Nelson Robles, a Running Start student at Big Bend Community College and College Bound participant, was recently honored as one of the recipients of the Northwest Association of Special Programs (NASP) Scholastic Achievement Award.

NASP represents TRIO programs and professional educators who work with low-income, first generation, and disabled students throughout the Northwest.

`Robles, 18, is the son of Filiberto and Maricela Robles. He was presented the $500 award during the annual NASP conference in Spokane.

"He is one of the most exceptional and well-rounded students I have had the pleasure of working with over my 25 years in the education field," said Sue Wallace, academic advisor for BBCC's College Bound Program. "Nelson has had to face many roadblocks both culturally and academically to get to where he is now and I applaud him for his determination and commitment toward his education."

In addition to the NASP scholarship, Robles also received a Gates Millennium Scholarship worth $6,732 for the 2004-2005 academic year. The scholarship is renewable annually based on satisfactory academic progress.

Robles took the most rigorous course work in high school, summer school and at BBCC. During his first two years in high school, he enrolled in Honors Geometry, beginning and intermediate Spanish, Honors Algebra/Trigonometry, Honors Biology, and Chemistry I and earned a minimum 3.97 G.P.A in each of these classes. During his first three years in the College Bound summer school program he earned recognition on the President's List with a 4.0 G.P.A. This past summer, Robles attended the Upward Bound Math and Science program at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and received a 4.0 G.P.A. Since his junior year, he has been enrolled at Big Bend Community College as a Running Start student and continues to do exceptionally well by earning recognition on the Vice President's List with a 3.7 G.P.A.

Robles has taken on various leadership roles, such as BBCC Associated Student Body Public Relations Officer, Alter Server Coordinator for his Catholic Church in Moses Lake, and a representative for the Hispanic Youth Council of the Diocese of Yakima. This past June, he attended the National Student Leadership Congress Conference in Washington D.C. Robles has also attended Esperanza En Education (Hope in Education) conference at University of Washington and the Student of Color Leadership conference in Yakima.

He is currently a mentor and tutor for Washington State University's Harvest of Hope Gear-Up program. Not only does he volunteer his time at school and church, he also gives to his community by helping out at the Sacred Heart and Phi Beta food booth at the Grant County Fair, visiting patients at the Sunbridge Nursing Home and yard cleaning for the elderly. Robles has also been an asset to the Hispanic community through his work as a teacher's assistant in an Adult ESL classroom.

"He is definitely a young man who cares about the world around him and works daily to make it a better place in which to live," said Wallace.

In June, Robles will be graduating from Moses Lake High School with honors and Big Bend Community College with an Associate in Science degree. This summer, he will be attending the University of Washington, participating in the ALVA Program and interning with the Aeronautical Engineering Department studying underwater robotics.

Robles plans to use this scholarship to attend the University of Washington this fall. His goal is to earn a master's degree in mathematics.