For too many high school students in Washington state, college seems out of financial reach. Though academically qualified, a significant number of them don鈥檛 pursue higher education because of the cost.
In 2007, the 天美影视传媒 decided to change that through the Husky Promise, which pays the tuition and fees of Washington state students from low-income families. This year, nearly 10,000 students are attending the UW thanks to the Husky Promise. They鈥檙e among the 39,000 students who have had their tuition covered since the start of the program.
To celebrate the 10th year of the Husky Promise, we checked in with several students whose educations were funded by the program 鈥� and whose lives were changed by the opportunities it afforded them.
M. Janel Brown, 鈥�11
As part of the Upward Bound program at Franklin High School, M. Janel Brown began visiting the UW at age 15.
鈥淏eing on campus during high school made the UW feel like home, which is probably why I was set on going to college outside Seattle at first,鈥� says Brown.
鈥淏ut as applications went out, the realities of college costs set in,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hen I learned about the Husky Promise, which solidified my decision to attend the UW.鈥�
Brown became part of the first cohort of students supported by the Husky Promise. She flourished at the University, serving as president of the Black Student Union and director of community relations for the Associated Students of the UW.
In gratitude for the opportunities afforded by her scholarship, Brown served as a Husky Promise ambassador, traveling to high schools to let students know about the program.
鈥淚 felt that informing students of the possibility, especially those from my neighborhood and similar backgrounds, was one small way I could give back,鈥� she says.
Her Husky Experience also showed Brown where her professional path should lead: teaching.
鈥淚 realized that there were many disparities that prevented students from backgrounds like mine from finding the resources needed to apply, attend and succeed at schools like the UW,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o I decided to go into the classroom.鈥�
Brown graduated from the UW in 2011 with a bachelor鈥檚 in American Ethnic Studies and minors in Diversity and Education, Learning & Society, moved to Washington, D.C., and began teaching.
She went on to earn her master鈥檚 in curriculum and instruction from Trinity Washington University, and now she鈥檚 the founding director of curriculum and instruction at Sustainable Futures Public Charter School.
鈥淭he Husky Promise is the ticket to a world-class education,鈥� says Brown. 鈥淚t afforded me four years of experiences, teaching and learning that I am not in debt for.鈥�
William Thing, 鈥�16
William Thing鈥檚 journey to a college degree wasn鈥檛 linear. It was filled with twists and hurdles 鈥� all of which helped him succeed.
Raised by a single mother who immigrated to the U.S. from Cambodia, Thing and his sister watched as their mom worked two jobs to support their family. So when it came time to apply for college, Thing was torn.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 sure if I should go to college or help provide for my family,鈥� he says. On top of that, he didn鈥檛 know how he鈥檇 be able to afford tuition at a four-year institution.
Thing began attending Seattle Central Community College, but he still wasn鈥檛 sure if higher education was the best choice. Then he went to visit family in Cambodia. 鈥淚 saw people who didn鈥檛 have basic amenities, like electricity,鈥� he says. 鈥淎fter the trip, I decided that I wanted to go to college so I could help.鈥�
Thing worked to raise his grades and earn a spot at the UW, where he planned to pursue electrical engineering. He also received a Husky Promise scholarship 鈥� a crucial factor in helping him get into the major.
鈥淓lectrical engineering at the UW is really competitive, and I didn鈥檛 get in my first or second try,鈥� Thing says. But he kept at it. 鈥淲ith the Husky Promise, I just had to focus on getting better grades and getting into the major.鈥�
On his third try, he made it in. And when he graduated in 2016, he accepted a full-time position as a software engineer at Comcast.
Looking back, Thing often remembers his first day at the UW: 鈥淚 saw Drumheller Fountain for the first time, and behind it was the electrical engineering building. I stood there for a few minutes and just let it soak in. I鈥檇 made it.鈥�
Victoria Braun, 鈥�17
鈥淢ost people think that the Husky Promise is only financial aid,鈥� says Victoria Braun. 鈥淏ut it does so much more than that.鈥�
Braun went to the UW straight from high school, but once she got to campus, she felt overwhelmed. 鈥淪o I left,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 went through a lot of personal things during that time that made me realize I just needed to leave school and figure out a game plan.鈥�
Taking time off to work and attend classes at community college helped Braun decide what to do next. 鈥淚 wanted to be able to tell people that I was able to stick with it and complete my degree,鈥� she says. 鈥淕oing back to the UW will forever be the best decision of my life.鈥�
After returning to campus, Braun took advantage of the support offered by the Husky Promise 鈥� including free tutoring and connecting students with advisers.
In her senior year, Braun joined the UW Debate Union. 鈥淚 had nothing to lose. Even if I was mediocre, I would learn something and prove to myself that I can be successful this time around,鈥� she says.
As it turns out, Braun wasn鈥檛 mediocre. At the 2017 Cross-Examination Debate Association tournament, she led her team to a national championship in their division.
That June, Braun graduated with a degree in communication. Since then, she has worked as an account manager for an IT staffing firm in Seattle. It鈥檚 a path made possible by the Husky Promise.
鈥淭he scholarship meant I was able to go to college and earn a degree,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd ultimately, it provided me with the financial security to succeed.鈥�
Help Washington students thrive
The Husky Promise is funded in part by private donations. By supporting the program, you can help students like Brown, Thing and Braun pursue their goals 鈥� and make an impact on the world.