Local students, big futures: WVC pair named to All-Washington Academic Team

WENATCHEE — In classrooms, hallways and study spaces across Wenatchee Valley College, students are building futures that stretch far beyond the valley.

This spring, two of them are being recognized at the state level.

Hailey Hopkins of Eastmont High School and Ethan Kamphaus of Wenatchee High School have been named to the 2026 All-Washington Academic Team, an honor that recognizes academic achievement, leadership and community involvement among students across the state.

But behind the recognition are two very different paths that started close to home and are already leading somewhere bigger.

For Hailey, that path has always pointed toward engineering.

A Running Start student through WVC’s Walking Start program, she will graduate this June already ahead of the curve, entering the University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering as a sophomore.

“I always knew that I wanted to pursue computer engineering as both a degree and career,” Hailey said. “The Computer Engineering degree in UW’s Allen School was my dream program.”

Her motivation is deeply personal. Years spent alongside her family while her brother underwent treatment for leukemia shaped how she sees the role of technology in healthcare, and where she hopes to make a difference.

At WVC, she found both direction and community through the college’s Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement program, while also working as a math tutor to help other students succeed.

“MESA helped me have a community,” she said. “We relate to each other since we all know what we want to do in STEM, and we help each other get there.”

Ethan’s path has been shaped just as much by the outdoors as the classroom.

A Running Start student and Wenatchee High School senior, he will graduate in June with both his high school diploma and an associate degree before heading to Montana State University to study environmental biology.

“My dad is a fish biologist and spending time outdoors piqued my interest in environmental biology from a young age,” Ethan said.

At WVC, he found a different kind of challenge — and a different kind of freedom.

“After starting the first few weeks of my first quarter, I was like, this is so much better than high school,” he said. “You actually get to pick the classes you want to and focus on your interests.”

Balancing college coursework with high school and baseball meant adjusting his approach to studying, but it’s a challenge he embraced. Since enrolling in fall 2024, he has earned placement on both the Dean’s and President’s lists each quarter.

Both students credit the Running Start experience for giving them an early step into college life, along with the support of instructors and mentors who helped them find their footing.

“We are exceptionally proud of Ethan and Hailey,” said WVC President Faimous Harrison. “They have made tremendous achievements in their education that will be so beneficial to them as they continue their studies and pursue their chosen career fields.”

The All-Washington Academic Team recognizes students from community and technical colleges across the state who demonstrate high academic standards and a commitment to their communities. This year’s ceremony is scheduled for April 23 at South Puget Sound Community College in Lacey.

For both Hailey and Ethan, the recognition is one milestone among many still ahead.

“I’m grateful for all of the opportunities that WVC has provided me,” Hailey said. “And I’m proud of how far I’ve come.”

Ethan, preparing for his move to Montana, is already looking forward to what’s next.

“I’m excited for a new way of life,” he said. “I’m ready to go to the next level, continue my education, and keep raising my level.”

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media