Student Spotlight - Katherine Osborn

Katherine Osborn and her parents.

What did you study at EvCC?

I studied biology.

Why did you choose EvCC?

I chose EvCC because high school was not my place, and I needed more of a challenge, so I did Running Start through EvCC.

Who helped you succeed at EvCC? (faculty member, staff). What did that person do to help you?

Dane Erosa, Tia Pinzon, and Ricky Dooley. Dane first introduced me to MESA (the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement program), a program that changed my schooling for the better. I was able to finally focus on classes again after I was experiencing burn out, and also opened up new pathways for success. Tia was the main push for the growth I had in MESA. She was always there to help me with anything that I needed, whether it be for my education or personal life. And Dr. Ricky Dooley was a fascinating instructor that made learning fun again for me. He also really helped me get into my dream school, UW Seattle, by working countless hours on my essays and applications with me. He’s the type of instructor who takes the time to know more than a person's name. He got to know each of us as a whole person which made the learning environment very welcoming. 

What do you plan to do next? (Job, transfer, etc.)

I am transferring to the University of Washington in Seattle to continue my education.

Describe the best experience you had at EvCC.

The best experience I had at EvCC was overall my last year. I was studying biology with a great instructor making great friends, and I was working in Student LIFE, really making connections with people and making more friends, but also in MESA continuing that family. It was a great way to end my EvCC and high school career, surrounded by good friends and lots of experience.

How did the MESA program help you?

The MESA program provided me so much. When I first started MESA I was lost. I was extremely burnt out from school and had no motivation to do anything. Then I started in MESA and everything changed. I finally had a home on campus, where I could make friends with people who were on the same path as me who understood what it was like to struggle and get burnt out being a STEM major. Overall, MESA gave me a family on campus and more support than I could have ever imagined.