Renton Teen Wins $59K in Scholarships After Helping Link

Four years ago, Khiem Tu sat alone at home during the pandemic, skipping his online classes because he didn't speak English and didn't know how to navigate virtual school. Today, he's heading to the University of Washington with $59,000 in scholarships, including a surprise $10,000 check from the Seattle Seahawks.

Tu arrived in Renton from Vietnam in 2019 as a sixth grader. After just a few months at Risdon Middle School, COVID shut everything down and he stopped attending his online classes for two years.

In eighth grade, Tu found Helping Link, a Renton nonprofit offering free support services to the Vietnamese community. The tutoring program helped him catch up, and he started high school with straight A's.

"That gave me a boost for me to continue on," Tu said. "I trusted myself that I can do it all."

As Tu's English improved, he became a volunteer himself, translating for ESL classes and helping other students bridge the language barrier. He assisted with technology programs and translated lesson plans while his mother received services from the organization.

Helping Link connected Tu with the Civil Air Patrol, where he learned leadership and aerospace skills. This July, he'll be promoted to Cadet First Lieutenant and Deputy Commander for Operations, teaching other cadets what he's learned.

Executive Director Minh-Duc Nguyen said Tu worked across multiple programs, from graphic design to administrative tasks. "In Khiem, what I see is determination of survival," Nguyen said. "He was able to overcome that challenge and work really hard."

Tu wasn't alone in his success. Six student volunteers from Helping Link graduated from high school or college this year, including Angelica Nguyen, Rowan Chien, and Daniel Bui. All used skills developed through volunteering to open doors for their futures.

Coming from a low-income family, Tu worried about affording college even after his acceptance to UW's engineering program. He worked at Starbucks while applying for scholarships.

In December 2025, Tu attended the Seahawks Community Awards at Lumen Field after the team's overtime win. He thought only one of the five finalists would receive the $10,000 scholarship. The team surprised everyone by giving all five students the full amount.

The Ripple Effect

Tu's total scholarships from the Seahawks, Renton Regional Community Foundation, Renton Rotary Club, and UW Costco will cover all four years of his engineering degree. His journey from struggling immigrant student to scholarship winner shows how volunteer work builds not just community, but confidence and skills that last a lifetime.

Nguyen sees the pattern repeating with other young volunteers who start as clients and become leaders. They're building bridges between languages, generations, and possibilities.