‘Be Curious’: 2025 Seattle Experience encourages student inquiry and growth

The third annual Seattle Experience, a faculty-led alternative spring break program hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences, gave Washington State University students the opportunity to develop professional networking skills in the state's largest job market.

Twelve students from four WSU campuses participated in five days of meetings and field studies in the Seattle metro area, visiting with city leaders, community organizers, and corporate directors over the mid-March academic break.

The Seattle Experience creates opportunities for students to develop professional networking skills while learning more about career trajectories, said Jeff Saunders, professor of history and program director. It also offers a unique chance for students from across the WSU system to interact with one another.

Sarah Orosco, a WSU Global Campus student from Bremerton who is majoring in data analytics, cited the impact of the student group during the five-day immersion. "I don't always get in-person interaction with other WSU students, so I was super grateful that I got to meet those women," she said. "We all felt like we became a lot closer to each other over the experience, especially for me as a Global student."

Zaza Hughes, a senior majoring in psychology, echoed the value of joining fellow students participating in the program. "Part of what made the experience so great was the cohort of 12 women, who were so sweet, so accepting, and so kind. That was my favorite part, being able to participate in the activities with the women I met."

Each year, the Seattle Experience is coordinated around a central theme to help contextualize scheduled visits and tours. The 2025 theme was "Thriving," prompting students to examine how people, businesses, and communities define what it means to thrive in the face of social and ecological challenges. This year's itinerary included visits to the Museum of History and Industry, Pike Place Market, the Amazon Spheres, Seattle City Hall, Turn 10 Studios, the Wing Luke Museum, and the Seattle Center and Space Needle. Many of the visits included tours and sessions with Cougar alumni, helping the students practice networking and communications skills.

"For me, networking and getting to know people is huge, and I thought this was a great opportunity to meet some really cool professionals in Seattle, especially people who were willing to take some time to sit and talk with students," said Camryn Jewell, a political science major based in Pullman.

Maira Tubbs, a criminal justice major, agreed: "Hearing from the youngest city councilmember in Seattle history, as well as the Seattle deputy mayor and the prosecuting attorney for King County, was very inspirational."

The Seattle Experience is open to all undergraduate students pursuing a major in the College of Arts and Sciences. Due to the success of previous years and the sustained interest of students, this alternative spring break option has received continued funding for 2026. The application for the 2026 cohort is tentatively scheduled to open in late fall 2025.