Over 1,200 Students Attend EvCC’s Students of Color Career Conference
Press Release
Date: March 31, 2023
Contact: Dorrin Wanjiru, Director of Student Engagement for Retention and Diversity, 425-388-9176, dwanjiru@everettcc.edu
EVERETT, Wash. – More than 1,200 middle and high school students from western Washington learned about college and career options at Everett Community College’s Students of Color Career Conference on March 23.
In the first conference since 2019, 106 professionals shared about their college and career experiences, 36 EvCC students moderated panel discussions, and 85 volunteers directed students and served thousands of slices of pizza.
Students attend Everett Community College's 18th annual Students of Color Career Conference in the Walt Price Fitness Center on March 23.
Some professionals returned during the conference's 18th year after first attending as students, like Rilee Louangphakdy.
“I remember coming to this same conference in eighth grade and remembering how validating it felt to be in a room with other students like me,” said Louangphakdy, an EvCC graduate who now works as a Communications Specialist at the City of Marysville. “What an honor to be one of many panelists.”
Students watched performances by Quil Ceda Elementary School, Everett High School’s Latino Dance Group, and Seattle Steel Pan Project, and heard a keynote speech by Tony Nabors, owner and principal consultant of Racial Equity Insights.
Nabors has been an advocate in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion for over 20 years, using photography and video to communicate with a variety of audiences in anti-racism education. He has worked with colleges, healthcare providers and insurers, housing nonprofits, music and arts organizations, international fundraising and outreach non profits, mental health support organizations, and technology firms.
Keynote speaker Tony Nabors, an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion education, interacts with students March 23 at Everett Community College's 18th annual Students of Color Career Conference.
First held in 2003, the Students of Color Career Conference was the idea of former EvCC accounting instructor Bill Reed, who remains part of the planning committee, in response to changing demographics, education trends and the economic impact of earning a college degree.
The 2020 U.S. Census showed that Snohomish County is becoming more diverse, with the number of residents of color increasing 82% between 2010 and 2020, while the number of white residents declined 2%.
In Washington state, 83% of white students graduate from high school in four years, while Native American, Black, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and multiracial students had lower graduation rates, according to the state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s 2017-18 graduation and dropout statistics annual report. Students of color are also less likely to make the transition from high school to college or the trades.
Rashawn Smith speaks with high school students about his career as an automotive instructor while EvCC student Nicolas Vera Mora (left), City of Marysville communication specialist Rilee Louangphakdy, and EvCC interim president Darrell L. Cain (right) look on.
“The conference is a way to motivate and empower middle and high school students of color to dream big and/or expand their dreams, see firsthand role models in charge of programming, meet professionals from a variety of career tracks, and, equally important, believe continuing education is possible for them,” Reed said.
For more information about the conference or to donate to support the event, visit EverettCC.edu/SOCCC.