OLYMPIA, WA — The Evergreen State College’s Shelton Promise program is celebrating a season of milestones, marked by new funding, strong student participation, and well-deserved recognition for its leadership.
Monear Fatemi, Shelton Promise Program Manager, received the 2025 Brad Owen Excellence in Mentoring Award from MENTOR Washington. The honor was presented at the organization’s Annual Conference on Wednesday, May 14.
“I was honored to receive the 2025 Brad Owen Excellence in Mentoring Award from MENTOR Washington,” said Fatemi. “It was a wonderful experience, and I’m grateful for the recognition.”
Fatemi’s award comes at a pivotal moment for the Shelton Promise program, which provides college access support to high school students in the Shelton School District. Thanks to recent legislative action, the program has been fully funded for another cohort, securing its impact through the class of 2026.
“This is excellent news for our program and the students we support,” said Fatemi.
Among recent program highlights:
- Over 50 students have already been accepted into Evergreen through Shelton Promise.
- 75% of Cedar High School's senior class is committed to attending Evergreen.
- The program is launching a Shelton Promise Evergreen alumni network to serve as mentors for incoming students.
The development of the alumni mentor network has been made possible in large part thanks to the efforts of Ellen Shortt Sanchez, whose dedication and guidance have been instrumental in laying the foundation for this growing initiative. “We are incredibly grateful to Ellen for her vision and support,” said Fatemi. “Her work has helped ensure that our students not only arrive at Evergreen but are supported throughout their journey.”
The Shelton Promise program is a cornerstone of Evergreen’s commitment to equity, access, and local community empowerment. With continued investment and a growing support network, the program is helping students build lasting educational pathways—and celebrating the leaders who make it possible.
For more information, contact:
The Evergreen State College
mediarelations@evergreen.edu