Alumni Spotlight - Judy Baker & Cathy Deller

Cathy Deller always knew she wanted to be a teacher, but it was not until she enrolled at EvCC that  she learned to love the process of learning and education. “EvCC taught me how to be more focused and was the beginning of my becoming a life-long learner,” she says. Cathy went on to teach for 34 years in the Everett School District and now enjoys working for a local clothing boutique. “It’s never too late to continue your education,” Judy advises. “It is the most valuable gift you can give to yourself!” Cathy followed in the footsteps of sister Judy, who earlier attended EvCC and transferred to Stanford during her sophomore year. Judy earned a master’s degree by the end of her senior year, went on to teach history, and served as a member of the Everett City Council and several Everett non-profit organizations. “EvCC gave me a solid foundation with lots of options,” reflects Judy. “I’m thankful for the leadership and huge economic boost the school brings to our community.”

Judy Baker's Story

A year before I entered EvCC, I had started dating the young man who later became my husband. We were on student council together at Everett High school. During the school year, he received the notice that he had been awarded a full-ride academic scholarship to Stanford University! We had been planning to attend college together, but Stanford was certainly not on my list of colleges I might be able to afford.

My parents told me if that I stayed in town for two years, they would try to help me get to a school near Stanford. Now, here’s the good part: things  worked out so I could transfer to Stanford at the beginning of winter quarter of my sophomore year. Stanford accepted every one of my EvCC credits, including classes I took which were five credits at EvCC and only four credits at Stanford (this was often not the case for friends of mine who changed schools).
 
My choice of EvCC  was pretty much a given. I needed to have an affordable school so we could save for the rest of my education. It was the first year the new campus was open (the former campus was World War II temporary buildings on an asphalt parking lot across the street from Clark Park). Many of the kids from Everett High decided to attend there because they could live at home and keep their part-time jobs. One group were grade school buddies of my future husband who planned to go to forestry school together, so saved money by staying in Everett for the first two years.
 
At EvCC, I received a good, solid foundation that gave me lots of options.
 
I had taken extra credits at EvCC so I was able to finish my four years early and went on to finish my a masters degree in education by the end of my senior year. I was hired to be a history teacher the second year of operation at the new Shoreline High School. I was working with a wonderful group of teachers who had been heavily recruited to organize the curriculum.  This was the first high school in the Shoreline district. I worked there when my husband was in law school. We moved to Olympia, where he worked as a Supreme Court clerk, before we returned to Everett where he practiced law. I have served as a board member for many Everett non-profits and also as a member of the Everett City Council.
 
All of my teachers were wonderful and totally helpful in every way. I had a wonderful English teacher whose name escapes me. He literally wrote all over my papers with helpful suggestions. I do remember one of his notes: “Judy, I will let you shout down my rain barrel and break down my cellar door if you promise not to use ‘thus’ any more.”
 
My advice to current EvCC students would be to just stick with your education, even if it means not being able to do all the fun things you want to do. As well, don’t take out loans for anything but absolute necessities. I see students now who won’t be able to pay down their loans for 20 years!  You will have many years to regret your splurges.  
 
EvCC has had great leadership all through the years and is a huge economic boost to the community. Thank you for all the leadership you bring to the community!

Cathy Deller's Story

I am a retired teacher and worked for Everett School District teaching primary K-2 for 34 years. I taught the bulk of those years at Jefferson Elementary, but also taught at Hawthorne, Jackson, Lowell and Garfield.

After retiring, I went to work at Burketts Clothing Boutique in Everett. I love working there on a part-time basis and enjoy seeing friends and members of our community throughout the day.  

How did you choose EvCC? Was there a selection process involved in your decision making?

At the end of my senior year in high school, my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. She was facing a very serious surgery involving removing a lung. That, paired with the fact that I felt I needed to improve my study habits, compelled me to stay home for a year and EvCC just seemed like the perfect alternative. Ironically, after my mom's surgery, she needed a place to rehab. She was an excellent swimmer and, at that time, the only place she could go was EvCC. So, she enrolled in a swim class and her professor was wonderful. He gave her a section of the pool and let her do what she needed to do. Many times, I would drop off my mom and pick her up after her "class," so, for the first time ever, my mom and I received report cards from the same school.

Do you think your time at EvCC helped you pursue your current career? How?
 
I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. What EvCC did for me was teach me how to be more focused. It was the beginning of becoming a life-long learner. I learned to love the process of learning and education. After one year at EvCC, I attended a four-year university and was on the honor roll every quarter. So, absolutely EvCC helped me to attain my goals!
 
What did you do after you left (or graduated from) EvCC?

After one year at EvCC, I attended Central Washington University and was admitted into the education program during the beginning of my sophomore year. I was very prepared for college by then and sort of turned into a study nerd .
 
What words of advice would you give to current EvCC students?

I am an advocate for furthering one’s education. I constantly "preach" how continuing  education opens doors. I am sure my children and their friends tire of this, but I will never give up! My advice is: it is never too late to continue your education and never, ever fall into the belief that you are too old or it will take too long to pursue a degree. I believe it is the most valuable gift you can give to yourself or to someone else! JUST do it! My husband and I have started college savings accounts for our three beautiful grandchildren. I believe my parents funding all five of their kids’ education was truly the greatest gift ever. Higher education was never a debate in our family. It was always: “What college and what career are you going to pursue?”

Alumni ad published 11/10/2014