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!

Why You Should Consider Harvey Mudd College

Jonathan Holcombe just finished his second year at Harvey Mudd College, a STEM focused school which is part of the Claremont consortium of schools in Southern California. Jonathan attended high school on the west side, but his mom now lives on the Palouse and volunteers for Palouse Pathways. Here’s why Jonathan thinks you should consider HMC.

Harvey Mudd had always been up at the top of my college list, so getting in was an absolute dream come true. Being a STEM-focused liberal arts school, it looked like a unique place to receive a very well-rounded, interdisciplinary education, with requirements and opportunities in many areas of both STEM and in the humanities, social sciences, and arts. The curriculum looked quite challenging, but with how interdisciplinary and in-depth the courses were, I saw it not as a stressful hurdle to overcome, but as an opportunity to rise to my full academic potential.

The fact that Harvey Mudd is part of the Claremont Colleges consortium—five small liberal arts colleges that are spread across just one square mile like little neighborhoods—also seemed to come with so many perks, such as being able to cross-enroll in classes at any of the other colleges and eat at all of the campuses' dining halls! And given that Mudd only has around 900 students, all super STEM-focused, the other four colleges create a lot of opportunities to meet different kinds of people.

When I learned that Harvey Mudd is also part of a successful Division III Track & Field program (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps), that was another huge plus to me. I knew that a D-IIl athletic program would enable me to pursue and prioritize my education at the highest level without having to give up the sport I love. 

I'm happy to say that Mudd has lived up to everything so far! The courses have been amazing, and with such small classes, I have formed some deep and meaningful connections with the professors and faculty here. The food and campus life is great, with a very work-hard/play-hard culture. People take our Honor Code very seriously, so we are granted many privileges (such as take-home exams and 24/7 access to classrooms and their technology to be used however we want!) and everyone acts with respect and integrity. The entire student body of the Claremont Colleges are genuinely some of the nicest people I've met, and I'm amazed that the colleges were somehow able to get so many nice people together in one place. 

Being on the Track & Field team has also been everything I hoped it would be, and I've continued to set new personal records in my events while getting all of the social, physical, and mental health benefits from the athletics and the tight-knit team we have.

I'm so glad that I decided to pick the college that seemed like the best fit for me as an individual (rather than only chasing prestige), and I hope that you all are able to find your own perfect fit, too!

Why You Should Consider Columbia University

Lilienne Shore Kilgore-Brown graduated from Pullman High School in 2020 and attended Columbia in University in New York City. Lilienne graduated from Columbia last year. Here’s why she thinks Columbia is worth your consideration.

Coming from the Palouse, going to a rigorous and urban school like Columbia seemed like a long-shot to me. Now, a few years later, there is a well-established lineage of Palouse students going to Columbia and similar institutions—these schools are looking for more rural students. 

Importantly, Columbia is going through a watershed moment of student activism right now, which any prospective student should consider carefully. The political scene at Columbia is vibrant and significantly shaped my time there, but not every student will respond as I did. 

Otherwise, I want other Palouse students to know that going to a school like Columbia and having the full experience is possible. I come from a low-income background, but because of my financial aid, I didn't have to take out a single loan in my four years there (including a semester and summer abroad). I worked throughout my college experience (on the student newspaper, as a resident adviser, and as an office assistant), but I was always able to easily balance those responsibilities with school. I received financial help from Columbia in emergency situations and was able to work closely with the financial aid office when there were problems with my aid package. 

I chose Columbia in large part because of their Core Curriculum—allowing me to take many classes outside of my degree's course of study—and the quality of their English department, where I majored. While I cannot speak to pursuing STEM degrees, I loved studying the Humanities at Columbia. I was able to take largely seminar-style courses, allowing me to write more in-depth essays and work closely with my professors in both of my departments, who were very invested in my success. Additionally, I really relished spending my college experience in New York City, where museums and plays and concerts proliferate.

Columbia can be a very stressful environment and a lot of the people there are not going to understand the background you come from—some people are laser-focused on their career and academics in a way that is seldom seen somewhere like the Palouse. However, you can find your people even at an institution like Columbia. You're going to need to dedicate significant time to your studies, but you can also have a really wonderful time carrying values beyond just your course load and what your eventual career might be. 

I grew a lot in my time at Columbia. Making such a big shift when I went to college had a profound and positive impact on me, and despite the turbulence during my four years there, I am very grateful that that is where I got my undergraduate education.

Why You Should Consider Wellesley College

Helena Belzer, a member of Pullman High School Class of 2019, attended Wellesley College and graduated in 2023. Wellesley is women’s college located in a suburb of Boston. Here’s why Helena thinks you should consider Wellesley.

I started working with Peggy and Palouse Pathways around my junior year of high

school at Pullman High School. At the time, I knew I loved my chemistry class, calculus, and literature–and that I wanted to challenge myself and leave home for college. Peggy introduced me to Wellesley College, where I matriculated in 2019 and graduated with a BA in Physics and a minor in Mathematics in December 2023. Today I live in New York City and work at Brookhaven National Laboratory on the Electron-Ion Collider project as part of the RF Systems team. We’re working to build a particle accelerator for new Nuclear Physics, to fulfill national energy and scientific goals. Palouse Pathways supported me through the selective college

application process and put me in contact with mentors and peers who enabled my journey to where I am today.