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Contact: Andrew Lenderman
Communications Manager
Office: 360.709.4618
Cell: 360.764.9318
Email: andrew.lenderman@wtb.wa.gov
Workforce Board awards $1.1 million in career-focused scholarships
WAVE helps career and technical education students access education, training
OLYMPIA — The 2025 Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) has been awarded to 145 high school seniors and community and technical college students.
This scholarship, managed by the Washington Workforce Board, honors Washington’s top career and technical education students. The award helps students afford their next education and training goals at Washington schools, colleges and universities.
Volunteers from the business, labor and education communities selected winners through a highly competitive process. This year’s award pays up to $3,900 per year, for two years, or up to $7,800. Awards vary depending on tuition at the college attended by scholarship recipients, and other factors.
Many awardees are focused on careers that face ongoing labor shortages, including nursing, skilled trades, information technology and more. This year’s awardees represent all 49 state legislative districts. A record 560 students applied for the scholarship this year, which is a 68% increase from 2024.
“The WAVE scholarship is an outstanding investment in career and technical education, which helps students access living wage jobs and creates a stronger workforce for Washington employers,” Workforce Board Executive Director Eleni Papadakis says. “Congratulations to this year’s awardees for their achievements and leadership.”
A list of this year’s awardees sorted by legislative district is located here.
2025 WAVE highlights:
- $1,138,000 in scholarships
- Scholarship per year: Up to $3,900
- Scholarship total for two years: Up to $7,800
- 560 applications
- 145 awardees
- 92 graduating high school seniors
- 53 community and technical college students
- 49 legislative districts
- 25 counties
- 79 high schools
- 24 community and technical colleges
- More than 100 volunteer reviewers from business, labor, education and the community
- Rural, urban and suburban communities represented
WAVE helps undergraduate students pay for tuition and other costs at Washington colleges, universities and private career schools. Career and technical education students from Washington high schools and public community and technical colleges are eligible to apply. The scholarship is administered by Washington’s Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. The Washington Student Achievement Council manages distribution of the WAVE scholarship.
WAVE is funded by the state budget. Future WAVE scholarships have been temporarily suspended due to state budget challenges. The Workforce Board will provide updates when available.
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About the Workforce Board:
The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board is a partnership of business, labor and government dedicated to helping Washington residents succeed in family-wage jobs, while meeting employer needs for skilled workers.
The Board’s vision is that every Washington community is thriving, inclusive and economically resilient. Learn more at https://wtb.wa.gov/.
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