Palouse Pathways Launches Fundraising Campaign to Support the Next Chapter of College Access on the Palouse

Celebrating our legacy. Investing in the future of students across the Palouse.

For more than a decade, Palouse Pathways has helped local students and families navigate one of life’s biggest decisions: finding the best-fit college or university at the best possible price.

Founded by long-time Moscow resident Peggy Jenkins, Palouse Pathways began as a grassroots effort to ensure every student in the Palouse had access to clear, reliable, and free college guidance. Peggy’s leadership and impact have been extraordinary. In September 2025, she was honored with the Inclusion, Access, and Success Award by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) for her tireless commitment to expanding educational opportunity for rural students.

With Peggy’s move to New Mexico, Palouse Pathways is proud to build on her legacy and launch the next chapter of our work to support students and strengthen our region’s educational future.

Why This Work Matters More Than Ever

At a time when higher education is being questioned and, in many ways, undervalued, Palouse Pathways stands firmly for access, affordability, and opportunity. National research continues to show that earning a college degree leads to higher lifetime earnings, better health outcomes, greater civic engagement, and stronger communities.

Here on the Palouse, we know that access to higher education isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our work is about helping every student find the school that fits them best, whether that’s University of Idaho, Washington State University, Spokane Falls Community College, or a national institution, and ensuring they can attend at the best possible price.

Palouse Pathways complements the incredible work of our local schools by offering free programs and advising that allow students to explore further the passions, interests, and questions they engage with in the classroom. Together, we help students and families make informed choices that open doors, save money, and strengthen our community.

Our Impact

Palouse Pathways has:

• Reached hundreds of families through free public events that make college information accessible to all, and guided families through financial aid planning and scholarship strategies that save thousands in tuition costs.

• Served students and families in towns across Latah and Whitman counties, including Colfax, Genesee, Garfield, Moscow, Palouse, Potlatch, Pullman, and Troy.

• Supported more than 100 students through our Scholars Program, with the program’s first college graduates achieving at least an 88% graduation rate within four years. The current Scholars cohort has 48 active members participating from high schools across the Palouse.

• Helped students identify and pursue their best-fit schools, from community colleges to regional universities to selective national institutions.

• Strengthened the local community by connecting students with summer jobs, internships, and community service opportunities, and collaborated with local colleges, businesses, and organizations to showcase the many education and career possibilities here on the Palouse.

Every program we offer, from advising sessions to public workshops, remains completely free to families across the Palouse.

Our Fundraising Priorities

To sustain and expand this impact, we’re launching a community fundraising campaign focused on four core priorities:

• Executive Director Role - Establish full-time leadership to build partnerships, secure grants, and ensure the long-term sustainability of Palouse Pathways.

• Public Events - Expand free workshops, mentoring, and family advising sessions each year.

• Student Experience Scholarships - Provide campus visits, enrichment programs, and leadership experiences that expand students’ horizons and confidence.

• Scholars Program - Support a dedicated cohort of students who receive mentoring, leadership opportunities, and personalized college and career guidance.

Every contribution ensures that Palouse Pathways remains a free, community-powered resource helping students, families, and schools work together to make higher education more accessible, affordable, and meaningful.

How to Give

Your support will help write the next chapter of Palouse Pathways. To learn more, visit palousepathways.org/support-our-work or contact us at info@palousepathways.org.

Together, we can ensure that every student in the Palouse has access to the knowledge, support, and confidence they need to find their best-fit college or university at the best possible price, and the opportunity to give back to the community that raised them.

More Resources

• 2025 Organization Overview & Impact

• 2025 Fundraising Campaign

Colin Criss, Palouse Pathways Board Member, Featured in The Irish Times

Palouse Pathways is proud to share that our board member, Colin Criss, recently had his poem published as the Poem of the Week in The Irish Times. It explores the mysterious death of Italian painter Caravaggio.

Colin is an Assistant Professor of English at the Washington State University Honors College and the Faculty Editor of The Palouse Review, the college’s literary arts journal. He studied Sociology at Harvard University and went on to earn his MFA from Washington University in St. Louis. 

Students in the Palouse Pathways Scholars Program know him as a dedicated mentor, supporting students through college application essay workshops and individualized advising. Retal Abdellatiffe, a senior at Pullman High School, said, “If you’ve ever been in one of Colin’s workshops, you know what I mean when I say he brings this energy that makes everyone feel capable of creating something meaningful. There’s something about the way Colin talks about writing that makes you actually want to write. Other than being really funny, Colin is one of the most enthusiastic and genuinely wholesome people I’ve ever met; and I really think that’s what makes him such a great writer who truly enjoys helping students.”

We spoke with Colin about his journey into poetry and his experiences as a writer, teacher, and mentor.

When did you first become interested in poetry, and how?

I first became interested in poetry in a general education course in college. I’d never put much thought into poems before that. There was a course, though, that met about thirty yards from my freshman dorm room that satisfied a graduation requirement… so I took it, and immediately fell head first into reading, thinking about, and (eventually) writing poetry. 

What did you enjoy most about studying sociology in college, and did you find ways to connect it with your interest in poetry?

I love sociology. It is the study of society–anywhere there’s more than one person, there is sociological truth to be found, analyzed, and even used to shape our world to be better. It felt like the most immediately relevant and flexible course of study for me–as things have changed since I graduated college, my training in thinking sociologically has allowed me to contextualize and re-contextualize the world. I try to continually challenge my understanding of the world, and think about how the structure of the world can be adjusted for the benefit of humanity.
Poetry lets me challenge myself in a similar way–it challenges my understanding of the use and shape of language. Poetry is patterned language–the way those patterns occur and shift and end tells us a lot about ourselves and those around us. I’m not thinking historically here–I’m thinking about approaching a poem, which is an art object that is successful, perhaps, when it surprises me and changes my thinking.

What is something people misunderstand about being a poet?

I think a lot of people assume that poetry is outdated, because they generally stop thinking about poetry after reading only older poems. It’s not! So many people are writing and publishing all kinds of poems these days… I really believe that there’s a book of poems out there that will interest and excite everyone.

I think a lot of people think that there’s a huge barrier to entry to be a poet–you need some kind of recognition or training or talent thrust upon you at birth. You don’t! Really you only need a pen and a piece of paper. A library card helps too.

I think a lot of people think writing poetry is only about “expressing yourself”--it can be, but I don’t think poetry should be disregarded as merely personal… poetry is about re-making language, which we do for many purposes. We use poetry to “outstrip the given,” as Seamus Heaney would say.

What is your advice for students who are curious about poetry but aren’t sure where to begin?

My big advice is to try to link up with somebody who already loves poetry. Poetry readers are the best evangelists for poetry reading. Ask a librarian where to start, too. Maybe even take a poetry class that satisfies a general education requirement… Read these books: Catalogue of Unabashed Gratitude, by Ross Gay; The Wild Iris, by Louise Glück; Crush, by Richard Siken; Death of a Naturalist, by Seamus Heaney; any of Charles Simic’s books… I’ll note, these are all critically-acclaimed books, but they’re also books, I think, that are accessible to the poetry-curious because they are thoroughly surprising. Finally–close your door and read poems out loud, and slowly.

Peggy Jenkins, Founding Director of Palouse Pathways, Recognized with National College Access Award

Palouse Pathways is excited to announce that our Founding Director, Peggy Jenkins, has been honored with the Inclusion, Access, and Success Award from NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling). Presented at the NACAC Conference 2025 in Columbus, Ohio, this award recognizes her exceptional dedication to expanding opportunities and support for rural students pursuing higher education.

Peggy’s belief in the potential of every student inspired the founding of Palouse Pathways in 2013 - and it continues to guide the organization today. Her leadership has helped make college a reality for hundreds of students across the Palouse region by offering personalized guidance and comprehensive resources for exploring college, career, and financial aid options. 

The following excerpt about Peggy’s impact was published on the NACAC website:

“Peggy Jenkins started her career in Washington D.C. as a clerk for a federal judge before returning home to Hawaii, where she eventually became a partner at a large Honolulu law firm. In 2001 she moved to Deary, Idaho and worked remotely doing legal research and writing. Peggy later moved to Moscow, Idaho where she noticed that local students had fewer college opportunities than the children of her law-firm friends in Honolulu. She headed the Parent Teacher Association at Moscow High School and shared information about FAFSA, scholarships, college admission tests, and more.

In 2013, Peggy founded Palouse Pathways, which now serves 500-700 rural students per year, including 80 Palouse Pathways Scholars, who are a cohort of rural students in grades nine-12 who receive college advising and enrichment and who support one another in their college aspirations. Palouse Pathways is known for innovative programs and for connecting rural schools and students with opportunities like QuestBridge, College Horizons, Stars College Network, and more.

Peggy co-founded NACAC’s Rural and Small Town Special Interest Group (SIG) in 2019. The group quickly grew to more than 2,000 members, including rural counselors and college admission folks. In 2021, Peggy served as co-chair of NACAC’s Rural and Small Town Issues Ad Hoc Committee and is also active in NACAC’s Community Based Organization SIG and PNACAC.

Peggy serves on the Coalition for College’s Counselor Advisory Committee, University of Chicago Access Partners Group, and the Bryn Mawr College President’s Counsel. She previously served on the Common App Advisory Board and the Washington University Counselor Advisory Board. She reviews scholarships for the Gates, Jack Kent Cooke, and Innovia foundations.

She moved to Santa Fe in July 2025, where she continues her part-time legal research and writing and volunteers for one of the college access organizations nearby. She plans to stay involved with Palouse Pathways to ensure that it has a strong and sustainable future.”

Watch the award presentation at the NACAC Conference 2025 here:

Navigating High School to be College Ready: Advice for 9th and 10th Grade Families

The first two years of high school are an adventure, to say the least—exciting, challenging, sometimes nerve-wracking! You’re navigating new classes, new friendships, new responsibilities, and likely some new questions as you start looking ahead to the college admission process. Read on to find a wealth of tips and advice on how you can make the most of 9th and 10th grade. 

What should rising 9th and 10th graders be doing to prepare for college?

Generally speaking, students in grades 9-10 don’t need to stress too much about college. The best advice at this stage is just to take challenging classes and pursue your interests—whether that’s music, arts, sports, clubs, community service, or whatever else lights you up! 

That being said, if one of these applies to you, you may want to start planning for college sooner:

• You have special goals, such as playing college sports or attending a highly selective school.

• You have significantly limited resources and will need a lot of financial aid and other support to navigate your path to college.

• You are really excited and want to start planning now!

But what if I’m not sure I want to go to college?  

It’s ok if you’re not sure yet! Getting ready as if you do plan to go to college will ensure that you have a wide range of options when you graduate. The same skills that make you college ready will also help you stand out to potential employers and other people who can help you reach your goals, whatever they may be.

How can I make the most of 9th and 10th grade? 

Check out this resource page from CollegeXpress, packed with great tips and advice for all kinds of things you can do in your early high school years to set yourself up for success. You’ll find practical ideas for surviving freshman year, getting involved in activities, developing great time management skills, taking your schoolwork seriously, learning about advanced courses, and thinking about the future. Start exploring now!

The Class of 2025 Reflects

Reflections on Transition 

This summer marks a unique time of transition for our graduating Palouse Pathways Scholars—a season of looking back, and looking forward. 

On the one hand, they’re savoring the joy (and relief!) of graduation and looking back on all of their high school memories and accomplishments. On the other hand, they are looking ahead to their fast-approaching departure for college with a combination of excitement, anticipation, and maybe a little nervousness.  

Before they venture off to write the next chapter of their story, our seniors were invited to share their reflections from this unique vantage point: their favorite memory of high school, what they will miss the most, what they’re looking forward to, who they’d like to thank, what advice they would give to the class of 2026, that sort of thing. Here’s what a few of them had to say. 

A.T.

These past few years I’ve grown and learned immensely, in no small part due to those who have helped me along the way. I would like to thank my mom, Dr. Shenghan Xu, for always being there, my friends for supporting me and pushing me to be better, and my teachers (especially Mr. Coulter, Mr. Keogh, Mrs. Currier, Ms. Estep, and Ms. DeMartin) for encouraging me through my journey! I appreciate you all deeply. 

Some advice I would give is to focus on your own path. Everyone is so focused and competitive that it can be easy to be peer-pressured into a path that may not suit you. Don’t be afraid to try new things or pursue what truly makes you happy, even if it deviates from the norm. Your life is yours alone to live. Best of luck and feel free to reach out! I support you in your journey forward, Class of 2026!

M.P.

My advice to the Class of 2026: Make sure you start your college applications early! The summertime is your friend. December was the worst month of my life by far, because I procrastinated writing my essays too much. I'd sit inside for the whole day while my friends were out having fun. 

Even more important, remember that applying to college isn't everything in life. I've had so much fun in the second semester of my senior year, because I've been going out with my friends and doing things that I have more time for now, and I wish that I had set aside time to do that earlier. It'll be your last year with your closest friends; make sure you internalize that.

 I'm going to miss the quiet streets of Pullman. I really wanted to get out of the countryside and move to the city, but looking back, there's a quaint feeling that you can't really get anywhere else. I think that once I actually move in for college, I'm going to realize how much I'll miss this place.

A.F.

I would like to thank my dad, brother, mom, friends, and teachers for being so supportive throughout my time in high school. 

My favorite memory of high school was going on school trips for state competitions like DECA and swim. What I am most looking forward to is warmer weather! What I’ll miss most is my parents.

My advice would be to only apply to schools that you can afford (with financial aid if you qualify) and assume you get no scholarship money, because getting in and then not being able to attend because of cost is tough.

K.D.

I know it’s been said a lot, but don’t forget that high school should be fun. It’s wholly possible to balance fun activities with your friends and family while working hard on your academics and extracurriculars. Finding this balance will help you avoid burnout in the long run. Go touch grass!