Bothell grad in the Senate

Once known as "mom in tennis shoes"

Feb 18, 2022

Six years ago I quoted a graduate of Bothell High School:

“Access to higher education can be a ticket to the middle class for a lot of families. It certainly was for me growing up, and it’s one of the many reasons I’m working hard to make sure that no student is priced out of college. All students should be able to attend and graduate from college without the crushing burden of student debt.”

That was from Patty Murray, a product of the Northshore school system. Her name was added to the Northshore School District “Wall of Honor” in 2010. Oh, and she is a member of the United States Senate! Perhaps the most influential woman in America’s world of politics, representing the state of Washington the past 30 years.

In 1968, when U.S. Senator Patty Murray graduated from Bothell High School, the cost of her college tuition at Washington State University was $400 for her full first year. By he fall of 2015, It was more than $12,000 per year for a Patty or a Patrick to attend a public college.

From 1968-1972, Patty could work summers and after high school in her dad’s five and dime store on Bothell’s Main Street and save enough to pay her tuition. In 2022, how tough is it to find a summer job of at least 1,000 hours and be able to earn enough to cover today’s college tuition?

Since 1982, when she was a teacher and mother of two future college students and with a modest home in the Shoreline area, tuition costs have increased a whopping 439 % while the median family income only increased 147%.

Since her election to the U.S. Senate in 1992, the cost of the crushing debt for 43 million student borrowers has grown to a staggering 1.8 trillion dollars, second only to credit card debt. The rate of interest on those loans is criminal.

Patty Murray remembers well that her college degree was the best way to get ahead in America. But, many Patty’s or Pat’s today simply are financially unable to afford that opportunity?

Record # of applications

Applications for 2022 scholarships closed at midnight February 15 with a total of 522 applications. Of those, 269 qualified as candidates for the 95 scholarships to be awarded by May 1.

Our 150 or so volunteers will have their hands full reviewing those applications to pick finalists for interviews with the Donor Partners via ZOOM later this month and into March.

Virtual recognition event May 18.

More details in an upcoming newsletter. Winners, donors, parents and supporters will be invited to join via ZOOM to meet scholarship recipients, learn where they are planning college.