Ligaya Avila

As Academic Programs & Financial Services Manager, Ligaya Avila is humbled to assist students with financial aid questions, whether it’s helping set up their student loans or connecting them to resources. She’s also excited to be managing our Low-Residency program, coordinating the Residency events with the Student Academic Services Team, while communicating logistics with students. Previous to these roles, Ligaya worked part-time in the Accounting Department for 6 years. She loves getting to work with both numbers and people! She values the Seattle School culture and community that promotes growth, self-care and work-life balance.

A creative career path led Ligaya to The Seattle School: instead of attending college, she chose to take a correspondence course on interior design and worked at a furniture store where she was introduced to the world of entrepreneurship. After being a self-employed bookkeeper for a decade, Ligaya responded to a Craigslist posting for an Accounting position –and she got the job, arriving at The Seattle School in 2012. As a half-Filipina woman who previously applied for 90 college scholarships and received zero (!), Ligaya finds another full-circle moment in her career with her work on the scholarship committee, awarding deserving recipients, while getting to know their unique stories.

A Missionary Kid who grew up in the Philippines, Ligaya appreciates those who authentically love and serve others, in particular, parents, teachers, medical and mental health professionals, folks in ministry and hospitality. Her personal passion project centers around C.A.R.E.™️ [Connect, Aspire, Rest, Enrich], which includes the invitation to ask, “how do you take C.A.R.E.™️ of *you, as you care for others; how do you fill your cup as you pour into others?” This prompted her to start the C.A.R.E.™️ Lounge at The Seattle School, an informal online space for students to connect in a soft landing, as we continue to learn how to live inter-culturally.

Ligaya and her tri-cultural family are most happy around any body of water, whether it’s at a giant water park, in kayaks at a small lake, or Kauai, a post-pandemic treat! Her personal relationship with her Creator and Savior is at the forefront of all she does. Ligaya’s hope is to show agape love to all who cross her path while keeping it real.