Be-Asia McKerracher’s commitment to lifelong learning is a family affair.
“I met my future husband in front of the H Building at RTC, and my kids attended the (former) on-campus preschool center. That was almost two decades ago,” she shared. “RTC is a good part of our story.”
She and her husband, Josh, completed their paraeducator certificates at RTC. They moved to Missouri, where she earned her master’s degree in English from Truman State University and began teaching high school English honors and dual credit courses. A strong advocate for community and technical colleges, Be-Asia often encouraged her students to consider community college after high school.
When the family moved back to the Renton area, she wanted to change careers to pursue her interest in coding. Coming back to RTC to complete her applied bachelor’s degree in application development was a full-circle moment.
“RTC is the intersection of affordability and quality,” she said. “It says a lot about college that it was my first choice when I decided to return to school."
“Starting over can feel like a defeat, but I never felt that way coming back to RTC. I wasn’t the only person over 18,” she said. “I enjoy talking with students about lifelong learning and believe it is important that students see someone who looks like me with a non-traditional career and education story to share.”
Returning to school was a huge financial commitment, and she can’t say enough about the impact donors make through the RTC Foundation.
"Without scholarships, there would be no school for me,” said Be-Asia, a recipient of the Connell Family Scholarship. She enjoyed the opportunity to meet Daryl Connell during a scholar meet-and-greet sponsored by the RTC Foundation.
“This scholarship added to my drive to finish school and to finish strong,” Be-Asia said. “My life is remarkably better because of their family’s gift, and seeing their genuine desire to make a difference has sparked conversations with my husband about how we can pay it forward to others in the future.”
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