At nine years old, Opportunity Scholar Ethan was already teaching himself to code on Khan Academy. He was fascinated with coding and loved showing his creations to his community. He loved watching them experience the final result of his ideas. So, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science was an obvious choice. Ethan wanted to keep learning and exploring the technical aspects of software engineering so that he could bring more of the ideas in his imagination to life — and see his community interact with the results of his hard work.  

The BECU Foundation, a dedicated WSOS partner for the last five years, also sees the value in helping students like Ethan follow their passions to make a positive impact. BECU is dedicated to improving the financial well-being of its members and communities. Since 1995, the BECU Foundation has awarded more than $3.5 million in scholarships to more than 1,305 students. 

The support from the BECU Foundation allows WSOS to offer opportunities like mentorship to passionate Scholars like Ethan. He participated in the Scholar Lead mentorship program that pairs more experienced Scholars with students who are new to WSOS and post-secondary education. Ethan was able to connect with his Scholar Lead several times in-person, virtually, and on LinkedIn to set him up for success as he began his computer science credential.  

“We are dedicated to increasing financial access, improving financial education, helping individuals increase their earning power, and strengthening our communities’ financial health.” — BECU Foundation 

Kylie is another BECU Foundation Opportunity Scholarship recipient. She is passionate about education because it will help her make an impactful change in her community and her environment.  

As an environmental science major, she knows that her work is important. She shares, “Receiving the BECU Foundation Opportunity Scholarship took away the stress that is paying for college.” The scholarship helped her take one step closer to completing her education.   

Kylie also participated in the Scholar Lead program. “I was provided with many opportunities to network and gain experiences that get my foot in the door for possible career paths and avenues that will be very beneficial to me and my future,” Kylie says. 

She shares that her experience with WSOS and the BECU Foundation has been great. She appreciates the extra support from the program as she steps into the “real adult world.”  

At WSOS, we believe in the power of community. We believe that if we want to increase our impact on Washington state, we have to do it alongside our community. With incredible partners like the BECU Foundation, WSOS can go farther, Opportunity Scholars can go farther, and our communities can thrive.