Tacoma Community College students Gina Karlsson and TramAnh Phan will be honored as members of the All-Washington Academic Team in an awards ceremony at noon today at the South Puget Sound Community College Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts.
Each year, two students from each of the 34 community and technical colleges in the state are named to the All-Washington Academic Team and have a chance to be named to an All-USA Academic Team. The students are nominated to the state team for their scholastic achievement and service to their communities and colleges. In addition to receiving a medallion and photo with Gov. Christine Gregoire, TCC officials and other dignitaries, Karlsson and Phan will each receive a $750 scholarship sponsored by KeyBank and the Northwest Education Loan Association (NELA). The All-USA Academic Team is annually sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges; USA Today; and the American Association of Community Colleges.
Karlsson, of Tacoma, came to TCC two years ago as a non-traditional, worker retraining student. She is president of the Lambda Juris legal club, the student representative on the Administration of Justice Advisory Committee, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and has been an active community volunteer.
Karlsson said she is grateful for her opportunities and likes to serve as a mentor to other students. She plans to transfer to The Evergreen State College and then attend law school.
Phan, of University Place, came with her family to the United States from Vietnam two years ago in search of a better life. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, a tutor, a student ambassador, founder and president of the Math Club, and a volunteer at St. Josephs Hospital. Phan said she finds helping others rewarding. She plans to transfer to the University of Washington, Seattle; major in biochemistry; and become a surgeon.
