The University of Washington Tacoma’s Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways program was named one of the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County’s “Excellent 10,” an annual recognition of projects making a meaningful impact on the region’s economic growth.
The university received the award during the Economic Development Board’s Annual Meeting on March 24.
“The Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways is a powerful example of how collaboration can turn vision into impact, making it a clear choice for one of this year’s Excellent 10 Awards,” said Michael Catsi, President & CEO of the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County. “This program stands out for its ability to directly connect students to in-demand careers while aligning education with the real workforce needs of our region. By bringing together higher education, public agencies and community partners, it is building a diverse, homegrown talent pipeline and strengthening the foundation for long-term economic vitality in Tacoma-Pierce County.”
The Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways provides students with hands-on experience working on municipal projects in Tacoma city departments, helping them prepare for engineering careers close to home. The program was established through a partnership between UW Tacoma’s School of Engineering & Technology, the City of Tacoma’s Tacoma Public Utilities and Tacoma-based education nonprofit Degrees of Change.