The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WALLA WALLA—Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) student Kody Rooper was selected as the college’s nomination for the statewide Transforming Lives Award during the November Board of Trustees meeting.

Created in 2012, the Transforming Lives Awards program recognizes current and former students whose lives have been changed by pursuing higher education at a community or technical college. Each college board of trustees names one recipient, whose story and picture is included in a booklet shared with state legislators and the broader higher education community.

In materials considered by the Board, Rooper, of Waitsburg, said he was very unsure about whether he could succeed at college, describing a lifetime of barriers and challenges. He was born two months premature, and grew up in a house where drug use was prevalent. Both of his parents were in prison by the time he was four years old. Rooper says that he struggled with school, relationships, emotions, and cognitive function.

“I believed for a long time that my shortcomings were essentially out of my control,” Rooper said. “It was my destiny to fail.”

He says that gaining custody of his four-year-old daughter was a key turning point in his life. His significant other had two children, and he felt compelled to do more with his future—and serve as a role model for their futures. When visiting with people at WWCC, he says he encountered faculty and staff who believed in him, even when he was having trouble believing in himself.

Today, Rooper is a student in WWCC’s Nursing program.

“I love how the human body works, as well as the psychology of being human,” Rooper said. “I intend to finish my RN, get my BSN, and continue to a graduate-level program in nursing. Long-term, my goal is to become a certified nurse anesthetist.”

In discussing the nominations, WWCC Board of Trustees Vice Chair Michelle Liberty said that she believes that Rooper’s inspiring story and transformation at WWCC makes him a great candidate to win the statewide award.

The ACT Awards Committee will select six keynote speakers from the nominations submitted by Washington community and technical colleges. All nominees are invited to attend the Transforming Lives Awards Dinner on January 24, 2022, at the RL Hotel in Olympia. Each award winner receives a $500 cash award.

“Kody is one of many examples of how WWCC transforms lives every year,” WWCC President Dr. Chad Hickox said. “We celebrate Kody’s success, and look forward every day to helping each of our students achieve their fullest potential.”

Those who are interested in learning more about WWCC are encouraged to visit http://www.wwcc.edu. Winter Quarter classes begin January 3.