Federal Way Public Schools Graduates of Note

Rita Helmbrecht

Political Science and Criminal Justice Student, Gonzaga University

Federal Way High School
Graduate, Class of 2007

Federal Way High School graduate Rita Helmbrecht attends Gonzaga University in Spokane, a little over 200 miles from where she grew up. But in terms of where her head is, she’s in a far different place than she was four years ago. As a high school freshman, her grades were dismal, Rita says, and she didn’t feel connected to the school academically, or through extracurricular activities.

Today, she’s studying Political Science and Criminal Justice at Gonzaga University, with the goal of attending law school. She’s also doing so on a full-ride scholarship: In her senior year of high school, Rita received the Gates Millennium Scholarship, which can be renewed yearly, all the way through a doctorate degree.

How did Rita make the transition from apathetic high school freshman to enthusiastic, even driven, college freshman?  Rita credits the AVID program at FWHS, which she joined in her sophomore year.  AVID – short for Achievement Via Individual Determination -- targets students in the academic middle (B, C, and even D students) who have the desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard.  It gives students who are capable of completing rigorous classes, but are falling short of their potential, the encouragement and support to take tackle and succeed in tougher courses. 

Once she became involved in AVID, high school became a different experience for her, Rita says. She started taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes, college-level studies offered at the high school level. Although they were harder than anything she’d taken before, her grade point average literally jumped from a 2.7 in 9th grade to 3.8 in the 10th grade.

At the same time, Rita got more involved in extracurricular activities – she participated in three athletic teams, and joined the FWHS Diversity Club, ultimately helping mentor other minority students through it. She joined and revitalized the Native American Club at the school.

While it might seem counterintuitive to encourage students to become more active in extracurricular sports at a time that they are taking on greater academic challenges, AVID teachers do just that. That philosophy, based on experience, is that students who are involved in extracurricular activities are more involved and successful in all aspects of their school experience.

Rita credits AVID for not only providing motivation and a plan for getting to college, but for helping her develop study habits and better organization. She says those skills have carried over to college and helped her be successful there as well. Her fellow students have noticed, and a few have asked her to help them get more organized.

Like most students involved in AVID, Rita is the first in her family first in her family to attend college. In Rita’s case, neither parent had graduated from high school and her dad passed away when she was in 7th grade. AVID created a peer group that gave her the emotional support she needed to believe she could go to college. It also guided her in her choice of classes to achieve her goals, and helped her find the monetary support to make the dream a reality.  “If I hadn’t had AVID, I know I wouldn’t be where I am now,” Rita says firmly.

Rita recently shared a little more about her philosophy and experience:

Please describe an experience, event or individual in your public education experience that inspired or motivated you.
During my senior year, my AVID class received a new teacher because ours had moved to another school. He was so punctual on everything his students did and was extremely motivational. He was the one who place the Gates Millennium Scholarship in my hand and told me to apply for it.

What advice would you like to share with teachers?
I think that sometimes students are not in favor of Cornell notes and binder checks (hallmarks of the AVID program), but I think they need to be a priority in AVID because that is the one thing that has separated me from fellow college students. My organizational skills as well as my note taking abilities are far ahead of others. Therefore, I encourage teachers to push their students to adopt the skills they teach.

Is there a teacher or other school staff person who especially stands out in your mind? Who? Why?
The one person in the Federal Way School District who stands out in more than one way is Karin Weberg. She was my high school basketball coach, teacher, and friend. She truly inspired me to become the best person I could be. Her care and attentiveness to her students is indescribable. She never gave up on me when I had reached my lowest.

What advice would you like to share with students in schools today?
The only advice I have to high school students is to take advantage of all the opportunities given to you. I am speaking about your education (taking AP classes), extra curricular activities, scholarships (don't overlook the small amounts, they add up), and especially do not be discouraged if your family cannot afford college because there are numerous ways to overcome that obstacle!