By Flynn Espe

When Washington State University Tri-Cities student Jeff Wilson looks back on his 21-year career in the U.S. Navy, there’s no shortage of memorable places and experiences that spring to mind.

“I was turning wrenches on airplanes and going out to sea, watching the sunset—then working all night, looking at the stars and watching the sunrise again,” he says. “It was wonderful.”

Wilson enlisted in May 2001. His military service took him to both coasts of the continental United States—including in Virginia, California and Florida—and twice to Japan. His first job was servicing fixed-wing aircraft, working on hydraulics and metalcraft for the E-2C Hawkeye and C-2A Greyhound, before moving on to helicopters. After serving for a few years as a recruiter in his home state of Washington, he returned to the world of aircraft, directing flight deck operations and supervising others in daily maintenance. At one point during his first station in Japan, having achieved the rank of chief petty officer, Wilson oversaw 34 enlisted sailors.

“I made the rules, took their input and tried to have fun and make it as family-ish as we could,” Wilson says. “There were a bunch of administrative skills that that I picked up along the way as far as organization goes, meeting deadlines and that kind of thing—being able to work with anybody from anywhere, with any kind of background.”

By the time he retired in 2022, Wilson says he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do next, only that he was eager to try out something new. Taking advantage of his GI Bill education benefits, he eventually chose Ģ������Ƶ to pursue his bachelor’s degree and the surrounding community as a new place to settle with his wife and two young boys, hoping to be close to his extended family as well.

“We drove over here from Pensacola and then lived in my sister’s friend’s basement for a few weeks while we looked for a place to live,” Wilson says.

Today, Wilson is on track to graduate this spring with not one, but two undergraduate degrees from Ģ������Ƶ. His first major, a B.A. in Social Sciences, was completed in 2024.

“I had a focus on anthropology, history and psychology, and that was fun because I got to write in a lot of different styles,” he says of his first two years as a Social Sciences major. “I just had a really good time researching and writing papers.”

With some education benefits remaining after his first graduation, Wilson wasn’t ready to move on from WSU just yet. Not wanting to enter a master’s program, however, he instead opted for a second major in Digital Technology and Culture (DTC).

“One of the UCORE classes I took was a DTC class with Assistant Professor Phillip Mudd, and it was using Photoshop and Illustrator,” Wilson says. “I had a whole lot of fun doing that.”

Designed for students who want to explore a wide range of creative media and storytelling formats, the Digital Technology and Culture major gives students extensive hands-on experience in areas such as web and graphic design, 3D animation and more.

“We’re really getting familiar with the Adobe Suite,” he says. “I’ve learned a lot of about myself and just how hard it is to create something.”

For one recent assignment, Wilson and his classmates each designed and built their own version of a Rube Goldberg machine, in which the machine’s purpose revolves around a playfully overcomplicated—as opposed to practical—outcome. Determined not to spend money on his device, Wilson used random tools from his home garage, including at least one component that harkens back to his naval roots.

“I have an 18-inch marlinspike, which is a tool that the boatswain’s mates used to tie knots and big lines for ships,” he says. “I have a sign that says, ‘Will it work?’ And then if it works, the sign flops down and says, ‘Yup.’ Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.”

One of Wilson’s favorite projects as a Cougar combined history and visual art when he worked under the guidance of Ģ������Ƶ Assistant Professor Robert Franklin, assistant director of the Hanford History Project, to create an archive celebrating the work of the late visionary artist James Acord. For that project, Wilson received funding through the Ģ������Ƶ Summer Scholars program to document and preserve Acord’s sculptures and creative techniques, which often incorporated the use of radioactive materials to highlight the dangers of nuclear waste storage.

“He was the only [private individual] to get certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to handle and possess radioactive materials,” Wilson says. “He was his own radiation safety officer. And he developed a way to extract the radioactive material out of Fiestaware, which were these old plates from the ’40s.”

Looking ahead, Wilson says he’s still open to many potential career paths. Drawing from his managerial experience as a Navy chief and his current academic projects in digital design, for example, Wilson says he could see himself as a project manager for a creative team.

Regardless of where his journey leads next, Wilson credits his time at Ģ������Ƶ for providing a smooth transition from military to civilian life. For now, you can still often find him working at the Veteran’s Center, a campus space where he enjoys lounging, studying, and interacting with students from all walks of life.

“Some folks are veterans. Some folks would never join the military. And we all get along,” Wilson says with a smile. “It’s been a good couple of years of just interacting with the professors and the students and meeting people.”

By Lacey Desserault

Mental healthcare is a growing priority for many Washington residents. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic uncovered a great need for mental health professionals across the United States, with many rural areas lacking access to professionals completely.

Hailing from the small town of Centerville, Washington with a population of 101, Derek Greenwood, a Washington State University Tri-Cities student in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program, has a dedication to serving rural communities through healthcare. Apart from being a full-time graduate student, Greenwood works as an emergency room registered nurse in Goldendale, Washington and as a clinical instructor in a community college nursing program in The Dalles, Oregon.

“My underserved rural communities suffer from a lack of healthcare in general and mental healthcare in particular,” Greenwood said. “If mental health providers do come to our towns, they often come from larger cities with different mores, concerns, and lifestyles and lack an understanding of the rural, Native American, or migrant farmworker populations that live here.”

As someone recovering from substance abuse and mental health issues, Greenwood is familiar with the growing concerns of access to psychiatric care in rural communities.

“For many years, I was addicted, homeless and living on the streets, a shelter resident, in rehab, chronically unemployable, and more,” he said. “This personal experience allows me to compassionately connect with patients and bring an understanding of how hard change can be and what I and the healthcare system can do to help achieve it. Having been downtrodden and hopeless before, I aim to not only treat and counsel patients but also serve as an example of what sufferers of substance use disorder and mental health conditions can achieve when we do the hard work of recovery.”

Greenwood was recently awarded a prestigious scholarship for his efforts in the psychiatric mental health nursing field. The Lois Spratlen Foundation Scholarship recognizes psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner students in the state of Washington who show leadership and skill and are dedicated to serving their communities. The scholarship is awarded to just a handful of students who show their commitment to their local populations and are making a positive difference.

Aside from monetary assistance toward education, the scholarship provides a free one-year membership in the Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses and free admission to their annual conference, which Greenwood expressed he is looking forward to. “Because rural providers often feel isolated and without ready in-person consultation partners, it is essential to maintain membership in professional associations and attend conferences. Even more than the monetary award, the generous offer of inclusion in the association and related events is invaluable.”

Greenwood credits his advisor, Bevan Briggs, academic director of the Ģ������Ƶ College of Nursing, for personally connecting with him in choosing where to study and encouraging Greenwood to apply for the prestigious scholarship.

“Derek has made a difference in his community and has a passion for helping individuals with substance abuse disorder,” said Briggs. “He stands out as a leader for the Doctor of Nursing Practice students at Ģ������Ƶ. He has extensive experience and skill and will continue to be a great help for his community and for the state of Washington.”

Greenwood chose to attend Ģ������Ƶ over other programs because the Mid-Columbia region mirrors the population he seeks to work with. “I am dedicated to remaining a rural psychiatric provider, so I thought it best to learn my craft among the populations I will serve here east of the Cascades,” he said.

The DNP program at Ģ������Ƶ collaborates with other WSU campuses, where the cohorts of students receive top-tier education from instructors with a variety of backgrounds and fields of expertise.

“Dr. Jose Pares-Avila, based at WSU Vancouver, was instrumental in testifying to the foundation regarding my academic ability and character. His support was essential. Additionally, Dr. Julie Postma, based in Spokane, provided invaluable encouragement. And, of course, Dr. Bevan Briggs of Ģ������Ƶ. We Richland DNP students may be based in the Tri-Cities, but our cohort and instructors span the entire WSU constellation, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t advocate for them to be mentioned, no matter their physical location,” Greenwood said.

Greenwood plans to graduate with his Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in June of 2025, and hopes to practice for a small rural healthcare organization in eastern Washington. “Preferably somewhere I could ride my horse to work if I wanted,” he said.

Learn more about the nursing program at Ģ������Ƶ.

������RJ Wolcott, WSU News & Media Relations

Isaac Marroquin, a master’s student at Ģ������Ƶ who served in several student leadership roles as an undergraduate, is joining the university’s Board of Regents as the next student regent.

Growing up in Pasco, Marroquin had the opportunity to first visit the Tri-Cities campus as a middle school student.

“That visit really changed my life,” Marroquin said. “It showed me that college was accessible to me and from that point on I knew where I wanted to go to college.”

Marroquin jumped at every opportunity to be involved in activities throughout high school, and knew he wanted to continue being engaged when he enrolled at Ģ������Ƶ. Doing so during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic proved challenging, but Marroquin threw himself into student government. He campaigned largely virtually, meeting with students over Zoom to talk about his goals and hear from them about their concerns.

After being elected as a student senator, he went on to be elected vice president of the Associated Students at Washington State University Tri-Cities the following year and completed his bachelor’s degree last year while serving as president of the organization.

“My experiences in student government really opened up opportunities to learn more about myself, as well as the other campuses across the WSU system,” Marroquin said.

Having just recently turned 21, Marroquin expects to be underestimated a bit due to his age, but said he’ll bring his passion for student advocacy into the role of student regent. His experiences in student government, as well as being a part of the Ģ������Ƶ Chancellor’s Leadership Council, will also pay dividends in his new positions, said Sandra Haynes, chancellor of the Ģ������Ƶ campus

“I am very excited that Isaac has been selected to fill this vital role as the voice of students on the WSU Board of Regents, and I’m looking forward to working with him in my capacity as chancellor as well as seeing what he is able to accomplish in the role,” Haynes, said.

Marroquin first learned about the student regent position from Shain Wright, who served in the role back in 2021-2022 academic year.

“I was talking with Shain about their position and what they do and I was shocked,” Marroquin said. “How have I never heard about this? I then learned it was a role not a lot of people knew the importance of it, so I immediately started asking about how I could get involved and what I had to do to get my name out there.”

He learned from previous student regents the value of relationship building, and sought out student leaders and administrators from across the WSU system to learn more about their operations and what made each of them unique.

Being present and vocal early during his time on the board is one of his ley goals, as the role is only for a short time, so he doesn’t want to wait until it’s too late to have his voice and the concerns of his fellow students heard. He’s also interested in advocating for mental health, both of students as well as employees, and finding the best ways to get resources to those that need them.

When not working toward his master’s degree in education, Marroquin works at a Starbucks in the Tri-Cities area as well as serving as president of the campus boxing club. It’s a sport he’d had no prior experience with before seeing a poster at the campus den and asking one of the coordinators there about it.

“I remember they said, oh that club is dead, but I wanted to give it a try so I met up with some friends and we got it going again.” It’s really an opportunity to experience a different vibe from studying and give you a chance to take a break from that mindset.”

Marroquin was selected by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to succeed student regent Reanne Chilton in the one-year term.

“My goals are to grow Washington’s economy, strengthen our schools, and promote a culture of performance and efficiency in state government,” Inslee wrote. “You can help me achieve these goals. I ask that you take personal responsibility for making sure the Washington State University Board of Regents operates in a way that is transparent, responsive, and focused on implement lean management tools to achieve results. These are the public’s expectations as well as my own.”

Marroquin’s first meetings as student regent are scheduled to take place Sept. 14-15 in Pullman.

By Lacey Desserault

Washington State University Tri-Cities’ 2023 Outstanding Senior for the Department of English is Brigette Hinnant. Originally from Kennewick, Hinnant has earned a bachelor of arts in English, with a major in literary studies and a minor in professional science and technology writing. Prior to attending Ģ������Ƶ, she was a student in the Running Start program, where she completed an associate in arts and sciences degree with honors at Columbia Basin College.

“I chose literary studies because I have always loved reading and writing. As I’ve grown, I’ve also become interested in more complex topics, so literary studies has helped me understand and critically think about what I am reading and writing about. This major also allows me to pursue topics that I am curious about and exposes me to new topics that provides a space where I can discuss and learn about them,” Hinnant said.

Earlier this year, Hinnant received the Emeritus Society Undergraduate Research Grant in Arts and Humanities for her project entitled “Experience of Filipina War Brides as Immigrants to the United States After World War II.” Currently in collaboration with Patricia Wilde, assistant professor of English, her research incorporates rarely used archives from the Filipina War Brides Association while using a decolonial feminist approach to understand the community building practices of Filipina women in the Pacific Northwest. She will analyze how they managed the challenges of relocating to a new country while preserving their cultural identities from home.

“As a Filipina, my culture and history has been a large source of inspiration for me. I am involved in Asian American studies, women’s studies, and postcolonial studies because of how I can relate to these fields. English encourages me to explore the subjects that mean a lot to me,” Hinnant said.

Hinnant has also received several other awards throughout her academic career, including the Auvil Scholars Fellowship and President’s Honor Roll, and she credits Ģ������Ƶ professors for her academic success. “Without the help of my professors Dr. Patricia Wilde, Dr. Michael Mays, and Dr. Gibran Escalera I would not have had all of the amazing opportunities that I’ve come across. They’ve assisted me through so much and have supported me in my academic endeavors,” Hinnant said. “I chose WSUTC because it is a small campus that allows for more personalized help between staff and students.”

Hinnant’s goal is to publish her research paper to the Peitho Journal and attend graduate school in rhetoric and composition studies, hoping to eventually become either an editor or a professor to conduct more research.

Taking part in local Juneteenth celebrations and commemorations can be as important to understanding the spirit of the holiday as learning about the history behind it.

It’s a message Razan and Reem Osman, sisters who attend Ģ������Ƶ, want to share widely with members of the university community. Through their involvement in annual Juneteenth events held in the Tri-Cities, the pair originally from Sudan not only learned about the history and traditions associated with Juneteenth, but found a place within the tightknit local community.

“Juneteenth is a great opportunity for the WSU community to participate in events alongside members of the communities around our campuses,” Reem Osman said. “You can read about Juneteenth, but you don’t understand it until you feel it and are a part of it.”

In the days leading up to Juneteenth each year, the Tri-Cities community hosts several events ranging from roller skating events and fun days at Kurtzman Park to a Miss Juneteenth pageant. Festivities conclude on June 24^th with a gospel celebration that recognizes the suffering that took place prior to the end of slavery in the United States.

Razan Osman is currently the Tri-Cities reigning Miss Juneteenth Queen. In order to earn that honor, she participated in classes on African American culture as well as institutions like Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, alongside her fellow contestants in the months leading up to the pageant. Contestants are judged most significantly on their responses to questions posed by judges as well as their talents, La’Quita Thornton, a member of the Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant committee, noted.

Participating in the pageant gave Razan Osman the opportunity to engage with black business owners and community members as well as cultivate the confidence to be more outgoing.

“When I talk to people in places where I’m usually the only black person in the room, I feel more confident thanks to my past experiences and can take the opportunity to tell people about myself,” Razan said.

Both Osmans have also been involved in the Ģ������Ƶ Black Student Union, a club that Reem helped to establish and now leads as president. After graduating this coming spring, Reem hopes to be an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in her chosen field of computer science.

Kauser Gwaduri, student services coordinator for the MOSAIC Center for Student Inclusion at Ģ������Ƶ, will be tabling at community Juneteenth events on behalf of the center. There, she and other WSU employees will be helping members of the community connect with WSU resources and explore opportunities for resume building and career development as well as sharing information about different Ģ������Ƶ student groups.

While it was a significant step for Washington State and WSU to make Juneteenth an official holiday, the university needs to use it as a means of extending its land grant mission and be a genuine part of communities across the state.

“Our mission requires us to be practical, to be hands on, and so I would love and highly encourage our WSU community to find Juneteenth celebrations in their communities,” Gwaduri said. “Get perspectives on how valuable that experience of freedom is for communities, share in the joy of education, and support the university staying connected to our community by letting them know we are here for them and going to have open ears and continue to find ways to support them for our joint benefit as one Washington State.”

The Tri-Cities Juneteenth Community Council is organizing events throughout the month of June, with more information available on its . WSU Global is planning a Juneteenth movie night on June 19 from 5-7 p.m. The campus will be screening “Daughters of the Dust” via Zoom and the event is open to all members of the WSU community. More information is available on the .

������RJ Wolcott, WSU News & Media Relations

RICHLAND, Wash. – For Zarryn Duong, a Kennewick native and first-generation student, going to college after high school was always the plan. He grew up with an interest in engineering, while his father dreamed of him becoming a doctor. It wasn’t until he took a career quiz in high school that pointed him to neurology that he started to think perhaps his father knew best. And it wasn’t until he started at Washington State University Tri-Cities that he realized how important making connections and getting involved would be to earning his bachelor’s degree and getting accepted into medical school.

Planting seeds

When Duong started at Ģ������Ƶ in fall 2018, he didn’t know anything about being a pre-med student. “My first year here was really about exploring,” Duong said. He got involved with student clubs and got to know his professors. Elsa Silva-Lopez, former WSU Tri-Cites professor of chemistry; and Nelmi Devarie Baez, assistant professor of chemistry, were two professors he connected with right away.

These relationships led to more connections and opportunities. Duong described his exploration as planting seeds. He said, “Every time I would talk to someone it was like…seed planted. Seed planted.” As a first-year student, the community-style campus and availability of various STEM resources was something that surprised and delighted him.  Then COVID hit. “It felt like all those seeds were washed away.”  The research opportunities and volunteer positions Duong had worked so hard to set up were gone.

Connecting through COVID-19

Despite the challenges that came with moving from in-person to online learning, Duong found a way to make connections through Zoom. He said his professors were great through Zoom and soon he was planting seeds again. Kersten Bergstrom, lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences, encouraged him to take anatomy, pointed him to other pre-med classes and introduced him to other pre-med students. Those seemingly simple acts meant a lot to Duong. “Kersten was one of those seeds I planted that grew into this huge amount of support,” he said.

Duong also took advantage of the variety of student clubs on campus as a way to get involved, meet people and plant more seeds. He helped start the Tennis Club, joined the Pre-Med Club and even gave the Boxing Club a try.

From dream to reality

Duong took a big step toward becoming a doctor when he graduated in May 2022 and was accepted into the University of Washington School of Medicine. The pre-med journey was not easy, but with the support of professors, students and community connections, he persevered.

The advice Duong would give to new pre-med students is this, “You can get support but it’s not where you expect it. You have to make sure you are going out of your way to make connections. Networking and planting those seeds are great things to learn because you don’t know where they may take you.”

Ģ������Ƶ – a great choice 

Duong said Ģ������Ƶ was a great choice for him. Staying local to earn his undergraduate degree made college affordable for him and his family. He lived at home to save expenses and earned several scholarships. “Ģ������Ƶ feels bigger than a school,” he said. “There are so many opportunities to do things and to get involved in the community. It was a very valuable experience.”

Until he starts medical school in July, Duong has returned to Ģ������Ƶ as a tutor in biology and anatomy through the TRIO program.

MEDIA CONTACT(S)

Leslie Streeter, Office of Marketing and Communication, 509-372-7333, leslie.streeter@wsu.edu

RICHLAND, Wash. – Anneke Rachinski joined Washington State University Tri-Cities as senior development director Feb. 13. In that role she will develop, implement and administer the Tri-Cities campus development efforts to support annual fundraising goals.

Rachinski comes to Ģ������Ƶ with a background in higher education fundraising. Most recently she led development and growth of a major gifts and planned giving program. She has also led alumni relation and cultivation efforts. Prior to her fundraising roles, Rachinski worked for Ģ������Ƶ as a project coordinator for the Hanford History Project and a program assistant in the development department.

Rachinski has a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governor’s University and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Western Washington University. She is also a graduate of Leadership Tri-Cities, Class XVV, and received the Young Professionals Award from the Tri-City Area Journal of Business in 2022.

“I am excited to be joining the Ģ������Ƶ campus and working with our local and regional partners to promote research, provide access and opportunities, and build community connections,” said Rachinski.

MEDIA CONTACT(S)

Leslie Streeter, Office of Marketing and Communication, 509-372-7333, leslie.streeter@wsu.edu

RICHLAND, Wash. – Leslie Streeter joined Washington State University Tri-Cities as director of marketing and communication May 9. In that role she will oversee the campus’ advertising, marketing, public relations, social media and website with a focus on growing enrollment.

Streeter comes to Ģ������Ƶ with a background in consumer and non-profit marketing strategy and brand management. In the nonprofit sector, she most recently led a rebranding initiative, digital and content marketing and social media strategy to increase awareness and revenue on behalf of a health care organization. As a research analyst and assistant project manager for an innovation consultancy, Streeter conducted consumer and market research and assisted with strategy sessions for Fortune 100 companies such as Kraft Foods and Kellogg’s.

Streeter is a WSU alumna with bachelor’s degrees in communication and business administration/marketing. She is also a graduate of Leadership Tri-Cities, Class XVIII, and currently serves as the organization’s board secretary. Streeter is a Tri-Cities native and lives in Richland.

“I am excited and honored to join the marketing and communication team at Ģ������Ƶ. Cougs always find their way back home, and that is exactly what this feels like to me. Having the opportunity to work with talented people, at a university I love, doing what I love… It just doesn’t get much better than that,” said Streeter.

Ģ������Ƶ Ģ������Ƶ

Ģ������Ƶ is located on shared traditional homelands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. As a leading public research university with a focus on energy, environment and agriculture, Ģ������Ƶ delivers career-connected learning and innovative research that addresses economic and social challenges.

MEDIA CONTACT(S)

Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communication, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@wsu.edu

RICHLAND, Wash. — Sun exposure and soil temperature can affect the final flavor of wine. Students in WSU’s Viticulture & Enology program put this to the test by monitoring two cabernet sauvignon grape plots in the same vineyard with east and west facing slopes.

The resulting wines will be bottled separately and will be available for purchase in spring 2022 through the .

“They call the slope the pregnant lady, because the vines grow up and over a big hill,” said Madelyn Calderon, a 2020 graduate of the V&E program.

Calderon and fellow students Zachary Green and Justin Archibald placed soil temperature probes on both sides of a hill of cabernet sauvignon grapes at a vineyard in Kiona, Washington, and collected data over the summer as temperatures fluctuated from July through September of 2019.

The students theorized that west-facing grapes would ripen faster by facing the afternoon sun because of the more intense heat. But because the east-facing grapes received sun in both the morning and afternoon, the eastern soil was hotter, and the vines produced smaller grape clusters.

The dark purple grapes were collected on the same day and treated with the same fermentation process.

“Different soil, location and sun exposure can all influence the distinctive taste of a final wine,” said Thomas Henick-Kling, director of the Viticulture and Enology program.

After analyzing the grape compositions at the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center, they found the eastern grapes held more heat at night, ripened faster and had a higher sugar content with less acid.

“The east cabernet has strong tannins with a new fruit flavor,” Green said. “The west cabernet has a less intense fruit taste with a smooth finish.”

Both Green and Calderon are now cellar hands at Bookwalter Winery in Richland, Washington, and said WSU’s program served as a springboard into the Washington wine industry.

Classes like Blended Learning allow students to create a wine from harvest to bottle with creative control throughout the process.

“Not a lot of people can say that they have their name on a bottle right out of school,” Calderon said.

Proceeds from Blended Learning wine sales benefit the V&E program.

 

Media contact:

Kaury Balcom, public relations/communications coordinator, 509-372-7223, kaury.balcom@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, Ģ������Ƶ

RICHLAND, Wash. – When Climaco Abarca was 15 years old, he lost the ability to walk following a paralyzing diving accident. While the accident changed the course of the Washington State University Tri-Cities junior’s life, it did not stop him from going to college and helping others in similar circumstances.

“Everyone would struggle with waking up one day and not being able to walk,” he said. “It is incredibly hard and there are many people who don’t think they could do it, but at the end of the day, you have to live and overcome. I have learned to live with my disability, and I don’t let it affect me. I have strong family support that is what has kept me motivated. I want to set a good example for them.”

Combined with financial aid, Abarca said what made his college dreams possible is the opportunity to save up funds to attend school via the . Without the program, he said his options for remaining on vital programs like social security and other social support programs would be limited due to the savings cap for those programs, especially while he was struggling with repeated surgeries that prevented him from earning a regular income.

“Without ABLE, I was only allowed to have less than $2,000 in my bank account,” he said. “But with the program, you can save up more funds. It takes money you earn from your pay stubs every month and then you can use it for large purchases like school and other things. Without that program, I would never have been able to save up enough for school.”

Law, Abarca discovered with the help of mentorship through school, is a path he could do from a wheelchair that would allow him to make a positive impact on his community. Specifically, he is interested in going into injury or immigration law, given his family’s background immigrating from Mexico.

When looking for a bachelor’s program that would pair well with his future career in law, he found psychology to be a great option. He began his studies at before transferring to Washington State University Tri-Cities.

Abarca’s road to earning his bachelor’s degree has been riddled with surgeries needed to help correct some back issues while attending Ģ������Ƶ. And while he has had to take several leaves of absence from his education in recent years, he is excited to be back in school this semester to continue with his education – even while the return has been a bit challenging.

“Being out of school for those many months and then returning to take classes has been challenging – I won’t lie about that,” he said. “You realize you have lost some of those skills you had when you were regularly taking classes. But honestly, because of the support and with the help of tutoring, I’m getting back to earning those grades I was used to earning.”

Abarca has sought the help of Ģ������Ƶ TRIO Student Success Programs, which provides tutoring support, mentorship, help with financial aid and more for students who are low-income, first-generation and/or have a documented disability. Particularly, he said, being paired with a supplemental instructor for some of his classes has been crucial to his success.

“I came back to school thinking I would be where I was when I left school, but had a rude awaking about that,” he said. “Through tutoring with TRIO, and specifically working with a supplemental instructor, it has been wonderful.”

Combined with going to school, Abarca strives to have an active role in giving back to his community. He serves on the home owner’s association board of the Tierra Vida Community in Pasco, as well as working as a coronavirus investigator contact tracer amid the COVID-19 pandemic. After graduating from Ģ������Ƶ in a few semesters, he hopes to still remain local for the law school program at Gonzaga University.

“I am all about community and serving the people locally,” he said. “This is a place I call my home and I have an opportunity to help people in the community I serve. I just want to make a difference and create opportunities. If I can help people in any way, I will.”

Media contacts:

Brenda Alling, Ģ������Ƶ interim director of marketing and communication, 360-546-9601, Brenda_alling@wsu.edu