Student Alumni Ambassadors

Ebubechi Abonyi

Class Year: Third Year (Junior)
Hometown: Moses Lake, WA
Major: Architecture
What do you love most about the University of Washington? One of the aspects that I love most about the University of Washington is its remarkable ability to offer a plethora of opportunities that cater to a wide array of interests. The university’s expansive and diverse nature creates an environment where virtually every student can find something truly engaging and enriching. With its extensive range of academic programs, extracurricular activities and vibrant campus life, the University of Washington stands as a beacon of learning that not only imparts knowledge but also nurtures the individual passions and aspirations of its students.
What is your dream job? My dream job is to become a Commercial Architect.
Why do you think it’s important for students to connect with alums/the UWAA? I think that it is important for students to connect with alums and the UWAA because there are a lot of resources that students can gain by doing so. I also think that this is a great way of fostering community and expanding your connections.
In my free time, I like to:  I find immense joy and fulfillment in the realm of creativity. I dabble in different creative avenues such as painting, drawing and embroidery, and right now my current obsession is sewing. This recent obsession has opened up a whole new avenue of creativity for me, inviting me to experiment with different stitching techniques, explore diverse materials and bring to life garments that reflect my personal style.
What is a fun or interesting fact about yourself? I went to a boarding school in Nigeria when I was in middle school.

Monse Diaz

Class Year: Third Year (Junior)
Hometown: Prosser, WA
Major: Nursing
What do you love most about the University of Washington? The thing I love most about the University of Washington is the scenery and all the places there are to study!
What is your dream job? My dream job is to become a trauma nurse, then eventually become and EMT/Firefighter.
Why do you think it’s important for students to connect with alums/the UWAA? I think it’s important to connect with alums so that they continue to know what it is that is going on at the University of Washington. As well as continue to connect with current students as well.
In my free time, I like to: Crochet, go to the gym and hang out with friends.
What is a fun or interesting fact about yourself? I speak three different languages: English, Spanish, and French.

Natalie Holiday

Class Year: Third Year (Junior)
Hometown: Singapore
Major (and minor): Economics (Business)
What do you love most about the University of Washington? What I love most about the University of Washington is how it fosters an environment of inclusivity and embraces the diverse backgrounds of its students. Being here has allowed me to connect deeply with people from all walks of life, and this diversity has greatly expanded my worldview. The sense of community and the opportunities to engage with so many different perspectives has made my experience at UW both unique and transformative.
What is your dream job? I’d like to be the founder of a successful start-up, but as a kid my big plan was to be a florist at my own flower shop. (I’d like to eventually do this too one day!)
Why do you think it’s important for students to connect with the alums/the UWAA? There is nothing more important than having a support system while navigating one’s college years, and the opportunity for UW students to connect with alums through the UWAA provides just that. By engaging with alums, students are able to gain clarity on post-grad career choices and receive valuable advice from those that have been through it all.
What is your favorite UWAA program or event? Huskies@Work! This is a great avenue for students to begin planning their future by heeding the advice from past Huskies.
In my free time, I like to: Have movie nights with friends, get outdoors, attempt to cook, and play pickleball!

Gianna Lampert

Class Year: Third Year (Junior)
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Major (and minor): Business Administration (Certification of International Studies in Business)
What do you love most about the University of Washington? I love how there is something for everyone at the UW, whether it is RSOs, sports or Greek life. Everyone can find a group of people that share common interests; if that group does not already exist, they can make it themselves. (All you need is five members to create an RSO!)
What is your dream job? To found and be the CEO of my own company.
Why do you think it’s important for students to connect with alums/the UWAA? Alumni can be vital to a student’s academic and post-academic careers because they have experienced everything students are currently going through. Alumni can advise students going down a similar path as them and help students discover opportunities they didn’t even know existed.
In my free time, I like to: Explore Seattle! I love visiting touristy spots like Pike Place and Gas Works Park with my friends. I can’t wait to explore more this year and hopefully go on hikes and check out some of the Washington islands!
What is a fun or interesting fact about yourself? I love traveling! I have traveled to 10 countries and can’t wait to visit many more.

Trevor Marquis

Class Year: Fourth Year (Senior)
Hometown: Issaquah, WA
Major (and minor): General Biology (Business)
What do you love most about the University of Washington? I love that the UW is such a large university and there are so many people and organizations to get involved with. Connecting with others about professional and personal interests has been a highlight of my time here. It’s elevated my academics by giving me access to study groups and lots of extra resources. It also means there are always new opportunities to pursue so you can continue bettering yourself in and out of the classroom.
What is your dream job? I would love to work as a physician and then transition into a more global health policy-centered role later in life.
Why do you think it’s important for students to connect with alums/the UWAA? Connecting with alumni is a key component to success before and after graduating. Alumni can help mentor you with the experience they had in school and offer strategies to excel. All students come in with a fresh perspective and it can be extremely helpful to have someone guide you both in academics and extracurricular activities. Once you’ve created that connection, it can then lead to many opportunities after graduation like internships, jobs, or higher education.
In my free time, I like to: Stay active outdoors. I love hiking, spikeball, skiing and volleyball. I also love to read and I’ve recently been listening to a lot of audiobooks and podcasts.
What is a fun or interesting fact about yourself? I love hiking and the longest I’ve hiked in one day was 23 miles!

Neha Ravi

Class Year: Third Year (Junior)
Hometown: Camas, WA
Major (and minor): Informatics (Business Administration)
What do you love most about the University of Washington? I love the location of the UW. The campus itself is gorgeous, with close proximity to delicious restaurants on the Ave. Outside of the U-district, I love how quickly you can access the main city of Seattle or other small neighborhoods like Capitol Hill to explore more parts of the city, or visit the outskirts for a hike or a beach day. With so much to do in the area, the exploration has made my college experience amazing and allowed me to find a community on campus with people who enjoy the same activities as me.
What is your dream job? I would love to be a marketing manager or project manager for a big tech firm or an event planning company.
Why do you think it’s important for students to connect with the alums/the UWAA? I think connecting with the UWAA as students is important in terms of career opportunities through networking effectively to gain connections and build a community in order to make the most of your UW experience professionally. Personally, through connecting with informatics alums specifically, I was able to gain valuable insights into the informatics application process and get help with my informatics admission essay, all of which I would not have been able to do if I had not networked with alumni.
What is your favorite UWAA program or event? As someone who loves to travel, my favorite UWAA program is the UW Alumni Tours because it gives you the opportunity to visit new places around the world with a community of UW alumni.
In my free time, I like to: Rewatch Pretty Little Liars, write, explore the city or nearby nature with my friends, and find new vegan spots!

Jerusalem Sintayehu

Class Year: Fourth Year (Senior)
Hometown: Blaine, WA
Majors: Physics and Astronomy
What do you love most about the University of Washington? The campus is really beautiful and the research opportunities are so abundant!
What is your dream job? I would love to become a research scientist.
Why do you think it’s important for students to connect with the alums/the UWAA? It’s important because because connecting with professionals that went through similar journeys as the students seeking support can allow for a deeper level of understanding and connection. This connection can open students up to various opportunities that are so widely available, but maybe they weren’t aware of it.
What is your favorite UWAA program or event? I really love Huskies@Work because of its unique ability to facilitate meaningful career connections between current students and accomplished alumni!
In my free time, I like to: I love to get creative either through making art, painting or drawing, or through writing.

Kazu Someya

Class Year: Third Year (Junior)
Hometown: Florida
Major: Psychology
What do you love most about the University of Washington? I love how interconnected everyone is in some shape or form! So many times, I have been walking with a friend on campus when one of us runs across someone from near or distant memories ranging from recognizing a friend of a friend to an elementary classmate. It makes such an immense campus feel less intimidating.
What is your dream job? Psychiatrist
Why do you think it’s important for students to connect with the alums/the UWAA? I firmly believe that within any practice, you get out what you put in. The UWAA is a platform that allows students to benefit from this university by connecting with alumni who have walked the path they are on. Thinking about future career options can be very scary and lonely at times. Students must know what resources are available to make college and the future seem less frightening.
In my free time, I like to: Run to various areas to witness beautiful breathtaking views posted on ASICS Runkeeper, cook Instagram-aesthetic food, venture and explore new areas especially different college campuses, and draw whatever comes to mind!

Jade Wells

Class Year: Third Year (Junior)
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
Major (and minor): Earth and Space Science (Marine Biology)
What do you love most about the University of Washington? I love both the community and the location here at the UW! Moving to Washington from Arizona was a tough adjustment, but everyone on campus was super welcoming and friendly!
What is your dream job? My dream job is to be an astrobiology researcher at NASA. I have always loved exploratory sciences! I also have a passion for teaching young children about science and hope to make a lasting positive impact on NASA’s community outreach programs in the future.
Why do you think it’s important for students to connect with alums/the UWAA? I believe that networking, especially in college, is very important. Not only can current students gain the opportunity to land internships with UW alumni, but we can also all learn from their past experiences and gain new insight into our prospective careers. The UWAA also offers many opportunities to engage with the UW community as a whole; whether that be clubs, volunteering opportunities, or just getting the chance to meet new people!
In my free time, I like to: I really enjoy traveling, hiking and exploring downtown Seattle!
What is a fun or interesting fact about yourself? I have my scuba diving certification and have been diving in Hawaii and California!

Responsibilities:

• Encourage today’s students to see themselves as future alumni and valuable lifelong members of the UW community
• Promote UW Alumni Association student programs, such as Huskies@Work, Husky Socials and UW Husky Landing, at campus events and via social media
• Host alumni, prospective students, university officials and students at UWAA and Seattle-area events
• Ensure the success of UWAA events through participating in day-of event coordination
  Provide insight and feedback on student interests and trends

Learning Outcomes:

• Develop campus/community relation skills essential to fostering positive relationships with UW/UWAA community constituents (students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents & friends)
• Improve marketing & promotion techniques as part of the goal to connect the UW student population with UWAA’s student programs/membership
• Learn effective event management practices (set-up/tear-down, greeting/hosting, tabling)
• Gain an in-depth understanding of the University of Washington Alumni Association from both a student and alumni perspective
• Meet, interact, and network with the University of Washington Alumni community of over 500,000

Considerations:

• Will be expected to work at least 20 hours/quarter
• Must intend to work three consecutive quarters during the first year of employment
• Must be able to attend ambassador training and monthly meetings
• Expected to represent the UWAA, its mission, values, and programs in a positive manner
• A valid Washington State driver’s license may be required to operate the UWAA van
• Ability to lift 20 pounds regularly and up to 40 pounds occasionally for event setup/tear down