In Fall 2005, College Possible Washington, then known as College Access Now (CAN), was founded at Garfield High School.
The concept, outlined by founder Julia Schechter, was simple: give students the tools and resources to access college. Schechter knew there were many students without access to the necessary technology or guidance at home to navigate the bureaucracy of higher education, so she took action. She got the keys to the computer lab, hired the first AmeriCorps VISTA, recruited volunteers, and invited students to get college application support after school.
What started as a modest cohort of 29 students has led to more than 5,000 students served across King County over the last twenty years.
To celebrate this accomplishment, College Possible Washington had the privilege of connecting with two of the first-ever graduates, Ahmadou Seck and Nebeu Aron Shimeles. We had the opportunity to reminisce about College Possible Washington’s first year, learn what they’re up to now, and reflect on the lasting impact the program had on them.
Spoiler: Not all impact can be measured by numbers.
Ahmadou Seck | Garfield High School 2006 | St. Martin’s University 2011
Ahmadou Seck always had a passion for storytelling. He participated in theater at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center in high school and knew that he wanted to be a part of the entertainment industry in some capacity. His way in? A business degree.
“I just knew [entertainment] was an entire industry, a whole business, and there had to be some way to be a part of it … So, I thought, let me get a degree in business, and I’ll try to figure out the business of entertainment.”
Ahmadou did just that. After earning a degree in business administration from St. Martin’s University in 2011, he left for Los Angeles to pursue his passion. He has since built an impressive career and currently serves as Vice President of Scripted Television at MACRO, a multimedia company. Throughout his career, he has worked on many shows, including Netflix’s Raising Dion and Cobra Kai.
Long before Ahmadou made it to L.A., he was a senior at Garfield High School wondering what was next. Growing up, he knew he wanted to go to college. Ahmadou’s mother attended the University of Washington, and he became acquainted with the campus at a very young age–even tagging along in class while his mom worked as a teaching assistant.
This early exposure to higher education instilled in Ahmadou the belief that college was an option for him, but he still wasn’t sure exactly how he would make it happen. He shared:
“[My mother] had a disability, so although she was able to go to school here, she wasn’t able to really flourish in her career as she became disabled and eventually wheelchair bound. Growing up in the Central District, it was welfare, the free lunch program, and trying to navigate being first-generation here.”
Through College Possible, Ahmadou learned more about his college and scholarship options. He remembers St. Martin’s University recruiters, the university he ended up attending, visiting Garfield during a College Possible session.
Twenty years later, he can still recall the support he received with his personal statements and financial aid. He especially remembers Theresa Mannix, a founding board member of our organization and longtime volunteer, who remains invested in our mission today:
“Theresa, as well as the rest of the team stewarding me through the process, was integral for me not only to apply but also to become aware of the different possibilities of where I could go academically, as well as preparing me for college.”
When asked about his experience at St. Martin’s University, he shared:
“I ended up really being in an environment that I was able to thrive in, not only academically but also from a leadership standpoint. I was a part of starting the Black Student Union, became a residence advisor, and eventually served as the student body president of the university for two years.”
Ahmadou sees his college education as a life-changing experience, and one everyone should have access to.
Nebeu Aron Shimeles | Garfield High School 2006 | Occidental College 2010
Nebeu Shimeles also headed to L.A. after graduating from Garfield. He attended Occidental College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in critical theory and social justice. He currently serves as the co-executive director at the Pongo Poetry Project, a Seattle-based nonprofit that “uses personal poetry to facilitate healing among youth coping with devastating traumas, such as abuse, neglect, racism and exposure to violence.”
Like his classmate Ahmadou Seck, Nebeu always knew he wanted to go to college, but wasn’t sure about how he would do it. He was the first in his family to attend college, and while his parents supported his plans, they didn’t have the personal experience to guide him through the complex process. Nebeu recalls feeling some of his wealthier peers had inherited knowledge when it came to college.
“I remember talking to people that fall, and they were like, ‘Oh yeah, I have plans to do this, and I’m applying for early decision here,’ and I didn’t know what any of it meant.”
So, when he heard about College Possible, he knew he wanted to get involved. While reminiscing on the support he received two decades ago, he shared:
“One thing I really appreciate about [College Possible] was that no one was patronizing to me. They treated me as though I was worthy of everything I wanted to achieve … I felt very respected and supported.”
He praised many individuals, including Greg Abbott, another early board member and longtime volunteer. Nebeu credited him for all his help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is essential for accessing federal, state, and institutional financial aid.
“I had no clue what the [FAFSA] was about. I would still be working on that thing today if not for Greg.”
After successfully jumping through the bureaucratic higher education hoops, Nebeu enrolled at Occidental College. He credits his education with expanding his worldview in ways he didn’t know were possible:
“College was incredibly important to me. I had an opportunity to dive deeper into social justice and my place in the world, learning how to leverage my skills to change it in a more just direction.”
Nebeu still holds a great appreciation for having had the opportunity to be in an environment defined by passion and knowledge, one that shaped a part of who he is today.
The Impact Data Can’t Measure
Ahmadou Seck and Nebeu Shimeles’ stories have a lot in common: both graduated from the first-ever College Possible Washington cohort, both have connections to L.A., and both proudly said the 2006 Garfield High School graduating class was the best ever. But they share something even more fascinating: a commitment to giving back.
Through our connection, it became clear that both alums have a strong presence in their communities today, especially in supporting youth.
Ahmadou served on the board of Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW), where he helped shape their strategy to preserve the Pell Grant following federal funding cuts to education. Today, he is the board chair of Communities in Schools Los Angeles, a nonprofit that provides students with “the support they need to develop the social and emotional skills required to graduate high school ready for meaningful employment and higher education.”
Before Nebeu co-led the Pongo Poetry Project, serving the community was still central to his work. In the years after Hurricane Katrina, he frequently traveled to New Orleans to volunteer with Common Ground Relief, supporting their food assistance, housing repair, and other disaster response efforts. Later, he worked at a public health nonprofit in New York City, managing the organization’s development.
Where did this drive to give back come from? Both can trace a thread back to their time with College Possible. Nebeu shared that he incorporates the sense of belonging he gained from the program into his work today.
“At Pongo we try to the best of our ability to let young people know they are capable and that people care about them and what they have to say … Making young people feel like they belong, and like they have a place and future, is important to me. [College Possible] was a part of sharing some of those same messages with my friends and me growing up.”
When Ahmadou was asked about this connection, he said:
“It is one of the primary drivers for how I give back. I’ve seen how much higher education and expanding one’s horizons can do for a young impressionable adult. It’s life-changing.”
He further elaborated, sharing that he believes giving back is his duty for the support he received:
“Although you feel like you solve it with each graduating class, it’s technically a passing of the torch to the next generation to take the baton and try to push things forward from there. Now, I see the baton is in my hands, and this is me trying to run the race a little farther so the next group of students can do the same.”
As we continue to celebrate twenty years of serving the community, there will be a lot of numbers shared, from how many students we’ve served to FAFSA completion rates and applications submitted, and justifiably so. We are proud of the data that backs our approach and success.
However, connecting with Ahmadou Seck and Nebeu Shimeles reminds us of the implicit things we can never track. Our presence in schools and in students’ lives is so much more than the numbers. It’s about making sure students know their community has their backs; an experience that can be so powerful it could one day inspire them to give back in the same way.
To Our Community, Thank You
College Possible Washington hasn’t taken on this feat alone. Since 2006, supporters of our mission have made this possible. Whether you served as an AmeriCorps coach, shaped our strategy as a board member, gave generously of your time or resources, or cheered us on along the way, thank you.
In Nebeu’s own words:
“There is something beautiful about community showing up for one another and demonstrating the kind of society we want to build.”
We are grateful to our alums for sharing their experience with us, and so proud of the incredible things they have achieved since their 2006 College Possible days.
