MOSES LAKE - Gov. Chris Gregoire recognized two Big Bend Community College Students last week as among the state's best students in higher education.

In front of their family and college instructors, Big Bend students Christina Bowers and Tarra Hall received All-Washington Academic Team medals from the Governor on March 22 in Olympia.

Each student received a $750 scholarship provided by KeyBank, Northwest Education Loan Association and Washington State Employees Credit Union.

Now in its 17th year, the All-Washington Academic Team project includes 66 students from 34 community and technical colleges in Washington. The program honors academic high achievers who demonstrate a commitment to community service.

"I learned anything is attainable with hard work and determination," said Bowers.

At Big Bend, Bowers has led supplemental instruction for math students and tutored in microbiology, human anatomy and physiology. She maintains a 3.93 grade point average and works as an obstetrics technician at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. She wants to attend a dental hygiene school and earn a bachelor's degree at Washington State University. She is the first person in her family to attend college.

Tarra Hall came to Big Bend Community College after being home-schooled and earning her GED. She soon discovered art is her passion.

Hall has tutored classes in college algebra and chemistry and worked for Big Bend's maintenance and operations crew. She is the first person in her family to attend college. She has earned four Big Bend Foundation Scholarships and was selected by faculty as the college's outstanding art student in 2011. Her goal is to earn a Master's in Fine Arts degree.

Bowers and Hall are both members of the Rho Zeta chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society at Big Bend.