A career in athletic training in the performing arts is the dream job envisioned by Alexandra (Alee) Bryan, while Kayla Heim looks forward to her first day of work at Moss Adams, a public accounting firm. Fellow classmate Alexandra (Alex) Anderson hopes to pursue a doctorate in psychology and eventually work as a clinical psychologist or school psychologist.

Alexandra Bryan ('16 Psych.)
Alexandra Bryan (’16 Psych.)
Kayla Heim ('16 Acct.)
Kayla Heim (’16 Acct.)
Alexandra Anderson ('16 Ath. T.)
Alexandra Anderson (’16 Ath. T.)

They are determined to succeed….feeling confident and prepared….their lives enriched by the scholarships they received at WSU.

Alee, Kayla, and Alex are recipients of scholarships made possible through the generosity of their classmates—WSU seniors—whose monetary gifts to the Senior Scholarship Fund have been a Cougar tradition since 1999. Contributions to the fund are welcome year-round. Donors give online or through a Call-A-Coug phone pledge. Their contributions are used to provide scholarships annually to deserving undergraduate students, including incoming freshmen.

The Senior Fund Scholarship made it possible for Alee to complete her WSU education. Scholarships are keeping her dream alive. She intends to pursue a master’s degree and graduate assistantship in athletic training (her undergraduate degree, as well). Her dream? Having a career as an athletic trainer in the performing arts, where she can combine her skills with her love of the arts.

For Kayla, the Senior Scholarship provided an extra financial boost that took a lot of pressure off her family. “My sister and I are both attending college, and this scholarship helped to relieve the burden on my family to help me pay for school.”

Scholarships made Alex’s WSU education more affordable for her and her family. “If it wasn’t for scholarships, I would have to pay for my education all on my own and incur a mountain of debt in the process. Because I have not had to do so, I have saved up enough money to attend graduate school,” she says.

Alee, Kayla, and Alex are seniors. Memories of their time at WSU have made lasting imprints on their lives. Majoring in athletic training provided Alee with opportunities to gain new knowledge every day. Kayla participated in the Cougar Marching Band in her freshman and sophomore years. A professor in the psychology department impressed upon Alex that she was capable of setting—and achieving—higher goals. “His vote of confidence in my abilities made me reconsider my whole approach to graduate school following my time here, and made me realize that I did have more potential than I had originally thought,” she says.

They appreciate the experiences provided at WSU, and are grateful for the scholarships made possible through the generosity of WSU’s alumni and friends. Kayla speaks for all of her classmates when she says: “Thank you for supporting me. I have loved my time at WSU, and I am looking forward to ‘paying it back’ to future students once I graduate.”