Centralia College announces 2026 Outstanding Student Award winners
Centralia College on Monday announced the winners of the 2026 Outstanding Student Awards.
The Outstanding Student Awards are given annually to students who have overcome obstacles in the pursuit of their degree, achieved their educational goals, and been an active and engaged member of the college community.
Students were nominated by faculty and staff, and the winners were chosen by a selection committee, according to a news release from the college.
"We are honoring four amazing students this year," said Robert Cox, Centralia College's vice president of student services. "We have two high-achieving Running Start students and two returning adults who are working towards achieving their career goals. Though these four individuals have very different stories and faced different obstacles, they all are hardworking, determined, and committed to serving others."
All four students will be honored for their achievements at the Centralia College commencement ceremony at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the campus clocktower.
-Terri Holley is a Running Start student from Winlock High School who is active in the TRIO program for first-generation college students. She is involved on campus and off, serving as a volunteer at Providence Centralia Hospital, Phi Theta Kappa (the honors society for two-year college students), and is the Diversity Club president and a Knowledge Bowl competitor at Winlock High School. She plays volleyball and is a valedictorian at Winlock High School, the news release stated. She participated in the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program and, through QuestBridge National College Match, she earned a highly competitive, full scholarship to Stanford University, where she plans to study psychology this fall.
-Makayla James is earning her associate degree at Centralia College with the goal of becoming a substance use disorder professional. She works in the workforce funding office on campus and has made the President's List for high academic achievement every quarter. She is a volunteer women's leader with Set Free Ministry Northwest, where she helps create a safe, supportive and encouraging environment for women transitioning from addiction into recovery, according to the news release. She also serves as a children's Sunday school teacher at Living Stones Church. She was inspired to pursue her education by her own lived experience in recovery and by a desire to provide her daughter the most stable future possible.
-Mila Jones is a Running Start student from Toledo High School where she plays volleyball, teaches in the nature school and volunteers for HeadStart. At the college, she is a speech and biology tutor. Off campus, she is a Lewis County volleyball coach and is involved in musical theater. She is a caregiver for a family member, an experience that led her to earn certifications as a nursing assistant and in dementia, mental health and diabetes care. She plans to attend Western Washington University this fall to study biology and secondary education.
-Anna McKenna is earning a bachelor's degree in applied management (business). As a mother of three, she balances family responsibilities, her studies and a demanding public engagement internship with the City of Centralia. In that role, she has contributed to the Main Street Corridor Revitalization Plan and the Hub City Greenways projects. She has earned a near-perfect GPA and is praised by her instructors for her academic excellence, leadership potential, and strong commitment to community service, the release stated.
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