Husky Promise fulfills dream

When Daniel Kore arrived in Seattle from Ethiopia, the stakes were huge for him and his family. Regime change at home led to his father’s imprisonment. His family lost everything. But they found a way to send Daniel to the U.S. to go to school because "they can never take your education away from you."

Daniel’s first year at the UW was successful academically but it was tough emotionally and physically. He worked full time in addition to his schoolwork. Even so, he still needed to take a loan to cover his living expenses. The loan “haunted me that year and still does,” Daniel says.

Then Daniel learned about Husky Promise – and everything changed. The guaranteed aid, along with a Boeing scholarship, meant “I could focus solely on my schoolwork,” Daniel said. “It gave me peace of mind.”

While at the UW, Daniel was driven to take advantage of undergraduate research opportunities, and set to work designing a "smart" running shoe that reduces the likelihood of injury using microprocessors and data analysis. His prototype was featured at the Thirteenth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in May 2010.

Daniel graduated in 2010 with a double degree in Political Science and Informatics. His proud mother and father were there to share the moment with him. And he had a job waiting for him at consulting giant Accenture in Seattle.

“This would've never been possible if it were not for the Husky Promise,” Daniel said. “I plan to work for a couple of years and go back to a law school. Then in about 10 years I want to go back to my country and help. I want to represent and help people who are innocently convicted get out of prison — as was my case with my father. My time at UW has changed me for the better. I have become a better person, intellectually and interpersonally. I learned a lot — and enjoyed everything the UW has to offer.”