A Running Start student with dreams of becoming a doctor and a student who wants to help the local deaf community are this year’s Yakima Valley College nominees for the All-USA Academic Team competition and are automatically named to the All-Washington Academic Team. Each year, Yakima Valley College and other community and technical colleges in Washington state each select up to two student nominees to represent their college in the All-USA Academic Team competition. Students will be honored in an All-Washington Academic Team ceremony on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 11 a.m. PST at South Puget Sound Community College Lacey Campus. Two students from the state of Washington nominees will be announced as participants in the All-USA Academic Team competition. The ceremony will also be livestreamed on the SPSCC YouTube channel.

Yakima Valley College is proud to announce Isabela Kincaid and Claire Reid have been named to the 2025 All-Washington Academic Team and will have a chance to be selected to the All-USA Academic Team competition.

Isabela Kincaid 

Growing up in Yakima Valley, Isabela Kincaid always had big dreams. Inspired by the Running Start program, she set her sights on earning a college degree before finishing high school. 

“Around seventh or eighth grade I started hearing about [Running Start],” said Kincaid. “People would come to our school and talk to you about it — just to get you started thinking about the program. Then, my freshman year I talked to my advisor, and she was in full support of me doing it.”

Her passion for medicine was sparked early on, and with the support of her family, mentors and YVC’s STEM program, she’s on track to achieve her goals. 

“Early in high school I decided I wanted to become a doctor. The first time I learned about and saw human anatomy, I thought it was the most fascinating thing I had seen in my life. I think the same about all science, so I’m very excited to pursue this,” said Kincaid. 

With support from mentor Chemistry Instructor Natalia Dunn Kincaid’s been successful. 

“She's a huge supporter, and I love how she sees her classes and how she talks to students,” said Kincaid. “The way that she treats others makes a huge difference in her classroom. She can relate to all of us, and she creates a really nice environment in her classroom.”

“I found that Running Start is a really, really great opportunity because I'm earning an AA degree while I'm graduating high school, and I earned that at the same time,” noted Kincaid. 

This June, she’ll graduate with both her high school diploma from West Valley High School and an associate degree, ready to take the next step towards becoming a doctor. Kincaid’s journey is a powerful example of determination and the drive to make a difference.

After completing her YVC degree, she plans to transfer to Central Washington University to earn her bachelor’s degree. Ultimately, she’d like to pursue medical school. 

“The want to feel like I spend my days working towards something bigger than myself motivates me. I have always wanted to push myself to the limit with a challenge, that’s what put me on the path of becoming a doctor,” Kincaid said. “Looking to the future and being able to see myself becoming a practicing doctor now is what motivates me to succeed, in little and big challenges on the daily to work towards that goal.”

Claire Reid
Growing up in the lower Yakima Valley, Claire Reid saw a need in the community to help those who, like their grandfather, are deaf and struggle to communicate their needs.

“My grandfather was deaf, yet he did not know American Sign Language,” says Reid. “I was his caretaker for several years before he passed and reaching the point of communicating by written messages was painful to experience.”

Being an extroverted person who loved to talk, listen and experience others, he felt alienated by his disabilities, Reid recounted. With this experience in mind, Reid, a communication/media arts student at Yakima Valley College, set their career and future goals on closing that gap for individuals like their grandfather.

“Though I couldn't do that for him. I want to be their voice and ears and return that path of communication for them,” Reid said.

They’ve found support through YVC’s Writing Center and Tutoring Centers and English instructors Jeff Gerhardstein and Dodie Forrest. 

“Both have just been very supportive, and it's been very nice to have someone to go to if I have any questions, whether it's advisory or about classes that I should take, or if I need a recommendation letter. It’s been very nice to be able to work with them.” 

Reid is now on track to finish a degree at YVC. Afterward they plant to transfer to Central Washington University to earn a bachelor’s degree. Ultimately, they plan to work as an interpreter in the local community.

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. The program has become a showcase for Washington's community and technical colleges because it honors academic high achievers, men and women who have demonstrated a commitment to success in the classroom and in the communities in which they live. To qualify for the All-Washington Academic Team, students must be part of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) international honor society for two-year colleges. 

In addition to recognition of the All-Washington Academic Team, each of YVC’s nominees is also placed in competition for the All-USA Academic Team and the New Century Pathway Scholarship awards. PTK will notify students of their placement on national teams in April 2025. 

Each All-Washington team member will receive a commemorative medallion and a $250 scholarship from KeyBank. Thanks to the generosity of the Yakima Valley College Foundation YVC’s nominees receive an additional $250 scholarship. 

In addition, the top-qualifying student receives a $2,500 Jan Yoshiwara Scholarship and the top three students ranked by PTK receive the Washington State Association of College Trustees Scholarship. Additionally, the top 16 ranked students receive a $750 scholarship from the Washington State Employees Credit Union. 

Students who choose to transfer to four-year colleges and universities within Washington state also are eligible to receive additional scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $27,000.