Alumni Association

Involvement

National Merit Scholar; one of three students in Students Targeted towards Advanced Research Studies (STARS) for bachelors to doctoral track; recipient, Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education award; Teaching assistant, chemistry; research assistant, biochemistry and molecular biology; fencing club; pianist, Atrium Music at WSU libraries; Edwin Williams Award for top WSU music students; first prize for piano, New York Artists International Competition; first prize at the New York International Music Concours; winner, WSU Concerto Competition; teacher, private piano lessons for beginner students

Favorite activity at WSU

My undergraduate research experiences have been a lot of fun, just being able to do actual science in the lab. Specifically, I think the coolest project I probably worked on was in Dr. Haseltine’s lab, where I was working with Archaea that grew in boiling acid. The high point in my music life would be playing at Carnegie Hall this last January. That was a once in a lifetime experience.

Future plans

I’m going into graduate school for my PhD and leaning toward the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. After that I want to go into industry and ultimately to be the lead scientist for a company, where I decide what experiments and what directions the research should be going.

Forrest Fearington is a Neuroscience major on the Vancouver campus who holds an impressive 4.0 GPA. Described as a leader in the classroom and the research lab, Forrest has been heavily involved in undergraduate research related to hearing loss while working in the lab of Dr. Allison Coffin. His main project focused on understanding how exposure to intense noises damages the connections between sensory hearing cells and the brain. As part of this research, Forrest mastered confocal microscopy – a type of fluorescent cell imaging usually reserved for more senior lab members. Forrest became adept at this technique, and Dr. Coffin didn’t remember any student learning it faster. Along with his own research, Forrest has been a mentor to others, taking time to help fellow undergraduate researchers with their projects in Dr. Coffin’s lab. As a result of this mentorship, he will be listed as a co-author on at least two papers submitted to scientific journals this year. In 2021 Forrest won the best undergraduate poster award at the WSUV research showcase and received an Auvil Research Fellowship from WSU. This year he will be awarded with the WSUV Neuroscience programs Outstanding Research Award. Forrest is also a member of the Neuroscience Club and is the vice president of the Pre-Health club. He also volunteers at the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, where he takes time to connect patients with other community and economic resources. Forrest plans to pursue a career in medicine, and with an MCAT score in the 99th percentile he has received offers from many reputable institutions.

Annie Lu holds a 3.98 GPA and will be earning her B.S. in applied mathematics with minors in physics and music. One nominator described her as, “…the most gifted and talented student I have ever encountered in my entire career.” In 2019 Annie was offered a position on the research team of Dr. Nikolaos Voulgarakis, where she worked on a project that is a modified version of facilitated diffusion in fractal environments. The preliminary results on this project earned her a WSU Carson Undergraduate Research Fellowship. Annie has attended multiple events such as SURCA, and the Young Mathematicians Conference to present her research, and has competed in WSU’s Math Modeling Team competition where undergraduate students can gain experience in real-world applications and receive exposure to research-type problems in mathematics. Annie has also been involved as a teaching assistant for a calculus lab and is a grader for two upper division math courses. She is the recipient of the CAS Outstanding Senior Award for Mathematics and Statistics, and the Knebelman Outstanding Senior Award. Earlier this spring, Annie was selected for a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to Hungary for the 2022-23 academic year. She will collaborate and learn from faculty who are experts in the field of computational biology and Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods to develop algorithms that can accurately sample genome rearrangement to identify and address many biological problems. Annie is the first WSU student ever to be selected for this Fulbright.

Involvement

Recipient, Outstanding Senior Award, Department of Mathematics and Statistics; recipient,  Charles “Chuck” Millham Endowed Scholarship in Mathematics, Boeing Endowed Scholarship Fund for Underrepresented Undergraduate Students, Joe and Pat Cude Scholarship Endowment, Knebelman Prize in Mathematics Award, and Regents Scholar Award; teaching assistant, WSU mathematics (linear algebra, elementary math, statistical modeling for data analytics, introduction to statistical methods, and stat methods in research; summer school kindergarten paraprofessional, Apollo Elementary in Renton; Math Learning Center tutor; vice president of membership integrity, Alpha Omicron Pi sorority; vice president of WSU Association of Women in Mathematics; Honors College mentor

Favorite activity at WSU

When we got back to in-person classes after COVID, I was in an upper-level math class: real analysis. There are no numbers; it’s all concepts. It was so challenging and hard, but I got so close to my cohort of friends in the class. Every Thursday, we would go to the Math Learning Center for four hours. We’d get into these long discussions about math and the board would be filled with ideas, concepts, and symbols. We were just mathematicians present in the moment. It felt magical, honestly.

Future plans

My dream for the future is to be a high school math teacher. There’s nothing more important for me than giving back. I had such amazing math teachers in high school, and I want to be that teacher for someone else. I will start my master’s degree in teaching at WSU Spokane this fall.

Michaela Bayerlova is a captain on the WSU Women’s Tennis team. She is described as a leader who leads by example, and helps her teammates excel by modeling a strong work ethic both in the classroom and on the tennis court. Michaela is a two-time All-Pac-12 Conference selection, and the only player in school history to be named to First Team. She was a Second-Team All-Pac-12 selection in 2021 and has been a two-time participant at the NCAA Singles Championship, and the only player in school history to win a singles match at the NCAA Tournament. She is currently ranked No. 91 in the nation and is WSU’s only ranked player. She is also the third-highest ranked woman playing NCAA Division 1 tennis in the world rankings. Michaela has volunteered her time for many community programs over the years, including Circles of Caring, Butch’s Bash, Coug Pals, and various tennis clinics. Michaela is studying data analytics, and is completing minors in mathematics, statistics, and material science.

Chloe Larson is one of the all-time top performing members of the WSU Women’s Swimming team. She is a team captain, and a role model for other student-athletes due to her academic achievement and involvement in the community. She is a four-time school record holder for the 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, and is part of the 200 Freestyle Relay Record and the 400 Freestyle Relay Record. Chloe participated in the 2021 US Olympic Trials where she finished in 14^th place, which is one of the highest finishes in school history. Chloe holds the Gibb Pool record in the 50 Freestyle, which was formerly held by a two-time Olympian and NCAA champion. In 2020 at the PAC-12 Championships, Chloe was the first swimmer in WSU history to win a PAC-12 championship. Earlier this spring, Chloe competed in her second straight NCAA Championship and became the first Coug to return, back-to-back, to the competition. Outside of the pool, Chloe excels in the classroom as a two-time Academic All-American and helped the swimming program achieve the highest team GPA in school history of any sport at 3.61. Chloe plans to become a nurse and will attending nursing school after her graduation from WSU.

Involvement

Bobby Bragan Slugger Award Watch List; Team Captain and member of Leadership Council; 27th Ranked First Baseman nationally in 2023; 2023 Preseason All Pac-12 Conference Team; 2022 ABCA All-Region 2nd Team; 2022 All Pac-12 Conference; 2022 Pac-12 Player of the Week; President’s Honor Roll; 2022 CoSIDA Academic All-American 2nd Team; 2022 CoSIDA All District Team; Pac-12 Conference Academic Honor Roll, 2021-2023; 2023 Academics Student-Athlete of the Month; Boost Collaborative; Lentil Cook-offs; WSU ROAR Program; Butch’s Bash; 2022 WSU Athletics Community Service Award

Favorite WSU experience

Sweeping Arizona State last year to end the season. That was my hometown team. For us to be able to do that at home, to sweep them on Senior Day, that was awesome. The last time we did that was in 2015. And my parents were there!

Future plans

My dream career is professional baseball. I love the game so much. If you get the opportunity, you can’t turn it down. You’re living everyone’s dream, getting to play a children’s game for a job. If that doesn’t happen, I’ll go into strength and conditioning or cardiac rehabilitation. I’ve always wanted to be a physical therapist, and I loved WSU’s program.

Involvement

Rower with Women’s Crew: student athlete of the month (March 2023), Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll (2020-2022), and WSU All-Academic Team (2018-2022); faculty award for Outstanding Presentation at the 2021 Bruya-Wood Undergraduate Research Conference; teaching assistant for human anatomy; tutor for Athletics Department; research assistant in Psychology of Physical Activity Lab; Pedalheads kids bike club manager and coach of Nanaimo Rowing Club in Nanaimo, BC; WSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president; 2022 Student-Athlete Civic Engagement Award; WSU Black Student-Athlete Association member and ally; WSU Cougar Pride Student-Athlete Association member

Favorite activity at WSU

I am president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and that has been incredible. I got to go to San Francisco and represent WSU at the Pac-12. I also met so many people on different teams, just building connections and having more of a support system than before. I really felt that I was more involved and doing things for the school.

Future plans

I am leaning towards physical therapy, and I’ve been really starting to consider medicine and being a doctor. First, I’m planning to travel next year and see the world a bit. I have looked at South America. I have a Spanish minor but I’m not really confident speaking. If I’m immersed, I could actually learn and be able to speak the language.

Jocelyn Granados has acquired a long resume of involvement during her time at WSU. She is a student mentor in the Chicanx/Latinx Student Center, where she helps mentor and support over 25 incoming freshmen to WSU. As part of this role, she developed programming events to help new students integrate into the WSU community and advocated tirelessly for the development of more on-campus resources for underrepresented students. As a leader with the Pullman campus’ Crimson Group, she has helped lead initiatives promoting awareness and education regarding many issues such as changing immigration laws, rights, and needs. Jocelyn was part of a campaign that went to Washington D.C. called the Home is Here Campaign. The group’s mission included the promotion of better support for undocumented communities, like the extension of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Another element of Jocelyn’s involvement is through her selection as a Team Leader and Directorship roles with the Children of Aztlan Sharing Higher Education (CASHE) and Visionaries Inspiring Black Empowered Students (VIBES) conferences. Both conferences involved many hours of volunteer work and allowed students from lower income high schools to discuss access and opportunities that higher education can provide. In addition, Jocelyn has been the co-chair for Movimiento Estudantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MEChA), Vice President for Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Incorporated, and an ASWSU Senator. Jocelyn is a recipient of the President’s Award for Leadership, has accumulated over 400 hours of community service, and is a Regents Scholarship recipient. Jocelyn has exceled academically at WSU with a 3.86 GPA and is finishing three degrees in the fields of Political Science, Psychology, and Spanish.

Involvement

Director of diversity, inclusion, & veteran affairs, ASWSU; director of legislative affairs for ASWSU; vice president of Legislative Affairs, Washington Student Association;  hotline volunteer, Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network; Centro Latino Institute For Public Policy, Training, & Education; cabinet member, MECHA de WSU; recipient, College Assistant Migrant Program (CAMP); tutor, Pasco School district; advocate and communication chair, Crimson Group for the undocumented community;  WSU CAMP representative, US Hispanic Leadership Institute; student mentor, Chicanx/Latinx Student Center; student representative, WSU Parking & Transportation Task Force Committee; winner, Presidential Student Civic Leadership Award; winner, WSU President’s Award Leadership

Why I chose WSU

I attended one of the Children of Aztlan Sharing Higher Education (CASHE) conferences in high school, and I got accepted to WSU through the conference. CASHE is a leadership conference put on by MECHA de WSU that encourages Latinx high school students to pursue college. I considered other schools, but WSU had that sense of community, where you could find your home away from home.

Future plans

I want to go to law school. Next year, I’ll be working and studying for the LSAT. I’m interested in social justice and immigration law, and I want to have my own law firm. I’d also like to partner with others, so it’s not just a law firm but a place where people can go for workshops on financial planning or to learn about community resources that are available.

Nolan Thomaswick is a student in the WSU Global Campus who holds a 4.0 GPA while studying Business Administration in Accounting. Nolan has served as a Global Student Ambassador where he created, participated in, and hosted events for students. In this role he was described as a reliable and valuable member of the ambassador team whose work ethic and teamwork were much appreciated. Nolan also utilized his leadership skills as chair of the Resource Allocation and Accountability Committee during the spring of 2021. In his role as chair, Nolan organized the newly created committee and helped establish bylaws, processes, and a handbook. He also served as the point person between supervisors, committee members, and students. Currently, Thomas is the President of Association Students of Washington State University Global. In this role Nolan works diligently to assist students, helping them to explore opportunities including but not limited to, joining, or creating clubs and approving funding for research opportunities. His nominator states that Nolan has had a positive impact on his campus and has helped set expectations and success for future Global student leaders.

Involvement

WSU Cougar Marching Band, alto saxophone section leader and drum major; Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, vice wing commander and other roles; Arnold Air Society, candidate training officer; president, dance marathon at WSU; Wazzu Racing, social media lead; President’s Award for Leadership; Air Force ROTC scholarship recipient; Llyod Cyr and Randal Spicer scholarships recipient; voted “Most Inspirational” by Cougar Marching Band members; Society of American Military Engineers award; President’s Honor Roll; the American Legion Scholastic Excellence Medal; AFROTC Commendation Medal; AFROTC Achievement Medal; Outstanding AFROTC Flight Commander Award; Northwest Region selectee to attend the Women in Aviation International conference; awarded several flight training scholarships; completed private pilot’s license

What I learned from WSU experiences

I have been able to develop my leadership, followership, and interpersonal skills, and see the impact I’ve made on those around me. AFROTC has given me the opportunity to grow as a leader, and then serve my country upon graduation. The Cougar Marching Band allowed me to contribute to gameday atmospheres, while also belonging to our band family.

Future plans

I’m going into the Air Force as an officer, and I plan to be a pilot. After graduation, I’ll start flight training. There’s going to be a lot of training in the next couple years. From there I’ll either be in fighters or bombers and heavies. My goal is to one day be the pilot to perform a fly over during a WSU game day.

Involvement

American Association of University Women, board member, outreach coordinator, scholarship fundraising event co-chair; Best Schools Marysville, campaign vice-chair; WSU Everett Wind Energy Team, communications lead; Marysville School District, program advisory committee team; Girl Scouts, assistant troop leader; 4H parent volunteer.

Favorite WSU experience

It’s been incredible to be on campus, to be in a university. I never thought that would happen. I’m a first-generation college student. It’s just kind of mind boggling when I think about how much struggle there was for me personally in education and how I’ve hit my stride and come into my own. The Everett campus is a small but tight campus. That’s one of the things I love the most.

Future plans

I enjoy working with great folks who can do a lot of good for the community. I enjoy politics and the arts, so definitely something community-based, maybe doing outreach around an arts organization.

Lindsey Gass is a Project Leader at the WSU Center for Civic Engagement, and during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic was faced with a unique challenge. How do you provide student service volunteer opportunities to senior citizens, but you aren’t able to go into the facility or have direct contact with the seniors? Lindsey’s first outreach effort was to organize chalk art events at various Pullman senior facilities. A number of WSU students went to the facilities to draw and decorate the parking lots and sidewalks. Many of the community partners said the residents were so happy to see students outside working, and many held up handwritten messages to communicate through the windows. Lindsey also organized Senior Tours, which were Smithsonian inspired and revamped to serve the senior communities and student volunteers. Lindsey worked with senior center staff members to get the Smithsonian tours on their screens and she herself acted as the tour guide, taking people through the rooms, and providing educational information. She soon started involving student volunteers, began writing scripts, and was able to provide even more tour guides to the senior community. Lindsey also manages the Pen Friends program, a weekly letter exchange between WSU students and elementary schools. Lindsey manages 11 different classrooms across five local schools, that are serving over 170 elementary school students. Lindsey has also assisted with tutoring and stage help for the Regional Theatre of the Palouse, and she also volunteers her time at the Palouse Discovery Science Center to facilitate learning opportunities for elementary students. Eventually, Lindsey hopes to serve as a physical therapist in marginalized communities and senior facilities.

Involvement

WSU Center for Civic Engagement, community partnerships assistant working with local nonprofits; GivePulse Ambassador; WSU President’s Award for Leadership; Beta Alpha Psi accounting honor society; Student Entertainment Board Special Event Committee; tax intern at Sweeney Conrad P.S.; work-based learning student, Energy Northwest.

Favorite WSU experience

Football games will always be my most memorable experience. I wouldn’t really say there is a specific moment that jumps out. It’s more like, when you’re at WSU, everyone is so approachable. You see your friends on campus. That family feeling in general is my favorite experience.

Future plans

I have an internship at Deloitte this coming summer. I’m planning on going into tax accounting when I graduate and seeing where that takes me. I want to eventually work for a national nonprofit organization like Planned Parenthood.

Aydan Miner is studying Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and is the founder of WSU’s PERIOD chapter. She is described by her nominator as a deeply committed student activist who has applied her WGSS studies to the service of communities locally, regionally, and across the state of Washington. WSU’s PERIOD Chapter is a registered student organization dedicated to raising awareness of period poverty on campus and in communities locally, regionally, and nationally. She worked with chapter members to raise funds and provide free sanitary products for people in need, distributing over 10,000 period products to shelters and those experiencing houselessness in Pullman, Moscow, and Spokane. Under Aydan’s leadership, the group also hosted student-led workshops on campus and worked to begin and further local and state policy. Aydan organized the National Period Rally Day in Seattle, co-founded the Washington for Menstrual Equity Coalition, and worked with other youth activists to pass HB 1273, which will require all Washington State schools to provide free menstrual products in their bathrooms as of Fall 2023. Aydan was awarded the Celia Forrest Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Award, and the Distinguished Service Award in Altruism and Community Service. She was also selected as the Outstanding Senior in WGSS for 2022.

Cameron Barton is a member of the WSU Honors College, holds a 3.97 GPA, and is working toward a Bachelor of Music in keyboard performance with a minor in music technology. During his junior year he received honorable mentions both at the Washington State Music Teachers Association and the University of Nebraska Omaha Piano Day competitions. He was selected as one of three pianists to perform at a masterclass for the 2021 WSMTA conference and was accepted into important summer programs such as the Seattle Piano Institute and Brevard Summer Institute. He was also invited to perform in a masterclass at the National Conference of Honors College in Orlando, Florida. On the Pullman campus, Cameron started teaching private lessons for the Piano Pedagogy Laboratory School, and his successful teaching has resulted in a higher number of students taking lessons, and parents requesting longer lessons. Cameron currently serves as the President of the WSU MTNA Collegiate Chapter, as well as the President of Allegro, and RSO that provides funding to bring world-renowned guest artists to perform and work with WSU students. Last summer, Cameron was one of four students selected for an internship at College of Music Society, during which he helped plan the 2021 CMS National conference. Cameron also works for Northwest Public Broadcasting where he conducts a classical music program aired every Thursday night. In the fall, Cameron will begin pursuing a Master of Music degree.

Involvement

Distinguished Regents Scholar; President’s Honor Roll; College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Senior; Outstanding Senior in Computer Science; Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) national finalist for the chamber ensemble division; Jerry Bailey Memorial Scholarship; School of Music scholarship; Frances Risdon Scholarship for Flute Study; Harold Wheeler Memorial Scholarship; President’s Award for Leadership; Liana K. Sandin Grant; Gerke Collegiate Artist Scholarship; first place in the WSU Concerto/Aria Competition; MTNA Young Artist national finalist in the woodwind division; first place in the Musicfest Northwest’s young artist/flute category; concerto soloist with the Washington Idaho Symphony, WSU Symphony Orchestra, and the Spokane Symphony; baritone in WSU’s 2019 production of The Merry Wives of Windsor; WSU Phoenix Winds Flute Trio; Crimson Flutes, Carinhoso Latin Jazz Band; WSU Association for Computing Machinery, vice president; WSU Mu Phi Epsilon, president; camp counselor and assistant flute faculty at Young Musicians and Artists in Salem, Oregon; first flute in the 2019 Interharmony International Music Festival orchestra at Acqui Terme, Italy

Favorite WSU experience

I went to Italy the summer after my freshman year with my flute professor and a group of other students from my flute studio for a music festival. It was two weeks long, and it was in a non-tourist town in the Piedmont region. I performed at least a couple of times in festival showcases as well as in some master classes. After the festival, most of us from the flute studio went to Florence for several days. The entire experience was beautiful and amazing.

Future plans

I will start working full time at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories as an associate software engineer. I look forward to continuing with the Washington Idaho Symphony. I want to stay involved in music as much as I can. I want to perform concerts with my friends and peers and sing in cafés and at the Moscow Farmers Market.

Cristina Navarro will earn a B.A. in Fine Arts this May and is described as an exemplary student who excelled in her classes focused on advanced drawing and painting. She was awarded as the Department of Fine Arts Outstanding Senior, and a recipient of the Frances Drake Fine Arts Endowed Scholarship for Undergraduates. Cristina has worked as an undergraduate learning assistant where she led weekly discussion lessons to groups of 30-40 students in Into to Art and Art History classes. Cristina’s artwork was selected for inclusion in a Fine Arts departmental video intended to showcase what advanced undergraduates are doing in Fine Arts in Pullman. Her work has been included in several exhibitions at WSU and one of her professors ranked Cristina in the top 3% of undergraduate students she has ever taught. Cristina is hailed as a great collaborator and mentor for her peers, including those who are doing graduate student level work. Much of Cristina’s work focuses on painting and mixed media collage, and she hopes to one day teach art at an elementary or high school.       

Involvement

Vice president and president of Art Club; poster designer for the Moscow Film Society; undergraduate learning assistant for Fine Arts 101 and 201; Spokane Print Fest 2022 and 2023; BFA Thesis Exhibition 2023; Warren Roberts Endowed Scholarship; Frances Drake Endowed Scholarship for Undergraduates; Leonard H. Blinn Scholarship; and College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Student in Fine Arts

Favorite WSU experience

Getting to work in the Fine Arts Department—from ceramics and printmaking to working on different shows and using that space for all kinds of classes. There’s a sign in the front of the building here that reads: “This is the place. There is no place quite like this place anywhere near this place, so this must be the place.” There are great facilities and great people working here, and the Art Club meets here.

Future plans

I am going to Boise State in August to start my MFA. Ultimately, I want to teach and make art. My end goal is to teach studio arts at a university somewhere and continue my art career.