2024 Legislators of the Year: Senator Nobles and Representative Ybarra
“Washington students need robust career readiness supports, from apprenticeship programs to financial aid guidance, to follow their aspirations and join the workforce,” said Lynne K. Varner, Washington STEM CEO. “Senator Nobles and Representative Ybarra are strengthening our state’s career pathways, especially for those furthest from opportunity—rural students, students of color, young women, and students experiencing poverty.”
Senator T’wina Nobles (28th District) is chair of the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee, majority whip in the caucus, and vice-chair of the Senate Early Learning and K12 committee. She worked closely with her colleagues in the senate, the Foundation for Tacoma Students, and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, as sponsor of a bill to expand a Financial Aid Outreach pilot project to increase financial aid access. The pilot project was successfully expanded to an additional region with the aim of statewide adoption in the future.
Representative Alex Ybarra (13th District) has been a champion for career-connected learning in the North Central region and across the state. As the ranking member of the House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Development Committee, Representative Ybarra has secured resources that are critical to building education and career pathways for students.
About the award: Washington STEM’s Legislator of the Year award is presented annually to members of the State Legislature who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in advancing legislation and policies that promote excellence, innovation, and equity in science, technology, engineering, and math education for all Washington students, especially those furthest from opportunity.
Read more about previous Legislators of the Year.