RICHLAND The first freshman class at WSU Tri-Cities is thriving thanks to ongoing support from the community.
The freshmen have spent their first semester working on service learning projects, making new friends and adjusting to college coursework.
“The best part is the good communication with professors,” said freshman Sara Sanchez, 18, of Pasco, who wants to be a nurse. “I can go to their offices and easily talk to them about assignments and projects. They’re friendly and always available.”
An informal survey of the freshmen showed that 88 percent of them would positively recommend WSU Tri-Cities to prospective students. Sanchez is among those. “It’s better than going to a big campus and getting lost,” she said. “I feel more at home here.”
The demographics of the WSU Tri-Cities first freshman class include:
Average age is 19.
68 percent are female, 32 percent are male, and 16 percent are ethnic minorities.
75 percent are from the Tri-City area.
The community’s help still is needed to ensure the success of the inaugural freshman class, particularly for the special scholarship program. The overwhelming interest in freshman classes means more than double the original number of scholarships and mentors are needed.
A year ago, community leaders and Chancellor Vicky L. Carwein announced a bold $6,000 scholarship as part of the recruitment of freshmen to the Richland campus. Each full-time freshman received a $3,000 scholarship during the first year, plus a mirror $3,000 to finance the senior year at WSU Tri-Cities. That’s $1,500 per semester, for four semesters.
When the scholarship program was launched, WSU Tri-Cities was planning for 50 freshmen.
“We are victims of our own success,” Carwein said. “The challenge and the opportunity is that we ended up with more than twice the number of freshmen than we expected.
“Through the generosity of the community, we met our original goal of funding for 50,” Carwein said. “We want to finish our fundraising for the entire freshman scholarship program by Dec. 31.”
Challenges to support higher education with a freshman scholarship have been issued to local real estate, legal, medical, and financial services professionals. A $6,000 gift provides a scholarship named after a business, organization or someone special to the donor.
To make a tax-deductible gift to the WSU Tri-Cities freshman scholarship campaign, contact 372-7258 or chancellor@tricity.wsu.edu.
Sanchez is one of the many WSU Tri-Cities freshmen who are living at home, holding down a job, and paying for their own college expenses.
“The $6,000 scholarship helped me a lot,” Sanchez said. “A lot of people recognize us because we’re the first freshman class. It’s a good thing to know that the community is here to support us and our education.”
Other updates for the first freshman class include:
Service learning projects are nearing completion. Each of the five “Gen Ed 104: Freshman Seminar” sessions is working on projects for a variety of local nonprofit agencies. The projects include helping build a Habitat For Humanity house, improvements to Paul Liddell Park in Richland, establishing a fund-raising campaign for The Kirsha Foundation that supports access to the arts, and assisting the African American Community Cultural & Educational Society with historical documentation of African-Americans in the Tri-Cities.
Mentors are needed for the Cougar Success program. The goal is to form mentoring relationships that help the students connect to the community and learn how to be successful in their future careers. Starting in January, mentors are asked to make monthly contact with the student and to meet with the student at least twice per semester. Apply to be a mentor by contacting Johan Curtiss, WSU Tri-Cities career services manager, at 372-7351 or jcurtiss@tricity.wsu.edu. Applications are due Wednesday, Nov. 21, to be a freshman mentor for spring semester, which starts Jan. 7. Download the PDF at https://www.tricity.wsu.edu/careerservice/mentor.htm.
