When she first arrived at 56³Ō¹ĻĶų Bothell, alumna Hannah Kim, Computer Science and Software Engineering ā€˜25, felt nervous about what lay ahead. But the tight-knit community at 56³Ō¹ĻĶų Bothell quickly introduced her to engaging classes, like-minded peers and interactive clubs. She gained technical skills as a student and strengthened her interpersonal abilities while serving as the president of the Association for Computing Machinery Club. In the future, she hopes to be a software engineer or product manager with dreams of traveling the world along the way.

How did your academic and extracurricular path unfold during your time here?

I was originally an intended chemistry major. I just decided to take a CS course, and I fell in love with it. In my sophomore year, I focused on getting into the major as well as on my studies. Junior year I joined one of my first clubs, ACM. And then senior year I became the president of ACM as well as another club, IXDA. Iā€™ve been able to see so much of the campus that I couldn’t before.

Why did coding resonate with you more than your original field of study?

Even though it was hard, it never felt boring. Once I finished learning about a topic or finished really hard projects, I felt a bigger accomplishment than I did when I was just finishing chemistry problems. I could actually see something I built myself, like my code running and working.

Whatā€™s one project that really stuck with you during your time at 56³Ō¹ĻĶų Bothell?

In my Principles of Human Computer Interaction class, we made an application that simulates Zoom, but you’re able to do some of the actions with just your hand input. You could swipe to open the chat and then use different hand motions to mute and unmute. That was cool, learning about accessibility and being able to apply it into a widely used application.

How do you think you’ve grown personally or professionally during your time at 56³Ō¹ĻĶų Bothell?

I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable being uncomfortable. Like being able to speak in front of larger crowds or different stakeholders, especially through my experience in leading ACM.

Why was it important for you to foster connection and collaboration through ACM?

If you support others, they’ll be there for you as well. Building that community is important and making sure you have even a couple of key people who you can really trust and grow with is super important for your own growth. ACM helped me ease into that because even in high school I didn’t have a community, or my friends were all doing different things.

Who has had a big impact on you?

Professor Annushka Zolyomi. Even just starting with being in her class, she made sure that the environment was welcoming, and that students could ask any type of questions. Once I joined her research, I was a little bit intimidated, but again, she reassured me and was able to get me set up for success.

The post 30 seconds with an alum: Building connections with codeĀ  appeared first on Alumni.

ā€œI was part of the AVID program in high school,ā€ Vorn said. ā€œIt opened my eyes to what college could mean ā€” not just in terms of income but in what kind of life I could build.ā€

That drive led her to 56³Ō¹ĻĶų Bothell, where she embraced the challenges of being a first-gen student. ā€œI didnā€™t want to waste what my parents had given up,ā€ she said. ā€œSo, I made the most of every opportunity. I asked for help when I needed it, and I built strong relationships with people who believed in me.ā€

A mentor and a moment of transformation

One of those relationships changed everything: Professor Deborah Hathaway.

ā€œShe was my sunshine,ā€ Vorn said. ā€œHer classes helped me express myself and find confidence ā€” especially in her voice and movement class. It pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me embrace who I am.ā€

What started as an academic requirement became a turning point for Vorn. Hathawayā€™s mentorship helped Vorn build more than just skills ā€” it built a new mindset.

ā€œShe taught me that itā€™s OK to feel uncomfortable,ā€ Vorn said. ā€œThatā€™s often where growth happens.ā€

From volunteering to a career in science

Vornā€™s journey into health and manufacturing began before college. Her first job was at an orthodontistā€™s office where she had her braces done. What started as a volunteer gig ā€” helping make impressions and putting rubber bands on brackets ā€” became a hands-on introduction to health care.

After college, that early curiosity led her to a role as a Manufacturing Associate at Bristol Myers Squibb, where she now contributes to life-changing treatments on a global scale.

ā€œMy background, my culture, and my family ā€” theyā€™re all a part of what motivates me,ā€ she said. ā€œIn Cambodian culture, family is everything. And my parents were involved every step of the way in my education.ā€

Honoring the past, while building the future

At 56³Ō¹ĻĶų Bothell, Vorn learned to bridge her past and future ā€” finding balance between discipline and self-expression, hard work and healing.

ā€œI was taught to be tough and to work hard,ā€ she said. ā€œBut college also taught me how to breathe, how to ask for help, and how to grow in ways I hadnā€™t imagined.ā€

Now, as a young professional in the biotech industry, she continues to carry those lessons with her ā€” honoring her roots while forging her own path forward.

The post 30 seconds with an alum: How education fueled family dreams appeared first on Alumni.

Where do you consider your hometown to be?

I tell people Iā€™m a Midwest farm boy from Columbus, Ohio.

What was your first ever job?

I was helping a professor at Ohio State University who ran a summer camp for autistic kids.

When did you start running in 56³Ō¹ĻĶų Bothell Husky 5K?

I ran the very first one. I remember the first couple of years they were put on as part of a project management class. I pulled my records and from what I can tell, Iā€™ve run 15 of them at this point!

On the 5Kā€™s (in)famous hill (#IYKYK)

Over the years I’ve developed, you know. Initially, it was a dread for that hill. But after a point, I’m like, ā€œI know how big the hill is. I’ve done the hill so many times. It’s a known amount of pain.ā€ So I kind of look forward to that little hill now.

Are you serious about running, and do you do other races?

No. Man wasnā€™t meant to run more than 5K. One time when I ran an 8K, I got by the 5K mark and wondered why I was still running.

The post 30 seconds with an alum: Farm life to tech life appeared first on Alumni.

Hometown: Seattle, WA

What was your first job?

I was a barista at Starbucks. I met the guy who played Josh (Bradley Whitford) in ā€œThe West Wing.ā€ He gave me a $100 tip because it was Christmas!

What springs to mind when you hear the word ā€œimpactā€?

Healing. There are lots of different threads of healing throughout my life, from my professional career in nursing to my non-professional mountaineering career. Healing has many dimensions. I’ve been lucky to have many opportunities in my life. I encourage people not to be afraid to explore other avenues for healing, whether it’s music, spirituality or something else. Open your heart to love and healing!

What is one of the ways you make an impact on the world?

Each year I go to Lourdes in France and assist with pilgrims there. I help with medical concerns and provide support within the sanctuary, as a member of the Lā€™Association MĆ©dicale Internationale de Notre-Dame de Lourdes. This year I will become an official member of the HospitalitĆ© Notre Dame de Lourdes, which was inspired by the Order of Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem. Their job during the Middle Ages was to look after the sick, the poor and pilgrims.

Who has had a big impact on you?

My nursing mentor, Sharon. I think of her professionalism, her competency and her ability to authentically show that you mattered to her.

What motivates you?

My perspective on the world is simple, I like to have fun ā€” thatā€™s important. But I also want the things I do to be impactful, not just for me but for other people. I have a group of kids who are leaving my youth program this year, and I hope they remember me as their mentor and as their coach. I hope that I help influence them to be good human beings ā€” conscientious, responsible and kind.

The post 30 seconds with an alum: The nurse crossing borders appeared first on Alumni.

Hometown: King Cove, Alaska

What can you remember about being a first-generation student?

I had two professors (Jennifer Schultz and David S. Goldstein) who I took several classes with consistently because it was a small community back then. They took an interest in me and really fostered and developed my skills. They were such great encouragers and cheerleaders saying, ā€œYou do awesome work!ā€

Coming from an environment where I didnā€™t necessarily have that kind of support, I still try to do similar things for other people. I’ve had that modeled for me, so I want to give back whenever I can.

Is there a key memory from your time at 56³Ō¹ĻĶų Bothell that is meaningful?

I loved the small community. I got to know folks really well, particularly my professors. I remember going to my graduation ceremony, and those two professors came up in their robes and floppy hats and said, ā€œOh my gosh, you got magna cum laude!ā€ They were so happy for me, and they were just so excited.

I think thatā€™s a good representation of how I felt overall. I just always felt like someone was paying attention to me and recognizing the work that I had done.

How has being a first-generation student impacted your career?

There are so many things I think I learned from being a first-gen student in terms of having perseverance and resourcefulness and asking for help ā€” finding people who want to be in your corner for support and really leaning into that.

Itā€™s such a core part of my identity. Itā€™s a motivator ā€” a catalyst for lots of things like creative problem-solving, thinking outside of the box and being curious about the folks who are not at the table. Thatā€™s where I center my lens and experience: on those who are at the margins or the most underrepresented, particularly in traditional systems of higher education.

The post 30 seconds with an alum: Building belonging as a first-generation studentĀ  appeared first on Alumni.

What was your first job?

Selling snow cones at a flea market in California. Itā€™s also where I met my husband on the last day of the season.

What got you interested in running?

When I moved to Washington State, I wasnā€™t familiar with some of the extracurricular activities here such as hiking, biking and running. I was really excited that I could do a race and then get a medal and some swag ā€” and have a cheering squad at the end of the race just for running. I thought that was pretty neat.

Do you have a most memorable race?

I always think back to my first half-marathon in Seattle with my husband. I had no clue how hilly Seattle was. I lost a toenail! My brother started to get worried because we were taking so long. It wasnā€™t because we were struggling. It was because we were more like tourists looking at all the places around Seattle. That changed my view of running as an adult and doing it for pleasure from being a kid and doing it because I had to.

Do you have any race traditions?

If it’s a longer distance, I always think about my last five or so miles more than anything. The last five are always more of a mental game for me. So, I think about those five miles, and I try to dedicate each mile to somebody else. I think about all the things that person would be telling me. It helps keep the focus on something other than the physical.

My brother is always my last mile. Always. My brother has had a couple of mental health disorders. Heā€™s had a difficult life. I think about that during the last mile and how it’s no comparison to real life. I can get through it. There are times that I cross that finish line with tears in my eyes because I always think of my brother in that last mile.

The post 30 seconds with an alum: Running with purpose appeared first on Alumni.

Hometown: Kent, WA

What was your first job?

Soccer coach for a Seattle Sounders summer camp.

Why start your own business?

It was the idea of not working a 9-5 my entire life. I want to have fun, I want to travel, and I want to play soccer while not worrying about work!

Why a photo booth?

I wanted to create a business that could expand to different areas and cater to any event. I believed that taking pictures was one thing that everyone does, and it captures memories that last for years.

What has been your favorite event so far?

The very first event we did was for a wedding reception. I didnā€™t know what I was getting myself into, but the night was super interactive and fun with the host extending our time by an hour. The vibes were immaculate, and since I didnā€™t expect anything, it was an event to remember.

Do you have any advice for your younger self?

Be adventurous and take risks. Life is all about taking risks to find yourself and to find what youā€™re best at.

The post 30 seconds with an alum: The man behind the lens appeared first on Alumni.