June 7, 2016

Congratulations to the class of 2016!

It’s graduation season and we wanted to hear more about our graduating seniors’ time at the UW. We asked and they answered the following questions:

• What advice do you have for the incoming class?
• Tell us about your proudest achievement beyond the classroom (ex. community-based service, research learning, leadership, etc.)?
• Who had the biggest impact on their Husky experience and why?

Meet:
Ashley Alday | Katie Burkhauser | Elizabeth Castro | Mauricio Majano | Larry Mose | Ben Siegel | Jennifer Smith | Amy Wang

Ashley Alday

Major(s): Social Work
Minor(s): Education, Learning and Society and Diversity

What advice do you have for the incoming class? Step out of your comfort zone and try something you never thought of trying! You never know, it may change your life! There are many opportunities here on campus that you can be a part of. By taking these chances, you create memories that will last you a lifetime while also expanding your network and developing a community you might have never knew existed if you didn’t try!

Tell us about your proudest achievement beyond the classroom (ex. community-based service, research learning, leadership, etc.): I’ve had many proud achievements beyond the classroom. From being a team leader for Jumpstart and Pipeline Alternative Spring Break (ASB), to being an officer for the School of Social Work, to interning at the Children’s Administration and Northwest Adoption Exchange, to studying abroad in Cambodia, to even being a part of a dynamic group of UW students as a Husky 100, all of my experiences have helped me grow in many different ways and I’m glad to have taken part in them! It was through these various experiences that I was able to deepen my skills and become the leader I am today, and I couldn’t be more thankful for all the experiences that UW had to offer me!

Who had the biggest impact on your Husky experience and why? (Ex. faculty, mentor, roommate, etc.) Oh boy, I can’t just choose one! My family definitely continued to motivate me to do my very best, my friends were always there to remind me that it was okay to take a break, and my Social Work cohort reminded me why I loved the field of social work so much! Along with these amazing people, I definitely have to say my Jumpstart and Center for Experiential Learning and Diversity (EXPD) family really contributed to my growth during my undergraduate career. They were there to push me during some of my roughest times and gave me the boundless opportunities I never knew I had. This office was more than an office to me, it was my home away from home and the place I spent TOO much time in during the past four years. I can’t thank all these individuals for supporting me along the way, and I couldn’t have done it without each and every one of them!

Back to top

Katie Burkhauser

Major(s): Mathematics

What advice do you have for the incoming class? Be a sponge. There is so much information surrounding you that you should soak up! Get involved with a program that aligns with your passions because it’s a great way to meet new people and do what you love.

Tell us about your proudest achievement beyond the classroom (ex. community-based service, research learning, leadership, etc.): Being a high school lead at Global Connections High School through the Dream Project. This experience not only allowed me to pursue my passion for educational equity, but it allowed me to help support other college students in learning about social justice within our society.

Who had the biggest impact on your Husky experience and why? (Ex. faculty, mentor, roommate, etc.) All of the staff members at the UW Disability Resource Center. Being able to work with such amazing people for the past three and a half years has been wonderful. I learned so much from each of these individuals and each one of them has contributed to me growing as an individual.

Back to top

Elizabeth Castro

Major(s): International Studies
Minor(s): Education

What advice do you have for the incoming class? Never stop asking questions. I am amazed by the resources on this campus and how some of these services can even be underutilized. I am a fan of using the Chat with a Librarian feature when I am stuck on a research question; I practice speeches at the Speaking Center in the Communications Building; and I even bought one of my required course books at the monthly sales at the HUB. Sometimes hours of work (and money) can be saved with a short email to the right person, or multiple people.

Tell us about your proudest achievement beyond the classroom (ex. community-based service, research learning, leadership, etc.):  Riding on buses, trains and tuk tuks across five states in India was one of the most transformational experiences of my life. After my junior year, I studied abroad in the Women’s Leadership & Social Entrepreneurship program where I was humbled to meet an array of female leaders. These women run family businesses, hold top leadership positions at national organizations and participate in village governance. I draw life-long lessons from my peers and the individuals I met in India.
One of my proudest achievements at UW is developing a commitment toward my own self-care in the areas of meditation and mindfulness. It might sound so simple, but I am appreciative of just taking a step back and breathing. My time in India was crucial to understanding who I am as a person and a leader.

Who had the biggest impact on your Husky experience and why? (Ex. faculty, mentor, roommate, etc.)  I am a first-generation college student from a Latinx farmworking family. The person who has made the biggest impact on my Husky experience has been Josue Cuevas, my roommate for two years and a dear friend who shares many aspects of my family background. Josue and I transferred to UW from Columbia Basin College in Eastern Washington. We’ve gone through triumphs and trials as we navigate this huge university. On a long day, it’s so encouraging to see someone who is working toward his own amazing goals in a completely different field. Not to mention, Josue has the best jokes and gives great hugs. When I opened my acceptance letter to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, I will never forget that Josue was right there to support me.

Back to top

Mauricio Majano

Major(s): Social Welfare

What advice do you have for the incoming class? I always heard that college is both the most fun and most stressful time. Fun because everything is new and there’s so much to explore. Stressful because there’s so much you’re learning and growing in as a person. My advice is to make sure it’s both.

Tell us about your proudest achievement beyond the classroom (ex. community-based service, research learning, leadership, etc.):  One of my proudest moments was actually not my own achievement, but rather a mentee’s in the Dream Project. I saw my mentee grow from being so confused in where to even start in the college application process, to enrolling at UW Tacoma and receiving one of Dream Project’s Live the Dream Scholarships. Seeing her with her family at the scholarship reception, I felt so proud to see where she was headed and excited to have been a part of that process as a mentor.

Who had the biggest impact on your Husky experience and why? (Ex. faculty, mentor, roommate, etc.) I was lucky to have a Husky experience with many impactful friends and peers. One of the very first and most lasting impacts came from my big [fraternity brother], Daryn Atkinson. He was one the first people I met at the UW and showed me the ropes for getting involved on the UW campus, staying strong academically and making time for fun and self-care. Daryn aided my transition into college and made sure I was able to start my full Husky experience.

Back to top

Larry Mose

Major(s): Biology

What advice do you have for the incoming class? I would suggest that you gear yourself for the long haul. Transitioning to a four-year college is hard. You’ll need to assemble a team that will help you throughout this journey. This means finding mentors, interacting with instructors and being best friends with your adviser. These people will help you in your journey in various ways. In this journey you are going to have some obstacles. You’ll get frustrated, maybe have an instructor that’s not great or have a class that is really difficult. Yet, you have to be persistent and dedicated to succeed. Don’t let self doubt and resistance make you cynical. Lastly, take advantage of any opportunity, scholarships or internships.

Tell us about your proudest achievement beyond the classroom (ex. community-based service, research learning, leadership, etc.):  Last September, I was selected to join the Sidor Lab to work with graduate student Megan Whitney. I was able to learn more about the diversity of extinct vertebrate fauna at an anatomical level. Being part of this lab has given me the opportunity of being a Mary Gates Scholar and presenting my work on evidence of cancer in a fossil specimen.

Who had the biggest impact on your Husky experience and why? (Ex. faculty, mentor, roommate, etc.): My family, close friends, mentors Megan Whitney and Christian Sidor who have supported and facilitated my excitement in learning. By collaborating with them, they have encouraged me to be independent in pursuing topics that suit my interest in bridging disease of the past with the present. While my research does not apply to Dr. Sidor and Megan Whitney’s larger research goals, examining diseases of the past is fascinating and remarkable.

Back to top

Ben Siegel

Major(s): Geography
Minor(s): Education, Learning and Society

What advice do you have for the incoming class? Discover what you are passionate about and you will find a supportive community of like-minded individuals. While I have really enjoyed the outstanding academic experience at UW, my time as an undergraduate has been defined by my involvement outside of the classroom. Through my involvement programs on campus, RSOs and intramural sports, I have developed a greater sense of direction in college experience and future plans.

Tell us about your proudest achievement beyond the classroom (ex. community-based service, research learning, leadership, etc.): Over the past three years I have had the opportunity to volunteer and work with the UW Dream Project, a program on campus focused on supporting low-income and first generation high school students throughout the college application process. I’m proud to have the opportunity to represent and contribute to Dream Project. I currently work at Rainier Beach High School as a Dream Project college and career readiness assistant. I have really enjoyed getting to know students and feel fortunate to be a part of the community of staff and students at the school.

Who had the biggest impact on your Husky experience and why? (Ex. faculty, mentor, roommate, etc.) The Dream Project staff members and student leaders have had a powerful impact on my Husky experience. They saw some potential in me that I was not yet aware of and supported me unconditionally in my growth as a mentor and leader. I have dedicated myself to Dream Project in large part because of their passion and selflessness they demonstrate on a daily basis.

Back to top

Jennifer Smith

Major(s): History and the Comparative History of Ideas (CHID)

What advice do you have for the incoming class? Take advantage of all the wonderful resources and opportunities the University of Washington has to offer. Do not be afraid to explore majors, and most importantly, find your community early. Being such a large school, finding that small group who support you and share in your successes and your struggles will make your undergraduate experience more meaningful and your transition to college more manageable. Also, do not forget to have fun, make friends and explore the beautiful city of Seattle!

Tell us about your proudest achievement beyond the classroom (ex. community-based service, research learning, leadership, etc.): Remaining involved in undergraduate research and seeing all of the opportunities that come from engaging in meaningful research is one of the things I am most proud of. Working with mentors and communities, analyzing sources and sifting through stacks of documents to craft my own original project has been such a wonderful experience, giving me tools to succeed in graduate school and beyond. However, my greatest accomplishment beyond the classroom is knowing that I am setting a good example for my children by showing them it does not matter where you came from, it only matters where you want to go and what you need to do to get there. When I wrote my personal essay for the transfer application to UW, I stressed the importance of obtaining an education to make my children proud. I could not have gone through this journey without the support of my family, to know that my children are proud to call me “mom” makes all of the late nights and hard work completely worth it.

Who had the biggest impact on your Husky experience and why? (Ex. faculty, mentor, roommate, etc.) The person who had the biggest impact on my Husky Experience is my research mentor, Professor María Elena García. No matter how crazy my ideas, she always supported and encouraged me to follow my dreams and to be true to myself. Her kindness, generosity and knowledge helped me to grow so much both as an academic and a person that there are no words to express how much I appreciate her.

Back to top

Amy Wang

Major(s): Human Centered Design & Engineering

What advice do you have for the incoming class? Try a little bit of everything. Join organizations on campus and seek opportunities. UW is so huge that there is something for everyone to fall in love with. Academics are important but don’t make it your sole priority. Go have fun — you’re in college!

Tell us about your proudest achievement beyond the classroom (ex. community-based service, research learning, leadership, etc.): I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I decided to run for president just after two months of joining an organization. The outcome of what I’ve created has been the proudest achievement of my college career. As a second-term president of the UW Society of Women Engineers (SWE), I’ve grown our organization from what once was only 30 members to what is now 470 members. I’ve been able to build an organization from the ground up and create a supportive and inspiring network of women engineers. I am confident that UW SWE will continue to grow, helping students pursue degrees in engineering through career development, social events and community outreach. I’m proud to say that I built an organization that is here to stay.

Who had the biggest impact on your Husky experience and why? (Ex. faculty, mentor, roommate, etc.) There are so many people who I’m thankful for in helping me shape my Husky experience. Some of my biggest supporters have been my family (parents, brother, grandparents and relatives), Cathryne Jordan and Dan Feetham who supported my leadership development, my best friend Begum, my boyfriend Jordan, the SWE executive officer team, my mentor Megha, Human Centered Design & Engineering friends, professors and advisers, and friends who I’ve known since high school, my freshman year, and through summer internships. I’m really grateful for these people.

Back to top