Rep. Kagi receives “Distinguished Service Award” from Shoreline Community College Foundation

Rep. Ruth Kagi honored by Shoreline
Community College Foundation

State Rep. Ruth Kagi, of Lake Forest Park, whose district includes the cities of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, and part of Edmonds, was honored last week with the “Distinguished Service Award” by the Shoreline Community College Foundation. 

The award was presented at the Foundation’s annual Student Success Campaign Community Breakfast, which helps raise money for student scholarships and emergency loans.

Kagi, a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, is a longtime advocate of higher education access for all. Although she has been a regular attendee at previous Student Success Campaign Breakfasts, this year she was unable to accept her award in person. 

At the time of the event, Kagi was giving a presentation in Washington, DC on legislation enacted by our state to increase educational stability for foster youth.

“It’s an enormous honor to be recognized by the Foundation with this award, and if I did not have to be in Washington, DC on that day I would have been at the breakfast,” Kagi said. “I’m deeply concerned about cuts to higher education and the effect on financial aid for students. Thanks to organizations like the Shoreline Community College Foundation, private funding can be raised to assist students who otherwise would not be able to afford a college education. These scholarships truly change people’s lives.”

Jane McNabb, Executive Director of the Foundation, said in an email that Kagi’s advocacy on behalf of the college has been “tremendous,” and that, “The Foundation has a history of advocacy for students and [Kagi] has set the standard for this work.”

In the past four years, more than 745 Shoreline Community College students have received a scholarship or emergency loan from the Foundation.

Kagi chairs the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee, and serves on two House fiscal committees – the Health and Human Services Appropriations committee, and the Ways and Means committee.

Her November 3 presentation in Washington, DC was entitled, “Promoting Education Stability For Foster Youth Through Legislation in Washington State.”