Student and Graduate Testimonials

"I grew up in a rural community and wanted to go out of state for college once I graduated. I knew that without a good scholarship or some sort of luck it would not become a reality. I did some research about the programs offered through MSU Denver and stumbled upon WUE. It was a very easy to apply, and my application was approved! Without WUE, I wouldn't be able to live in the beautiful State of Colorado nor experience the awesome learning environment that the Auraria campus provides. "

"I am originally from New Mexico. The school I received my bachelor's from didn't offer the graduate program I needed to fulfill my educational goals. Instead, I set my sights on a program at Southern Oregon University and WRGP made it affordable. My time out of state has expanded my worldview and changed my life for the better. Thank you WRGP for supporting my dreams!"

"As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I also knew from a young age that I wanted to attend Colorado State University for my DVM, and when I discovered in high school that CSU was a WICHE school, the possibility that those two dreams could become a reality intensified. WICHE's PSEP is such an amazing opportunity! Vet school is expensive and stressful any way you look at it, but receiving PSEP support relieves part of the financial burden and reduces the stress. I look forward to returning to New Mexico after graduation, to serve my state and show my gratitude for helping me accomplish this life-long goal. "

"I attended Colorado State University and studied veterinary medicine. New Mexico, my home state, does not have a veterinary school. The WICHE PSEP program allowed me to pay in-state tuition at an out-of-state school. Veterinarians have a difficult time repaying student loans because of the high cost of education versus the low annual income. Had it not been for WICHE, I would not have been able to afford to go to veterinary school because the loans would have been too high to pay off in a reasonable amount of time (I am in my thirties). Thank you WICHE for all you do for your students! I hope that our New Mexico legislators will continue to support this program. "

"I am from New Mexico and attend ASDOH through WICHE's PSEP. In addition to being one of the states that does not have a dental school, New Mexico is ranked 49th in the nation for the number of dentists per capita. New Mexico needs dentists who are willing to work in underserved areas to provide optimal patient care. ASDOH graduates culturally competent and community-responsive dentists – exactly what New Mexico needs. WICHE's PSEP is essential to making it affordable for New Mexican students to attend dental school and return to serve fellow New Mexicans. I am grateful to WICHE for helping make dental school possible."

"WICHE's PSEP has made a huge difference in my life. I have known that I wanted to be a dentist since I was 10 years old, but getting to dental school is quite a task, and financing it is even harder. PSEP has helped me realize my goals not only by supporting me financially but also by being a continual reminder that I will one day serve the great state of New Mexico. New Mexico has a tremendous need for dental care, especially in rural and underserved areas. Going into dental school, I knew I wanted to be involved in public health dentistry but didn't know how. For two years WICHE supported me while I attended school at the Oregon Health & Sciences University. However, in April I decided to transfer to the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health to increase my knowledge of public health dentistry. PSEP supported me wholeheartedly through the rocky transition, and the remainder of my scholarship transferred with me. PSEP staffers are dedicated to us students, seeing us through the process of applying to the program and renewing our scholarships, as well as helping us when any unforeseen situations arise. Knowing that PSEP supports me and my decision to better myself gives me security in these unstable economic times. Thank you, PSEP, and all the staff!"

"Without WUE I would never have been able to support myself financially at Colorado State University, where I am currently a sophomore earning a degree in fish, wildlife, and conservation biology. CSU is recognized nationally for its wildlife biology program (my concentration). Research and stewardship of our natural world are my passions in life, and being able to attend a school with a program that so perfectly meets my needs and interests is a dream come true, not to mention a large step in the right direction. Not only does CSU provide me with education in the classroom, but I have enjoyed a variety of networking and research opportunities, both in the laboratory and in the field. None of this would have been possible without WUE. I owe my future career to you."

"The WUE Scholarship has helped me achieve my academic goal of moving out of state to go to college. This has meant the world to me, as I have dreamed of going out of state for years. WUE is helping me achieve my goals because it enables me to be able to be here, in beautiful Colorado, studying what I love: zoology."

"WUE allowed me to choose an out-of-state school at an affordable price. I am from New Mexico and wanted to go to college in Colorado. The WUE program is great for students that strive academically throughout high school and cannot fully afford to go out of state. It gives students like myself a chance to go to their dream school."

"I am extremely appreciative of WUE. I wanted to attend Colorado State University to study mechanical engineering because of its great program and to be near the mountains. WUE made my undergraduate studies affordable and thanks to the savings, my dreams of continuing on to graduate school are still feasible! I’ve enjoyed every minute of college and I thank WICHE for making this possible. I hope WUE will continue for a long time, so that more students can realize their dreams and attend the university of their choice."

"If it weren't for WUE, I would not have been able to go to CSU. Out-of-state study has opened many doors for me, and I’ve had so many different experiences that I just wouldn’t have had otherwise. Thank you!"

"The skills that one learns by moving to a new state and meeting new people cannot be learned in a classroom. Many students like me cannot afford out-of-state tuition, but thanks to WUE, I’m able to afford nonresident tuition and study restaurant and resort management, which was not offered by institutions in my home state. I value my education that I’ve received here, and I hope that WUE will continue to help students gain access to the education and opportunities that they need and deserve."

"I attended a track camp at NAU my freshman year of high school and fell in love with Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University. But my senior year, I had to face the reality that my parents couldn’t afford out-of-state tuition. I applied to NAU anyway, and was awarded a WUE scholarship. Thanks to WUE, my parents were able to send me to NAU. I found a major that I love and professors that I respect and admire. I've had the opportunity to attend conferences, deliver papers, apply for awards, and participate in funded research because of the amazing faculty at NAU. I am very grateful for WUE."

"WICHE’s PSEP allows me to go to dental school in Oregon and pay in-state tuition with the promise of returning to New Mexico. New Mexico doesn’t have a dental school, but through WICHE I can study outside of my home state and share my professional skills with the people my home state which I love. I am extremely grateful to have been chosen as a WICHE recipient, as I see many of my classmates from out-of-state who are struggling financially. I thank WICHE and New Mexico for their support of my educational endeavors and look forward to returning home to practice dentistry."