Student Spotlights

Kai Brandt-Templeton is from Santa Cruz, CA, and is majoring in Public Health. Kai is a member of the Women’s Rugby team as well as an executive on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding, surfing, and hiking. Kai’s favorite part of the DHC has been the friendships she has made and the people she has met. When asked how the DHC has made her experience at CWU better she stated that she enjoys the classes provided by the DHC because they are intriguing and enriching, Kai also stated that the DHC has provided her with friends that she wouldn’t have met otherwise. We are so grateful to have such wonderful students like Kai!

Azuka is from Federal Way Washington but has lived in Kennewick for the past 6 years. He is currently a junior studying Integrated Energy Management with a specialization in Power Systems as well as Computer Science with a minor in economics. Right now he works for LevelTen Energy, a renewable energy company, as a product intern where he designs and makes adjustments to their company's platform!

In his free time, Azuka loves to go out and hang out with his friends, play soccer or ride his longboard around campus. If he's not doing homework, his favorite thing to do is play games.

When asked how the Honors College has enhanced his experience at CWU, Azuka replied, "My three years in the DHC have been an amazing experience! The students and faculty are always uplifting and so supportive, it's like a small family. I’ve made many life-long friendships and have had the best memories in the honors college! Joining has been a blessing in my life."

Azuka's Clifton strengths are Futuristic, Competitive, Individualization, Achiever, and Relator.

Claire is from the suburbs of Lacey/Olympia WA studying Clinical Physiology with an emphasis on Pre-PA.

For her capstone project, Claire is currently researching the accessibility of alternative non-opioid treatments available to post-surgical patients. She just joined Clinical Physiology Club and started as a medical scribe at Yakima Memorial Hospital. She is also an ambassador for the DHC and helps recruit students!

When she's not working or studying, Claire can be found adventuring in the outdoors. She is an avid hiker and climber (both indoor bouldering and outdoor climbing).

When asked how the DHC enhanced her experience at CWU, she replied, "The DHC is my undergrad family. The people (both faculty and students) are amazing and give me support whether it is personal, academic, or work-related. The DHC makes my academic experience at central more personalized and provides me a variety of different learning environments that I may not have experienced otherwise at central."

We are very thankful for you, Claire!!

Claire's top five Clifton Strengths:
1. Discipline
2. Learner
3. Achiever
4. Harmony
5. Focus

Melissa is an ITAM (Information Technology and Administrative Management) major from Ellensburg, WA. She is specializing in cyber security and has been interning with CWU's Security Services Department for the past two years.

For her DHC capstone, Melissa is planning to do a project on the HECVAT. "The HECVAT helps higher ed institutions analyze the cyber risk associated with vendors with the goal to be more cyber safe. I hope to increase my understanding of the HECVAT and how to efficiently use it, either as a vendor filling out 256 questions or as a higher ed institution that wants to understand the 256 questions."

When she's not at school or work, Melissa enjoys playing and watching sports (she was captain of the Women's Club Soccer team last year!), traveling, reading, and making memories with friends. This summer she went to Arizona with her family and had the best burger of her life at a restaurant called Mariposa. She and her family even drove an extra 2+ hours to go there again!

Melissa's CliftonStrengths are responsibility, harmony, achiever, competition, and positivity.

Emily is from Spokane Valley, Washington but has moved around Washington due to her dad being in the military. She is double majoring in Deaf and Sign Language Studies and Psychology and works at SLICE and coordinates volunteer events for CWU like the American Red Cross Blood Drive.

When she's not working or in class, Emily enjoys hiking, swimming, skiing, reading, and gardening. This summer, Emily was a leader for a military children’s summer camp, and got to work alongside some ASL interpreters and learned a lot. She also got to hang out with her family all summer which sounds awesome.

Emily's CliftonStrengths are Woo, Communication, Positivity, Developer, and Includer.

Evelyn is from Woodland, WA, and is double majoring in Political Science and Law & Justice with the plans of becoming an attorney. They are currently a shift leader at the Wildcat Pantry and work two positions in student government: Student Senator for the College of the Sciences and Deputy Director of Civic Engagement.

When they're not working or in class, Evelyn enjoys cooking and gardening. This summer they worked as an Orientation Leader and studied hard for the LSAT.

Evelyn's CliftonStrengths are Context, Harmony, Responsibility, Achiever, and Belief.

Kat is a fourth-year DHC student who will graduate this spring with a Psychology BA, minors in Law & Justice, Interdisciplinary Honors, and a Forensics certificate.

During her time at CWU, Kat has been involved at the DHC as a Peer Advisor and Ambassador. She also works as a surgical assistant in Ellensburg and is currently getting her dental anesthesia certificate. Last Spring, Katherine's research project, “Trust me I’m a Doctor: Prescriptions and Professional Legitimacy in Contemporary Medicine.” won the SOURCE Supreme Court Panel. Her interest in law and psychology has inspired her to pursue Law School where she plans to apply after taking a gap year.

When she's not in class, working, or winning awards, Kat can be found skiing, reading, baking, or playing guitar.

Her CliftonStrengths are Restorative, Harmony, Developer, Responsibility, and Individualization.

Wyatt is a first-year DHC student from Silverdale, WA, and intends to major in Elementary Education. His favorite course so far has been DHC 261: Portraits of Jesus in Society with Professor Martinson.

He enjoys the DHC because of our amazing faculty and staff, “The DHC has made my time at CWU far better because the professors all want to know their students on a more personal level than usual professors with 30 or more students. The staff overall is incredible.”

Wyatt currently works as a shift lead at Dairy Queen and his biggest goal this year is to save money while continuing to succeed academically. Outside of class, he enjoys longboarding and playing video games.

Wyatt’s top 5 CliftonStrengths are Developer, Adaptability, Input, Ideation, and Positivity.