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Points of Pride: Spring-Summer 2025

Many interesting, inspiring, and noteworthy things happen across Seattle Colleges every day. We’ve compiled another edition of some (but certainly not all) of these stories. Add these to our growing list of points of pride.

We all have the opportunity to make a difference for students

It’s important to remember the potential every faculty and staff member has to affect our students’ experience during their time at our colleges. Each year, Seattle Central invites graduates to write a surprise letter to a faculty or staff member who had a profound impact on their life inside the classroom and outside. This video features Anna and Rebecca; Chef Drew and Danika; and Ubah, Sherrell, and Kwamae.

 

"This represents my last two years here. This represents me."

Three photos of MacKenzie Nelson in the Apparel Design lab: holding a garment on a hanger, working with a pattern design, and standing and smiling

Originally from California, MacKenzie Nelson, moved to Seattle hoping to find a new path, and then fell in love with fashion, bought a sewing machine on eBay, and learned to sew from YouTube tutorials. After amassing a sizeable following on TikTok by posting sewing videos, MacKenzie broke into the modeling world and spent two years as a model before realizing it was the people working on the other side of the camera that they were even more interested in. MacKenzie decided to enroll in Seattle Central’s Apparel Design and Development program, intrigued by the breadth of skills and experiences students there were offered.

 

Problem solving, Python programming, and developing a sense of pride in oneself

Callan Hercules

Callan Hercules, a member of North Seattle College's graduating Class of 2025, shares his perspectives on North's Bachelor of Science program in Computer Science. Supplementing his own passion and drive with a bit of help from a scholarship from Seattle Colleges Foundation, he's been able to build his portfolio and develop a sense of pride in himself as he now looks to pursue a career in technology.

 

From construction to cultivation: Shelley Hurst’s journey to landscape horticulture 

Shelly Hurst in a campus greenhouse surrounded by plants

It’s never too late to change direction and pursue your passion. After 20 years as a successful business owner running her family’s construction company, Shelley Hurst is now pursuing an Associate Degree in Landscape Horticulture at South Seattle College – and loving it.

  • Read Shelley's story. (links to a feature on South Seattle College's news website)
  • Learn more about the Landscape Horticulture program. (links to the program page at South Seattle College)
  • Watch the alumni perspectives video below about Savannah Pearce, now a lead landscape designer at Shooting Star Gardens, as she shares her perspectives on South’s Landscape Horticulture program.

 

Headline accomplishments

 

 

Another round of celebration for our Class of 2025

Commencement is our favorite event—not only for bringing our three colleges together in celebration, but, even more importantly, for acknowledging the accomplishments of the thousands of graduates we send out to the world. Each one is traveling on their own brave and unique journey; each one is changing the world in their own way. Attending commencement allows us to witness the realization of our educational mission and the joy of our graduates and their families as they set off to the next phase of their lives. This year we welcomed more than 1,050 graduates who walked across the stage in two ceremonies. Watch the highlights video and our student speakers’ addresses below. Each of our graduates truly is a point of pride.

“So now what? We go out and make the world better—not perfect, just better.  
Kinder. More honest. More compassionate. Class of 2025, thank you. Congratulations!”  
– Ubah Farah, Seattle Central student speaker, Class of 2025 

 

Highlights video

Graduating student speaker Debby Orellana, North Seattle College

Graduating student speaker Menen Girma, South Seattle College

Graduating student speaker Ubah Farah, Seattle Central College

We offer special thanks to the Communications Teams at North, Central, and South; the faculty and staff of the various programs offered across our colleges; the Seattle Colleges Foundation; and the district's Division of Public Relations and Strategic Initiatives. Points of Pride is sincerely appreciative of the work of all the talented employees dedicated to showcasing and sharing the stories complied here.

Published Wednesday, August 6, 2025