Category: Husky 100 Spotlights

Brian Rich

Seattle, WA
Master of Architecture ’16

Why did you apply for the Husky 100? 

I have a multi-faceted life and many of these facets do not have any direct connection with each other. While many of these parts had to be kept separate, I felt that they were related and that the whole of my life was far greater than the sum of the parts. The Husky 100 award gave me an opportunity to see myself as a whole person in a way that was not otherwise possible – and for others to understand and appreciate the rich complexity in my life.

What is your advice for current students who want to become a Husky 100?

You don’t have to try to be superhuman by being active in huge numbers of activities. It is more important to make thoughtful connections between what you learn at the UW (or anywhere) and the other aspects of your life. It’s more important to have integrity of your learning, beliefs and actions. Awareness of your self and your role in your different communities and how you share what you know among those communities is far more significant than being busy.

Be Unique, Be Different, Be Yourself!

What are you up to now?

My life remains almost as multi-faceted as it was when I was in school. I continue to work as a Construction Manager at the UW Capital Planning and Development, and am currently working on the West Campus Utility Plant, the NanoEngineering Sciences Building, Fluke Hall and for the future-proof use of our historic campus. In addition, I continue to accept more preservation projects in my practice as principal of Richaven Sustainable Preservation. I also serve as the president of the Northwest Chapter of the Association for Preservation Technology and recently joined the Board of the University Heights Community Center as a subject matter expert on preservation and construction.

In short, I continue to seek ways to apply my theory of future-proofing and serve to improve our built environment.

See Brian’s Husky 100 profile.

Starla Sampaco

Bellevue, WA
BA Communications (Journalism)/BA Law, Societies and Justice ’17

What’s your advice for current students who want to become a Husky 100?

The Husky 100 is not just about getting good grades or having a long list of accomplishments. This program is about recognizing passionate individuals who want to use their UW experience to create a better world for their peers and for future generations. Don’t just list facts about yourself. Tell your story!

What goals are you working towards?

I am continuing to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. This quarter, I interned at KING 5. I will spend next quarter living in Olympia as a TVW intern during Washington’s legislative session. I hope to work for a video news organization after graduating from the UW.

What does the Husky 100 award mean to you and your closest supporters?

The Husky 100 award not only recognized my work ethic, but also the support and sacrifices of family members, mentors and friends who have helped me along the way. My parents moved to the U.S. from the Philippines in hopes of giving our family more opportunities. In a way, receiving this award confirmed that their hard work paid off.

See Starla’s Husky 100 profile.

Daniel Yusupov

Redmond, WA
BS Neurobiology ’16

What does the Husky 100 award mean to you?

To me, being selected as a member of the Husky 100 was an acknowledgement of my experiences as a Husky. It made me feel as though what I had been working on for the past four years was valued and important. Those who worked closest with me also knew how hard I had worked to positively impact my community, and were ecstatic to hear that I was selected as a member of the Husky 100.

To my family, being part of the inaugural class meant making history. Our names are literally in the book as the first 100 students to be awarded the Husky 100, and that will be part of UW’s history forever.

Have you taken advantage of Career & Internship Center services available as a Husky 100, and if so, how did it help you?

Yes I have! I met with my career adviser to get an idea of how I could work toward accomplishing my goals, and she helped me discover resources available to me as an alumni. I also had a mock medical school interview at the Career Center, which was wildly helpful.

What are you up to these days?

I am currently in the process of applying to medical school. I am also working for EZ Robotic Trading, a start-up automated stock trading platform, and as an alumni adviser for the Golden Key chapter at UW.

See Daniel’s Husky 100 profile.

Katherine Pratt

Corvallis, OR
PhD Electrical Engineering ’19

Why did you apply for the Husky 100?

I applied for the Husky 100 because I wanted to share my non-traditional student journey and how much impact one person can have as a multidisciplinary engineer and engineering advocate. I mentor middle school girls in STEA^2M (STEM + Arts and Aviation). I advocate for awareness of student veterans on campus. My PhD research in the field of neural security is incredibly relevant to the future of human-computer interaction. All together, these activities create a fulfilling and engaging UW experience.

What is your advice for current students who want to become a Husky 100?

I want to encourage prospective Husky 100 to think outside the box with their daily activities. It’s not enough to excel academically and volunteer occasionally. I would ask yourself:

• What are you studying and why are you studying it?
• Do you understand the broader impacts of your research and the future of your field?
• Why do you choose your particular volunteer activities?
• What makes you different from every other student on campus?

By answering these questions, students can evaluate their experiences and refine them to have the most impact on campus and later in life.

See Katherine’s Husky 100 profile.

Stephanie Liou

Taichung, Taiwan
MD Medicine ’18

What are you up to now?
I’m currently in the midst of my third year of med school, which is a busy time as I complete clerkships in six of the core medical specialties. I am loving the clinical, hands-on learning and the fact that I finally get to spend most of my time with patients rather than Powerpoints! My goals for right now are to narrow down my choice of specialty (I am trying to decide between pediatrics, child psychiatry, and family medicine) and to help put on a successful Minority Student Medical Career Fair at the AAMC National Conference in Seattle!

What does being a Husky 100 mean to you?

Being named one of the inaugural Husky 100 was an incredible honor, especially because my mom was able to attend the celebration. As a single parent, she often had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, and even went back to school when I was in high school, so there were many times when she wasn’t able to make it to special events. After I left for college in California, I could only call and send photos when I received awards or recognition. So although I’ve always known that she is proud of me and happy for the amazing opportunities I’ve received, I’ve always wished that I could share more of those moments with her.

The Husky 100 celebration helped make that dream come true, and I will never forget walking into the HUB ballroom and seeing her surrounded by my friends, smiling, waving, and frantically taking way too many photos 🙂

See Stephanie’s Husky 100 profile.