Economics graduate will apply her financial expertise in the military

Sophia Apostolides originally chose CWU to pursue an entirely different degree than the one she ended up receiving last month.

But it didn’t take her very long to change her focus from dietetics to economics — one quarter, in fact. 

“The department chair, Toni Sipic, recruited me during the fall of my freshman year,” said Apostolides, who moved to Washington state in 2018 after growing up in Florida. “After talking to a few other economics professors, I was sold. It turned out to be a good change for me because I really enjoyed the program.”

Apostolides couldn’t say enough about the support she received from the CWU faculty and staff, including Geography Professor John Bowen, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Kurt Kirstein, and his predecessor, Gail Mackin.

“The professors and support staff on campus made for a great experience for me,” she said. “They care a lot about their students, and I really appreciated that. Whether it was helping me look for internships, jobs, and grad school opportunities, they always went out of their way.”

One opportunity that helped Apostolides develop her professional skills was a geography research project spearheaded by Bowen. The project featured an economics component that ended up being highly intriguing for Apostolides and her peers.

“The work involved a lot of critical thinking, and we got to use our economics knowledge in an entirely different application,” she said. “The work we did was really interesting, and it helped prepare us for what we’re going to be doing in our careers.”

Another aspect Apostolides enjoyed about her time at CWU was that the lessons she was being taught — especially in the economics and Air Force ROTC programs — always tied back to the real world.

“My professors always made sure the subjects they were teaching us were applicable in the field,” she said. “They helped us focus on the things that actually matter and told us, ‘here’s what you need to do.’”

As it turns out, Apostolides will have a chance to put her CWU education to work right away when she begins her active-duty service in the Air Force. At the end of the summer, she will be stationed overseas, where she will begin a position in finance.

“This is the kind of work I’m going to be doing in my career, so I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “My goal is to prepare myself as much as I can for future employment, whether it’s in the military or the private sector.”

Apostolides added that she is keeping her options open after she completes active duty, possibly continuing her career path as a financial manager or pursuing a graduate degree. She feels a strong connection to the Air Force after being selected for the highly competitive Commanders In College Scholarship in 2021.

“For now, I want to fulfill the needs of the military, but I will have to see how things go before making any decisions about my future,” she said.

Outside of the Air Force and the classroom, Apostolides has been actively involved in the ministry during her three-plus years in Ellensburg. She joined the Chestnut Street Baptist Church during her freshman year, serving as a student leader and office assistant.

She leads a weekly Bible study group and continues to work in the church office this summer.

“I grew up going to church, and it was exciting for me to explore some different options when I moved to Ellensburg,” she said. “I connected really well with the people at Chestnut Street Baptist, and I’m going to miss them a lot.”

Apostolides said the best part about living in Ellensburg has been the lifelong relationships she has built.

“I have loved everything about my time here,” she said. “It’s a great community and a great place to live. I’ll be sad to move away, but hopefully I’ll get to come back someday.”