Courtney Zella-May Kryger doesn’t just walk the halls of 鶹Ƶ — she walks a path paved with grit, grace and second chances.
At 26, Kryger is a single mother, a full-time nursing student, a writing consultant and a symbol of hope for those still finding their way out of darkness. But just a few years ago, her world looked very different.
“I still remember those nights clearly,” she said. “Huddled against my Rottweiler for warmth, clinging to a stained blanket riddled with holes on the cold concrete of a dusty garage floor.”
TOP: Students pose after accepting their award during the YVC Foundation's 2025 Scholarship Award Ceremony held June 5. ABOVE: Courtney Zella-May Kryger and 2-year-old daughter Ella pose for a photo on YVC’s Yakima Campus in late May.
Today, Kryger is a recipient of the Altrusa Club and Jerome Lewis scholarships a recognition she calls “an investment in breaking cycles of adversity.” Kryger was joined by 175 other students selected by the 鶹Ƶ Foundation for its 2025-2026 academic year scholarships.
Since enrolling at YVC in Winter 2024, Kryger has earned a spot on the Dean’s List every quarter — a testament to her relentless determination. Her journey through recovery has not only transformed her life but also ignited a passion for service.
“I was once physically, spiritually and emotionally bankrupt,” she said. “Now, when I share my story at treatment centers, I see myself in the eyes of those still struggling.”
“This award means everything to me. It means the late nights juggling my daughter in one arm and a laptop in the other and those days of brain-dead exhaustion have been worth it.”
— Courtney Zella-May Kryger
Kryger was also chosen by the Foundation Board of Directors to share her personal narrative during the award ceremony.
“Being a recovering addict of two years, I still have moments where the life I live today doesn't feel real and I feel as if I don't deserve it,” said Kryger.
But in addition to her studies and caring for her daughter, Kryger is already making an impact on the lives of those around her. She volunteers with the Union Gospel Mission’s community outreach program and is a member of the college’s Wellness Society Club, where she helps create safe spaces for healing and resilience. As a writing consultant at the YVC Writing Center, she empowers fellow students to find their voice — just as she found hers.
YVC Foundation Vice President Paul McDonald, right, shakes hands with a 2025-26 awardee.
“The YVC Foundation Scholarship isn’t just financial aid,” she said. “It’s a lifeline that allows me to keep showing up — for my daughter, for my community and for the people who still think they’re too far gone.”
Silvia Sanchez Leon is another standout scholarship recipient returning to college with a story that spans decades, countries and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Sanchez Leon has spent her life lifting others — her children, her students and her community. Now, with the support of the YVC Foundation and the Don & Helen Jewett Scholarship, she’s finally lifting herself.
“I’ve always believed in education,” said Sanchez Leon, a mother of three college graduates. “I made sure my children earned their degrees. Now, it’s my turn.”
Her journey to 鶹Ƶ has been anything but traditional. She migrated to the United States in 1991 as a 19-year-old newlywed, full of hope but quickly met with limitations.
Silvia Sanchez Leon poses for a photo on YVC’s Yakima Campus.
“I wasn’t allowed to take English classes or go to school,” she said. “It left me isolated in a country I didn’t know.”
Eventually, she was granted permission from her spouse to attend English Language Learning classes. But her studies were soon paused as she became a mother of three.
“School had to take a back seat,” she said. “But I never stopped learning.”
While raising her children, Sanchez Leon studied English at home through books, videos and audio tapes. Later, she began working toward her GED at YVC while her children were in school.
“To me, this award means a great honor, it means hope. It means that my goals won't have to turn into a dream due to a lack of resources but a reality within reach.”
— Silvia Sanchez Leon
She also gives back to her community, volunteering for over 20 years as a religious education teacher at Saint Joseph Catholic Church and working as a para-educator and speech assistant.
Now employed as a receptionist at the Diocese of Yakima Chancery, she’s returned to YVC with renewed purpose and dreams that crystallized during a class on women writers that she took in 2023.
Kryger, right, talks with Martin Streich, a foundation board member, during the annual award ceremony.
“That class confirmed what I wanted,” she said. “I want to become a writer. With the help of professors like [English Instructor] Dodie Forrest, I realized the sky is the limit for me now.”
The YVC Foundation Scholarship is more than financial support for Sanchez Leon — it’s a symbol of validation.
“Thank you for all these things that you do. Your award has brought me lots of hope. I will do everything within my power to bring you honor, not only in school but also in life.”
— Silvia Sanchez Leon
“Nobody should have to survive an abusive marriage, migrate to a new country and start over at 50 just to pursue an education,” she said. “But I did. And I’m proud of that.”
Sanchez Leon is now pursuing her degree with the goal of becoming a writer and continuing to serve her community.
“Education has made me humble and grateful,” she said. “It’s opened my mind to new ways of thinking and new possibilities.”
Students were presented with their awards during a ceremony on June 5. In total more than $700,000 was awarded with an average scholarship of $4,000.
“Donors aren't just helping pay mine and other students' way through college, they are investing in breaking cycles of adversity and investing in the future of our community.”
— Courtney Zella-May Kryger
Since its establishment in 1977, the YVC Foundation has provided more than $8 million in scholarships to 鶹Ƶ students.
View all 2025-2026 recipients.
Donations play an essential role in helping 鶹Ƶ students pursue their dreams. For more information about the YVC Foundation or to become a donor please call 509.574.4645 or make a gift online.
Story by Stefanie Menard, AA-DTA ’05, communications consultant. Photos by Menard and Matt Barton, graphic designer/multimedia content producer.