Highline Community College is seeking nominations for its most prestigious award for alumni.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award honors a former Highline student who has made outstanding contributions through community service, noteworthy professional achievement and/or recognized leadership. Nominations are due by April 17, 2009.

Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, who attended Highline in 1968–69, was the first recipient of the award in 1990. Other past honorees include Junki Yoshida, CEO of the Yoshida Group; Ezra Teshome, agent with State Farm Insurance and TIME magazine global health hero; and Chris Carrel, executive director for Friends of the Hylebos, a nonprofit located in Federal Way.

Last year’s recipient was Washington state’s first poet laureate Sam Green. He is the author of 10 poetry collections and serves as publisher of Brooding Heron Press.

Green came to Highline in the early 1970s after serving in the Vietnam War. He went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy and master’s degree in creative writing at Western Washington State College.

Alumni award nominees should be former Highline students who attended the college prior to the 2004-2005 academic year.

Nominees will be asked to submit a résumé and personal profile that will be reviewed by a campus selection committee.

The person selected will be invited to accept the award and participate in Highline’s commencement exercises on June 11, 2009.

Please send your nominations via e-mail to ayoung@highline.edu or hard copy to Alana Young, Resource Development Office, Highline Community College, PO Box 98000 MS 99-248, Des Moines, WA 98198-9800.

For more information, call 206-870-3774, e-mail rstephen@highline.edu or visit www.funds4highline.org.

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