WSU North Puget Sound at Everett welcomes more than 70 new students during orientation

EVERETT, Wash. – August 5, 2015 – On Aug. 5, 2015, more than 70 new WSU North Puget Sound at Everett students attended orientation in advance of the first day of classes on Aug. 24.

The students come from a variety of backgrounds: community college graduates; military; college transfers; and college graduates earning a more in-demand degree. They come from as close as three blocks from campus, north of Arlington or as far south as Kent. All are taking the next step for their careers with WSU North Puget Sound at Everett.

“We are delighted to provide students with an array of hands-on baccalaureate programming that fits the needs of the North Puget Sound region,” said academic dean Dr. Paul Pitre. During the morning, Pitre told students, “We are bringing the best programs that WSU has to offer to Everett, starting with engineering, business and communications. We have an excellent cadre of faculty and staff who you see here right now.”

“I was on a bus ride to the University of Washington for class when I realized I wanted to open my own coffee shop,” said 20-year-old UW and Everett Community College transfer student Caity Kilgore, who lives in Marysville. “I love my hometown. I want to create a sanctuary for the people of Marysville in the form of a local, hole-in-the-wall coffee shop. I want to give back the best that I am able to – through hospitality.”

“Over the course of a year, I transferred to EvCC and applied to WSU to learn about business. I’m so glad I made the leap and I can’t wait to start my career,” said Kilgore, who will work to earn her degree in hospitality business management.

Assistant director of Student Services Meg Onstad said, “Today we introduced our newest students to the faculty they will be learning from, showed them all of the resources available to them as WSU North Puget Sound at Everett students and welcomed them into the Coug family.” Students discovered opportunities they have as veterans and international students, chances to study abroad, resources to support their searches for internships with local businesses and connected with other students.

WSU North Puget Sound at Everett offers in-demand degree-completion programs in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, hospitality business management and integrated communication. Software engineering and data analytics programs are planned for fall 2016. WSU North Puget Sound at Everett is part of the Everett University Center, a consortium of seven universities offering more than 20 degree-completion programs.

Founded in 1890, Washington State University provides world-class education to more than 26,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students statewide.

Contact: randy.bolerjack@wsu.edu