Donor Impact

Donor Impact

Denin Koch

Denin Koch

Graduation year: 2018

Major: Music – Jazz Performance

Hometown: Richland, Wash.

Truth be told, before I visited campus, Whitworth was originally my backup plan. Being less than three hours from home and a small school, Whitworth seemed like a place that wouldn't nourish me as a person, scholar or musician; I thought that I would outgrow Whitworth before I got my degree. That all changed when I spent a weekend here for the freshmen Honors Colloquium. After interacting with faculty, spending time on the gorgeous campus, hearing current students talk about their experiences, and waking up to the scent of pine trees, I knew that I wanted to be a Pirate. When I got a call a week later offering me a full-tuition scholarship, it sealed the deal.

I cannot begin to describe how much of a blessing Whitworth has been since that day. Every moment I spend on campus brings an opportunity to grow as a guitarist, a scholar, a person and a Christian. The things that I've gotten to do through the music department, in particular, are simply astounding. Through Whitworth's music department, I've traveled to and performed in Seattle, Chicago, New York City and Thailand. I get to work and study one-on-one with my professors in a state-of-the-art facility. I've been able to spend time and play with jazz legends Arturo Sandoval, Branford Marsalis, and my musical hero Pat Metheny, among others. Perhaps best of all, I have gotten to know each one of my music professors on a personal level outside of class time. Few, if any, other universities can claim all of these things.

I plan to become a professional guitarist, performing, teaching and writing music. I can also see myself teaching at a university like Whitworth. Because of the scholarship I received through donations to the university, I will enter graduate school with no student debt. The generosity of donors allows me to practice, study, perform and play without financial distress. It also means that I can afford the expensive instruments, tools and equipment that I need for my musical studies. Most importantly, I can pass the generosity that I've been shown along to my community, peers, family, and all whom I will encounter after I leave Whitworth.

Donor Impact

Megan Escobar

Megan Escobar

Graduation year: 2018

Major: Business Administration and Finance & Accounting

Hometown: Murrieta, Calif.

When I was ending my junior year, I decided that I didn't want to go to college in California but instead try something different and push myself out of my comfort zone. My senior year of high school I applied to schools in Washington and a couple in other states. I would have to say it was divine intervention because around the time I finished applying for schools, my AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) teacher told me to apply to just one more school. That same day I began getting emails from Whitworth and mail starting coming to my home address. I decided to do some research into the school and the next thing I knew I was finishing my application for Whitworth. I wasn't going to visit Whitworth at first because I was pretty confident in my first-choice school. However, when I was accepted into Whitworth my dad immediately added it to my visit list.

I fell in love with Whitworth not only because the campus is absolutely gorgeous but the people I met that day were so genuine and intentional that it was startling. My experience at Whitworth has been life-changing in every way possible. I honestly feel my path to Christ would have taken longer without Whitworth, where I have been challenged to deepen my faith and volunteer my time helping others. The opportunities at Whitworth have been influential and I wouldn't trade my experience for anything else.

I am currently the president of the Student Investment Group. I joined the group as a freshman and then fully committed my time to the group my sophomore year. Since then the group has exponentially grown my knowledge in finance and has sharpened my communication and teamwork skills. The experience that has been most memorable in my experience at Whitworth is winning the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Research Challenge the spring of my sophomore year. The day was filled with so many emotions. We spent over 400 hours doing research on a company, along with a finished report of 24 pages and a 10-minute presentation and Q&A session. We were being judged by CFA professionals on how well we researched the company both quantitatively and qualitatively. I remember that time because the hard work we had done for two months had finally paid off. It was an intense time but it pushed me out of my comfort zone and equipped me to be confident in my presenting skills.

I wouldn't have had this opportunity with the CFA had it not been for financial aid and scholarships that were granted to me. I couldn't be more thankful that the financial burden has been slowly lifted off my family because we don't have to take on so many loans. Although I still work on campus, I am able to put forth my additional time to extracurricular activities on campus and at my church. Financial aid not only helps student pay for college, it also supports their learning experience. The Student Investment Group was given the trading room through generous donations from Larry Larison and the funds from Ken Roberts and the late Dave Robblee. Students use the trading room for countless meetings and to research companies within the U.S. stock market. It is an invaluable resource and we couldn't have furthered our knowledge without it.

My advisor, Candice Correia (School of Business), has had the biggest influence on my career at Whitworth. My freshman year I was unsure of a major and what I wanted to do with my life. Candice first asked me what I like to do and what my passions are. It threw me off so much that I had to take a few minutes to think of what I like to do. It was great sitting in on classes and speaking with professors to finally decide on my double major in finance and accounting. There are so many job opportunities out there within my field, but I hope to go into the public accounting field, as an auditor, out of college.

Donor Impact

Ryan Cole

Ryan Cole

Graduation year: 2017

Major Psychology

Hometown: Tacoma, Wash.

I chose Whitworth University for a variety of reasons. The first of these is because my brother and sister attended Whitworth, and they continued living in Spokane after they graduated. Knowing that I had some of my family living in Spokane and that they had connections to the school that I could use was definitely extra incentive to attend Whitworth. Whitworth challenges your academics, social life, and your faith. I wanted to grow in all of these categories. To become an improved scholar, a better person, and a more devout Christian. I felt that Whitworth was the place where I could do that. Lastly, the Act Six scholarship is what really brought me to Whitworth. The full-tuition-plus-need leadership initiative allowed me to attend this prestigious institution by paying for much of my expenses. Without it, Whitworth would just have been a nice thought.

Whitworth has delivered on all levels that it has promised. First, I have grown as a scholar. My study skills have increased and I have learned how to operate my time in a productive manner. I also developed more of a passion to truly want to learn things that interest me. I have Whitworth and its fine professors to thank for that. Whitworth has challenged me for many years now to see things from other perspectives, backgrounds and cultural lenses. I am now a more well-rounded individual because of this. My faith as grown as well. Whitworth, through its Core Worldview program, challenges each and every student on their worldview and poses many philosophical questions about why we believe what we believe, and how to act on those beliefs.

I would like to work with youth in some way after I graduate. I have been interested in helping to change the lives of young people since my junior year of high school. Since then I have worked at the YMCA and Whittier Elementary, and even Rogers High School here in Spokane. My plan after graduating is to take a gap year and gain some more work experience and to save money before I go back to school and get my master's degree. The degree will be in school counseling, social work, a Master in Teaching, or even a clinical degree to be a mental health counselor in a local school/university. My goal is to pay it forward for all of the love and support I have received that have allowed me to get to where I am now. I want to do the same for young people, and instill love and support by being there for them and encouraging them to do what I have done. I want young people to know that being successful and having personal growth is always an opportunity that can be taken.

If I had never received the Act Six scholarship and the financial aid I have been given, these things would have never come into fruition the way that they have. I have all of my donors to thank for giving me the opportunity to challenge and better myself so that I can have the opportunity to pay it forward in my community and social life.