The University of Washington’s Jumpstart program recently welcomed kindergarteners from the Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) to the Seattle campus. The visit was part of the FWPS’s new Kinders to College initiative that launched this academic year and aims to promote the importance of early college and career readiness.
“Our new Kinders to College program allows young kindergarten students to begin learning about the college and career opportunities available to them,” said FWPS superintendent Dr. Dani Pfeiffer. “With repeated exposure to multiple post-secondary pathways, over time students will build an appetite for success, and it’s important that this process begins early,” she said.
The collaboration between Jumpstart and FWPS extends Jumpstart’s commitment to providing equal educational opportunities to all young children and breaking cycles of poverty. Jessica Hunnicut Batten, director of Local P12 Education Partnerships at UAA’s Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center, expressed her excitement about the partnership and the benefits it will bring.
Batten emphasized the importance of exposing young scholars to college and post-secondary pathways early, as studies show that children begin contemplating their future careers in elementary school. “By offering students early exposure to a college environment, they can get excited about education and develop career aspirations, which will motivate them as they navigate their educational journey,” Batten said.
Nicole Collopy, a UW alum, cited her time as a former career and college readiness assistant with the Dream Project, which has been going to schools in the Federal Way School District for over a decade, as instrumental in shaping her approach to fostering educational equity and inclusion.
Supporting the amazing communities she worked with through the Dream Project allowed Collopy to evolve her understanding of the systems and structures that create barriers to educational equity. This brought her to her current position as FWPS’s college and career readiness facilitator, “The experiential learning I participated in, through what is now the CELE Center, shaped my journey by allowing me to apply my knowledge and explore my passions, eventually leading me to discover my love of college access work,” Collopy said.
The Kinders to College event was organized in partnership with Batten and Collopy, with the help of the Dream Project’s sister program, UW Jumpstart. Jumpstart students designed and led groups of kindergarteners in hands-on classroom activities, introducing them to different careers such as dentistry, art, archeology and pediatrics. The event also included a visit by UW mascot Harry the Husky and a walking scavenger hunt to the fountain.
Magnolia Wood, ‘25, a Jumpstart leader majoring in speech and hearing sciences, shared her experience of the event. “I had a lot of fun watching the kids’ faces light up as they entered and again during our readings and activities,” Wood shared. She expressed her hope that such events will become a lasting memory for the children as they grow up and pursue their dreams.
Emely Dominguez, ‘25, Jumpstart leader majoring in education communities and organizations, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the value of exposing young minds to various career possibilities. “Seeing how happy they were in a college environment was satisfying because this not only helps the students have a positive view towards their education but also the belief that they can achieve any dream,” Dominguez said.
Jumpstart leader Carmela Paz, ‘24, reflected on the fulfilling experience of the Kinders to College event. She highlighted her role in preparing materials and creating a fun learning environment, particularly in the Bob Ross room where kids could express their creativity through art. “We had the children engage and apply what they read about by giving them canvases and watercolor paint to create their pieces of artwork,” Paz said. “I loved working alongside them and seeing their creativity roam, sharing with us and their classmates!” she said.
“It was a great start to our student’s educational journey toward success and we are thankful for our partnership with University of Washington’s Jumpstart program for joining us in this effort,” said Dr. Pfeiffer. The UW Jumpstart program remains committed to the ongoing partnership and advancing education equity across the region.
About Jumpstart
Through Jumpstart, UW students provide language, social-emotional and literacy programming for preschool children from under-resourced communities and promote quality early learning for all children. UW students gain experience in preschool classrooms, setting goals, teamwork and leadership skills.
