Edmonds Community College students Walker Dodson and Melinda Longsine have received Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) scholarships. The WAVE scholarship honors students for outstanding achievement in vocational-technical education and awards them six quarters of tuition at a regional college or university of their choice.

Dodson is earning an Energy Management degree and certificates in Construction Management and Project Management. He plans to work in energy conservation for a local utility and would like to start a consulting firm advising developers on energy use for construction projects.

Longsine is earning her Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Counseling certificate with plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Psychology or Behavioral Science and then earn a Master’s in Social Work.

Due to state budget cuts, this year WAVE awards were given to only one top-scoring applicant in each legislative district. In the past, up to three awards have been made per district. Earlier in the state’s budget talks, it appeared WAVE awards might be eliminated. The awards are still pending the governor’s authorization of the legislature’s final state budget.