The Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges (TACTC) recently honored Edmonds Community College graduate Chester Curtis as a 2015 Transforming Lives award winner. The annual award recognizes current students and alumni who overcome barriers to achieve their academic goals. Five winners were selected this year. The announcement came from the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

Winner Chester Curtis is a U.S. Army veteran, serving as a combat engineer including a 12-month deployment to Afghanistan. After his time in the military Curtis used his educational benefits to enroll in the Energy Management program at Edmonds Community College. He graduated with an Associate of Applied Science Transfer degree in Energy Management and a certificate in project management. During his time at EdCC, he helped other veterans returning to school. He helped improve the college’s Veterans Resource Center and encouraged the college to implement gap funding to support student veterans between quarters. “Edmonds Community College not only gave me stability and camaraderie,” said Curtis, “it gave me an outlet where I could serve, lead and make an impact.”