event review
Dawg Pack gatherings
Hello! Thirty-five incoming students from the Spokane area gathered on Wednesday, June 14, for the Welcome to Washington event. Hosted by the University of Washington Alumni Association, this celebration attracted Huskies new and old, and provided newly admitted students and their families with an opportunity to connect with UW faculty, staff and alumni over dinner and conversation.
Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs Ed Taylor, along with rising junior Sanjay Kubsad (a Spokane native) addressed the crowd of nearly 150. In addition to putting the new students — and their parents — at ease, both spoke eloquently about the unique Husky experience. From first-day jitters to graduation day, attendees were reassured of the welcoming community awaiting them in Seattle, as well as the numerous resources to help them succeed on and off campus.
A highlight of the program was the presentation of two student scholarships on behalf of the Greater Spokane alumni. Kapriann Kavanagh and Khoi Ha were each awarded a $1500 scholarship to help with school expenses for the 2017-2018 academic year, and it is the local chapter’s goal to make this a new annual tradition.
Adding to the evening’s sense of camaraderie were the 35 new faculty members who joined the dinner as part of the annual UW Faculty Field Tour. Covering roughly 1,000 miles over five days, this immersive tour featured visits to high-tech manufacturers and the growing wine industry as well as Grand Coulee Dam, Spokane and Washington’s agricultural heartland.
The evening concluded with both incoming students and faculty introducing themselves to the room. If their impromptu remarks are any indication, the future is bright for the UW.
Let’s get social. Bad weather caused UWAA’s February Tri-Cities Husky Social to be canceled, but that was certainly not the case in June. More than 25 area alumni joined us for an informal evening of connecting and conversing at the Ice Harbor Brewing Company. One of the more notable alumni present? Mike Miller ’63, who was still excited about his role as a Guardian of the Gonfalon at the recent June 10 graduation.
UWAA travels to Yakima next, hosting a family-friendly August 25 Husky Social at alumni-owned Bale Breaker Brewing Company.
Back on campus. On June 22, 250 College Success Foundation prospective students representing Spokane and Yakima visited the Seattle UW campus. For those unfamiliar with the program, the College Success Foundation is a nonprofit organization that partners with local school districts, foundations and businesses to ensure that students are prepared for college and are able to succeed and complete their bachelor’s degree. Read more about the Foundation’s Eastern Washington efforts.
A dawggone good time. Nothing says summer like a night of baseball! For the second year in a row, nearly 100 Spokane area Huskies took part in Bark at the Park with the Spokane Indians. UW fans shared a suite, enjoyed some great ballpark dining and took home a few super fun giveaways. Check out photos from the event on our Facebook page and feel free to tag yourself.
