Grads Celebrate Commencement 2025 at Emerald Downs

This year, Commencement was held at Emerald Downs in Auburn with an enthusiastic, vibrant crowd in attendance. 

Just over 600 Highline College graduates walked across the stage on June 12 to receive their diploma covers and celebrate all they’ve accomplished.

Hussein Al-Badri, President of the Associated Students of Highline College was the Master of Ceremonies. Al-Badri is pursuing his degree in Cybersecurity Operations.  

For the 2024-25 academic year, 1,350 students applied to graduate.

As is typical of other colleges and universities, students at Highline apply to graduate before all coursework has been completed. The college expects to award the following credentials for the 2024-25 academic year. Here are a few facts:

• 1,528: total number of credentials (degrees, certificates and diplomas)
• 1,044: two-year degrees, including 659 associate of arts degrees,
  50 associate of science, 324 associate of professional-technical and 11 associate of applied science degrees
• 107: applied bachelor’s degrees
• 319: certificates
• 61: high school diplomas
• 43: GEDs

The 2025 graduating class reflects the diversity of the college campus.

• 17: age of youngest graduate
• 75: age of oldest graduate
• 30: veterans who used VA education benefits while attending college
• 108: number of immigrants
• 20: number of refugees
• 85: number of international students, representing 28 countries
• 75%: students of color (of the 1,323 students reporting their race/ethnicity

Student Speaker

One key component of Commencement each year is choosing a student speaker. This year, Prince Kennedy-Parker was awarded the honor out of many applicants. In addition, this year a number of students earned top honors and achievements.

All-Washington Academic Team

Being committed to helping others earned two Highline College students a place on the All-Washington Academic Team in 2025.

Grace Gachie and Peter Bui both received $450 for their efforts, with $225 given by KeyBank and $225 by the Highline College Foundation.

Each of the state’s 34 community and technical colleges can nominate up to four students for the award. This year, two were chosen. To qualify, students must apply for recognition and be members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Highest Scholastic Achievement Award

At this time, 188 students graduated with honors, GPAs of 3.5 and above and 29 of those had a perfect 4.0 GPA, qualifying them as Highest Scholastic Achievement scholars. The Highest Scholastic Achievement Award is presented each year to graduating students who have attained the highest GPA and have completed all degree requirements. This year, those students were:

Manuel Antonio Varela - Associate of Applied Science - Community Health & Wellness

Saghi Faith Khbeis - Associate of Applied Science - Early Childhood Education

Rencel Garcia Punsalan - Associate of Applied Science - Registered Nurse

Amanda Pham - Associate in Arts

Briana L Christianson - Associate in Arts

Bethany Mortenson - Associate in Arts

Tymofii Shuparskyi - Associate of Applied Science - Paralegal

Marysymon Nyambura Mbugua - Associate of Applied Science - Paralegal

Diana Laura Trejo-Rivera - Associate of Applied Science - Accounting

Mohamed Y Haji - Bachelor of Applied Science - Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics

James Rafael Balanay - Associate in Arts

Peter H Bui - Associate of Applied Science - Cybersecurity Operations

Dominic Getty - Associate in Arts

Tim Skinner - Associate of Applied Science - Substance Use Disorder Professional

Vivian Ngoc Tram - Associate in Business

Lizbeth Santana - Associate in Arts

Giuliana Hoang Bausano - Associate in Arts

Lebron James Castro - Associate in Arts

Joshua Pareja Manaois - Associate in Arts

Olivia Capri Goodwin - Associate in Arts

Ellyssa Punzalan Castillo - Associate in Arts

Lawrence S Repin - Associate of Applied Science - Drafting Design

Karina Chepel - Associate in Arts

Hailey Guerrero - Associate in Arts

Christina Katherine Dutka - Associate in Arts

Daisy Rodriguez-Barajas - Associate in Arts

Jainaba Jallow - Associate in Science-Transfer to Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, and Atmospheric Sciences

Hunter Constantinos Pallas - Associate in Arts

Steven Gary Nguyen - Associate of Applied Science - Early Childhood Education

Shirley B. Gordon Award for Academic Excellence

 Awarded annually by the Highline College Foundation, this award is based largely on academic achievement, but also considers the student’s community service activities and community college experience. Dr. Shirley B. Gordon was Highline’s president from 1976 to 1990. The award went to: Danna Olvera Alvarado.

Student Legacy Awards

A number of students received recognition for high achievement (Legacy Scholar Awards) and contributions to campus programs, services and activities (Legacy Leader Awards). While some of these students are graduating this year, others will return.

2025 Legacy Leader Awards

2024 Legacy Scholar Awards

View Commencement Photos on Facebook  Watch Replay of Commencement Livestream