New York Huskies
Caitlin Grady receives 2015 UWAA New York scholarship
The UW Alumni Association’s New York chapter is pleased to announce that Caitlin Grady of Budd Lake, New Jersey, is the recipient of the 2015 UWAA New York scholarship. Grady, who is double-majoring in English and Communication, recently answered a few questions about her experiences as a UW student. Read on to learn more about her!
UWAA: Why did you want to attend college at the UW?
CG: UW was the first college I visited and the standard to which I held every other school. I knew I wanted to study in the humanities and social sciences, and UW seemed to have an excellent reputation. English has always been my greatest passion, and it didn’t seem right to attend a university that did not invest the same time and attention into the study as I would. When I toured schools in other cities, I compared them all to UW.
In addition to academics, UW pride is unsurpassed. Students, faculty, staff and alumni are proud to be a part of this community. This, coupled with the school’s amazing location in Seattle and the beautiful Pacific Northwest, made UW the top choice for my college education.
UWAA: What led you to double-major in English and Communication? Did you know you wanted to study these subjects before you enrolled at the UW?
CG: Reading and writing are my passions, so studying English was a given for me. The beauty of the subject never ceases to amaze me because, especially thanks to the incredible faculty here at UW, it has become increasingly evident to me that English is the study of everything. English is mathematical, and the fields of grammar and linguistics are indicative of this. English is emotional and psychological, especially in the case of rhetoric. English is historical and anthropological as literature is the mechanism by which we revisit the past and its residents in the most intimate way. Lastly, English is art: poetry, novels, essays and other bodies of work are all crafted by artists. Through English, I get to study everything else, and this is the greatest joy for anyone with inherent and burning curiosity about the world.
My decision to pursue Communication in tandem with English came later. I wanted to understand how writing could catalyze, mobilize and change the world. Media, more so than ever, is the mechanism for this, and I am excited to pursue this additional field of study.
UWAA: What skills do you feel you’ve gained through your majors?
CG: I find myself constantly thinking critically about my environment. Analysis is not just meant for classrooms. The world is saturated with knowledge, and the importance of really thinking about the world in a thoughtful and critical manner is the only method to acquire this knowledge.
UWAA: In addition to taking classes, you’ve also volunteered as a note-taker for the Disability Service Office on campus and served a tutor at Bryant Elementary School in Seattle. How have these opportunities impacted you?
CG: These experiences have made me a more open-minded individual. Through note-taking for the Disability Service Office, I am reminded that my economic difficulties in pursuing a college education are not the only type of difficulties students face.
Tutoring has helped me see that strengths and weaknesses are never consistent from person to person, and this is what makes for great learning environments. We all have something to offer—the fourth grader to the college student—and this has broadened my perspective on the importance of listening and understanding.
UWAA: How will receiving the UWAA New York Scholarship enhance your experiences as a UW student?
CG: Prior to receiving the scholarship, I felt like time was working against me. With two intended majors, some general education requirements and a need to graduate early due to financial reasons, I had too much to do in too little time. The UWAA New York scholarship makes early graduation less of a necessity for me and allows me to focus on learning rather than scrambling through requirements.
Established in 2006, the UWAA New York scholarship fund supports students from the greater New York area. Students with at least a sophomore standing and who have completed at least one full year at the UW are eligible. Selection is based on both academic merit and financial need. For more information, contact the UW Office of Financial Aid.
Interested in helping the UWAA New York scholarship fund grow? Donate to it today!
