SEATTLE- Students Ndalo Mwamba and Eva Hudak showcase the value of public charter schools this week as they were selected for their outstanding achievement and each received $2500 from Washington Policy Center as part of their annual Summit Sierra Scholarship.

“These two seniors embody the principles of hard work, good character, integrity, and the ability to engage in civil discussion with their peers. Their stories are proof that, against difficult odds, the long-held dreams of students and their families are coming true thanks to the work of the new charter schools in our state,” commented WPC president Dann Mead Smith.

The scholarships were presented to the students at the school’s virtual graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 10^th. The public school, located in Seattle’s International District, is only five years old – and one of the first in the state that parents picked voluntarily for their children to attend. Their unique schooling model includes 1:1 mentoring, real-world projects, self-directed learning, and small, diverse learning environments.

“We are excited by Summit Sierra's highly innovative program, which is helping students like Ndalo and Eva succeed in school and in life," said WPC's YP Director Miranda Hawkins. "WPC Young Professionals started volunteering at the school in 2018 and we plan to keep an annual volunteer/scholarship event as a way to support education in the community and highlight the success stories of students attending Summit Sierra and other charter schools across the state. We are excited about how charter schools are proving to be an effective choice for students and parents who want something different."