Salish Sea Region (SSR) Departmental Awards
Outstanding Senior
This award is for a senior in the Salish Sea Region program who exhibits leadership and exemplary participation in the college community, communicates effectively, contributes to the field of study beyond the requirements of classes, and demonstrates a passion for becoming a highly effective analyst and educator in environmental matters.
2023-24: Matt Donaldson
Matt Donaldson graduated Spring quarter, 2024, with a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a GIS emphasis, an Environmental Science minor, and certificates in Ecological Restoration and GIS.
Before landing on the Olympic Peninsula for the Salish Sea Region program, Matt hopped around the country for several years, pursuing seasonal jobs related to small-scale agriculture, public land management, and habitat restoration. He's interested in the confluence of Western land management practices and Indigenous land management practices as it relates to the restoration of native habitats. Matt hopes to be an ecological restoration practitioner as well as an ally in promoting public land management and ecological restoration practices that are supportive and inclusive of Indigenous values and rights. Matt currently works as a Nursery Technician for the Matt Albright Native Plant Nursery at Olympic National Park.
2023 Award Recipients
Outstanding Senior in Environmental Science
This award is for an environmental science senior in the Salish Sea Region program who exhibits leadership and exemplary participation in the college community, communicates effectively, contributes to the field of study beyond the requirements of classes, and demonstrates a passion for becoming a highly effective analyst and educator in environmental matters.
2022-23: Mandy Harris
“Mandy has gone above and beyond multiple times across multiple classes,” faculty said when nominating Mandy Harris. “She regularly posts additional information related to class, shares resources with her peers (e.g., a cool field guide she discovered), and is an excellent scholar to boot.”
Outstanding Senior in Environmental Studies
This award goes to a senior in the environmental studies Salish Sea Region program who shows leadership and exemplary participation in the college community, communicates effectively, contributes to the field of study beyond the requirements of classes, and demonstrates a passion for becoming a highly effective analyst and educator in environmental matters.
2022-23: Cassandra Johnson
Cassandra Johnson, graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies with a GIS emphasis and is just started new job at an environmental consulting firm. “Cassandra’s attitude and effort reflect sincerity and genuine dedication beyond what we see in most students,” faculty said in the nomination for this award. “She continues to volunteer with her internship organization because she’s passionate. She’s been a great student and models a positive attitude in the classroom and the field.”