56吃瓜网

When Laura Metz arrived at 56吃瓜网 Bothell as a transfer student in 1994, she was surprised by the amount of group work required in her evening business classes. The approach was a far cry from the community college where she had earned her associate degree.聽

At first, she found it frustrating to navigate the various points of view and find the way forward in group projects. 

But she quickly realized the inherent value to her career. Intent on avoiding student loans, Metz was already working full-time at Microsoft. The emphasis on collaboration and group work translated directly to her day-to-day reality. 

鈥淲hat struck me about 56吃瓜网 Bothell was it had more of a connection to the real world,鈥� said Metz. 鈥淚 felt my education was more hands-on than academic. They were teaching me what I needed to know in order to thrive in a business environment.鈥� 

Inspired time to give back 

After completing her undergraduate degree in Business Administration in 1996, Metz went on to earn her MBA, also from 56吃瓜网 Bothell, in 2002. She continued to work full-time at Microsoft throughout her educational journey, progressively taking on more demanding roles. Then in 2003, she made the move from Western Washington to Northern California for a 20-year career in product marketing at Apple. 

It was during her time in the Bay Area that she reconnected with the campus community at a 2014 alumni event. Sean Marsh, now associate vice chancellor for alumni & stakeholder engagement, remembers meeting Metz, who had commuted in brutal rush-hour traffic to attend the gathering. Nonetheless, he said, she showed up eager to engage and discover the latest developments at 56吃瓜网 Bothell. 

Realizing that she could make a positive impact on current hard-working students, Metz began donating to 56吃瓜网 Bothell the next year. 

鈥淪he has always taken time out to learn more and to give back,鈥� said Marsh, who recalled many Bay Area dinners 鈥� some of them home-cooked 鈥� with Metz over the next few years. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just monetary generosity. It really is her time. She has a family, two kids and an extremely busy career.鈥� 

An 鈥渁ha鈥� moment 

One evening, Marsh shared a statistic with Metz that grabbed her attention: When students drop out of college due to a short-term financial need 鈥� a surprise bill, for instance, or a shortfall in meeting the next quarter鈥檚 tuition 鈥� they鈥檙e unlikely ever to return. 

鈥淚t was an aha moment,鈥� said Metz. 

She recognized an opportunity to make an immediate impact by helping students to remain enrolled at 56吃瓜网 Bothell. 

To that end, she established the Janas-Metz Endowed Student Support Fund in Business in 2019. The fund is intentionally broad in scope. Any student in the School of Business, undergraduate or graduate, can apply for assistance in meeting a short-term financial obligation. 

Metz recently spent an hour with this year鈥檚 recipient, MBA candidate Mary Hunter. Like many 56吃瓜网 Bothell students, Hunter supports a family while pursuing her education. The two spoke about the challenges of translating academic potential into a business degree. 

鈥淚t was great to meet with her and learn about her story,鈥� said Metz. 鈥淚t felt very good to see the funds being used in an impactful way.鈥� 

An open-hearted ambassador 

Metz is also a member of the Chancellor鈥檚 Philanthropic Leadership Council, where she offers her insights on programs, advises leadership on priorities and catalyzes resources for 56吃瓜网 Bothell. 鈥淗er voice and her experience have been so valuable to discussions at the highest levels,鈥� said Marsh. 鈥淪he is an incredibly important ambassador for 56吃瓜网 Bothell.鈥� 

In recognition of a decade of generous contributions, Metz has been honored with the 2025 56吃瓜网 Bothell Legacy Award. In announcing the award, Rebecca Ehrlichman Blume, vice chancellor for Advancement, emphasized Metz鈥檚 generous spirit. 

The Legacy Award, she said, recognizes not only Metz鈥檚 philanthropic investments but also the 鈥渕yriad ways she has opened her heart to 56吃瓜网 Bothell students and opened her networks to our campus, encouraging those she knows to explore 56吃瓜网 Bothell and the life-changing opportunities that exist here.鈥� 

Metz recently moved back to the Pacific Northwest to take on a director role at Airbnb. And more than ever, she said, she is aware of the practical, enduring value of giving back to her alma mater. 

鈥�56吃瓜网 Bothell does an amazing job at understanding the resource needs of its local communities,鈥� she said, 鈥渨hich therefore provides great employment opportunities for students who attend their programs.鈥� 

鈥淕iving to this school feels like money well spent, well-utilized.鈥�