ATM graduate finds his voice, inspires the next generation

When Gerardo Castillo-Regalado was approaching the end of high school in Oroville, Washington, he was pretty sure he was going to join the Marines.

That changed when his counselor organized a group field trip to Central Washington University.

“It was my first time being on a university campus, and I fell in love with both Ellensburg and CWU,” the 2025 CWU graduate said. “When I applied, it was the only school that I was really considering going to.”

Castillo-Regalado set about registering for his classes and happened upon the 300-level Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising (ATM) class called “Consumer Textiles,” ordinarily intended for students who were already well established in the curriculum. He met the challenge head-on, and it ended up defining his time at Central.

“When I signed up for it, I didn’t know what a 300-level class meant, so I was a little surprised by how intense it was,” Castillo-Regalado said. “That was my first ATM course, and from there on I fell in love with both the people and the program.”

Outside of the classroom, Castillo-Regalado found himself bonding with his dormmates and cultivating connections that would stay with him for the rest of his college career.

“Being here on campus freshman year was such a big help, because I was around other people who had never been to college before and were just trying to figure it out together,” he said. “I formed a lot of long-lasting friendships from the beginning, and that really shaped my support system for the rest of my time at CWU.”

Castillo-Regalado soon found himself involved with a number of student organizations, including ASCWU, where he served as the director of student life and facilities for two years. He found that the experience he gleaned from the position translated directly into the classroom, empowering him to take his studies further.

“In student government, you walk the line between being a student and a professional in a really interesting way,” he said. “More than anything, it helped me learn how to balance and develop myself professionally, as well as translating those skills into the classroom where I could apply them to what I was learning.”

As part of the ATM program, Castillo-Regalado also played an active role in the Student Fashion Association, an experience that has helped him develop robust connections with professionals across the industry.

“We’ve been encouraged to develop strong networks, which I definitely feel I’ve done, whether it’s with my fellow alumni or people I’ve met through the Student Fashion Association,” he said. “Going to L.A. and New York and visiting big brand headquarters and fashion shows has given me connections across the country.”

This summer, Castillo-Regalado is working as an apparel and bags design intern with SanMar in Issaquah. While he appreciates having an opportunity to continue in the fashion industry, he knows the importance of keeping his options open and his curiosity keen.

“I want to stay in ATM, but I’m open to whatever opportunities come my way,” he said. “That’s something I learned at Central: the importance of keeping doors open and exploring every opportunity available. Every single thing I’ve done here taught me something different, and I want to carry that with me into my career, to keep exploring and finding out what I’m meant to do.”

During his time in Ellensburg, Castillo-Regalado was able to discover his own personal style, shaped by his lived experience and grounded in his passion for his family.

“A big part of my current collection speaks to my family and my heritage,” he said. “A lot of us come here so we can provide for our families and make life better for the next generation, and that’s something I bring with me into my designs. What ATM has done for me is that they’ve helped me find my voice and given me the tools to be able to tell my story.”

As he looks to his future, Castillo-Regalado has found that others near him are starting to take a good hard look at theirs, too.

“Being able to make change in my family and be the first to go to college doesn’t just benefit me because I’m going to grow as a person, but I’ve also noticed that it has positively affected my younger siblings,” he said. “My sister is 9 years old, and she’s already saying she wants to come to Central just like her big brother. We talk about inspiring people all the time, but I’m seeing that take place in real life, right in front of me.”