A Word of Advice

 

Provost, Executive Vice President, and WSU Pullman Chancellor

Elizabeth Chilton

Welcome to the Cougar Family! While you will, of course, gain a great deal of knowledge and experience in the classroom at WSU, you will also have many opportunities to learn and grow outside the classroom. You will have the opportunity to conduct research with our stellar faculty, study abroad, take on an internship, engage in community service, or join any number of our hundreds of student organizations. These experiences will connect you to fellow Cougs and prepare you for your career and your life ahead. My advice is to visit the Office of Undergraduate Research and talk with a peer mentor who can provide valuable advice and ideas to enhance your experience at WSU. And please say hello to me if you see me walking along the Terrell Mall, as I do most days. Go Cougs!

 

Sophomore Speaker

ALEX MADSEN

Hello, fellow Cougs! Welcome to WSU and our family! I am sure you have many emotions thinking about the future you will have here in Pullman! I encourage you to take any nervous feelings and turn them into excitement about the unknown you are about to conquer. WSU offers so many opportunities in and beyond the classroom for you to truly find yourself and embrace who you are. I implore you to take big leaps at WSU and get involved in all the ways you can whether you find a club, campus internship, intramural sports or support others in extracurriculars by going to athletics, productions, or other campus events. It is crucial for your growth to connect with new people, explore new ideas, and find support from WSU admin and professors. A big lesson I learned during my first year as a Coug was to find supportive friends that valued my identity and personal development. Put your pride aside and don’t be afraid to ask for help, you never know what you’ll learn. Your time as a Coug is what you make it and WSU offers the most supportive environment to try new things and be confident about it! I wish you luck and I believe in you, so believe in yourself and hopefully, I’ll see you at a Cougar Saturday Football Game! Go Cougs!

 

Keynote Speaker

SOPHIA TEGART

Welcome to WSU! You are about to embark on a wonderful journey during which you’ll gain a massive family of Cougs! As someone who attended WSU as an undergrad, I was given experiences, opportunities, and friendships that set me up for a wonderful career and life. I have lived in many states and other countries, but the fact is that WSU always held a special place in my heart. I attribute that to the experiences I had when I was a student. Some of the best advice I can give you is to take advantage of every opportunity and resource you have here. Your professors are a resource. Your peers, friends, and colleagues are a resource. Your advisor or mentor is a resource. Step outside of your comfort zone and explore new opportunities. Go to the art museum. Go to the many concerts on campus. Go to the sporting events. Go to guest lectures and cultural events. This is the approach I took when I came to WSU as a student, and because it served me well, I continued it when I returned home and joined the faculty. My life has been forever changed because of my time at WSU and I hope yours will too! Your experience is entirely up to you, so make it count!

 

ASWSU President

LUKE DESCHENES

Hi Cougs! Welcome to the Cougar family, and to your first year here at Washington State University. We are all so excited to have a new class on campus, and for the unique perspectives, initiatives, and ideas, that you each bring with you. You are at a unique point in your life in that you have complete control over what the years to come will look like for you. WSU is an incredible place to spend your college years, and there are countless ways that you can make the most of your experience. Whether it be student government, a multi-cultural group, intramurals, or a campus job, there is an abundance of opportunities for you to get involved. If I could give myself advice when I was in your shoes, it would be to take risks, get out of your comfort zone, and try new things. College is a time that you will experience incredible growth, and if you do these three things, you will maximize your time here. We can’t wait for the year to come! Go Cougs!

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs

Ellen Taylor

Welcome to the Coug family! I’m sure it’s exciting and maybe a little bit scary to be here. Your journey will be like that of the many Cougs before you and it will be unique to you at the same time. I encourage you to embrace the comfort of spending time with familiar friends and activities while seeking opportunities to truly explore your own identity, pursue new interests, and meet people with different life experiences, world views, and ideas. Finding a balance between the familiar and the unknown will provide a college experience that will prepare you well for your future. It’s the best way to make the most of your WSU experience! Also, build in time to take care of yourself. You DO have what it takes to be here and our entire community is ready to support you along the way. Be well, and as always, Go Cougs!