Fall 2024
Cesar Osornio Ramos earned four scholarships at Skagit Valley College.
Born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, Cesar Osornio Ramos moved to the U.S. in 2019 at the age of 16 with his family to Oak Harbor, Wash. Before he graduated high school, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do but knew he wanted to do something different.
“My parents encouraged me to pursue college and a career but we didn’t have the economic means to go to a university,” said Cesar. “An advisor at my high school recommended that I go to Skagit.” Cesar had no idea what a community college was and that it was an affordable option.
“Going to a university was my end goal,” said Cesar. “I thought to myself that I would work really hard at a community college and earn a transfer degree then move on to a university.”
After graduating from high school, Cesar enrolled at SVC’s Whidbey Island campus to pursue a degree in the STEM field. In high school, he had taken an engineering class that sparked his interest in STEM. After his first quarter at SVC, Cesar learned that his mom was diagnosed with leukemia.
“That changed my whole perspective on how I could help people,” said Cesar. “Because of my mom’s health condition, I decided to pursue pre-medicine.”
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Cesar has many fond memories of his time at SVC but a few stand out. “Participating in undergraduate research gave me an edge over other students because I was able to learn multiple concepts that I wasn’t familiar with and it later helped me in my classes,” said Cesar. “It was a fun way for me to actively learn.”
Cesar also started the Latinos in STEM club and served as president of the club. “It was a great way to get to know other Latino students studying STEM,” said Cesar.
Ramos was awarded SVC’s prestigious Lewis Award, which is given to the overall outstanding graduating student at the MV campus. He was also named one of four SVC students on the 2023 All-Washington Academic Team, which recognizes and honors the state’s finest higher education students.
Skagit Valley College Staff and Faculty Made a Difference
There are several staff and faculty that stand out to Cesar during his time, many instrumental in his success. His mentors and supporters include biology instructor Dr. Brian Brady, counselor Julie Kunz, English instructor Tina Mohler, and chemistry instructor Roxanne Hulet. “They were so easy to approach,” said Cesar. “Every time I encountered any of them, I knew I could count on them.”
These mentors encouraged Cesar to apply for scholarships. Ultimately, he earned four scholarships including the prestigious Sidney S. McIntyre, Jr. Skagit Valley College Memorial Scholarship.
His advice to current SVC students is to rely on others. “During my first year, I struggled a lot and wanted to do everything by myself,” said Cesar. “When I started to rely on other people and acknowledge that I can’t do everything on my own, I found the most success at my time at Skagit.” He also recommends learning from your failures and using them as a learning experience.
Cesar is now a biology major at the University of Washington in his senior year. He plans to attend medical school and become an anesthesiologist. He also has dreams of joining a branch of the military so he can actively serve others. But for now, he’s focusing on one quarter at a time.
If you are interested in learning about how you can support scholarships at Skagit Valley College, please visit skagitfoundation.org/support-svc-foundation.
