Running Start is a statewide program that allows high school juniors and seniors to attend community college tuition-free, earn college credits, and transfer to most four-year colleges and universities in Washington.

The program gives students—and their families—a chance to start the journey to a four-year experience debt-free. For high school juniors and seniors in Washington State, earning an associate degree at the same time as their high school diploma and transferring to a university as a junior saves at least $8,000.

Jason Montes-Padilla started at SPSCC in fall of 2020 on a scholarship to play basketball. And just like all student-athletes, he's eager to get started with his teammates once it's safe to play college sports again.

Nickole Rosalez didn’t intend to be SPSCC’s 2020 student commencement speaker. But when she found out English professor Corrie Martin nominated her for the "most changed student," it made her think about submitting her application for student speaker. The nomination meant a lot to Nickole because of how she began her journey at SPSCC.

“I started in the High School+ program," Nickole recalled. "It felt so good to finish [high school], I wanted to keep accomplishing things."

We’re shining a spotlight on some of our international students. With this Q&A series you’ll get to know these students through their own words. They’re sharing their experiences, why they chose SPSCC, and what their goals are.

Our latest Q&A in the series is from Paul Park, an international student from Korea.

Nickole Rosalez didn’t intend to be this year’s student commencement speaker. But when she found out faculty Corrie Martin nominated her for the most changed student, it made her think about submitting her application for student speaker. Nickole said the more she thought about it, the more she fell in love with the idea of being the student speaker.

We’re shining a spotlight on some of our international students. With this Q&A series you’ll get to know these students through their own words. They’re sharing their experiences, why they chose SPSCC, and what their goals are.

Our latest Q&A in the series is from Lia Matias, an international student from Dominican Republic.

We’re shining a spotlight on some of our international students. With this Q&A series you’ll get to know these students through their own words. They’re sharing their experiences, why they chose SPSCC, and what their goals are. 

Our first Q&A is from Lucas Lee, an international student from Korea. 

How did you learn about SPSCC?

Deena Benmouloud is a 17-year-old Running Start student via Capital High School, something she has wanted to do since middle school. “I was excited to start the college experience early on and be able to get a head start on life. It was the best decision I have ever made and changed my life.”

Isaac Zhang first came to SPSCC as an international student from China in fall 2018. By the following Fall Quarter, he took his experience to the next level and became a peer mentor for other international students.

“There’s a lot of isolation and loneliness that students face,” the 18-year-old student explained about his decision to become a peer mentor. “Students are away from their friends, their families, their country, and the culture they know.”