Inspiring Success Story: Cami Wood

“When I returned to school in the spring of 2006, I was unsure of myself...".

Cami Wood

This summer we heard from Cami Wood, a 2009 Lower Columbia College graduate and winner of the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, the largest award given to a community college transfer student nationally.

Cami wrote that she'd completed her bachelors degree in sociology at Brigham Young University, graduating with a 4.0 GPA, and  was accepted to the J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU. She starts in the Fall of 2012.

In her letter Cami said:

“When I returned to school in the spring of 2006, I was unsure of myself and my academic abilities. Fortunately I was guided and directed by amazing advisors, instructors, and supervisors who believed in me and pushed me to excel. Although I received an incredible education at BYU, it does not compare to the exceptional education I received at LCC. My experiences as a tutor taught me patience, study skills, and gave me greater confidence in my abilities. The classes at LCC were rigorous, thought provoking, and prepared me well for my undergraduate education. Thank you for guiding me, challenging me, and believing in me.”

We are so proud of Cami. A story from the Longview Daily News says it very well:

Scholarly Success: LCC's Cami Wood collects unexpected honor, The Daily News, May 16, 2009

Here's more about Cami, excerpted from Lower Columbia College's 2009 Annual Report

Transfer Advisor Pat Boerner congratulates
Cami Wood on the news of her scholarship.

Camiliana Wood won the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a highly-competitive national award based on academic excellence, financial need, leadership, service, and drive to succeed.

The mother of three boys was one of 30 community college students — out of 500 applicants — to earn the scholarship in 2009. She is LCC’s second Jack Kent Cooke winner. The award will give Wood up to $30,000 a year to study psychology and political science at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She plans to later enroll at BYU law school and possibly teach law herself some day.

Returning to school wasn’t easy for Wood, who, besides earning straight-A’s at LCC and working in the Tutoring Center—ran two part-time businesses and volunteered as a Boy Scout leader, soccer coach and with Longview’s Summer Reading Program.

The scholarship will allow her to spend more time with her family. The Woods moved to Provo this summer.