Four Clark College Honor Students Chosen For All-Washington Academic Team (Photo) - 06/04/26
Clark Scholars Recognized for Academic Excellence and Stories of Determination
VANCOUVER, Wash. — Four Clark College honor students were recognized for their outstanding academic achievement and determination at the 29th annual All-Washington Academic Team ceremony on April 23 at South Puget Sound Community College in Lacey.
Samantha Hansen, Lindsey Quiroz, Noah Shular, and April Warnock represented Clark College as members of the prestigious All-Washington Academic Team, a statewide program that honors high-achieving students from the state’s 34 community and technical colleges. The program is part of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges.
They joined more than 90 scholars from across Washington State who are pursuing transfer or workforce pathways and demonstrating excellence both in and out of the classroom. Each student received a $210 scholarship from Key Bank. They are also eligible for additional scholarships from private sponsors and transfer scholarships for four-year colleges and universities.
Samantha Hansen
Samantha Hansen discovered her passion in Clark’s Professional Bakery and Pastry Arts program. She always loved baking, but the program showed her she’d love to do it professionally, too. She has one more year in the program, during which she’ll select an externship at a local bakery. The mentorship of her professors helped shape her dream: combining baking with her love for community. She plans to one day own a bakery that’s also a welcoming community space.
Lindsey Quiroz
Lindsey Quiroz grew up around hospitals, witnessing her brother battle cancer and caring for her own daughter, who suffered a congenital heart defect. She also comes from a long line of Native American healers. As a single mom with two kids, Workforce Education Services and FAFSA funding empowered her to attend Clark. After she graduates with her Associate of Arts degree in June, she will transfer to the University of Washington to study nursing. She plans to become a nurse practitioner with her own clinic serving nondominant populations, or, possibly, a neurosurgeon.
Noah Shular
Noah Shular spent the first part of his life in Tanzania, where he witnessed his parents work in humanitarian aid. His experiences there inspired him to pursue international law so he can one day protect the vulnerable on a global scale. Running Start at Clark College challenged him academically, helped him find community, and helped him pursue his passions. Noah will graduate with both his high school diploma and his Associate of Arts degree, and plans to attend the University of Washington to study pre-law.
April Warnock
April Warnock raised two boys on her own while working in restaurants. She loved it, but at 45, it was time to focus on herself. She decided to pursue healthcare, inspired by the hospital workers who were there for her while her mother was treated for breast cancer. April will graduate in June with her Associate of Arts degree and plans to attend the Nursing Program at Clark. She wants to work in emergency medicine and advocate for victims of sexual assault.
About All-Washington Academic Team program
The All-Washington Academic Team is a program of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. Sponsors of the All-Washington Academic Team program are Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges, Washington State Association of College Trustees, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges.
Scholarship sponsors are Key Bank ($210 awarded to every member); Washington State Employees Credit Union ($780 awarded to the top 16 members); and Washington Association of College Trustees ($1,000 awarded to the top three team members).
About Clark College
Founded in 1933, Clark College is Southwest Washington’s largest public institution of higher education. Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. This public community college offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including bachelor’s and associate degrees; professional certificates; high school diplomas and GED preparation; and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves almost 10,000 students including high school students, veterans, displaced workers, multilingual and mature learners. About three-quarters of its students are the first in their families to attend college.
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