Alumni Spotlight - Chet Hovde and Frank Willson

Chet Hovde & Frank Willson

Long-time friends and graduates of the Everett High School Class of ‘65, Chet Hovde and Frank Willson found life changes at EvCC. Frank attended the college to lay a foundation for his 40-year career as an Everett-area attorney, later teaching business law for EvCC’s night classes. Chet attended the college, obtained his bachelor’s degree in education, and has served as the EvCC women’s basketball coach for the past 34 years. Frank’s suggestion to young people: “Take advantage of the cost benefits of attending community college—it will minimize your debt.” Chet agrees, saying, “You can’t beat the cost of tuition and the money saved by attending EvCC. It was true back in my day and it’s true now!”

Please share a little about yourself.

Chet Hovde:  I have been coaching Basketball at EvCC for the past 34 years and counting. I graduated from Everett High School in 1965 and attended the University of Washington for two years. During winter quarter of 1967, I went to Everett Junior College (EJC). The  cost was low at $75 per quarter! I took classes I needed to move on to the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma and received my bachelor of arts degree in education.

In the mid-fifties, I went to Whittier Grade School, right next to where EJC built its main campus. Little did I know that I would spend my working career there! It felt like a high school at the time and still does.

EvCC is a great place to get your AA degree while deciding on a major. EvCC was the place to go. Coming out of high school, everyone in the area went to EJC. You can't beat the cost of tuition and money saved living at home. It was true then and is true now. GO TROJANS!

Frank Willson:  I graduated from Everett High School in 1965 and the economics of attending EvCC provided the opportunity I needed to continue my education. After a year of community college, I transferred to the University of Washington. After college, I worked for IBM as a marketing rep and then attended law school. During the 1980s, I also taught business law part-time at EvCC's night school. Today, I have been an Everett-area attorney for 40 years.

Alumni ad published 8/4/2014