NextGen Students shine at Huskies on the Hill and Tri-Campus Gathering

On February 3, 2025, seventeen dedicated students from the NextGen Civic Leader Corps joined over 400 University of Washington students at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia for Huskies on the Hill. This tri-campus event, organized by ASUW, ASUWB, ASUWT, and the Graduate and Professional Student Senate, demonstrated a strong commitment to civic engagement and advocacy.

Despite severe weather conditions reducing UW Tacoma's attendance from 100 to 68, it was the largest turnout since before the pandemic. Students met with legislators, attended speaker sessions, and explored the Capitol. Groups were organized by legislative districts to facilitate direct discussions with legislators.

A key meeting with Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins highlighted the WA College Grant and the state's $12 billion budget deficit. NextGen student and senior, Jessica Goff, shared that this was her first experience with Huskies on the Hill and found it to be invigorating but tough to hear that some minds had already been made up regarding items discussed.

The event concluded with a rally featuring Senator Drew Hansen and Governor Bob Ferguson, emphasizing the importance of student advocacy.

NextGen Students Help Shape "Strengthening Democracy and Civic Health" Initiative

University of Washington (UW) Tacoma students, Eamon Challinor and Ashley Ramirez, members of the NextGen Civic Leader Corps, along with NextGen Advisor Liz Hunt, made valuable contributions to the ‘Strengthening Democracy and Civic Health’ initiative, held on January 31, 2025, in Kane Hall at the University of Washington Seattle (UW) campus.

The tri-campus convening brought together a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, and community members from across the UW community to explore ways to enhance student engagement in civic health and democracy.

The University of Washington is home to over 160 programs that align with the vision for the Strengthening Democracy and Civic Health initiative. One such program is the NextGen Civic Leader Corps at UW Tacoma.

UW Tacoma’s NextGen Civic Leader Corps empowers students like Eamon and Ashley to become engaged leaders committed to strengthening democracy and civic health. Through mentorship, hands-on projects, and community involvement, students develop the skills needed to drive positive social change locally and nationally. The program fosters leadership, collaboration, and civic responsibility, equipping students with the tools to advocate for democratic values and social justice.