Hi there! I'm Hannah, a senior at UW studying Civil Engineering with a minor in Business Administration. I'm passionate about building strong communities - both through engineering and by helping people feel at home on campus. Outside of class, you'll usually find me playing pickleball, exploring Seattle coffee shops, volunteering around the U District, or at a christian ministry event on campus! I also just joined the UW bowling league with some friends so you might catch me at the alley too (yes, UW has it's own bowling alley)! As your tour guide, I want to give you more than just the highlights, I want to share the little things that make UW feel like home. From hidden study spots and the best coffee near campus to honest advice about classes, getting involved, and finding your community, I'm here to answer all your questions. Whether you're already set on UW or just starting to explore, I'd love to help you picture what life here could look like. I can't wait to show you why I fell in love with UW!

Hometown

Renton, Washington

Major(s)

Civil Engineering

Minor(s)

Business Administration

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Engineering Peer Educator, UW College of Engineering Vision 16 (Christian Living Community) Facilitator Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Club Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS) Student Liaison

Describe your college experience

College has been so fun but I had to trust the process! Going from small classes where I knew all of my teachers in high school to lecture halls with 500+ students was definitely an adjustment. At first, it felt intimidating to figure out how to build relationships with professors and classmates in such a large environment. It quickly taught me how to get involved, attend office hours, and connect with people both inside and outside the classroom. It didn't take long to grow to absolutely love UW. The campus is beautiful, the school spirit surrounding athletics is electric, and there are so many opportunities to explore different academic programs, clubs, and leadership experiences. While there might be a short transition period as I'm sure any college will bring, I can honestly say life at UW only gets better. I’m excited to help future students navigate that transition and discover everything UW has to offer!

Tip for future students

My biggest piece of advice: Get involved right away! During your first few weeks at UW, challenge yourself to talk to one new person at every event you attend. EVERYONE is looking to make friends, and those first conversations can turn into lifelong friendships. Also, don’t be afraid to join clubs outside of your major, some of my favorite experiences have come from communities I never expected to be a part of. If you’re going into engineering, computer science, pre-med, or another challenging major, remember that imposter syndrome can be common at first. It’s easy to think everyone else has it all figured out, but most students are learning as they go. Ask questions, go to office hours, use tutoring resources, form study groups, and give yourself grace while you adjust. I’d be happy to chat more about navigating UW and finding your place here during my tour!

Favorite class

Interestingly, my favorite classes have been my business minor classes, they have created such a fun break from my heavy STEM classes that engineering brings and give a lot more applicability to daily life! In Civil, my favorite classes have been engineering statics and structural analysis!

Career goals

I hope to work either in transportation or structural engineering helping create safe communities that foster connection. My dream is to work on projects overseas in countries that experience natural disasters and help them reinforce their infrastructure so they can stay safe! I also really hope to incorporate my extraverted business side in project management or high level city planning​/​policy utilizing my civil engineering knowledge. We will see where life takes me!

Ideal way to spend a free night

Playing pickleball with some friends and grabbing dinner afterwards on the Ave (street right by UW with tons of restaurants, coffee shops, and activities) at Thai Tom - best thai food ever! Debrief our days over dinner and get cozy for an early night in with my roommates :)

High school or secondary school

Bellevue High School - Bellevue, Washington

Previous college

Although I came into UW as a freshman, I did running start at Bellevue College and got my associates degree there in arts and sciences! This has opened up my schedule a lot for my business minor and I will also be graduating early!