Meet SPSCC’s 2023 All-Washington Scholars

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) today announced its two students being recognized as members of the 2023 All-Washington Academic Team: Kelsey Christensen-Abel and David Stanton. Kelsey and David will be honored at a ceremony recognizing this year’s top students from the state’s 34 community and technical colleges. The ceremony will be held on April 27 at 12 p.m. in Building 27 at SPSCC’s Olympia Campus and live-streamed on the SPSCC YouTube channel.

Kelsey Christensen-Abel’s college journey began in 2002. At the time, she was unsure of what she wanted to pursue, began working at an outdoor school, and didn’t complete her degree. Since then, Kelsey has found her passion in mental health. She’s a mom, owns a public affairs support company, and serves on the Olympia Education Foundation where she helped form their Mental Health Initiative. Kelsey’s career goal is to become a school counselor and advocate for every student’s success.

David Stanton earned his Associate in Pre-Nursing from SPSCC in 2022. He was drawn to a career in healthcare by the field’s endless opportunities and his ability to work well in fast-paced environments. Outside of class, David has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and has been an active member of SPSCC’s IGNITE program. Always in search of new goals to achieve, David is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Saint Martin’s University.

Scholarship Sponsors

Each All-Washington Academic Team member will receive a Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) medallion and a $250 scholarship from KeyBank. The top 16 students, as ranked by PTK, will receive an additional $750 from WSECU and the top three will receive an additional $1,000 from the Washington State Association of College Trustees. 

Additionally, students who choose to attend Washington State four-year colleges and universities are eligible to receive additional scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $12,000. 

About the All-Washington Academic Team and Phi Theta Kappa 

The All-Washington Academic Team program recognizes and honors our state's finest higher education students. The students who make up the All-Washington Team reflect the diversity of the state, maintain high standards of excellence, and contribute positively to the community. Their stories are often inspiring, sometimes surprising, and always reflective of the larger story of the state's community and technical college students.

To qualify for the All-Washington Academic Team, students must be part of the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society for two-year colleges. Phi Theta Kappa has recognized and encouraged scholarships among two-year college students for more than 90 years by providing stimulation and enrichment while promoting the academic integrity of the associate degree program. All-Washington Academic Team members will also be ranked at a national level, with a chance to be included in the All-USA Academic Team.