By Tiffani Stubblefield

 

“Being a Cougar means being courageous, adventurous, and intellectual,” says Christana Craig, a sophomore in the College of Nursing.

Christana chose Washington State University after attending the Children of Aztlan Sharing Higher Education (CASHE) Conference at WSU. CASHE is a leadership conference that encourages high school students of all backgrounds, especially Chicanx/Latinx to pursue higher education. The experience of being welcomed by a group of peers representing the heart of WSU took Christana by surprise and showed her what being a true Coug was about.

Growing up in a low-income family in Pasco, Washington, a college education was not a guarantee. Yet, Christana was a high-achieving student and the valedictorian of her high school with plans for much more. Pasco natives, Dwight and Barbara Newell, created The Dwight and Barbara Newell Endowed Scholarship to fill exactly this kind of resource gap. They understood the need to create a bridge that would allow students from the Pasco area to benefit from the life-changing opportunities a Washington State University education can offer.
As a result of this and other scholarships, Christana is on her way to becoming a nurse, specializing in child and maternal health with aspirations for a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree for women’s health or midwifery. She serves as the Student Engagement Officer for the WSU Student Health Advisory Council and works part-time as a caregiver, all while maintaining her high GPA and continued academic excellence.

“I believe a scholarship is an investment,” expresses Christana. “Thank you for thinking I am worthy!”