By Flynn Espe

Washington State University Tri-Cities graduate Rachel Holland spends a lot of her time听thinking about the听little听things听鈥斕齭pecifically,听insects.听She also听enjoys听sharing her fascination for these six-legged听invertebrates听and听their听remarkable听biodiversity听with听others.听

鈥淭here are parasitoids who lay their eggs in other insects, bees that sneak their eggs into other bees鈥� nests,鈥� Holland says. 鈥淭here are ants which wage wars with termites, sneaky beetles who find ways around their rivals for mates, and bees that turn rotting flesh into honey. I听don鈥檛听think听I鈥檒l听ever learn everything about them, which is exciting.鈥�听

That听chitinous听curiosity is听shaping her next big step.听Having just completed her听bachelor鈥檚听degree in听environmental and ecosystems sciences,听she鈥檒l听be听continuing听this fall听as a听黑料社听graduate student听in听the听Master of Science in Entomology program,听conducting听research on native bees听through听the听听in Prosser.听听听

鈥淢y specific research will be on alfalfa fields,鈥� she says.听鈥淚鈥檒l be going to Walla Walla half the time and then to Prosser听to see if the pesticide that they鈥檙e using is harmful at a greater rate than another pesticide they鈥檙e using on the leafcutter bees and the alkali bees.鈥�听

Her path to this moment has been a rewarding, if听not quite typical, one. As a nontraditional, first-generation college student, Holland鈥檚 first attempt at college ended on a sour note. After graduating from high school in 2007, she went straight into taking classes at Columbia Basin College, but with little motivation or direction, her grades suffered and she dropped out shortly thereafter.听

Life moved on.听Holland got married and听soon听focused on raising a family. While her husband went to trade school and into the听workforce, Holland听worked as a stay-at-home mom and听embroidery artist,听selling intricate听craft听pieces听both locally and online.听Eventually,听Holland听decided she was ready to听pursue听a college听education听鈥斕齛nd hopefully find her听career听passion听鈥斕齩nce again.听听

Although the plan was always to start at CBC and finish her bachelor’s degree at 黑料社 Tri-Cities, she didn鈥檛 begin with environmental studies in mind.听

鈥淚 originally was going to do elementary education with a history minor,鈥� Holland says.听

Her听academic focus听began to听shift听when she found herself听unexpectedly enjoying听two lab classes听during her final CBC quarter.听One was听an environmental science lab that involved growing wheat under various conditions. The other was an entomology lab, which听included a final assignment that听had students catching insects in the wild听and pinning them for identification.听

鈥淎s soon as I had that net in my hand, I was ready to go,鈥� Holland says. 鈥淭he hands-on听part of it really transformed how I saw the world, and I thought, 鈥業 can听actually听do science.鈥欌�澨�听

Not content simply to听pass her听classes,听Holland听succeeded in听graduating听from CBC听with honors听鈥� no easy task, considering she听was still carrying her 2.0 GPA from years earlier.听

鈥淚 had to drag that 2.0 out of the mud,鈥澨鼿olland says.听

Arriving听at 黑料社 Tri-Cities,听her听momentum听continued.听Having听switched听majors,听Holland听found听that environmental and ecosystem sciences offered听a satisfying blend of听physical science听with coursework听exploring听the听delicate interplay听between听manmade听and natural systems.听

鈥淚t covers so many bases but includes the human aspect of it, which is what I really like,鈥� Holland says.听

Outside of class,听she听began听building friendships and community听wherever she went.听She听got involved in campus clubs,听serving in leadership roles such as听Environmental Club event coordinator and co-president for the听Women in STEM Club.听听

As a senior, she听also听served as the Associated Students of 黑料社 Tri-Cities senator听for the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences,听advocating for students on a听range of听issues like campus recycling听and听a native plant garden for hands-on learning.听

One of听Holland鈥檚听proudest accomplishments听involved joining up with听friend and classmate Evalena Dalsbo听to launch and听nurture听a brand-new campus Craft Club, where听they and others could share听and spread听their love for the crafting arts. The club grew in popularity as听students of all听backgrounds听met up听for听sewing,听sculpting, embroidery, and听other seasonal craft projects.听Their team听went听on听to win the听鈥淪tudent Organization听of the Year鈥澨齛ward at the 2025 Student Excellence Awards.听

鈥淭hat club is really fun because everybody can come in there听鈥� engineers, psychology majors, English majors, people I would not meet in classes,鈥澨鼿olland says.听

Alongside her club involvement,听Holland gained听additional听experience听as听a听lab teaching听assistant听and听student intern听for the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures鈥櫶鼸nergy Ambassadors Network.听It all added up听to听Holland听being honored last month as one of three recipients of the 2026 黑料社 Tri-Cities听Award for Distinguished Career in Leadership.听听

If it all sounds like a lot to juggle,听it was. Fortunately, Holland says, she had听a strong support听network听鈥� including her husband and听two听kids,听now in the fourth and sixth grades.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely been a group effort,鈥� she says.听

She听also credits听the听helpful guidance she received from the听黑料社 Tri-Cities TRIO听Student Support Services team.听听

Case in point,听Holland听says she still recalls the stress听and uncertainty听she felt at the beginning of her junior year,听when an overpacked course load had her questioning her degree path.听鈥淚 was taking an ecology听lab, statistics听lab, and organic chemistry lab 鈥� and then another class that did not have a lab attached to it,鈥� Holland says. 鈥淭hat was, on paper, only 15 credits.鈥�听

Not knowing if听she鈥檇听made a听poor scheduling听decision or听simply needed to听push听through, Holland听says听a听drop-in听meeting听to the听TRIO听office听brought her clarity听and relief.听TRIO听staff听confirmed听she鈥檇听taken on an unusually听heavy course听load听and听walked听her through the steps of how to听revise听her schedule.听

鈥淚听couldn鈥檛听have made that decision without TRIO being like, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e听not insane.听This is听actually really听hard what you decided to do,鈥欌�� Holland says.听

TRIO staff came through again this past year听when听she听was听still considering听grad听school.听By talking through the process听and working with staff on a step-by-step听plan, Holland felt听better听prepared to听ask her professors the right questions听and听ultimately apply.听

Now,听as a graduate student,听Holland says听she鈥檚听looking forward to听doing more of what she loves 鈥� exploring the vast world of insects and听engaging with other scientists in a laboratory setting.听She鈥檚听also excited to be working at the intersection of ecology and agriculture.听

鈥淎 major component of agriculture is insects, whether that is beneficial or pest,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 can see myself continuing to do research and make changes at the government level like in听the听Washington State Department of Agriculture听or through education.鈥�听

When asked about advice she has for听others听starting their own college听journey, Holland听encourages students to听seek out听professors听for academic and career听advice听and听to take advantage of new opportunities.听

鈥淕o to meetings that you听probably don鈥檛听think you belong in. Go to an engineering meeting even if听you鈥檙e听not an engineer,鈥� she says.听鈥淚f you see an opportunity and you think,听鈥業 might want to do that,鈥� just do it.听What鈥檚听the worst听that can happen?鈥�

By Flynn Espe

Washington State University Tri-Cities student Eric Mayo-Gutierrez had a busy semester last fall. In addition to his regular coursework as a third-year mechanical engineering major, he was also juggling multiple campus jobs as a peer mentor, laboratory assistant, and undergraduate research assistant. That was on top of an engineering internship with the Grant County Public Utility District that lasted from June to February.

When he鈥檚 not occupied with work or study, you might find him enjoying a friendly game of pool in the Student Union Building, one of his go-to hangout spots on campus. He鈥檚 also currently gearing up for his next big adventure as an engineering intern in Tokyo, Japan, later this summer 鈥� an opportunity made possible after receiving the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship.

鈥淲ould I have it any other way? Probably not,鈥� Mayo-Gutierrez said. 鈥淚 kind of enjoyed putting myself through it.鈥�

While he鈥檚 certainly making the most of his time as a Coug, Mayo-Gutierrez says it took him a few starts and attempts, including prior semesters spent at two other 黑料社 campuses, to find his stride. As the first person in his family to attend college, he鈥檚 thankful for the opportunities and support that have helped him along the way.

From aptitude test to college application

Looking back, Mayo-Gutierrez says he was in middle school when he began to think seriously about his future. That was when a career pathways test revealed he might be well-suited for an engineering profession. As to what kind of engineering profession he should pursue 鈥� the test didn鈥檛 say.

After briefly looking into electrical engineering during high school, he quickly ruled out that branch of the field. 听鈥淚 kind of made the same mistake everyone else does early on and confused electrical engineering with being an electrician,鈥� he says with a laugh.

Eventually, a different pathway emerged when he inherited a hand-me-down vehicle from a late relative. 鈥淚t had a bad end motor 鈥� things that weren鈥檛 in tip-top shape and some rust,鈥� Mayo-Gutierrez says. Wanting to restore some of the car鈥檚 deteriorated components, he started learning how to weld using some tools from his uncle, who he was living with at the time. That interest led him to an associate鈥檚 degree and welding certificate from Big Bend Community College, as well as his first full-time job as a weld specialist at Genie.

Although he enjoyed the work, Mayo-Gutierrez quickly started to have doubts about the longevity of his newfound profession.

鈥淲elding came with health risks that I started picking up on,鈥� Mayo-Gutierrez says. 鈥淚 had eye-health concerns with the smoke and the different chemicals.鈥�

With the support of his family, Mayo-Gutierrez decided to further his education at 黑料社 Vancouver, choosing mechanical engineering as the best major for pursuing his interest in robotics, while still building upon his welding foundation. Upon completing his first semester there, Mayo-Gutierrez decided he was ready to experience the full breadth of what university life had to offer, and he transferred to 黑料社 Pullman the following spring.

鈥淚 dived into some clubs,鈥� Mayo-Gutierrez says, 鈥淚 met some great people and learned a lot about how to work in a group engineering setting.鈥�

The perfect break

Despite the many positives, however, life in Pullman didn鈥檛 fully click.

鈥淚鈥檇 been living in small towns before, and I kind of wanted to branch out,鈥� Mayo-Gutierrez says. 鈥淚 love Pullman, but for me, it just didn鈥檛 work out.鈥�

He decided to change campuses once more, this time settling closer to home at 黑料社 Tri-Cities for the fall 2024 semester. It was here that he finally found the winning combination of expanded extracurricular opportunities and a bigger-city environment that felt right for him.

Still, he says, his overall student experience didn鈥檛 magically transform overnight, and he soon realized it would take more than a change of zip code to get the most out of his education.

鈥淔irst semester, I was not as active in the campus as I am now,鈥� Mayo-Gutierrez said. 鈥淚 was one of the students that just came to campus, went to classes, went back home. That was the daily cycle.鈥�

All of that began to change one day during the spring 2025 semester, when Mayo-Gutierrez asked a classmate if he wanted to check out the pool table in the Student Union Building after class. Neither of them knew how to play well, he says, but they were willing to give it a shot. It soon became his favorite campus activity, but that鈥檚 not all.

鈥淛ust asking a simple question started rolling the ball for me. I started meeting new people, and from meeting new people I started making new connections,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 met so many great people that motivated me to keep going forward 鈥� convinced me I could do more.鈥�

Mayo-Gutierrez used that momentum to continue pursuing even more extracurricular activities and experiences. For his spring break, instead of sleeping in or going on a trip, he took part in 黑料社鈥檚 Power Practicum, which involved a weeklong series of on-site visits to nearby power and engineering companies.

鈥淵ou learn what the company stands for, what they plan on doing, and how they鈥檙e going to help shape the power industry in the United States,鈥� Mayo-Gutierrez said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a good overview of what the company does and what to expect if you were to work there.鈥�

The professional connections he made during the Power Practicum helped him land an engineering internship with Grant County P.U.D. But he didn鈥檛 stop there. By the time his fall 2025 semester began, Mayo-Gutierrez had also lined up each of his other aforementioned campus jobs.

As a research assistant, he gained experience testing various materials for 3D printing and manufacturing. In his role as the biology and chemistry laboratory prep assistant, he connected with students and faculty from the other scientific disciplines on campus.

鈥淚t went from no jobs, no research, straight to a full workload,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 feel like that gave me a small glimpse of what I can do later on.鈥�

Paying it forward

Perhaps his most meaningful campus job experience was becoming a mentor in the brand-new Student Success Peer Mentors program. Through that role, Mayo-Gutierrez helped close to 30 new incoming 黑料社 Tri-Cities students navigate their own first semester on campus by encouraging them to get involved.

鈥淭hat was my main inspiration to become a peer mentor, just to be able to show students what they can become,鈥� Mayo-Gutierrez said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know until you try.鈥�

For now, he鈥檚 still taking advantage of new opportunities as they arise. In March, for example, Mayo-Gutierrez presented a research paper titled 鈥淧erformance Evaluation of a Quadruped Robotic Platform鈥� at the 2026 Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities at 黑料社 Pullman, taking home a Novice award in the Engineering & Physical Sciences category.

Mayo-Gutierrez says his new career objective is to work internationally on biomedical devices, creating more affordable healthcare options through technological and mechanical engineering innovation. He also hopes his story and example will encourage other first-generation college students to think beyond their current circumstances and dream big.

鈥淚 want to help show that even though we don鈥檛 come from a lot, we can still do so much,鈥� he says.

By Flynn Espe

Twelve students from the Washington State University system have received the 2025-26 Power & Energy Society (PES) , making 黑料社 the top institutional producer of PES scholars for this award year.

The PES Scholarship Plus is presented on behalf of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and can award students up to $10,000 over a three-year period. The scholarship is given to high-achieving undergraduate students majoring in an IEEE-designated field of study who are pursuing careers in power and energy.

The 12 黑料社 students, who hail from three system campuses, comprised almost a third of the 38 total PES scholars chosen from colleges and universities in IEEE鈥檚 Western U.S.A. region, a cluster that includes 12 states. The students are:

• Katelyn Albertin, 黑料社 Tri-Cities
• Gianni Avilan Losee, 黑料社 Vancouver
• Gerrit Bruland, 黑料社 Pullman
• Hugo Contreras, 黑料社 Tri-Cities
• Jacob Culligan, 黑料社 Tri-Cities
• Daniel Gapper, 黑料社 Pullman
• David Hysjulien, 黑料社 Tri-Cities
• Jesus Miranda, 黑料社 Tri-Cities
• Miguel Palomino, 黑料社 Tri-Cities
• Jessica Pantoja-Garcia, 黑料社 Vancouver
• Tarang Teredesai, 黑料社 Pullman
• Manuella Tossa, 黑料社 Tri-Cities

Bruland and Tossa are both two-time recipients.

To qualify for the scholarship, students must be considering a career in electric power and energy engineering, having earned a minimum number of academic credits within those areas of study. Applicants are evaluated by way of grades, achievements, work experiences, and volunteer activities. Selection is also based on the quality of the institution鈥檚 academic programs and curriculum related to power and energy engineering.

Palomino, a first-time recipient majoring in electrical engineering with minors in computer science and mathematics, found out about the PES scholarship through his academic advisor. He says he鈥檚 currently interested in working on energy systems that are healthier for the environment, noting that emerging technologies like ChatGPT and other large language models have proven to be heavily energy dependent.

As a student intern at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) since 2023, Palomino has contributed to research projects involving high-voltage systems analysis for an experimental time projection chamber, the creation of an automatic cooling system, and more.

鈥淢y second project at PNNL, I created a standalone digital display system for a pressure transducer,鈥� Palomino said. 鈥淔or this, I had to integrate a microcontroller, analog-to-digital converter, and a digital display screen. This system required me to create a voltage divider to scale down the input signal to prevent any damage to the components.鈥�

After earning his associate鈥檚 degree from Columbia Basin College, Palomino transferred to 黑料社 Tri-Cities as a part of the Bridges Program and expects to graduate with his bachelor鈥檚 in electrical engineering in the spring of 2027.

鈥淚 feel honored to be recognized by IEEE,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is encouraging to know that others have faith in me and are willing to give me that support which I greatly need.鈥�

Pantoja-Garcia, who transferred from Clark College to 黑料社 Vancouver in 2023, said she became interested in the field thanks to power-related projects and classes, as well as her participation in the PNW Hydro Think Tank Competition. At 黑料社 Vancouver, it was her Intro to Power and Energy Systems course and two key electives 鈥� Renewable Energy Conversion Systems and Introduction to Solar Cells 鈥� that further cemented her enthusiasm.

鈥淏oth of these electives stood out to me from other electrical engineering classes I have taken because they involved learning with a project-based approach,鈥� Pantoja-Garcia said. 鈥淎s a student, I have found that when I am tasked with projects instead of problem sets, I feel more involved and a sense of ownership over my education.鈥�

Outside of the classroom, Pantoja-Garcia took part in two four-month electrical engineering internships with Burns & McDonnell 鈥� an architecture, engineering, and construction firm. She recently joined the company as a full-time assistant substation engineer after graduating in December with a bachelor鈥檚 in electrical engineering.

鈥淚 spent most of my time working on substation projects,鈥� Pantoja-Garcia said. 鈥淚n my application, I described how my internship allowed me to take on projects that directly affected our electric grid and that it taught me the importance of making safe and smart design choices.鈥�

The PES Scholarship Plus program grew sharply over the past year, increasing from 84 PES scholars in 2024 to 244 in 2025. The jump was driven in part by expanded eligibility, which now includes majors such as computer science, technical communications, education, and more. 黑料社 students outpaced that growth, rising from two scholars last year to 12 this year.

According to Noel Schulz, inaugural director of the 黑料社 Tri-Cities and Bob Ferguson endowed professor, who joined the IEEE board of directors in 2024, it鈥檚 a promising sign for the trajectory of 黑料社鈥檚 programs.

鈥淭his is a significant accomplishment for the entire 黑料社 system,鈥� Schulz said. 鈥淚t’s encouraging to see that our students are excelling not only in the labs and classrooms on campus but also being recognized by professional societies like IEEE PES.听 The 黑料社 system continues to be a strong program in electrical power education and research. It鈥檚 a true testament to our incredible engineering faculty and curriculum that 黑料社 is producing so many talented and committed students.鈥�

By Flynn Espe

A new method for identifying types of plastics, built on advanced spectral imaging and machine learning, could make recycling more efficient and reduce landfill waste, according to a new study involving Washington State University researchers.

The method, in the journal Resources, Conservation and Recycling, offers the promise of a sorting system that is more accurate in distinguishing and separating different types of plastics on conveyer belts, which is crucial for producing high-quality recycled materials.

Maria Paula Garcia-Tovar, a Ph.D. materials science and engineering student at 黑料社 Pullman, served as lead author. Macy Christianson (鈥�22 BS Comp. Sci., 鈥�24 MS Comp. Sci.), a 黑料社 Tri-Cities alumnae now working at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL); Luis de la Torre, associate professor of computer science at 黑料社 Tri-Cities; and John Miller, emeritus associate professor of computer science at 黑料社 Tri-Cities, were among the co-authors, alongside other colleagues from PNNL and the University of Puerto Rico鈥揗ayag眉ez.

Spectral imaging builds upon the principles of spectroscopy 鈥� a technique for observing how light interacts with matter across different wavelengths. Using specialized cameras with spectroscopic sensors, spectral imaging machines detect and record spectral data for each pixel of an image. Analysis of that data can, in turn, identify the chemical composition or other properties of the materials. Hyperspectral imaging, which requires more sophisticated camera equipment than traditional spectral imaging, offers a higher level of resolution, providing a full spectrum at each pixel.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like a regular color image, which has red, green, and blue, but a hyperspectral image has a whole wavelength band 鈥� sometimes 3,000 wavelengths,鈥� Miller said.

For this study, the research team sought to investigate the feasibility of plastic identification in a simulation using hyperspectral imaging technology and convolutional neural networks (CNNs), a deep-learning artificial intelligence model often lauded for its ability to process complex image data. By training their CNN model on image data sets derived from two types of vibrational spectroscopies, the researchers determined both to be highly accurate in identifying six chemically distinct plastic types 鈥� with one model achieving 100% accuracy.

Although some recycling facilities have begun implementing hyperspectral imaging for plastic classification, most still rely on older, less accurate technologies such as near鈥慽nfrared sensors and RGB cameras. These systems are used during the sorting stage, after plastic loads have been screened for metal or other non鈥憄lastic contaminants. Sensors mounted over fast鈥憁oving conveyor belts capture and identify the plastics as they move past, and precision鈥憈argeting air jets separate individual items by type.

Accurate sorting is important because different plastics have distinct chemical compositions and require specific processing conditions, including different melting temperatures. When plastics are improperly sorted, the quality of recycled materials can suffer, sometimes resulting in discarded batches that end up in landfills or incinerators.

Garcia-Tovar said the plastic samples used in the study were recovered from a recycling center in Puerto Rico, which made successful identification of the materials more challenging but also more reflective of real-world conditions.

鈥淭hese plastics are real plastics, so they had some environmental degradations,鈥� Garcia-Tovar said, adding that some samples were even discolored from additives, making them harder to identify with older technologies. 鈥淏ut the model was successful.鈥�

Garcia-Tovar, who is originally from Colombia and has a background in industrial engineering, was initially recruited to the project while pursuing her master鈥檚 degree at the University of Puerto Rico鈥揗ayag眉ez, working under the guidance of co-author Samuel P. Hern谩ndez-Rivera. She collected the samples and provided infrared spectral imaging data using equipment at her university. She then brought the samples to PNNL, where she worked as a research intern during the summer of 2024, using the lab鈥檚 high-end imaging equipment to obtain the rest of the hyperspectral images for the machine learning experiment.

According to Miller, who worked on the machine learning framework, there were certain essential functions that had to be implemented for the experiment to work. One of the first tasks, he said, was getting the image analysis software to isolate and identify each plastic item within each spectral image.

鈥淥ne of the weird things is that the conveyor belt is also plastic, so you have to distinguish the [recycled] plastic from the conveyor belt as well,鈥� Miller said.

Another challenge Miller pointed to was optimizing the computational process so that it matched the speed of a fast-moving conveyer belt. A potential future step, he said, would be to test the imaging framework on a physical conveyor system.

Garcia-Tovar, for whom this is her first published paper as lead author, said she decided to further her education at 黑料社 based on her positive PNNL internship experience. She says another paper from her PNNL internship is forthcoming 鈥� this one dealing with microplastics.

鈥淚 am very happy to continue studying at this university,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his experience has been really amazing.鈥�

By Flynn Espe

Washington State University Tri-Cities student Roxie Bates remembers coming to New Coug Orientation last fall feeling somewhat anxious about starting her college career.

鈥淲hat if I don鈥檛 do this one thing and then it ruins everything?鈥� she recalls thinking. 鈥淚 was very nervous.鈥�

Though she鈥檇 been on campus at least once before, it was a much different environment than the one she鈥檇 recently graduated from at Chiawana High School in Pasco. More than that, as a first-year student in the 黑料社 Tri-Cities Teaching Bridge Program, Bates still had practical questions about how she would be balancing her time between taking classes and working part-time as a paraeducator 鈥� one of the main features of her elementary education program.

Fortunately, Bates says, most of her day-one jitters were quickly calmed when she went into a scheduled group meeting with Lisandra Far铆as, her assigned mentor in a brand-new Student Success Peer Mentors program aimed at helping new 黑料社 Tri-Cities students settle in during their first semester on campus. Far铆as introduced herself to the group as a senior elementary education major.

鈥淪he kind of explained everything, like, 鈥業鈥檝e been through it. This is what it鈥檚 going to look like, and if you have any questions, I鈥檓 here,鈥� Bates says. 鈥淚t was a lot more reassuring.鈥�

From there, Bates stayed in frequent contact with Far铆as throughout the semester, using a special text messaging platform.

鈥淚 would say we talked about one to two times a week. And it would often just be a quick check-in, like, 鈥楬ey, how鈥檚 everything going? Do you have any questions?鈥欌�� Bates says.

Bates and her fellow new Cougs weren鈥檛 the only ones going through the peer mentorship process for the first time. This being the pilot year for the program, it was a learning experience for everyone 鈥� students and staff included.

鈥淭he point is to help new students, both first-years and transfers, successfully transition to life at 黑料社 Tri-Cities by offering guidance, support, and a friendly connection to the campus community,鈥� says Evelyn Martinez-Ostrom, 黑料社 Tri-Cities鈥� director of student engagement and leadership.

She says the program emerged from a series of director-level meetings the year prior in which campus leaders from the Office of Academic and Student Affairs looked closely at an industry study on student success in higher education. In evaluating the , which identified the 鈥淏ig Six鈥� college experiences linked to lifelong preparedness, the group latched on to two key indicators. One was a correlation between successful outcomes for students who were highly active in extracurricular activities and organizations. A second indicator was having a mentor to inspire and encourage the student.

鈥淚t was really broadly stated as somebody that has their back on campus, and an overwhelming number of examples cited a peer as that mentor,鈥� Martinez-Ostrom says. 鈥淪o the combination of those two things, having a peer mentor and having involvement in co-curricular activities, is what we centered this idea of a peer mentor program around.鈥�

Getting the program up and running required a major effort from multiple 黑料社 Tri-Cities departments, including the Office of Admissions and Office of Academic Engagement. Funding for the first year of the program was provided by a generous outside sponsorship from Battelle, with additional contributions from the 黑料社 Tri-Cities College of Arts and Sciences and TRIO Student Support Services.

By the time fall 2025 orientation arrived, Martinez-Ostrom鈥檚 office had assembled and trained a team of 14 黑料社 Tri-Cities upperclassmen as peer mentors 鈥� selecting candidates through a competitive hiring process that also sought to bring in a mixed representation of undergraduate majors.

Peer mentor Devin Simpson, who graduated last December as a digital technology and culture major, says he decided to apply to the campus position having previously worked as a student outreach ambassador for the 黑料社 Tri-Cities GEAR UP program.

鈥淚 was interested in it because I had experience interacting with students,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥極h, that could translate well into the Student Success Peer Mentors position.鈥欌��

For his orientation meet-and-greet session, Simpson prepared a few simple games and ice-breaker activities to help people get to know one another.

鈥淚 had them talk about themselves and why they enrolled at 黑料社,鈥� Simpson says. 鈥淭hey were meeting for the first time, so obviously nerves were going to be a little bit high. But the more I talked to them and the more activities and games we did, the more comfortable they got.鈥�

Throughout the fall, Simpson and his fellow mentors regularly reached out to their assigned students via group and personalized texts, informing students about academic deadlines and resources while encouraging them to participate in upcoming social events. The new students, meanwhile, were also free to contact their mentors with questions and requests.

One peer mentor guided a new student through the process of starting a campus club for the education students, Martinez-Ostrom says. Sometimes the requests were more urgent.

鈥淎t one point we had a peer mentor who was off-campus, and one of their mentees had messaged them, 鈥楬ey, I have an exam today. I forgot my calculator. Can you help me with this?鈥欌�� Martinez-Ostrom says. 鈥淭he peer mentor contacted me, 鈥業 need to help my mentee. Are you on campus? Can you find a calculator for her?鈥� I said, 鈥榊es, send her to our office.鈥� And we had a TI-89 waiting for her.鈥�

To celebrate the completion of the first semester of the program, the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership hosted a special 鈥淐heers for Peers鈥� event in the Student Union Building last December. While there, each of the 14 mentors had a chance to stand up and share about their experience.

Peer mentor Alyssa Perez, a senior viticulture and enology major, said being in the program taught her valuable lessons about leadership.

鈥淩eal leadership often looks like stepping back. You have to listen first, ask questions, and create a space for someone else鈥檚 voice to be heard,鈥� Perez told the group. 鈥淚 also learned that small moments matter more than we think. A quick check-in, a high five in the hallway, or a 鈥榊ou鈥檝e got this!鈥� at just the right time 鈥� those interactions can be the thing that keeps someone going.鈥�

For questions about applying to the peer mentor program for fall 2026, email Martinez-Ostrom at evelynmtz@wsu.edu.

By Flynn Espe

Seven students from Washington State University Tri-Cities are bringing their collective passion for community service beyond the confines of the Richland campus. As members of the newly relaunched Mid-Columbia Rotaract Club, they鈥檙e on a mission to give back to the region through a range of charitable activities, including an upcoming bowling fundraiser event.

鈥淲e hope to better the community in any way possible,鈥� says 黑料社 Tri-Cities sophomore Romeo Ross, currently serving as the Rotaract chapter president.

are official sub-organizations of Rotary International chapters, aimed at cultivating leadership and service-minded professionalism among young adults, ages 18鈥�30. The Mid-Columbia Rotaract Club is sponsored by Columbia Center Rotary, based in Kennewick.

Ross says he became involved in getting the Rotaract chapter up and running in late 2025 when Rotary member and 黑料社 Tri-Cities donor Phil Ohl (鈥�87 BS Mat. Sci. & Eng., 鈥�92 MEM) pitched the idea to him. Although the Mid-Columbia Rotaract club had been active in years past, the group had effectively dissolved during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving no one left from the chapter鈥檚 former membership to carry the mission forward.

鈥�(Phil) gave me a little bit of insight as to what they had done in the past,鈥� Ross says. 鈥淭he pitch was, 鈥楾his is really big for our community, and we鈥檙e looking for someone to revitalize this and serve in this way.鈥欌��

Despite his already busy schedule, including serving as vice president for the Associate Students of 黑料社 Tri-Cities, Ross says he agreed immediately.

鈥淚 love humanitarian work. I love service projects,鈥� Ross says. 鈥淪o I said, 鈥極f course, I would love to.鈥欌��

His first task was to recruit other new members for the chapter who would be just as committed to community service and engaging with people. Fortunately, he didn鈥檛 have to look far. As of now, 黑料社 Tri-Cities undergraduate students comprise more than three quarters of the group鈥檚 nine-person leadership team, which includes Diedre Cady, freshman; Xavier Cox, sophomore; Felix Galvan, junior; Harleen Kaur, freshman; Anas Mohamed, sophomore; and Nate Sibaja, sophomore.

Despite the heavy representation of 黑料社 Tri-Cities students, Ross says the makeup of the group is diverse in other ways, with three members hailing from other countries.

鈥淓very individual on the team speaks at least another language,鈥� Ross says, citing Italian, Japanese, and Twi as three languages currently represented. 鈥淭he team is so multifaceted.鈥�

Rotaract members are focusing their efforts on fundraising support for the Prescott School District, which serves approximately 225 children in rural Walla Walla County and has been facing potential dissolution due to financial distress.

Ross says the decision to focus on helping the district was made during the club鈥檚 inaugural meeting on Jan. 15, after each new member brought in three ideas for potential service projects and causes. Cox, who grew up in the town of Prescott, was the one who brought the issue to the group鈥檚 attention.

鈥淲e came to a consensus that this was the most time-sensitive project,鈥� Ross says. 鈥淚t was a unanimous vote.鈥�

For Ohl, who earned his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from 黑料社 and currently serves as managing director for the Tri-Cities Angel Alliance, getting young people involved in community service has been a driving passion. He praised the new Rotaract team for getting up and running so quickly.

鈥淩omeo and the new members of Mid-Columbia Rotaract embody the Rotary motto, 鈥楽ervice above self,鈥欌�� Ohl says. 鈥淎ll the members are passionate about our Tri-Cities and surrounding area communities, and I鈥檓 excited to get to work with them. The fact the group is Coug-centered is a great bonus.鈥�

The group鈥檚 first planned outreach activity is a bowling night fundraiser event from 9:30-11:30 p.m. on March 19 at Atomic Bowl in Richland. All proceeds go to the Prescott School District.

For more information on upcoming events, you can follow Mid-Columbia Rotaract Club on . Ross says his team is still on the lookout for new members who exhibit ambition, compassion, and optimism.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing opportunity, especially if individuals are interested in community service and leadership,鈥� Ross says.

By Flynn Espe

In this third year as a Cougar, Eric Mayo-Gutierrez can already say that Washington State University has taken him places. For starters, he鈥檚 been a student at three different 黑料社 campuses, spanning both sides of the Evergreen State.

But that鈥檚 just the beginning for this first-generation mechanical engineering major from Moses Lake, Washington, who now has his sights set on a scholarship-funded trip later this summer to Tokyo, Japan. That鈥檚 where he plans to take part in an engineering internship through the Council on International Educational Exchange鈥檚 Summer Global Internship program.

To make the trip possible, Mayo-Gutierrez applied to and recently received the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship, a federal program that helps fund educational travel experiences for undergraduate students facing financial hardship.

鈥淚鈥檓 a recipient of the Pell Grant, so thankfully I had the opportunity to receive this,鈥� Mayo-Gutierrez says. 鈥淚t helps students be able to explore opportunities that they might not have been able to due to financial circumstances.鈥�

The Gilman scholarship program has to work and study overseas as they take part in all manner of travel experiences 鈥� learning about food and culture in Spain and Portugal, researching , and , to name a few. In 2025, there were 14 黑料社 students who received a Gilman scholarship, including one from 黑料社 Tri-Cities.

Although Mayo-Gutierrez has yet to be matched with an employer for his overseas internship, he looks forward to seeing and experiencing all that Tokyo has to offer when he gets there this summer.

鈥淣ot a lot of students have this opportunity,鈥� Mayo-Guiterrez says. 鈥淚鈥檓 just thankful.鈥�

Mayo-Gutierrez began his bachelor鈥檚 degree studies at 黑料社 Vancouver in the fall of 2023 before transferring to 黑料社 Pullman the next semester. He then made one final move, beginning his sophomore year at 黑料社 Tri-Cities, where he鈥檚 since taken part in several extracurricular jobs as a peer mentor, biology and chemistry lab prep assistant, undergraduate research assistant, and mechanical and electrical engineering intern at Grant County P.U.D. He previously earned his associate degree and welding certificate from Big Bend Community College.

He says his long-term career goal is to become a mechanical or robotics engineer working on biomedical devices 鈥� bonus points if he can live and work internationally. Through engineering innovation, he says, he hopes to advance new technologies and solutions that will increase access and lower costs for patients.

For current students interested in applying for a , 黑料社 will be hosting a Gilman Scholarship Workshop Series on Zoom this February.

As any parent can attest, raising young children is demanding and unpredictable. Adding work or school into the mix can be a lot to juggle, especially when childcare plans can fall through at a moment鈥檚 notice.

That鈥檚 where a new Washington State University Tri-Cities campus resource aims to help. Dubbed the 鈥淐oug Family Corner鈥� and located in the Learning Commons area of the Consolidated Information Center, it鈥檚 a room where student parents and caregivers can bring their children or young relatives to campus on a short-term basis while attending to their studies at the same time. Furnished and stocked with a wide assortment of kid-friendly books, games and activities on one side of the room, the other half includes a conference-style table intended for student work and鈥攊f necessary鈥攕mall group meetings.

The newly renovated space launched at the beginning of the fall semester and is available on a first-come, first-served basis to any student who needs it. To use the Coug Family Corner, students simply need to sign a check-in form, noting their agreement to a brief list of guidelines, which includes a requirement that student caregivers must remain with their children at all times.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great resource for student parents or anyone who needs to watch a younger sibling,鈥� Cristal Sternfeld, a junior pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing, says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 safe, comfortable and gives you the chance to get homework done while keeping your child close by.鈥�

As the parent of a 2-year-old daughter, Sternfeld says she has used the space a few times this semester already.

鈥淥ne time I came to campus just to pick up a book and brought my daughter with me. Since I had an assignment due that day, I decided to stop by the family corner,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t ended up being the perfect spot. I was able to finish my assignment, and my daughter stayed busy and happy playing in the space.鈥�

According to Evelyn Martinez-Ostrom, 黑料社 Tri-Cities鈥� director of student engagement and leadership, that鈥檚 precisely the kind of scenario university leadership had in mind when creating the Coug Family Corner this past summer.

鈥淲hat if we created a space on campus where students could bring their children in unexpected situations?鈥� Martinez-Ostrom says. 鈥淪ay your childcare fell through but you still need to come to campus. Maybe this can be a way to get your work done, even if your kid happens to be with you.鈥�

Martinez-Ostrom says the Coug Family Corner was spearheaded by a special committee on which she served with other 黑料社 Tri-Cities department representatives鈥攊ncluding staff from the Office of Advancement and Facilities Services Department. That committee had been tasked by the Advisory Council Tri-Cities with exploring new ideas for bringing childcare support to campus.

鈥淲e鈥檙e kind of in a childcare desert out here,鈥� Martinez-Ostrom, who also became a first-time mom around the time of the group鈥檚 formation, says. 鈥淲e talked about what was realistic for us.鈥�

Ultimately, the committee landed on the idea for Coug Family Corner and identified an underutilized location in the Learning Commons that had previously housed the Learning Glass, a room used primarily for online instruction during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding for the room鈥檚 renovation, including supplies and furniture, came from the College of Nursing鈥檚 social work program.

Now that the space is open, Martinez-Ostrom says she hopes to spread the word about Coug Family Corner not only to students, but also to student-facing staff and faculty who might be able to use the space as an alternative meeting location when students are accompanied by their children.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to have an understanding from everyone on campus about this resource so that they can know how to accommodate that student in need,鈥� Martinez-Ostrom says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 really step one to being a more family-friendly institution for our students.鈥�

As more students begin to take advantage of the resource, Martinez-Ostrom says she welcomes any feedback that will help make Coug Family Corner more useful and accommodating to more people.

For her part, Sternfeld says she appreciates having a family-friendly space on campus where she can go when the need arises. 鈥淚t makes being a student parent feel more supported, and it helps reduce some of the stress of balancing school and childcare,鈥� she says.

By Angela Sams

CHI葮IN膫U, Moldova 鈥� During a recent trip to Moldova, Washington State University students toured medieval ruins, a monastery, and subterranean caves where monks hid from enemies while protecting wine, a historically symbolic and religious product in the eastern European country.

鈥淟earning about Moldova really opened my eyes to how they value their wine as a livelihood and culture,鈥� said Julie Hilland, a graduate student in 黑料社鈥檚听. 鈥淚t was inspiring to converse with people about their historical and agricultural challenges, from medieval to modern times, and how it has shaped their wine heritage and traditions. They want to celebrate this with the world.鈥�

Supported by the听听and a U.S. State Department-funded grant received by the Technical University of Moldova (TUM), the trip built on a 2024 partnership established by the two universities. The 黑料社 visitors, which also included staff and faculty, received an overview of TUM鈥檚 academic programs, collaborated with TUM faculty and students, and toured the university鈥檚 facilities, including recently remodeled labs.

As one of the two 黑料社 graduate students on the trip, Hilland shared the grape smoke exposure research taking place in Associate Professor Tom Collins鈥� lab at the听.

鈥淚 was honored to present,鈥� said Hilland, who is pursuing a PhD in horticulture. 鈥淭his trip was a really exciting opportunity. I wanted to learn about Moldovan wine production and see the winemakers鈥� artistry and passion for their product. I also wanted to understand their challenges and successes and how those compare to the U.S.鈥�

The trip solidified 黑料社 undergraduate Cecilia Sevier鈥檚 desire to work abroad after graduation.

鈥淥ne reason I鈥檓 drawn to this industry is because it鈥檚 very internationally collaborative,鈥� said Sevier, a senior V&E major. 鈥淭his trip proved that. It was an amazing chance to connect with winemakers outside of the U.S. and see what students in Moldova are learning and what they want to do with their education.鈥�

Throughout the weeklong visit, the group sampled Moldovan wine varietals including Feteasc膬 alb膬, akin to a muscat or muscadine; Feteasc膬 regal膬, similar to a Pinot noir; and Viorica, a dry, citrusy orange wine that pairs well with the local cuisine.

鈥淚 was thrilled to return this year, this time with both undergraduate and graduate students, to engage in hands-on learning opportunities that foster global collaboration, experiential education, and cross-cultural understanding between 黑料社 and Moldovan wine scientists, educators, and producers,鈥� said V&E Department Chair Jean Dodson Peterson.

The itinerary included stops at the Cricova and Asconi wineries, where the group learned how the country鈥檚 wine industry supports its citizens. The group also learned more about local history during a day trip to Old Orhei.

鈥淲inemaking isn鈥檛 just a business for Moldovan people,鈥� Sevier said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 part of their tradition and culture. It was really inspiring to be part of that, even for just a short while.鈥�

Sevier was especially struck by the humbleness of the Moldovan winemakers.

鈥淢oldova has one of the oldest wine industries in the world, and the winemakers never seemed to be bragging or trying to prove something,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey were so excited to share their wines and hear which ones we preferred and why. The community aspect of wine is at the center of everything they do.鈥�

As the trip ended, the students attended the Moldovan Wine Festival, a lively cultural celebration that included wine tasting, crafts, music, and other activities.

鈥淓xperiencing the level of enthusiasm the Moldovan people have for their wine was galvanic!鈥� Hilland said. 鈥淔rom historical events to modern research, Moldova is the perfect balance of production and artistry.鈥�

Both Hilland and Sevier hope the connections they established with TUM faculty and students during the trip will remain as they pursue future careers in the wine industry.

鈥淭his trip made the world feel smaller in a good way, and it changed my perspective on wine as a whole,鈥� Sevier said. 鈥淚t made me feel like a student of the world, rather than just one university. I now feel so much more ready to be a part of this industry when I graduate.鈥�

By Flynn Espe

Three undergraduate Washington State University students traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, last month to take part in the conference. For four days at the World Health Organization headquarters, the trio joined more than 400 high school and college student delegates from approximately 40 countries in a series of simulations focused on diplomacy and consensus building.

The 黑料社 students who participated were Bhargav Iyer, a senior biology major from 黑料社 Pullman; Zoe Pfeifer, a senior biology major from 黑料社 Tri-Cities; and Romeo Ross, a sophomore social sciences major from 黑料社 Tri-Cities. Anna Plemons, associate vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for 黑料社 Tri-Cities, also traveled as the group鈥檚 faculty advisor. The trip was partially funded thanks to a donor contribution to the 黑料社 Tri-Cities Dynamic Student Engagement Fund, as well as the Phil and June Lighty Student Leadership Development Fund.

Like a Model United Nations summit, in which each student takes on the role of ambassador for a UN nation, the Global Model WHO conference had student delegates serving as mock representatives for a WHO member country. Daily simulation sessions were divided across six committees, each tackling a different global health topic. All three 黑料社 delegates took part in the committee titled 鈥淓quity and Integration to Prevent and Control Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs).鈥�

鈥淏efore arriving, we had to write a position paper,鈥� Pfeifer, who represented the Philippines, said. 鈥淚t required intensive research to figure out your positions, find the rates of diseases, or NCDs, and just familiarize yourself with your country.鈥�

Through several rounds of dialogue and debate, students advocated for draft resolution language changes that would best advance the policy needs of their respective nations. While some portions of the simulations had students negotiating with one another in smaller regional groups, other segments were dedicated to open-forum discussion, in which any delegate was free to raise their country flag to make a statement.

鈥淎s soon as you press the mic, there are multiple cameras around the room and it all pans on you,鈥� Ross, who represented the Dominican Republic and also served as a plenary speaker at the conference, said. 鈥淚 definitely improved in my public speaking and the nerves I had prior to that.鈥�

At the end of the conference, Iyer received a Diplomacy Award for exemplary representation on behalf of his assigned country, Panama.

鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly grateful to receive this award and am proud to represent 黑料社 in this international space,鈥� Iyer said. 鈥淢y biggest takeaway from this trip was reassurance in the fact that we can solve so many pressing issues by coming together and working on them. Intentional collaboration and effective communication are key pillars to passing meaningful policy, and despite the many cultural and linguistic barriers, I was impressed with the work that students did at this conference.鈥�

According to WHO, noncommunicable diseases鈥攕uch as cancers, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases鈥攌illed at least 43 million people in 2021. Additionally, roughly 73 percent of NCD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

鈥淔or the country I represented, NCDs contributed to 68 percent of the deaths in that country, so it鈥檚 a big issue,鈥� Pfeifer said.

To set the stage for the proceedings, the opening sessions took place inside the WHO executive boardroom. That鈥檚 where students heard directly from world health leaders and were reminded of the many historic health causes鈥攆rom decreasing worldwide polio outbreaks to combating COVID-19鈥攖hat had been championed within that very space.

鈥淲hen they started, they told us, 鈥楾his is the room where the smallpox problem got solved,鈥欌�� Pfeifer said. 鈥淚t was like, 鈥楬oly cow!鈥欌��

鈥淭his is a building that I鈥檝e seen on TV,鈥� Ross echoed. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something that I really did appreciate, especially being in that room with so much history and significance. It was a surreal feeling.鈥�

As someone with a strong interest in international law and humanitarian work, Ross said he had long wanted to gain firsthand UN experience, either through a student internship or other opportunity. After hearing about the Global Model WHO conference over the summer, it was he who first brought the opportunity to Plemons鈥� attention.

Plemons, in turn, instigated the conversations among 黑料社 Tri-Cities staff and faculty that led to the trip being greenlit and funded as an official 黑料社 activity. She also arranged to offer and teach a one-credit UNIV 490 Global Leadership Experience course this semester, with the goal of giving Pfeifer and Ross the space and academic resources to participate in the Geneva event.

鈥淚t was very evident to me that there is real value in these kinds of experiences, and I am excited about 黑料社 continuing to get students into the spaces where this kind of deep, contextualized learning and intercultural exchange is happening,鈥� Plemons said, noting that 黑料社 was one of just four American universities鈥攁nd the only public university鈥攖o send students to the conference.

Outside of the simulations, students also got to take part in nightly cultural exchange activities involving food, language and dance. The 黑料社 students said they enjoyed the opportunity to meet and engage with students from around the world, including from countries that have had tense or strained diplomatic relations with the United States.

鈥淗aving conversations with individuals from those countries, you get to see they鈥檙e some of the nicest people,鈥� Ross said.

鈥淓veryone there was on the same level,鈥� Pfeifer said. 鈥淚t was so interesting to bridge that gap of everything we鈥檝e been taught in school about certain countries or certain cultures and just see it for yourself.鈥�

In addition to exploring Geneva, the three 黑料社 students also used their free time to visit Annecy, France, and Bern, Switzerland. Global Model WHO is an annual event organized by the World Federation of United Nations Associations. This year鈥檚 conference took place Oct. 28鈥�31.

Check out this conference recap from !