April 2005• The monthly newsletter for UWT faculty and staff

2005 Next Step Scholars

Toshiko Krear, Green River Community College
Toshiko Krear emigrated to the United States from Japan in 1994. Six years later, when her 3-year-old son began preschool, she began studying part-time at Green River Community College. A poor English vocabulary led Toshiko to struggle through her first classes, but she pressed onward, scribbling Japanese translations in the margins of her textbooks and doing homework while her son played in the bathtub. Over five years of community college, she learned to accept help from fellow students and gained confidence to pursue her education. A volunteer teacher of Japanese culture, language and origami, she hopes to become a social worker and help other people who struggle as she did when she first came to the U.S.

Kimberly Krippaehne, Tacoma Community College
A few years ago, Kimberly Krippaehne achieved her first dream: to study abroad in England. She calls it the best decision of her life and credits the trip with opening her eyes to things she took for granted and helping her achieve many personal, academic and professional goals. By immersing herself in a different culture, she learned how to depend on herself. A future IAS student, Kimberly hopes to leave the country again soon to teach abroad.

Rachel Martinell, South Puget Sound Community College
In her senior year of high school, Rachel Martinell suddenly realized that she didn't know what to do with the rest of her life. But when she took a year off before attending college, she discovered that an education was exactly what she needed. The first member of her extended family to attend college, Rachel moved away from home and supported herself as she attended TCC. There, she realized that she wants to become a social worker and help children without loving and supportive families. After UWT, she hopes to join the Peace Corps or work in an orphanage overseas.

Sarah Jane Mastin, Pierce College
Some people attend college before distinguishing themselves in the business world. Sarah Jane Mastin did it backwards. At age 18, just out of the highest level of high school available in her native England, Sarah realized that her father's company was on the brink of collapse. Instead of going on to college, she took control of the organization. By restructuring production schedules, cutting back expenditures and aggressively monitoring turnover, Sarah was able to make a profit and help her family regain its financial footing. In the U.S. for three years, Sarah hopes to earn a B.A. in Business Administration and, later, a master's degree.

Shakima L. Tozay, Olympic College
Shakima Tozay has always had a passion for helping others. She discovered this about herself by helping her younger brother, who has ADHD, make his way through school. She sacrificed her own time to help him master basic reading and writing skills and watched his abilities improve with pride. The experience motivated her to pursue a career helping children. A first-generation college student, Shakima believes that as an African-American woman, she can have a positive influence on others. She hopes to become a school psychologist.

Nancye Tsapralis, Pierce College
It took a crisis for Nancye Tsapralis to find her voice. Reeling from the deaths of two family members and a sad divorce, Nancye, a single mother, enrolled at Pierce College in 1998 and discovered that she had talent — and passion — for education. She believes her experience at Pierce has changed her life, restructured her self-image and given her new goals. She hopes to become the first person in her family to earn a B.A. and will seek a career as a therapist specializing in women's issues.

Johanna Wolf, Highline Community College
An aspiring writer who grew up on a U.S. military base in Germany, Johanna Wolf saved her pennies as a teenager to pay her first year's tuition at the American College in London. But she had chosen the wrong course of study — interior design — and living as a poor student left her cold. She joined the Navy in hopes that she could pay for college that way, but an unexpected pregnancy forced her to quit and support her daughter. Now married with more children, Johanna is finally ready to seek her B.A. She intends to study communications and hopes to become a writer.