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The 12th Annual Costco Scholarship Breakfast
Was held September 22, 2011
At Meydenbauer Center
Known simply as FlyGirl, Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour propelled herself from beat cop to combat pilot in three years. After serving two tours flying overseas, supporting the men and women on the ground in Iraq, she had become America’s first African American female combat pilot. She believes that women and men from all walks of life have the potential to achieve the highest levels of success with the right flight plan.
An honorary Doctorate of Laws was conferred on Vernice from Chancellor University in 2010. She was the first African American woman on the Nashville Police Department’s motorcycle squad, Camp Pendleton’s 2001 Female Athlete of the Year, two-time titleholder of Camp Pendleton’s Strongest Warrior competition, and running back for the San Diego Sunfire women’s professional football team. Vernice’s first book, Zero to Breakthrough helps readers build a sustainable inner force and conviction that result in accomplishing significant goals.
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The 11th Annual Costco Scholarship Breakfast
Was held September 23, 2010
At Seattle University
The 2010 Costco Scholarship Fund Breakfast featured a conversation with Jim Sinegal, Jeff Brotman, Dr. Chris Holder and Chalia Stallings-Ala’ilima, moderated by Stephen Sundborg, S.J., President of Seattle University. They discussed the history, impact and future of the Costco Scholarship Fund.
Dr. Chris Holder is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist with Seattle Integrative Medicine. As a member of the inaugural class of Costco Scholarship Fund Scholars, Dr. Holder graduated from Seattle University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Pre-Med. He discussed how, with the help of the scholarship he received, he is able to use his education to help bridge Western medicine and more traditional forms of medicine to care for multiple sclerosis and cancer patients.
Chalia Stallings-Ala’ilima is an Assistant Attorney General at the Washington State Attorney General’s office, representing the Department of Social and Health Services in child abuse and neglect cases. Chalia was a member of the first incoming class of Costco Scholars at the University of Washington, where she is an alumna of both the UW undergraduate program and the UW School of Law. She discussed how her family has provided foster care services for many children, and that she views her current position as her way of contributing to other families efforts of providing safety and love to children in need.
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2009
Former Scholarship Fund recipients The
keynote speakers for the 2009 Costco Scholarship Breakfast were
four former scholarship recipients that returned to tell a crowd
of more than 800 supporters how the award benefited them and what
they are doing now.
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Aaron Brown, Ashley Burns, Marleen Martinez, Abe Rome
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Aaron Brown, UW '05, told how he was the first in his family
to earn a college degree and has gone on to work for Boeing as a
Lead Analyst in their 737 Industrial Engineering group. Aaron is
also volunteering and providing guidance as a youth mentor.
Marleen Martinez, UW '06, inspired the attendees by telling
them how her dream has been to be an Astronaut. Marleen is currently
a systems engineer (Rocket Scientist) with Lockheed Martin working
on the next generation spacecraft that will launch us, and possibly
Marleen, into space. She went on to describe how she is "paying
it forward" for future scholars through her own scholarship
fund and community involvement.
Abe Romo, SU '06, used his experience by explaining how he
has worn "many different hats" beginning with a Sombrero
to illustrate his Hispanic heritage and ending with a Hard Hat that
he currently wears as an engineer with Puget Sound Energy. Abe is
involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Costco Alumni Association
and other community volunteer activities.
Ashley Burns, SU '06, explained how she is currently a marketing
coordinator for Turner Construction, the nation's largest general
contractor and a supporter of the Costco Scholarship Fund, where
she also chairs Turner's annual United Way Campaign. Ashley told
us how she is a mentor and works with Gates Scholarship recipients
at her former high school and plans to continue her post-graduate
studies in strategic communications and international business.
In addition, current scholars from Seattle University and the University
of Washington told how the Scholarship Awards made it possible to
pursue their dreams by removing the financial barriers of a college
education.
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2008 Ms. Erin Gruwell We were honored to
have Ms. Erin Gruwell as our keynote speaker for the 2008 Costco Scholarship
Fund Breakfast.In the fall of 1994, as an idealistic first-year teacher,
Erin Gruwell, took on the challenge of a class of "unteachable,
at-risk" students at a California high school. Fostering an educational
philosophy that valued and promoted diversity, she encouraged students
to rethink rigid beliefs about themselves and others, to reconsider
daily decisions, and rechart their futures. With Erin's steadfast
support, her students shattered stereotypes to become critical thinkers,
aspiring college students and citizens for change. Dubbing themselves
the "Freedom Writers," they transformed their lives even
published a book. Their story inspired the motion picture "Freedom
Writers."
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2007 Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee
At the eighth-annual Costco Scholarship
Breakfast, Sept. 27, 2007 at the University of Washington, Dr. Barbara
Ross-Lee inspired a crowd of more than 1,000. Dr. Ross-Lee is the
first African-American woman to be appointed dean of a U.S. medical
school, Ohio University, and currently serves as the Vice President
for Health Sciences and Medical Affairs at the New York Institute
of Technology. "With hope, poverty is a temporary state of being
broke. ... Without hope, poverty is a life sentence of despair and
lost dreams. Financial stability is the most consistent determinant
of access to opportunity. Lack of financial wherewithal is the single-most
pivotal deterrent to success," she said.
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2006 Justice Alan C. Page We were privileged to have Justice Alan C. Page as the keynote speaker for
2006 breakfast. The honorable Justice Page was Minnesota's first African-American
Supreme Court Justice and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Justice Page played professional football for 15 years, becoming the
first defensive player in NFL history to receive the Most Valuable
Player Award. While playing professional football he earned his law
degree from the University
of Minnesota. He was a compelling speaker
on creating education opportunities.
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 2005
Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch
We were honored to have Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch as the keynote
speaker for the 2005 breakfast. Born and raised along the border
in a small barrio in Laredo, Texas, Castillo Kickbusch is all too
familiar with poverty, discrimination and illiteracy. It was to
the credit of her immigrant parents that she understood that although
she sometimes had to do without material possessions her family
was rich in culture, tradition, values and faith. The values she
learned as a child were reinforced throughout her career in the
U.S. military. Castillo Kickbusch became the highest-ranking Hispanic
woman in the Combat Support Field of the U.S. Army. In 1996, Castillo
Kickbusch retired from the military and dedicated her time to Education
Achievement Services, Inc. (EAS) to realize her personal dream and
mission of preparing tomorrow's leaders today.
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 2004
The Three Doctors Foundation We
were fortunate to have Sampson Davis, M.D., George Jenkins, D.D.S.
and Rameck Hunt, M.D. as the keynote speakers for the 2004 Costco
Breakfast. The Three Doctors attended high school in Newark, New
Jersey, one of the country's most economically depressed and crime-ridden
urban areas. Skipping class on one fateful day in 1990, they happened
on a seminar in the school library about careers in health fields
and the special financial aid offered to attend the premedical/pre-dental
program at Seton Hall University. At that time, they all made a
promise to one another to become doctors. In 1999, the trio fulfilled
that promise when Dr. Davis and Dr. Hunt graduated from medical
school and Dr. Jenkins graduated from dental school. The doctors
speak frequently to schools and youth groups in an effort to encourage
youth to resist drugs and crime and reach for their dreams - no
matter how distant they may seem. They established The Three Doctors
Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps inner-city youth
through scholarships, after-school programs, mentoring and health
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 2003
Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders
We were delighted to have Dr.
M. Joycelyn Elders as our keynote speaker for the 2003 breakfast.
Dr. Elders was the first African-American woman to hold the post
of Surgeon General of the United States. At the age of 15, Dr. Elders
received a scholarship from the United Methodist Church to attend
Philander-Smith College in Little Rock, Ark. Upon graduation at
age 18, she entered the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant, where she
received training as a physical therapist. She then went on to the
University of Arkansas Medical School on the G.I. Bill and graduated
in 1960. She was the only woman in her class. She has been listed
in "Distinguished Women in America" and has been honored
with numerous awards, including the National Governor's Association
Distinguished Service Award.
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 2002
Edward James Olmos We were pleased
to have actor Edward James Olmos as our keynote speaker for the
2002 breakfast. Olmos has gained acclaim on stage, on television
and on the big screen. In addition, he is a director, screenwriter
and noted activist. A former ambassador for UNICEF, Olmos gives
more than 100 speeches a year, stressing the importance of education,
citing the inspiration of his parents, who left school without completing
their high school education, but returned later to get their diplomas
as adults. |
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2001
Sidney Poitier We were
thrilled to welcome Hollywood pioneer Sidney Poitier as our 2001
keynote speaker. The first African-American to receive the Academy
Award for Best Actor, Mr. Poitier broke through the industry's long-standing
color barrier to become one of the country's most respected performers.
In addition to his Oscar, Mr. Poitier has won two Golden Globes,
the Cecil B. DeMille Award, an NAACP Image Award and the Screen
Actors Guild's Life Achievement Award, among others. Mr. Poitier
also has directed several films, and in 1997 was appointed the Bahamas'
Ambassador to Japan.
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 2000
Earvin "Magic" Johnson
We were honored to have Earvin "Magic" Johnson as the keynote
speaker for the inaugural Costco Breakfast in 2000. Magic Johnson
is best known for his legendary basketball career, but today he directs
his efforts towards another lasting legacy - philanthropy. In 1991,
he founded the Magic Johnson Foundation, a nonprofit organization
which directs its efforts toward the health, educational, and social
needs of inner-city youth. |
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