Anne Molenda, Masa Kawamura, Neha Guarente and Masa meeting with students.
Imagine being 17, juggling homework, a part-time job, family stress—and then someone asks, “So, what’s your plan after graduation?”
That’s where the Career and Resource Navigator Program comes in.
Funded in part by United Way of Thurston County (UWTC) and operated by South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), this program embeds dedicated Navigators in North Thurston, Tumwater, Olympia, and Yelm high schools. It all started when the Education to Financial Stability Task Force—a powerhouse team of local experts convened by UWTC—looked at how our community could break the cycle of poverty in Thurston County. They identified what was holding students back from pursuing education or certifications after high school. They saw a big gap: not enough direct support, guidance, or trust to navigate the maze of applications, financial aid, and next steps.
Enter the Navigators.
Meet Masa Kawamura, Neha Guarente and Jefte Frias, three members of the incredible Navigator team making a difference every day.
“Our job is to help high school students figure out what they want to do after graduation and how to actually get there,” says Neha.
These Navigators work side by side with school career centers—not replacing them, but providing deeper, tailored support for students who’ve historically been left out of the conversation. Whether it’s sitting with a student and their family to complete the FAFSA and the WASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the Washington Application for State Financial Aid), which can unlock thousands in financial aid, helping them sign up for dual credit programs, helping them enter the workforce or guiding them step by step into trade schools, apprenticeships, or universities, it’s all about breaking big dreams into doable steps.
“So much of education is about concepts,” says Anne Molenda, Director of K12 Partnerships and Recruitment at SPSCC. “Our work is about concrete steps—writing that resume, applying for aid, submitting that college or certification application. And we’re there again and again, building long-term relationships to keep them moving forward.”
The work is highly localized. In Tumwater, Neha often focuses on breaking down financial barriers and demystifying the cost of college or trade school. Meanwhile, Jefte, another Navigator, connects deeply with the Latinx community in Olympia. It’s not cookie-cutter—because every student, family, and school is different.
“I know that having more navigators means creating more opportunities and breaking down barriers with even greater efficiency,” said Masa.
Started as a pilot to close opportunity gaps, the Navigator program is already proving its power to transform lives. With your continued support, UWTC hopes to help expand it, ensuring every Thurston County student has someone in their corner to turn their “High School and Beyond Plan” into reality—whatever that looks like.