Three Bellevue College students – Brenda Akoto, Alberto Gonzalez and Casey Tuttle – have made the 2018 All-Washington Academic Team, and will be honored at a ceremony Thursday, March 22, at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman will be the keynote speaker.

The All-Washington Academic Team program recognizes Washington state’s finest higher education students. Students who make up the All-Washington Team reflect the diversity of the state, maintain high standards of excellence, and contribute positively to the community. Their stories are often inspiring, sometimes surprising, and always reflective of the larger story of the state’s community and technical college students.

Akoto is a captain on the Bellevue College women’s basketball team and volunteers with youth girl’s basketball. She is graduating this year with an associate in science degree with plans to transfer to a four-year university next fall to pursue a bachelor of science degree in biology.

“It is an honor to be selected as one of the representatives for the All-Washington Academic Team for my school,” Akoto said in a press release. “Being recognized for my academics is a motivation for me to continue to work hard in whatever I do.”

Gonzalez will earn his associate in business degree at BC, and then transfer to the University of Washington, with the goal to ultimately enroll in their MBA program. After that, he’d like to join a corporate firm as a financial analyst.

“Bellevue College has provided me with excellent opportunities and it is an honor to be able to represent the college at the state level,” Gonzalez said. “I am also humbled, excited, and inspired to be considered among the leaders of community colleges across Washington. I understand that I must strive to contribute more to be worthy of this recognition.”

Tuttle will receive her associate in radiology technology from BC, and aims to begin her career at a local hospital and “provide excellent patient care,” she said. “This achievement to me is so important as it shows hard work truly does pay off.”