Celebrating Running Start Seniors

Posted on: Jun, 21, 2021

On June 25th, 2021, GHC will graduate 95 high-school seniors from Grays Harbor and Pacific County schools with a total of 103 Associate degrees. Students from the class of 2021 joined the Running Start program in the fall of 2019 not knowing what the future had in store. Towards the end of winter quarter 2020 these students were faced with a global pandemic, in-person classes forced into online instruction, and uncertainty about the health and safety of their families, friends, and themselves. In a time when many college students from around the country put their education on hold GHC’s Running Start students stepped up to the challenge and successfully completed their educational goals.

Many of the 95 graduates are entering universities in the fall with dreams to become health professionals, engineers, educators, artists, lawyers, psychologists, business leaders, scientists, and more. Students will be attending schools in England, Hawaii, the east and west coast, and states in between. Several graduates already have jobs secured in welding, construction, criminal justice/law enforcement, and other trades and careers.

“These students amaze me with their determination and tenacity. It took me weeks to be able to share their success stories without tears in my eyes,” said Lori Christmas, Associate Director of Running Start. “Students in the Running Start class of 2021 are a symbol of hope and progress. Keep them on your radar as I’m certain they will not only meet their life goals but succeed in contributing to our planet and its inhabitants.”