information from South Seattle College

Every year South Seattle College welcomes an ever-increasing group of recent high school graduates to campus before Fall Quarter begins, where they are given three days of training on how to become successful students in higher education. Known as 13th Year Scholars, they are on the verge of entering their first year of college … but with a catch.

That catch, you ask? They won’t have to pay a thing.

The South Seattle College Foundation’s 13th Year Promise Scholarship guarantees one year of free tuition for all high school graduates from Chief Sealth International, Cleveland and (most recently) Rainier Beach high schools, regardless of their grades or finances. This scholarship is made possible by the generous philanthropy of individuals, businesses and foundations who thrive on seeing the success and confidence that comes from getting that first year of college under one’s belt.

Over 100 students from South’s service area high schools attended this year’s training from Sept. 9-11, known as the 13th Year Bridge Program. This scholastic “boot-camp” of sorts, which is a requirement for 13th Year Scholarship recipients, is designed to ease students’ transition from high school to college before fall classes officially begin on Sept. 22. Students attended a wide variety of workshops, with topics ranging from campus tours to financial literacy, college success strategies and cultivating a support system, just to name a few.

“(The 13th Year Bridge Program) really helped me a lot because I want to be successful, and if they are giving me resources to be successful, I should take advantage of it and then it will help me have a better future,” said Khyron Street, a Cleveland High School graduate and 13th Year Scholar.

After three days of intense preparation for this gigantic step in a young adult’s life, South held a celebration on Sept. 11 to officially welcome the incoming 13th Year Class and introduce them to alumni from the program, philanthropists who make the scholarship possible, faculty, support staff and South leadership, including President Gary Oertli.

“You have a great opportunity before you and people who are here to support you,” President Oertli said to the auditorium full of 13th Year Scholars – the largest in the scholarship’s seven year history. “We are here to help you and our goal is to make sure you not only get in the front door at our college, but I shake your hand at Benaroya Hall when you graduate.”

After the scholars livened up the Olympic Hall auditorium with a raucous cheer in celebration of completing the Bridge Program, South Seattle College Foundation Chair Gene Colin stepped up to the podium.

“The energy that’s in this room could light the city of Seattle right now,” he said. “I am absolutely inspired by your professionalism, by your spirit and by the feeling … that every single one of you is going to make it big.”

Rainier Beach High School graduate Taylor Allen, like her fellow 13th Year Scholars, will start college in only a handful of days.   

“It feels amazing,” she said. “I’m the last one of my mom’s kids to start college and just continue the dream. I hope to one day lead somebody else into wanting to do this program, and wanting to go to college and make something of themselves.”