This month WGU Washington, one of our stellar clients, celebrated 10 years of expanding access to higher education in our state!
Over the last decade, WGU Washington has helped strengthen the state’s workforce while awarding nearly 25,000 degrees to hardworking Washingtonians.
The university’s enrollment has grown to more than 14,000 full-time students pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees in high-demand fields. Today, more WGU students and grads call Washington home than any other state in the nation.
To mark this exciting milestone, WGU celebrated a local hero with a mural of WGU Washington graduate Crystal Allenton, on the Capitol Theater in downtown Olympia, Wash. Crystal overcame homelessness with three young children while she pursued a college degree, and the painting will recognize her resilience and achievements during her life’s journey.
With its Role Model Murals project, WGU hopes to encourage others to follow their ambitions and help make a difference in the world. Our team had the privilege of sharing Crystal’s story with the media.
Her compelling story caught the eye of CBS The Uplift, featuring good news and positive stories that inspire.
“I wanted my kids to see that you can be ambitious and you can also struggle,” Crystal shared during an interview with CBS news. “Whether it was staying up later while they were in bed to do assignments, or working while they were napping, it was all about quality time with them and showing them that I could be a mom and I could also be a person who valued education.”
Crystal’s perseverance has led her to a fulfilling career in education where she has taught music and English language learning as well as working with special education students.
This is just one example of the caliber of WGU Washington graduates – who never cease to amaze me, and truly inspire me to be my best self. As a first-generation college student, the valuable work WGU Washington does to expand access to higher education is near and dear to my heart. Trust me, if you watch the video above, you’ll see.