Sam Blazina graduated from CWU in 2008. As a nontraditional, first-generation, Latino, married student and mother of three, Sam earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Community Health Education. While she attended Central, Sam also worked as a professional in the Ellensburg community for twenty years, and so she brings to STAR a wealth of experience, ideas, and a sincere desire to support students in achieving academic success.

Sam has developed and implemented two programs in Kittitas County which continue to provide support, advocacy and mentoring to families of children with disabilities. She is currently working on her Masters degree in Special Education at CWU while still involved in the community as a Certified and Bi-lingual Health Educator with Kittitas Co. Community Hospital. Understanding, firsthand, the potential pitfalls of such a complex system as a university, as the STAR Assistant Director, Sam hopes to draw from her own experiences to assist students in maximizing their full potential to achieve their academic goals.

Sam devotes most of her spare time to her family –her three sons and husband.