News
Mariners to honor Robinson scholars
Students of Evergreen State College to be recognizedBy Christian Caple / MLB.com
08/06/09 8:30 PM ET
SEATTLE -- The three winners of the 2009 Evergreen State College Jackie Robinson Scholarship will be honored on Friday prior to the Mariners' game against the Rays. The scholarship is a partnership between Evergreen and Seattle Central Community College, whose students often transfer to Evergreen to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Since 2000, the Mariners have joined with Evergreen to honor the recipients and pay tribute to Robinson's life and achievements. The scholarship, which is open to students of color who transfer from Seattle Central to Evergreen, provides one year's tuition to students who have achieved high academic standards and demonstrated a commitment to the ideals of Jackie Robinson. Since it was founded in 1987, 37 students have been recipients. This year's winners are Jean-Masse Buchanan, Farhiya Mhamed and Tinashe Rusike. Buchanan, a 2002 graduate of Garfield High School in Seattle, is entering his senior year at Evergreen and plans on becoming a teacher after graduation. He is particularly interested in studying the systematic incarceration of minorities, and the impact of diabetes on communities of color. Mohamed received an associate degree from Seattle Central Community College last summer, came to the U.S. in 1994 and learned how to speak English while living in a shelter. Her recent work with the local police department has been good experience for her post-graduation plans. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in social work. Rusike graduated from Seattle Central Community College in 2007, and will be entering his senior year at Evergreen in the fall. His focus is on media art, and he tries to promote diversity through his work. He has worked with such campus groups as the Black Student Union, the Women of Color Coalition and the Iraqi Student Solidarity Committee.Christian Caple is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
