Meet Some Graduates
June, 2026 – Each seat in every graduation this spring held someone ready to get to work. A perioperative nurse scheduled for her first shift. An electrician-in-training headed to Twisp. A recovery counselor who knows firsthand what the return on investment looks like in human terms.
This year, 74 students graduated from SkillSource learning centers in Omak, Othello, and Wenatchee. For some the journey took years. Three long-term students from the Wenatchee Learning Center checked “diploma” off the list this spring, and now two of them are headed to Wenatchee Valley College, and one is headed into a maintenance position at a local hospital.
In Othello, a budding IT career has been taking shape through field trips with Open Doors youth re-engagement. Now Javier is enrolling in Big Bend Community College’s Systems Administration AAS program, and has found local work with McCain Foods. From our Omak learning center, Sterling is working toward his electrician license in Twisp. And another Omak graduate, Priseas, is already on the job as a Security Officer at Omak 12 Tribes.
And that is just a small handful from our learning centers! A local cohort of diverse talent, ready to embark straight into work and into a range of career pathways.
At the same time, nurse pinning ceremonies and community college graduations unleashed new healthcare workers across the region. Among them were dozens who were buoyed through their journey with support and investments made possible through workforce partnerships.
Sonia earned her nursing degree at Wenatchee Valley College and is now an RN at Confluence Health Hospital. Andrea, Cittlali, Ashley, Erika, and Jovanna also join the esteemed ranks of new nurses in the valley. In Moses Lake, Jillian finished the RN program at Big Bend Community College and accepted a position as a Perioperative Nurse. Victoria graduated with Highest Honors from the same program — her peers chose her as their graduation speaker — and is now a Case Manager at Assured Hospice while pursuing her RN-to-BSN at WVC. Beatriz spent years working in local orchards and fields before completing the same program. She’s now a nurse at Central Washington Hospital, and is about to buy a house thanks to a Matched Investment Savings Account (MISA) that she earned during her training. Jonathan, Kuljeet, Lupe, Breauna … each one of these new nurses is now certified to provide care in the central basin.
Every person’s path is unique, and so is the guidance they receive and the outcome of their journey. But the goals are all similar: to gain the education, the skills, and the certifications to contribute to our local workforce, and build a successful life.
Richard just graduated from Wenatchee Valley College with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Addiction Studies, and is already in pursuit of his Bachelor’s. He was recently hired as a recovery counselor at CVCH. Richard was also able to use a MISA to buy a home, and – a former foster himself – he’s now been able to make a home for two boys as their foster parent. Richard reached out to us directly to share the following,
“People often ask me how I went from a life of severe addiction, to now being over 31 months in recovery, a full-time college student, a full-time substance use disorder counselor, a foster parent, and a homeowner. I always make it clear that I did not get here alone. In my heart of gratitude, I credit the support of SkillSource, the College Grants Center, The Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment, and CVCH New Path as organizations that believed in me, invested in me, and helped make this transformation possible. I truly do not have the words to adequately express how thankful I am.”
We think he has the words just right.
Congratulations to all of our graduates! Our communities, our businesses, and our future generations are all grateful for the work you’ve put in, and the commitment you’ve shown to train here, stay here, and do the real, quality work, right here in North Central Washington.
