At a commencement ceremony June 20 at Key Arena, Willie Jones was honored for earning an associate degree in business management from Bellevue College, as well as a certificate in human resources. Willie took classes while selling Real Change part-time in downtown Seattle and commuting by bus from his apartment in Burien.
Willie has been one of Real Change’s top vendors. In 2013, he was named Vendor of the Year. His sales dipped somewhat while he focused on his school work, but Willie said achieving his goal has been worth it.
He never imagined he’d be a college graduate, he said.