being “every day heroes”!

• Aaron Reader, Vice President for Student Services

Important Dates for Student Success

• March 1: Spring enrollment opens for students who have completed 60 or more credits prior to Winter 2021
• March 2: Spring enrollment opens for students who have completed 45 to 59 credits prior to Winter 2021
• March 3: Spring enrollment opens for students who have completed 15 to 44 credits prior to Winter 2021
• March 4: Spring enrollment opens for students who have completed less than 15 credits prior to Winter 2021 (Open registration for ELCAP students.)
• March 5: Last day to withdraw from a class – Winter 2021
• March 5: Spring enrollment opens for former students
• March 8: Spring open enrollment for new students
• March. 22: Spring Tuition and fees due
• March 23 – 26: Final Exams – Winter 2021
• March 31: Check Your Winter Grades in ctcLink

Student Services, Resource, and Activity Highlight

• Join Women’s Programs and WorkFirst Services in Celebrating: International Women’s Day
  • International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. The 2021 theme for International Women’s Day is “Choose to Challenge”, which encourages all of us to challenge gender bias and inequality in our families, workplaces, and communities. From challenge comes change, and we can all choose to create a more inclusive world. It’s your turn to strike the Choose to Challenge pose! Take a photo with your hand high to show your commitment to challenging inequality, calling out bias, and questioning stereotypes.
    • Monday, March 8
    • Share it on Women’s Programs Facebook page! You can also follow #ChooseToChallenge or #IWD2021 on social media to see more International Women’s Day photos from around the world.
• Cross Cultural Leadership
  • Culture impacts how people identify and practice leadership. Sometimes these different leadership styles can clash, causing frustration and confusion. We want to help you identify your own culturally-influenced leadership style and how it can work well with others.
    • Thursday, March 4, 2:30-4pm
    • Zoom meeting ID 880 3247 9840, Passcode: 117670

• Sign Up For: Center for Leadership & Service and Center for Cultural & Inclusive Excellence Bi-Weekly Newsletter
  • Stay connected with what’s happening with Center for Leadership & Service and Center for Cultural & Inclusive Excellence by signing up for our bi-weekly email newsletter. We know you receive a lot of emails, so why sign up for one more? Our newsletter is a quick summary of the next three or four events coming up in the Center, as well as highlights of things you need to know going on across Highline. It also includes meeting times for student-run clubs. Reading the newsletter every other week is a great way to be reminded about programs you might have otherwise missed! Sign up today!
• Transfer Center events: https://transfercenter.highline.edu/events/
  • UW Martin Scholarship Panel
    • Friday, March 5th │ 3:00-4:00 PM │ Join
    • The UW Martin Family Foundation offers two scholarships to transfer students: the Achievement Scholarship ($5,000 award to use at Highline College and $12,000/year to use at UW Seattle) and the Honors Scholarship ($12,000/year to use at UW Seattle). Learn more about the program from two Highline College graduates who earned this prestigious award!
    • Registration Link: http://bit.ly/hcmartin2021
  • Transfer Application Completion Workshop #2
    • Tuesday, March 9th │ 4:00-6:00 PM │ Join
    • Are you applying to transfer in the 2021-2022 school year? Come meet with an advisor to finalize your transfer application, especially those who are applying for the fall 2021 deadline of March 15. This event is targeted to students who are in the process of applying, not to get more general transfer info.
    • Zoom Link: http://bit.ly/hc-applicationworkshop2
• United Way of King County Free Tax Help and Campaign
  • United Way of King County Free Tax Campaign can help community members file taxes for free. Sign up to receive help from a certified tax expert and save money! All are welcome to use this service, students and community members as well.
  • You can sign up here until April 15, 2021: www.freetaxexperts.org

March Student Leader of the Month: Anesha Kim

Photo of Anesha Kim ASHC March Student Leader of the Month

A big shout out to Anesha Kim, our Student Leader of the Month for March! Anesha has participated in all sorts of events around on campus, leaving an impact on students and staff. She, as a member of CORE Leadership best put it, “Is a great example of someone who is intentional on building community by sharing her own ideas in conversation but also putting herself out there by participating in various opportunities.”

Anesha is Cambodian, Chinese, Thai, and Laos and a Constituent of AANAPISI as well as TRiO. Like the many other students at Highline, she joined on the account of our diversity and program options, her attendance adding to what makes the college so great! Anesha said what inspired her to be a student leader is: “My CSF mentor Sam Washington and my TRiO advisor Kathy Nguyen. They both made a positive impact in my life where I became more highly motivated and committed to my education and goals in life and becoming more passionate about helping others, making an impact in their lives.” and we’re grateful for their influence and Anesha for her servant leadership.

Although we’ll be sad to see her go, we’re happy to announce that Anesha is finishing up her last quarter at the college! Beyond Highline, she plans to continue her enlistment process in the Air Force working in Dentistry or Law and Enforcement, bringing her one step closer to a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal justice. Thank you Anesha! You’re a true role model and we’re pleased to have seen blossom at Highline.

Nominate a Student Today !

ctcLink

• Learn how to activate, register for classes and many other things through your new Highline ctcLink account here: https://www.highline.edu/ctclink/students/ 

Zoom Help Sessions for Your ctcLink account:  https://www.highline.edu/ctclink/students/zoom-help/