'93 Ambassadors
DO-IT Ambassadors are pursuing postsecondary studies and careers. They share their experiences with the younger DO-IT Scholars and Pals, encouraging them to pursue their goals in college and careers.
Hello! My name is Rachel. I will be a senior at Eastern Washington University this fall. I am studying to become a speech therapist. My disability occurred in 1989, when I was 12. I had a stroke which paralyzed the right half of my body. I now have a limp and my right hand does not work very well. I am interested in the life sciences and anything that has to do with people. I enjoy horseback riding, writing, hanging out with friends, dancing, playing on the computer, and just having a good time! I've worked at Battelle Labs for four summers and I was an Intern at DO-IT Summer Study '95. Being in DO-IT has helped me in school and definitely at work!
My name is Mark. I am majoring in communication studies at Eastern Washington University. I am originally from Ephrata, WA. I have Muscular Dystrophy and use a wheelchair. I access the computer and the Internet using my head. My interests include physics, philosophy, politics, religion, public speaking, electronic commerce, and Equidistant Letter Skipping codes in the Torah. I am a Catholic, devout in belief, lukewarm in practice. I enjoy being screamed at while making a rational argument. I helped with DO-IT Summer Study '96 as an Intern. I really enjoy DO-IT!
Hello. My name is Katie. Yep that's right! I got married to Ryan on September 4th, 1999! I graduated from Washington State University in 1999 with a B.S. in biology and am currently attending Eastern Washington University for my Masters in physical therapy. I should finish in December, 2001. Can't wait to be done with school! I will have my first internship in September. I love what I am learning. I'm the only deaf person in my class and it has truly been a positive experience working with the staff and interpreters. I worked for DO-IT as a Summer Study assistant in 2000.
Hi. I am Nhi and I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which has limited my vision. I use large print and voice output programs on my computer. I got my Associate in Arts (A.A.) from Highline Community College in Washington, where I studied business. Now I am taking some time off from school to work before going back to school. I went to a leadership conference and met Bill Clinton. I am glad to be a participant of DO-IT. It has provided me with great experiences.
Hi. My name is Ryan. This year I will be a senior at Seattle University, in Washington state, studying business and finance. After celebrating my 21st birthday in Las Vegas, I went to Australia for a month and a half. I work at Nordstrom's in the boys department. My disabilities are Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and learning disability in English. I love snowboarding and I have been to the Alps in Switzerland and I can say with confidence, "Utah rules!"DO-IT has enabled me to make a lot of great friends.
My name is Lloyd. I have a severe hearing impairment. I completed two years of an engineering program in Washington state. I was an Intern in Summer Study '96. I now attend the Electronic Institute, where I am studying to become a technician. Despite my hearing loss I am musically talented. I can play trombone and baritone. I am interested in scuba diving, dancing, math, music, karate, and computers.
My name is Randy. I graduated from The Evergreen State College in Washington state with a concentration in computer science. I was an Intern at Summer Study '95 and completed a co-op with Weyerhaeuser. I am blind, with two glass eyes, and use a guide dog (Mogul) for mobility. I use a computer with a speech synthesizer card and screen reading software. My hobbies include basketball, hockey, computers (of course), reading, taking long walks, and generally socializing. I became a married man in August 1998 and I work full-time at Weyerhaeuser providing computer support.
Hi! My name is Nadira. DO-IT has been a big part of my life. I have learned so much from this program. I go to a community college in Washington and plan to transfer to a four-year school to do my Bachelors in computer science. My hobbies are music, poetry, and the Internet.
My name is Rodney. I attend Seattle Central Community College in Seattle. My interests include computer programming, reading and writing. My disability is Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita which means my muscles didn't grow to be fully capable, and my joints are frozen in the position they happened to be in when my biological mother caught the virus. I worked at the University of Washington Adaptive Technology Lab and was a lab assistant in the 1995 DO-IT summer program at Camp Courage. I work as a telephone sales representative.
My name is Eric and I am 25 years old. I live in Oregon. I am visually impaired and use talking and Braille technology. I work at Stream International as a technical support representative helping people troubleshoot DSL services. I got my degree in computer applications from Mt. Hood Community College in 2000. My interests are online communication, two-way radios, 60s music and comedy. DO-IT staff and Mentors have given me a lot of helpful advice about job preparations, making it a lot easier for me to get ready for my current job. I don't think I could have possibly done as well without that advice. I hope to assist other people in the same way that DO-IT has helped me.
My name is Anna and my disability is blindness. I graduated in 1999 from the University of Washington, with a degree in cell and molecular biology. I enjoy reading, e-mail, games, socializing, music, plays, writing poetry, and martial art aikido, which I have been doing for the past two years. About a year ago I realized that art had become much more to me that a hobby. It is something I love, and am driven to do in spite of myself.
Hi! I am Hollis. I am starting a cooperative group home in Oregon. I am trying to find people with physical disabilities to participate in our idea. I plan to study mechanical engineering. I'd like to design and build better wheelchairs that will last a lifetime I plan to make it a part of my CO-OP business. I have Cerebral Palsy and I use a power wheelchair; I have strong batteries, so I don't run out of power when I'm miles from home. I am outfitted with an IBM laptop computer with communication software. I enjoy running around on the Internet. I went to a Vision Quest a few summers ago and had a life-changing experience. Last summer I went to Rhode Island to attend a five-week camp called Shake-A-Leg, where I learned how to be more independent. I live in a group home with 40 people on the outside of Eugene. Living here is teaching me a lot about myself.
My name is Matthew and I live in Washington. I have Dyslexia which messes up the things I read and write. I attend the University of Puget Sound and I am majoring in computer science and math. My favorite sport to play is soccer. DO-IT has been a very positive influence on my life, and I would not have accomplished many things without it. I helped with the 1996 and 1997 DO-IT Summer Studies and have helped deliver several DO-IT presentations.
My name is Mitch. I completed my Associates Degree at Wenatchee Valley College and then transferred to the University of Washington where I studied music. I am pursuing an education in Biblical Studies in order to become a Missionary-Pastor. I may also be able to spend the next few years as a professional recording artist, touring in a Christian band. I was an Intern in 1995 and worked as a paid staff member for DO-IT in 1999. I really appreciate all that DO-IT has done to enable me to be successful.