As we cheer for 70 extraordinary WWIN Star Scholars who graduated this year, we cannot say it enough — thank you. Your commitment to women who have too often been overlooked and underestimated makes all the difference. In this season of their achievements, we want to give you a glimpse into why WWIN is so much more than a scholarship and how our model helps Washington women reach their self-determined goals.
This year we hosted around 30 scholars and alumnae at a virtual event where they participated in a variety of breakout groups to share stories, strategies and resources. “Women in Male-Dominated Fields” was a distinctly WWIN experience. First-generation students in game design, computer science, engineering, chemistry and more, candidly shared the implicit and explicit gender-bias — as well as the age- and racial-biases — they must routinely overcome on the path to achieving their ambitions. Seeing these exceptional WWIN women together — with their varied backgrounds, ages, schools and disciplines — you felt the support they offered each other, the validation of experiences, and the strength they drew from being part of our unique community. The palpable result was a renewed commitment to reaching their goals.
In the words of Carolina:
“It was great to see the faces of women hungry to achieve their career goals, share challenges and help each other with advice. I’m so thankful for this kind of connection which reminded me to stay positive and keep going.”
WWIN’s magic is not only that we lift financial burdens but also our singular ability to bring women together so they can tap into their individual and collective power. Thank you for being part of a community that encourages these women to use this power to transform the future for their families and all of us in Washington state.