Husky Student Experience Archives - Give to 56�Թ�� Bothell

From 56�Թ�� Bothell to 56�Թ�� Medicine

John Vicory — Wed, 14 May 2025 23:37:48 +0000

Claire Truongdang’s journey of purpose and persistence

When alumna Claire Truongdang, Biochemistry ’24, started at 56�Թ�� Bothell, she wasn’t sure what to expect from college.

Having moved from Vietnam years earlier, she and her family were unfamiliar with the application process. With help from someone at her high school, she applied to 56�Թ�� Bothell because it was close to home and easy for her family to access.

Once at 56�Թ�� Bothell, she started in psychology but changed course after her mother faced serious health issues. “I just wanted to understand what she was going through,” Truongdang said.

It was then a chemistry course with Dr. Brandon Finley that sparked a new passion. “He changed my life,” she said. “He made me want to spend my whole day thinking about chemistry.”

With his encouragement, she switched to biochemistry and found a new direction in college and in a career.

Doors to research and opportunity

Through 56�Թ�� Bothell, Truongdang gained access to resources across the University of Washington. She joined the Maternal-Fetal Research Lab at 56�Թ�� Medicine, mentored by Dr. Stephen McCartney and Dr. Raj Shree, where she studied how pregnancy may unlock new insights into diseases like cancer and knowledge about human parturition mechanisms.

“Pregnancy is often seen as an invasion — like a tumor — but the body tolerates it,” she said. “Understanding that could help us find cures.”

Even after graduation, she has continued research with Dr. McCartney and Dr. Shree, exploring her interest in both science and social impact, especially in reproductive health care. “Pregnancy research is so underexplored,” she said. “It’s more than just uteruses, vulvas and vaginas. It can teach us about cancer, cardiovascular disease and more.”

While her lab work as a student took place at the 56�Թ�� in Seattle, Truongdang said the foundation she built at 56�Թ�� Bothell was essential. “Our campus feels small, but it opens doors across the 56�Թ��,” she said.

She credited Dr. Finley for inspiring her academic shift, Dr. Marc Servetnick for helping her secure research funding from the Associated Students of the 56�Թ�� Bothell and Dr. Brian White for connecting underrepresented students (including her sister) to internship opportunities at 56�Թ�� Medicine and other labs in Seattle.

Support that shaped her future

Now working full time in the 56�Թ�� Medicine lab while preparing to apply to M.D.-Ph.D. programs, Truongdang said she hopes eventually to lead her own lab, advance research that improves lives and support patients through complex health decisions just like her current mentors.

In addition to the support of faculty, this path was made possible through financial support, including the 56�Թ�� Bothell Alumni Endowed Scholarship and the Worthington Scholarship.

When her mother was laid off, the extra support helped her continue her studies. “That summer, those scholarships reduced the financial burden on our family’s budget by not having the added expenses of school.”

To the alumni who fund scholarships through efforts like the 56�Թ�� Bothell Husky 5K, Truongdang offered heartfelt thanks. “It’s not about big, flashy gifts,” she said. “It’s about giving back to the communities we came from. That kind of awareness is the highest level of giving.”

Despite the challenges, Truongdang found her voice — and it is clear, focused and grounded in purpose.

Like Claire, every student has a story full of potential, challenges and discovery. Giving to 56�Թ�� Bothell helps unlock opportunities for students to find their path and pursue their future with confidence.

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More support, more impact

John Vicory — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:40:00 +0000

More than 370 alumni, donors, faculty, staff and students gathered at the Westin Bellevue for the I 56�Թ�� Bothell luncheon, raising over $190,000 for scholarships, faculty support and student success programs. The event highlighted the powerful impact of even modest support — from emergency funds to undergraduate research opportunities — and celebrated the 56�Թ�� Bothell community’s continued commitment to educational access and student achievement. Read the full story on 56�Թ�� Bothell News.

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2024 Senior Class Gift: Supporting wellness

BrieAnna Bales — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Each year, 56�Թ�� Bothell’s graduating class raises money to support an area of campus life that most resonates. This year, for the , the Associated Students of the 56�Թ�� chose the Mental Health and Wellness Fund, where funds donated will support on-campus events and resources such as the Counseling Center.

Leonille Matunan, a senior in Computer Science & Software Engineering and director of budget and finance for AS56�Թ��B, said he knows from personal experience why the group chose to focus on wellness for this annual gift.

The stresses of college

This year’s senior class started college in a high-stress environment amidst the COVID pandemic, on top of the many stressors that college is already filled with, Matunan said. From balancing assignments with part-time jobs to making time for extracurricular activities, he said that many of his peers are so busy they don’t have time to look after themselves.

The most stressful time of each quarter, Matunan said, is during mid-terms and finals — weeks when students are focusing on getting the best grades possible.

“I think a lot of people get really nervous,” he said. “I want to get a job. I want to be an adult who is working and making money. And I think that’s stressful for some people, even for myself, when I think, ‘If I mess up, am I not going to get a job later? Am I going to be a failure?’ It’s just everything stacking up against you. It gets very stressful.”

Two of the ways Matunan has helped to manage his wellness during college is through building a strong community and reaching out for counseling support.

Finding community

In his junior year, Matunan created a karaoke club for his friends, noting that having fun together was beneficial for their mental health.

“All we did was sing for two hours every other week,” he said. “A lot of the time, we would get around 50 to 60 people, and a lot of people loved it. I thought it was a good way to de-stress after class. You hang out with new people, and you sing together.” His go-to karaoke songs? Power ballads from Adele and Whitney Houston.

This year, Matunan joined another club called the Filipino American Student Association where Filipino students meet to celebrate cultural events and have fun. During a recent FASA event, he used his karaoke skills to regale the crowd. The event was having technical difficulties, so to keep the crowd entertained Matunan, the emcee, broke into spontaneous song. He sang “Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita,” a Filipino song that translates to “Why do I love you?”

[Video – Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ir_iuXFNEg

As a member of FASA, Matunan has joined a support network and has made many lasting memories. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he said. “Just because of the number of people I’ve met, the friendships I’ve made and the fun we’ve had.”

Reaching out to 56�Թ�� Bothell Counseling Center

While Matunan values the support of his peers, he is open about reaching out to professionals when he needs more help. When he was going through some personal challenges along with stress around deciding to switch majors, for example, he contacted 56�Թ�� Bothell’s Counseling Center. He said he had no qualms asking for help as his family members, many of whom work in health care, have always encouraged him to get help when needed.

Matunan said he understands there can be some anxiety about going to see a counselor. “I feel like telling students that it’s okay,” he said. “We’re not robots. We’re all humans. We’re going to go through things. And it’s okay that we’re sad or we’re mad or we feel all these emotions. I think it’s important for students to take a step back and realize they’re not alone.”

Meeting with a counselor helped Matunan gain perspective on his problems, and the therapist encouraged him to broaden his interests, including applying to be a member of AS56�Թ��B.

“It helped me appreciate life a little more,” he said. “She just gave me some great insight that my problems weren’t the end of the world. She told me to be patient and to forgive myself.”

Giving back for wellness

When asked why students should donate to the Senior Class Gift, Matunan emphasized that giving in this way is a direct gift to fellow students and the entire 56�Թ�� Bothell community.

“I think most people want to leave an impact before they leave somewhere,” he said. “That’s what I want. I want to leave an impact — even if it’s just a small amount. If everyone gives back, a lot more students can benefit from it.

“You’ll get to help out so many students that you probably would never meet,” he said, “and I feel like it’s just one of those good feelings. You can think, ‘I did something before I left. I was able to support students and my peers.’”

You can support students and your peers now by giving to the 2024 Senior Class Gift by . All gifts this year go toward the Mental Health and Wellness Fund.

If you’re a 56�Թ�� Bothell student interested in support, contact the Counseling Center.

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Building campus connections for a day of giving

John Vicory — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 21:03:00 +0000

From strategic outreach to authentic storytelling, Assistant Director of Annual Giving William Langevin shares how 56�Թ�� Bothell is building momentum for Husky Giving Day. His work focuses on connecting donors with causes they care about, creating meaningful impact across campus. Read the full story on 56�Թ�� Bothell News.

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Tony and Lisa Guerrero on giving back: “It’s an honor”

Xuan Bui — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 21:24:00 +0000

Humble and soft-spoken, Tony Guerrero would balk to hear his life story described as one of triumph, perseverance and generosity. But for the 56�Թ�� Bothell community inspired by his two-decade journey to earn his degree and by his long-time support for scholarships, that description fits him to a tee.

Growing up the oldest of six kids in a blue-collar Phoenix family, college was never on the horizon for Tony. He began a vocational heating and air conditioning track in high school, where he met his future wife, Lisa. He joined the Air Force Reserve and, after seeing older construction workers struggling in the blistering Arizona heat, wisely considered his long-term future and found indoor employment at a state-owned events venue.

Motivated by his mother’s drive to earn a degree and become an elementary school teacher while all her kids were still at home — and by his wife’s nighttime college studies while working full time — Tony enrolled in night classes, too.

In 1984, a beloved mentor at his job in Phoenix took a new role at Seattle’s Kingdome and encouraged Tony to join him. Tony moved his family up to the Northwest, kept taking classes at community colleges and eventually enrolled at 56�Թ�� Bothell’s original office park campus. By then, twins Joseph and Mario had joined the family.

The Guerreros returned to Arizona for a few years — again delaying Tony’s degree. Tony was hired by the University of Washington in 2000 to help manage maintenance on the mammoth Seattle campus and once again he enrolled at 56�Թ�� Bothell, which had moved to its current location.

“There was still such a wonderful family feel at 56�Թ�� Bothell,” Tony recalls, fondly remembering when a favorite professor and fellow students came to his rescue with a new textbook and loaned class notes after his were stolen in a car break-in. When he took his last test in 2001, Lisa and the boys greeted him with balloons and cheers.

Today, the proud alumnus holds not only that hard-fought BA in business but also an MBA from Seattle Pacific University. He has worked at 56�Թ�� Bothell since 2003 and now serves as Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Services and Campus Operations. He and Lisa were among the earliest donors to 56�Թ�� Bothell’s first scholarship fund, and their gifts have supported hundreds of students for well over a decade. “I see so many students here today who are far less fortunate than I was,” Tony says.

“I know that when I donate, I’m investing in someone else’s chance to grow and contribute and give back one day. It’s an honor.”

This story was originally published in 2016. In 2017, the Guerreros generously established the Anthony R. and Lisa A. Guerrero Endowed Scholarship to provide need-based financial support to 56�Թ�� Bothell students.

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Innovation Hall expands STEM pathways

John Vicory — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 08:58:00 +0000

With the opening of Innovation Hall, 56�Թ�� Bothell and Cascadia College are offering more space and resources for STEM learning. The facility enhances collaboration, research and training in high-demand fields, supporting students as they prepare for careers in Washington’s growing tech economy. Read the full story on 56�Թ�� Bothell News.

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One day to give back — and move forward

John Vicory — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 20:44:00 +0000

On Husky Giving Day, alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students come together to support the people and programs that make 56�Թ�� Bothell thrive. From basic needs like food security to career-connected learning and scholarships, this 24-hour campaign reflects the values that define the campus: impact, belonging, resilience and community. Every gift — no matter the size — helps remove barriers and open doors for current and future Huskies. Read the full story on 56�Թ�� Bothell News.

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My Story: Leadership and social justice

John Vicory — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 20:30:00 +0000

Chancellor Emeritus Kenyon Chan shares how his upbringing, activism and academic journey led him to center social justice in higher education leadership. As 56�Թ�� Bothell’s second chancellor, he navigated major financial and institutional challenges while helping the campus grow in size, identity and mission. Chan’s leadership focused on equity, inclusion and collective responsibility — values that continue to shape 56�Թ�� Bothell’s impact today. Read the full story on 56�Թ�� Bothell News.

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Husky Student Experience Archives - Give to 56�Թ��� Bothell

From 56�Թ��� Bothell to 56�Թ��� Medicine