CSF Receives Yakima Valley College’s 2024 Distinguished Service Award

We’re proud to share that College Success Foundation (CSF) has received the 2024 Distinguished Service Award from Yakima Valley College (YVC). Each year, YVC presents this award to an individual, family, or organization that has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing the college’s mission. 

Carol Garza, executive director for the Yakima region, and Samantha Reyes, YVC college success coach, accepted the award on behalf of CSF during the college’s commencement ceremony on June 14. 

“For more than 20 years, College Success Foundation has worked in Yakima public schools to help young people envision themselves in college and prepare for a successful college experience,” said Dr. Teresa Holland Rich, vice president of Administrative Services, who presented the award to Garza and Reyes. “Recently, College Success Foundation added a college success coach to its staff who is based on our Yakima campus, providing academic, financial, social and emotional support to students as they transition from high school to pursue their postsecondary credential at YVC.”

Jennifer Ernst, vice president for instruction and student services at YVC, said having a student success coach based on campus enhances the college’s existing support for students. “CSF has demonstrated exceptional success in working with students beginning in middle school to start developing the mindsets and abilities they need to be successful in life,” Ernst said. “By embedding a coach here at YVC, it helps with the continuity of the personal support students receive through high school and college.”

CSF has worked in Yakima public schools since 2001, starting at A.C. Davis High School and expanding to Eisenhower High School, along with three middle schools.

“We’re honored and grateful to receive this award,” said Garza. “Our close partnership with YVC enables us to deliver a tightly integrated, holistic set of services to our students in the Yakima Valley, and their success is a testament to the strength of this collaboration.”