[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 64 (Thursday, April 30, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE STUDENT, DAVID YAMA

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                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 30, 2015

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to offer special recognition 
to David Yama, a South Seattle College student from the great state of 
Washington. Mr. Yama received national attention for his exemplary 
character in and out of the classroom.
   As a member of the All-Washington Academic team, David was named a 
``New Century Scholar'' which is given to the top-community college 
scholar in each state. From there, David landed the top spot on the 
All-USA academic team, made up of the top-20 community college students 
from across the country. On April 20, 2015 the National Honor Society, 
Phi Theta Kappa, held a celebration to recognize David and his All-USA 
teammates in San Antonio, Texas. Of the top 20 in the nation, David was 
selected as the sole recipient of PTK's David R. Pierce Scholarship and 
served as the speaker at the event where he shared his story of tragedy 
and triumph. Days later, his success was further recognized with a Jack 
Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship--awarded to the nation's top 
community college students to complete their bachelor's degree at a 
four-year college or university.
   Growing up in Ocean Shores, a small coastal city in Washington, 
David and his family--which includes his four siblings--lived in a one-
bedroom hotel. David struggled in school and his parents were told that 
he needed behavioral drugs. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, his 
parents could not afford that type of medication for David. After 
receiving straight F's, David dropped out of high school at the age of 
14. One year later, David set sail--quite literally. After convincing 
his mother and the captain of the Lady Washington, he volunteered on a 
sailing trip to California. From there he worked on other ships and as 
David put it, jumped from ``one dead-end job to another.''
   At the age of 27, David came to the realization that an education 
was the key to a life of stability and greener pastures. As a West 
Seattle resident, David started taking prep classes to receive his GED 
at his local community college, South Seattle College.
   With the encouragement of his GED instructor, Jane Harness, David 
quickly began to rebuild his confidence and his scores improved. As 
Jane put it, ``this little switch turned on for him, and he became 
really determined.''
   So determined, in fact, that after David earned his GED he continued 
his academic pursuits and will be earning an associate degree this 
spring. From there, David will continue his studies earning a 
bachelor's degree and ultimately a Ph.D. in bio engineering.
   In addition to holding a 3.96 GPA, David volunteers his time as a 
tutor and an environmentalist cleaning up West Seattle's Duwamish 
River. He is quick to give credit to South Seattle College as the key 
to his success as he told the Seattle Times: ``Once I started here--the 
environment was right, it was a 180 from what I thought I was capable 
of,'' Yama said.
   His academic achievements have been recognized in USA Today, 
Seattle's NBC Affiliate (KING 5) and on the front page of the Seattle 
Times.
   David's story is one of inspiration and determination. He is just 
one of many students who have had to overcome seemingly impossible odds 
but met those challenges head-on and came out on top. He is living 
proof that the power of hope, determination and the human spirit are 
alive and well in this country. I'm proud that South Seattle College 
and David Yama are from the District that I represent. Please join me 
in recognizing their success.

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