Stanwood High School graduate Callum Russell, seen here in 2023, is one of 121 recipients of a Washington Award for Vocational Excellence scholarship. The merit-based scholarship that honors the state’s top career and technical students. (Photo provided by Ashley Caitlin Photography)
The Washington Award for Vocational Excellence honors the state’s top career and technical students.
STANWOOD — Callum Russell’s knack for fixing trailers, tractors and trucks, including his teachers’ cars and trucks, is paying off.
Russell, 18, is a recipient of a Washington Award for Vocational Excellence scholarship, a merit-based grant recognizing the state’s top career and technical students.
Russell, a Stanwood High School graduate, was among 121 high school seniors, community college and technical school students who took home an award this year.
The scholarship pays up to $6,768 per year, for up to two years of college or technical education.
And boy, can Russell fix things.
When a dog chewed up a teacher’s car seats, he repaired them. When the culinary teacher needed new headlights, he installed them.
Russell plans to study engineering at Skagit Valley Community College, and then transfer to the University of Washington’s aerospace engineering program.
“I was always going to have to pay for my own school, so this is great,” he said.
The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board administers the awards. The nonprofit, a partnership of business, labor and government, aims to help state residents “succeed in family-wage jobs and help meet employer needs for skilled workers.”
A committee of business, labor and education leaders select the winners, up to three in each of the state’s 49 legislative districts.
Thanks to Gov. Jay Inslee and the state Legislature, this year’s funding got a $500,000 boost, the group said. This year’s scholarships total $1.6 million, up from $1.1 million last year.
“WAVE recognizes and honors the value of career and technical education, and outstanding students across Washington,” Workforce Executive Director Eleni Papadakis said in an email.
The Legislature established the WAVE award in 1984 to emphasize the importance of career and technical education. In 2010, lawmakers suspended the award due to budget cuts but then revived it in 2022.
Russell thanked the scholarship committee for selecting him and other winners.
He also offered a shoutout to his mom, who pushed him to apply. “A lot of this was my mom saying ‘go do this’,” Russell said.
Local winners
Callum Russell: Stanwood High School; Engineering and Technology, Legislative District 10
Ally Clinkenbeard: Monroe High School; Arts, Technology and Communications, Legislative District 12
Dannika Burke: Edmonds-Woodway High School; Architecture and Construction, Legislative District 21
Hannah Wells: Snohomish High School; Business Management and Administration, Legislative District 44
Sienna Dilling: Snohomish High School; Marketing, Legislative District 44
Dakota Bendigo: Stanwood High School; Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Legislative District 10
Tadgh Wieber: Homeschooled, Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center; Architecture and Construction, Legislative District 38
Katelyn Anderson: Marysville Getchell High School; Manufacturing, Legislative District 38
Phillip Patzer: Everett Community College; Manufacturing, Legislative District 38
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