The Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D) Recruitment and Outreach team hosted its fifth annual Purple & Gold Experience in April.
Purple & Gold was an opportunity for newly admitted students and their families to become familiar with the UW. Over 200 students attended a series of four events designed by ethnicity (African American, Latino, Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian and American Indian).
Events included lectures, panels and campus tours. Student clubs and programs participated in a resource fairs to provide information and awareness of their organizations. Purple & Gold was one last chance for OMA&D to showcase all the UW has to offer.
“This is our final opportunity for them to see why they need to come to the University of Washington,” said Candice Garza, UW’s Latino recruiter.
Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange, vice president for minority affairs and vice provost for diversity, gave welcome remarks at each event. Gene Kim, associate director for OMA&D’s McNair and Early Identification programs; Gabriel Gallardo, OMA&D associate vice president; and Alexes Harris, associate professor in the Department of Sociology, gave lectures to the students to give a taste of what college lectures are like. All Purple & Gold events received strong support from student ambassadors and OMA&D staff.
Many of the students accepted to the university had a few lingering questions before they committed to UW.
“I had a few concerns before I could send in my letter of intent,” said Gregory Smith from Tacoma. “After this event those concerns were fixed and I am excited for the fall.”
OMA&D Recruitment and Outreach is prepping for its next event, the annual Young Gifted & Black (YGB) Conference on May 18. For more information, contact Merissa Tatum at tatumm@uw.edu.
Story by Evan Silvers, UW Senior
Photos by Bre Jones, UW Senior