Jun 23, 2025 1:21 pm

black and white graduation caps line the photo with a class of 2025 pendant in Pierce College maroon

Tacoma, WA. - Pierce College celebrated the achievements of the class of 2025 during our annual commencement ceremony on June 20, 2025, at the Tacoma Dome.  

Pierce College awarded 2,474 degrees and certificates at Friday’s ceremony – half of the awardees graduated with honors. Degrees and certificates earned included:  

  • 80 High School diplomas
  • 234 certificates  
  • 340 associate degrees in professional and technical fields  
  • 1,746 associate degrees for academic transfer  
  • 74 bachelor’s degrees  

After the presentation of colors by the Silas High School Junior ROTC and a performance of the National Anthem by the Pierce College Concert Band, Pierce College Chancellor and CEO Dr. Julie White welcomed the graduates and their families.  

“You are the very embodiment of our mission to create quality educational opportunities for a diverse community of learners in an evolving world,” White said. “At Pierce College, we strive to elevate those who've been left behind, to welcome the unseen, and we are so proud of each and every one of you.”

The celebration also featured speeches by two student leaders: Khan “Peter” Le, President of the Associated Students of Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, and Aubrey Whitemar, President of the Associated Students of Pierce College Puyallup – Le and Whitemarsh each received the Outstanding Student of the Year award from the Student Leadership Team at Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup, respectively.  

Peter, an international student from Vietnam, is transferring to Central Washington University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business and also earned the Outstanding Student award from International Education. Aubrey, a Puyallup native, is transferring to the University of Washington to pursue her bachelor’s degree in communications.  

“As I look out at our graduating class, I recognize that all of us have overcome adversity,” Whitemarsh said. “We are creative thinkers, we are wave makers, we are possibilities realized.”  

As part of Pierce College’s annual commencement celebrations, we recognize outstanding students during ceremonies at our Puyallup and Fort Steilacoom campuses.

The 2025 Outstanding Students are:  

Arts and Humanities  

Fort Steilacoom

  • Art – Colin Dixon
  • English – Alexandria Brown  
  • Humanities – Teresa Zavala Mercado  
  • New Media and Design – Sota Ogawa  

Puyallup

  • Communication Studies – Ryan “Raina” Kosowsky  
  • English – Amariah Johnson  
  • Humanities – Jonathon Eaton
  • Music – Darya Iascu  

Health and Technology  

Fort Steilacoom

  • BTECH – Monnica Collins
  • Emergency Management – Joshua Curry
  • Veterinary Technology – Adriana Briseño Dominguez

Puyallup

  • BTECH – Elaine De Joya  
  • Information Science  

Fort Steilacoom

  • Library – Shannon Traylor  

Puyallup

  • Library – Gabrielle Armah

Business and Social Sciences  

Fort Steilacoom

  • Criminal Justice – Glenda Turner
  • Economics – Frank Mucheke  

Puyallup

  • Accounting – Angie Blau  
  • History – Joseph Linden  
  • Mathematics (Michael Lamka Mathematical Achievement Award) - Tepsavary Torn
  • Political Science – Kaidance Gloyn

Stem Division

Fort Steilacoom

  • Biology – Joan Muthura
  • Mathematics – Lucius Carr

Puyallup

  • Biology – Luke Allen
  • Chemistry – Sharon Strohm  
  • Earth and Space Sciences - Rachel “Rae” Andringa
  • Engineering – Angela Andres-Zuniga
  • Mathematics (Michael Lamka Mathematical Achievement Award) - Robert Cromer  

Student Success

  • Holistic Support Services – Abigail Alvarez-Martinez

Student Support Services  

Fort Steilacoom

  • Sooji “Avery” Chon  

Puyallup

  • Emily Poling

Transitional Education  

Fort Steilacoom

  • English as a Second Language (ESL) - Sivkhim Sreng
  • College Success – Kevin Johnson  

Puyallup

  • ESL – Teresa Mejia
  • College Success – Deborah Roan

All-Washington Academic Team

Fort Steilacoom  

  • Frank Mucheke  
  • Sophia Lana Castro

Puyallup

  • Daniil Nahliuk  
  • Tehina Casey

UW Tacoma Next Step Scholarship

Fort Steilacoom  

  • Isabelle Monjaraz

Puyallup

  • Alice Muthama

Raider Athletics  

Fort Steilacoom  

  • Women’s Basketball – Lanissa Amacher
  • Men’s Basketball – Ryan Hegel

Puyallup

  • Softball – Samantha Tungsvik
  • Men’s Soccer – Christopher Baez-Tovalin

International Education  

Fort Steilacoom  

  • Khan “Peter” Le

Puyallup

  • Mame Coumba Samba

Student Achievement Support Services

  • Aspire – Sophia Lana Castro
  • TRiO Educations Talent Search – Kimberly Thach  
  • TRiO Outstanding Student – Michelle Morales
  • TRiO Upward Bound – Shekinah Cruz

Student Leadership Team  

Fort Steilacoom  

  • Khan “Peter” Le

Puyallup

  • Aubrey Whitemarsh

Veterans Resource Center

  • Benjamin Heck