Husky 509
Ten Eastern WA students in the Husky 100
Every year, the UW recognizes a group of students who are making the most of the Husky Experience. Known as the Husky 100, these outstanding students reflect UW’s vibrant campus communities in Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma.
They are undergraduates who came to the UW straight from high school or transferred from community college. They are graduate students returning in the midst of successful careers. They have founded start-ups, conducted undergraduate research and advocated for social justice. They work on campus and in our communities. They are leaders and innovators.
Ten students from east of the mountains were recognized as part of this honored group. Meet them and visit the Husky 100 page to learn more.
Sami Bailey
St. John, WA
BS, Public Health
I grew up in a small farming town where hardly anyone looked like me, but at the UW, I’ve found the space to deeply and honestly explore multiple dimensions of my identity. I see this bold, determined, opinionated woman gradually emerge from within, no longer reticent and unsure. I’ve discovered my passions, a voice and mindfulness here – reminding me of my commitment to a more equitable and just world, one in which all communities feel welcomed.
Kaitlyn Casimo
Camas, WA
PhD, Neuroscience
My story has been about science and theater ever since I was too young to know they were two different things. Besides developing programs in interactive, informal science learning to make science fun for kids and adults, I’m improving the way we tell stories about science on the stage and page. When I’m not doing research on patterns of connectivity in the human brain, I’m working to bring science to new audiences in innovative and accessible ways and to teach other scientists to do the same.
Samantha De Abreu
Cheney, WA
PhD, Environmental and Forest Sciences
As a single mom and Ph.D. student in environmental and forest sciences, my goal is to be a role model for my daughter and an advocate for underserved and underrepresented communities. I overcame many challenges on my path to attending the UW that helped me develop strength, patience and perseverance. My Husky Experience has allowed me to help co-found a student parent RSO, build community, participate in student government and act as an agent of change. I am honored to be one of the Husky 100.
Samantha Gil Vargas
Yakima, WA
BS, Human Centered Design & Engineering
Throughout my Husky Experience, I have learned that as a designer I have the power to actively listen to marginalized communities so that I can better design a society fit for all of us. I’ve learned this through various experiences like studying abroad in Japan, interning at the Institute of Learning and Brain Sciences, facilitating an outreach ASB program with HCDE and volunteering at ROOTS.
Bryan Nakata
Pullman, WA
BA Communications (Journalism)
During my Husky Experience, I have been involved in nearly all areas of media: corporate, public university, feature film and sports. My work as a digital storyteller, coupled with the connections I have made at UW, has led to my passion for sharing inspiration from the stories of others. Along the way, I focus on the underrepresented voices as an advocate
for media diversity.
Cecilia Pérez
Grandview, WA
BS, Nursing, Nutritional Science
I am the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. The challenges I have faced have motivated me to help pave a path for other underrepresented students to succeed in higher education institutions, through mentorship and community building. As a Husky nurse, I am passionate about social justice and addressing health inequities. I hope to bridge healthcare gaps that communities of color disproportionately experience, especially within the Latinx migrant population.
Katie Reichard
Spokane, WA
PhD, NeuroScience
For me, being a scientist means looking at seemingly impossible problems and using new tools and strategies to make them solvable. In my time at the UW, I’ve approached the problem of inequality in science in the same way. I’m tackling this problem with an organization here on campus and with state and federal advocacy. Using organizing, outreach and education as tools, my peers and I are trying to make the culture at UW and in academic science more inclusive, equitable and diverse.
Alexis Rodriguez-Pantaleon
Wenatchee, WA
BS, Biology (General), Diversity
I am a Mexican American who is passionate about building inclusive communities. My experiences at the University of Washington have equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to become a boundless leader and mentor. These experiences have inspired me to devote my career to address the factors that affect the lives of underserved communities throughout the world.
Nayeli Sargent
White Swan, WA
BA, Communication
My years and experiences at the University of Washington have molded me into a leader and professional. Alongside the support of my mentors and family, I continue to not only motivate myself to become empowered, but also motivate those around me and inspire the youth to pursue their goals and dreams. Enhancing my education as a Husky has helped me not only to embrace who I am and where I come from, but also to realize that I can determine the role my upbringing will play in my future.
Yesenia Velasquez
Yakima, WA
MS, Accounting
BA, Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
It’s time to change the narrative in higher education. Through my experience as a person of color in a predominantly white institution, I have grown as an academic and advocate. At the UW, I have taken advantage of opportunities to mentor high school students of color, attend LBTQIA+ business conferences and work at the disability office. My double degree in gender women sexuality studies and accounting sparked my passion to become a professor to change the culture of business.
