July 11, 2019

Student Stories: Alexander Michael Ratcliff

Alexander Michael Ratcliff

Spokane, WA
B.S., Environmental Engineering

Year awarded 2019

Why did you apply for the Husky 100?

I was nominated by several faculty and friends who encouraged me to apply.

What does being a Husky 100 mean to you throughout your journey at UW?

It is a recognition of all of the hard work and sacrifices I have made during my time at the UW; I chose to take on additional work and projects beyond what was expected in the classroom.

What does being a Husky 100 mean to you and your communities? 

The Husky 100 exemplifies students with a commitment to working through adversity and making the most of the time they have. The Husky 100 is a way to identify and celebrate students who are dedicated to a higher service and have a strong work ethic.

Through your experience, how did you embody one of the Husky 100 criteria?

Through the several solar array installations that I coordinated on campus I learned how to “connect the dots” by bringing together faculty and staff from several different campus organizations. As a student, I would communicate with various building managers, campus engineers, facility managers, sustainability advocates, solar contractors, and donor organizations to meet their needs and expectations. As I learned more about engineering in the classroom, I was able to apply that knowledge to the projects I was working on. Rather than facilitating the conversations between these groups, I was contributing to the discussion and making a number of the decisions for the projects. In this way, my work with real-world engineering on campus also made me “ready for what is next.” 

How does the Husky 100 inspire other students?

The Husky 100 is a great recognition for any student to strive toward. I hope that the possibility of being chosen to this selective cohort will inspire other students to work harder and make more of their time at the UW.

Were there mentors or communities that were a part of your journey at UW?

Absolutely, my journey would have been impossible without them. There are a number of mentors that I would like to personally thank: Stefanie Young, Prof. Jan Whittington, Mariko Navin, Prof. Michael Dodd, and Prof. Michael Brett.

Is there anything that you would like to add?

There are unlimited opportunities at the University. No matter what you want to accomplish in your free time, there is a pathway to do it. The faculty and staff at the UW are incredibly supportive of student projects and research, and all it takes is a little bit of effort to get the ball rolling.