Benjamin Warner
HS Social Studies Teacher
University of Washington alumnus Ben Warner was an ambassador for youth programming in Tacoma Washington. Recognizing his exemplary and dedicated modeling of its urban-serving values, UW Tacoma has awarded Warner the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award. Warner is passionate about the overlooked, underappreciated community. Warner has seen up close the variety of skating communities throughout America. In 2009, as he was finishing his undergraduate studies in Politics, Philosophy & Economics, he and two friends longboarded across the United States, from San Diego to Savannah, Georgia, raising money for Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound. Upon completing his cross country skateboarding trip he enrolled in UW’s Master of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences degree program where his capstone project was to lobby to change laws concerning legalizing skateboarding as a mode of transportation (Which was successful) and founded Alchemy Skateboarding, a nonprofit “dedicated to providing opportunities and resources for youth to learn and grow through skateboarding,” . Additionally, He has been a Humanities teacher in the Tacoma Public school District for 7 years. UW Tacoma recognized Ben Warner's contributions. Additionally, the Business Examiner named him to its 40 Under Forty list of the South Sound’s outstanding business and community leaders under the age of 40. He was also supported by a Jane’s Fellowship from the Russell Family Foundation, which includes 15 months of leadership skills development. He is a recipient of a 2016 UW Tacoma MLK Unity Breakfast Dream Award and lastly the Legend for life and Boys & Girls club hall of fame award.
