*Article first posted on the WSU Foundation official website, in November, 2025.
By Keith Powell, WSU Foundation
Gusta’s Story
As a non-traditional student and mother, Gusta Rose Beard’s journey from Seattle to Washington State University Everett has been one of resilience, purpose, and community. A recipient of multiple scholarships—including the Gautsch Foreman Scholarship and the Asa V. Clark Memorial Fund—Gusta credits this support with enabling her to fully engage in campus life. She served as director of student events in the student government and founded the WSUE Horticulture Club, where she leads fundraising and interdisciplinary programming that explores the intersection of agriculture and technology.
An organic and sustainable agriculture major, Gusta’s passion for sustainable farming and education shines through her outreach work, including leading sessions for Girls Explore STEM. One of her proudest moments as a Coug was selling plants grown by her club during a campus showcase, connecting with faculty, students, and community members.
Now preparing for graduate school, Gusta hopes to mentor future Cougs and continue advancing agricultural research. Her journey—from single mom to first-generation college graduate—is a testament to the transformative power of education and donor generosity.
Talking Cougs, Community, and Impact
Gautsch Foreman Scholarship, Asa V. Clark Memorial Fund, WSU Alumni Everett Campus Leadership Award, Launching Futures, and Alumni Association Scholarship.
Receiving these scholarships has been a blessing, especially as a non-traditional student and mother. I have found a lot of joy participating in my campus community, which I don’t believe would have been possible without the assistance of scholarships.
I spent my first year at WSU Everett as a part of the student government (ASWSUE), where I served as the director of student events. This was an amazing opportunity as it helped me become well acquainted with the student body and let me contribute to the campus culture. On the campus, I have founded and currently serve as president of the WSUE Horticulture Club. In this position, I organized fundraising, event planning, and presentations on cross-disciplinary subjects such as the intersection of technology and agriculture. I have also been involved as a session lead for the Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Major for Girls Explore STEM.
During the WSUE Horticulture Club’s inaugural year, we successfully raised plants and sold them during our campus’ student poster showcase. It was amazing to connect with members of the community, fellow Cougs, and faculty who came to support the hard work and passion put into making the sale happen.
As I transition to a graduate student, I hope to continue to support undergraduates at the Everett campus, as others have done for the Organic and Sustainable Agriculture major before.
An immediate goal of mine is to begin graduate school in the spring. Through my program’s faculty, I was able to get an internship working at the WSU Northwest Research and Extension Center. This granted me the experience to work on agricultural research and helped me decide what industries I was passionate about.
I decided to further my education at a difficult point in my life, as a single mom with a one-year-old at home. I knew that transferring to WSU Everett would be my greatest chance to earn my bachelor’s degree, making me the first in my family. I worried about alienation as a parent going back to school, as well as the logistics of childcare and work/life balance. Scholarships helped alleviate many barriers that would have kept me from fully committing to school. With extra financial support, I was able to volunteer my time to various WSUE outreach programs and be an active part of the campus community. It is difficult to describe the strong sense of belonging and how rewarding it has felt to become a Coug.
You have found yourself, your community, and your passion.