Luther Sonny White III says being laid off has transformed into "an awesome opportunity."
Back in class 40 years after graduating from high school, he is studying for an associate's degree at Seattle Central Community College so he can switch careers and become a drug and alcohol counselor. White, 58, is one of the thousands of new college students in Washington, where fall enrollment is setting a record for a second year at the state's 34 community and technical colleges. Autumn enrollment is expected to top 146,000 full-time equivalent students at Washington's public two-year colleges, a nearly 10 percent increase over fall 2008. Historically, college enrollment increases during an economic downturn and decreases as jobs become more plentiful.
