Wenatchee Valley College honors 2025 Student Award recipients

WENATCHEE — Wenatchee Valley College recognized outstanding students from its Wenatchee and Omak campuses during recent commencement ceremonies and convocations, presenting President’s Medals and academic awards for excellence in leadership, service, and scholarship.

Mary Smith of Wenatchee and Tonya Rasmussen of Okanogan were awarded the 2025 President’s Medals, one of the highest student honors at WVC.

Smith, a nursing graduate from the Wenatchee campus, was co-president of the Student Nurses of Wenatchee club. She participated in multiple service projects, including a clothing drive, blood drive, and speaker events, and mentored first-year nursing students. Smith maintained a 4.0 GPA and was a regular on the President’s List.

“What distinguishes Mary most is her exceptional spirit,” said Kristen Baltz, a professor in the nursing department. “She treats everyone with kindness and empathy, approaches challenges with integrity, and goes above and beyond to support her classmates and the broader WVC community. In every sense, [she] represents not only the ideals of the President’s Award, but the ethical and professional comportment of the nursing profession.”

Rasmussen earned an associate of science-transfer degree and was deeply involved in campus life at WVC Omak. She began her studies struggling with technology but later became a tutor, helping others overcome similar obstacles.

“She has supported countless students with patience, clarity, and encouragement. Her contributions have had a direct and meaningful impact on her peers’ academic success and confidence,” wrote the employee who nominated her.

Rasmussen served on hiring committees for the Omak campus dean and Student Cabinet and participated in a tenure review committee. She plans to pursue a degree in behavioral health.

“I never dreamed I could even go this far, and yet the reality is that I can and will go even further,” Rasmussen said.

Other nominees for the President’s Medal included Ava Burk of Omaha, Neb.; Jacob Gutierrez, Oscar Ojeda Penilla, and Anessa Hanson, all of Wenatchee; Alustriel Lioliadis of Las Vegas, Nev.; and Jordan Aguilar of Omak.

Outstanding Graduate Awards presented at the Wenatchee ceremony went to Shannon Brouse, Ava Burk, Jovany Arredondo, Hector Alvarez, Jairo Aguilar-Solorio, Natalie Jensen, Anessa Hanson, Robert Grimes, Savoy Schorn, and Elizabeth Rivera Avila.

At the Omak ceremony, recipients of the Academic Achievement Award—which honors students with the highest GPA in their graduating class—included Amber Bader, Christine E. Zandell, Gabrielle Pipkin, John Godwin, Melissa Rodriguez de Leon, and Mykala Berntsen.

Doris “Diko” Yatta of Juba, South Sudan, received the Capstone Impact Award during the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN to BSN) convocation in Omak. Her project, “Improving Wound Identification on Diverse Skin Tones,” was recognized for its innovation and potential to improve patient care outcomes.

Three students—Micah Lee, Keira Martinez-Pinoargote, and Charlee Buchert—were also named to the All-Washington Academic Team.