Centralia College unveiled a new plaque in its Diversity Plaza on June 9 dedicated to Rikkey Outumoro, a Centralia College graduate who championed acceptance and pride for the LGBTQ+ community on campus and off.
As a student, she founded the first campus club dedicated to LGBTQ+ students and started the first campus Pride events. Off campus, she helped organize the first Pride events in downtown Centralia and was crowned the first Miss Gay Lewis County in 2008. She was also crowned Miss Gay Olympia.
Speakers at the dedication ceremony included Dr. Bob Mohrbacher, college president; Joy Anglesey, vice president of human resources and equity; Hope Schumacher, Rikkey’s mother; and Jantzen Redle, Rikkey’s brother.
About 50 people attended the dedication.
“Rikkey was the bravest person I ever met,” Redle said. “She was always herself no matter what. I’m proud to be here today to acknowledge how special my sister really was.”
Her mother spoke about having Rikki as a teenager and how they effectively grew up together, and how Rikkey showed her the world with new eyes. She lifted people’s spirits, she said, and made them feel beautiful.
“She had a deep commitment and loyalty to her community,” Schumacher said. “She offered hope to many. I believe my child’s purpose on this earth was to teach and educate … She was a unique and wonderful soul whose light shines on.”
Rikkey, 39, was murdered in October 2021 in a domestic violence incident.
The Diversity Plaza is a continuation of the work that started in 1991 with the installation of diversity plaques at the base of the college’s iconic clocktower. As part of TransAlta Commons building, completed in 2017, a Diversity Plaza was built outside with space for additional plaques honoring activists, artists, leaders and champions of social change locally and regionally.
The Rikkey Outumuro plaque is the second on the Diversity Plaza. A plaque honoring Freddie and Robert Neal was dedicated in 2019. Recipients are chosen by the college’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Nominations can be made by anyone. Nominees are evaluated by the committee for their positive contributions to cultural diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice and understanding or awareness.
