Mount Vernon, WA — Five outstanding Skagit Valley College students were recently named to the 2026 All-Washington Academic Team in recognition of their high academic achievements and community involvement.
SVC has selected students Anthony Bryant, Angela Garza, Heather Conley, Jackie Calim, and Jazmin Samran. The All-Washington Academic Team program recognizes and honors the state’s finest higher education students and they reflect the diversity of the state, maintain high standards of excellence, and contribute positively to the community.
They were honored at the 30th annual ceremony on Thursday, April 23, at 12:30 p.m. at South Puget Sound Community College’s Lacey campus. Jim Kopriva, Regional Outreach and Strategic Engagement Manager, South Sound and Olympic Peninsula, Office of the Governor, delivered a keynote address at the ceremony.
In his proclamation, Gov. Bob Ferguson invited everyone in Washington state to observe Thursday, April 23, 2026, as All-Washington Academic Team Day.
This year’s team includes 95 students from the transfer and workforce pathways representing Washington state’s 34 community and technical colleges.
Anthony Bryant
Bryant, 36, is a Human Services student at Skagit Valley College with a 4.0 GPA who plans to transfer to Western Washington University in 2026 to pursue a degree in social work. After experiencing homelessness and recovery, he began volunteering with Community Action of Skagit County’s Street Outreach program, where he now supports unhoused individuals through direct services and resource connections. Bryant is passionate about compassionate care, mental health advocacy, and helping others access stability and healing
Angela Garza
Angela Garza, 47, is a Human Services student at Skagit Valley College with a 3.66 GPA and plans to transfer to Western Washington University to pursue a career in child welfare. A first-generation college student and mother of three, Garza draws on her lived experience with homelessness and adversity to support others. Through community outreach and family services work, she is committed to becoming the advocate and source of stability she once needed.
Heather Conley
Heather Conley, 37, is a Human Services student at Skagit Valley College with a 3.8 GPA and a single mother committed to supporting others in recovery. As a recovery specialist and coach at the Recovery Café, she provides case management and facilitates support groups, including a Spanish-speaking recovery circle. Having been clean and sober for more than three years, Conley plans to continue her education and support families affected by substance use with compassion and lived experience.
Jazmin Samran
Jazmin Samran, 50, is an Allied Health student at Skagit Valley College with a 3.87 GPA, pursuing a degree in medical coding and billing. A first-generation college student and single mother, she balances full-time coursework, employment, and raising her son. Samran is committed to building a stable career in healthcare and serves as a role model for lifelong learning, demonstrating that it is never too late to pursue education and achieve your goals.
Jackie Calim
Jackie Calim, 18, is a Running Start student at Skagit Valley College with a 3.49 GPA and is on track to graduate high school with an Associate of Science degree. She plans to attend Washington State University to study animal sciences and pursue a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. A dedicated student leader and Phi Theta Kappa chapter president, Calim is passionate about science, animal care, and making a positive impact in her community.
During the All-Washington ceremony, Bryant, Garza, Conley, Samran, and Calim were recognized with scholarships from KeyBank.
The All-Washington Academic Team has become the showcase for Washington’s community and technical colleges because it honors the academic high achievers who have demonstrated a commitment to success in the classroom and in the communities where they live. In addition, it demonstrates the state’s commitment to scholarship and community service on the part of those attending the state’s public community and technical colleges.
PTK, the international honor society for two-year colleges, symbolizes excellence in higher education and a commitment to students. PTK has recognized and encouraged scholarship among two-year college students for more than 100 years by providing enrichment while promoting the academic integrity of the associate degree program. For these reasons, the American Association of Community Colleges has designated PTK as the official honor society for two-year colleges.
The All-Washington Academic Team program is supported and sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa, KeyBank, WSECU, the Washington State Association of College Trustees, the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges, and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
For more information about the All-Washington Academic Team program, visit spscc.edu/allwa.
Media Contact Info
Marisa Pierce, Executive Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications
360.416.7957
marisa.pierce@skagit.edu