Among the 422 students graduating from Renton Technical College Thursday night was one of the college’s trustees, Rich Zwicker.

Zwicker has been through the graduation before, 20 years ago, when he received his Certificate of Completion for the Legal Secretary/Assistant program from what was then Renton Vocational Technical Institute.

He was 25 at the time and was preparing to embark on a career in the legal field. The RVTI training paid off. Zwicker, 44, is a paralegal with the Washington state Attorney General’s Office and twice has been recognized for his work.

But a Certificate of Completion is not the same as a two-year associate degree, which for most students is a key stepping stone – placement as a junior – to a four-year college degree.

Renton Technical College offers a process for students to upgrade their certificate to a two-year degree if they have earned it within five years.

In Zwicker’s case, time worked against him; 20 years had passed. But Zwicker was undeterred. He had a goal in mind.

“I undertook this challenge before I was appointed to council, but I felt it was important to accomplish this goal so I could set an example for other students and graduates of RTC,” he said.

“It’s been a fun experience and has whet my appetite for continued learning,” he said.

The “council” Zwicker mentions is the Renton City Council. He was appointed to replace Dan Clawson, who resigned in 2007.

Zwicker got in touch with Peggy Moe, dean of Business Technology and General Education and Education and Human Services at the college. She got permission from the state to set up a process that would allow Zwicker to convert his certificate to a two-year degree.

Thus was born the college’s “bridge” program, which is still in its infancy. Zwicker is the program’s first graduate. The upgrade came with some work, which included taking academic classes that weren’t required for a certificate of completion.

The work was done over the last year or so.

Zwicker took four general education classes. He proved he was proficient with a computer. And, he put together a portfolio of his work that showed he met the current requirements to earn the two-year degree.

He took psychology and English classes online and took a class in speech communications taught by Deborah Ranniger, the director of the Renton Technical College Foundation.

He completed his last class – algebra – in December.

Importantly, Zwicker met another requirement. He is employed in the field for which he received his initial certificate of completion in 1989.

His two-year degree is Associate of Applied Science, legal secretary/legal assistant.

Moe, the RTC dean, said the bridge program is part of the larger efforts in higher education to move students to the next level of their education. Such training is often critical to keeping a job in tough economic times.

The program is new to RTC and likely unique in the state and RTC is still working out the details.

In the college’s initial contact with the state, Moe said the reaction was positive. “They said, ‘Oh, what a good idea’,” she said.

The program is individualized to meet the needs of each returning student. Two other professionals are in the program, she said. Those who express an interest in such training are directed to Moe.

Read City Council member Rich Zwicker’s column.