In celebration of our college graduates, we reached out to our seniors for a little highlight and feedback from their time at Eastern. Congratulations on getting your degree! And welcome to the Eagle Alumni Family! Go Eags!  

What is your major and minor/certificate and what made you choose that major/minor?

Hi there, my name is Timothy Senchenko and I love people I chose to graduate with a Bachelor of the Arts in Music Technology and Entrepreneurship because I love to help people tell stories through sound! As a child I was fascinated by the inner workings of the ear and the magical feeling music gives us, so I set out to find out the truth behind all those mysteries. I was blown away by everything that I was able to learn at EWU.

What’s one class that wasn’t in your major that you’d recommend?

Personally, one of the most impactful courses that I attended, unrelated to my degree, was Sociology. The information I learned from the course allows me to have meaningful conversations with people and helps me understand everyone’s perspective by viewing life through multiple senses and emotions. 

What is your plan after graduation?

I have been steady grinding using the skills and knowledge I absorbed while at EWU. I started a company called Galactic Noize which specializes in creating immersive spatial audio and music for video games and films. I have also been offering DJ/MC services as of recently. 

Which faculty member in your program did you connect with the most and why?

I spent a lot of time around Dr. Middleton and Dr. Trail (during his vocation at EWU). The two of them spent hours imparting wisdom to me, with the hopes that I would retain what mattered and succeed. Both of them are very intelligent yet humble humans who only want to see the next generation thrive. I think and pray for them everyday because of their relentless and selfless attitudes toward their positions. 

What was your favorite place to eat on campus or in Cheney?

I was at EWU when the old PUB was still around and I gotta say, it was worth the wait to experience the new building. With the modern glass front and the sleek edges all around, the PUB was just inspiring to be inside let alone all of the amenities and resources offered with tuition. By far the coolest cafeteria and hangout spot across all universities in the PNW. No cap.

In celebration of our college graduates, we reached out to our seniors for a little highlight and feedback from their time at Eastern. Congratulations on getting your degree! And welcome to the Eagle Alumni Family! Go Eags!  

What is your major and minor/certificate and what made you choose that major/minor?

I will be receiving my Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. I chose this major and minor because I had previously completed my AA in criminal justice at a community college and thought that this would be a good major to have since I want to pursue law school in the future. As for the psychology minor, I have found that they go together well, with both being mentioned multiple times throughout both classes. 

What is one of your favorite memories so far in your program/at Eastern? 

The day that it was confirmed that I had finished the program and would be graduating with my best friend. I had officially completed my bachelor’s degree online.  

What’s one class that wasn’t in your major that you’d recommend? 

One class that was not in my major that I would recommend to other criminal justice students would be Abnormal Psychology. I liked the format of the class and it was interesting to learn about other disorders. 

What is your plan after graduation? 

I will find a job in my hometown with the court system before ultimately completing law school to become a lawyer. 

What was the hardest assignment you’ve had to do and how did you get through it? 

The hardest assignment I have had to complete was a book report tying in things I learned in the class. The book was called “The Lakota Society” and the instructions were not completely clear to me. I just did my best by focusing on specific chapters rather than the book as a whole.

In celebration of our college graduates, we reached out to our seniors for a little highlight and feedback from their time at Eastern. Congratulations on getting your degree! And welcome to the Eagle Alumni Family! Go Eags!

What is your major and minor/certificate and what made you choose that major/minor?

My major is Sociology and what made me choose this major was that I wanted to choose a major that interested me and I was interested in learning about human behavior. 

What is one of your favorite memories so far in your program/at Eastern?

I think one of my favorite memories from my major was my social psychology professor. My professor told his farting stories in class. It would make me and the whole class laugh so hard.

What’s one class that wasn’t in your major that you’d recommend?

I think one of the classes I would recommend taking is a disability class called Bodies, Minds, and Movies. I learned more about disability culture and pop culture in a way I’ve never experienced before. I even learned to watch films more analytically.

What is your plan after graduation?

My plan after graduation is to apply for jobs, explore, and see what the world has to offer.

What was the hardest assignment you’ve had to do and how did you get through it?

I think the most challenging assignment I had to do was in my Ethics in Criminal Justice class. I had to write a project essay that was part of the final. I had to do a literature review and media analysis of the project. I also was required to use the APA format for the essay which was a format I wasn’t used to following. How I got through it was I came and got help from the Writer’s Center. I also asked my professor for assistance to get through it. I had wanted to try to follow the format as closely as possible for the assignment.

In celebration of our college graduates, we reached out to our seniors for a little highlight and feedback from their time at Eastern. Congratulations on getting your degree! And welcome to the Eagle Alumni Family! Go Eags!

What is your major and minor/certificate and what made you choose that major/minor?

I majored in Sociology with a minor in Queer and Sexuality Studies. I chose Sociology because of my curiosity for understanding people and social patterns. I took gender studies classes along the way and found that they supplemented my study of sociology well, so I made it my minor! 

What is one of your favorite memories so far in your program/at Eastern?

It’s hard to pick just one memory since I’ve truly enjoyed all of my classes, but I would say celebrating with snacks at the end of my Race and Ethnic Relations class. We all learned so much in that course and by the end we were all pretty much friends, and Dr. Lam is an extraordinary professor. 

What’s one class that wasn’t in your major that you’d recommend?

PHIL420 – Queer Theory! Such a stimulating class with very in-depth conversations that challenge your perspectives. 

What is your plan after graduation?

Immediately after graduation, I plan to celebrate myself and rest! After that, I plan to look for work within the nonprofit sector while obtaining training in Data Analytics.

What was the hardest assignment you’ve had to do and how did you get through it?

One of my hardest assignments was probably my 26-page paper on 2nd generation immigrants for my Global Migrations course. Dr. Kebede pushed us the perfect amount, and I left that class with so much more knowledge than I ever could have hoped. It is always very rewarding when hard work pays off!

In celebration of our college graduates, we reached out to our seniors for a little highlight and feedback from their time at Eastern. Congratulations on getting your degree! And welcome to the Eagle Alumni Family! Go Eags!

What is your major and minor/certificate and what made you choose that major/minor?

My name is Kathryn Amdahl and my degree will be a Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance with a minor in Aquatics Management. I chose my degree path due to encouragement from my high school piano teacher; she saw something in me as a musician post-high school and encouraged me to run with it and I did! I chose my minor because I love to swim for fun/exercise and want others to be able to have fun and safely enjoy time in pools. 

What’s one class that wasn’t in your major that you’d recommend?

One class that was not in my major that I would recommend to others are any of the physical education dance classes like latin, swing, or ballroom dance. Those have been so enjoyable and such a fun stress reliever. 

What is your plan after graduation?

My plan after graduating from EWU is to pursue a Masters in Collaborative Piano at Central Washington University in the fall. I am so excited for that opportunity and for the doors that will hopefully open! 

Which faculty member in your program did you connect with the most and why?

The faculty member that I connected with the most was Dr. Jody Graves (she is in my picture). Not only has Dr. Graves been my primary piano professor, but she has been a friend, mentor, encourager, and inspiration. I am the pianist and musician I am today due to her teaching; my time with her means the world to me and she is who I will miss most when I graduate next week. 

What was your favorite place to eat on campus or in Cheney?

When I actually had time to eat (sometimes musicians don’t get the time to eat, haha), I loved going to West Plains Roasters. Not only is their coffee the best on the planet, but their pastries and toast always were amazing. Highly recommend their poptarts and avocado toast!

In celebration of our college graduates, we reached out to our seniors for a little highlight and feedback from their time at Eastern. Congratulations on getting your degree! And welcome to the Eagle Alumni Family! Go Eags!

What is your major and minor/certificate and what made you choose that major/minor? 

My degree is a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance.

What’s one class that wasn’t in your major that you’d recommend?                                  

A class outside my major I highly recommend is the education class, Diversity and Inclusion in Education. It gave me a fantastic perspective on the role of public education in our world and as it pertains to my future pursuits. 

What is your plan after graduation?

After graduation I will be working with my band to record the literature I am playing for my senior recital and hopefully release that as an album, as well as continue to teach my private studio lesson students and play professionally in and around Spokane while working towards pursuing a masters in music or in music education. 

Which faculty member in your program did you connect with the most and why?         

The professor I connected with most in my time at Eastern is Professor Andy Plamondon, he was my improvisation professor as well as the director of many of my ensembles. Professor Plamondon is an outstanding educator and performer, and his guidance and unconditional support are definitely the reason I was able to succeed in my artistic pursuits while attending school here and I will treasure all of the knowledge he passed on to me in our time together. 

What was your favorite place to eat on campus or in Cheney?                          

Throughout my time in Cheney I’ve become something of a regular at Barrelhouse, but I also love Arturo’s!

In celebration of our college graduates, we reached out to our seniors for a little highlight and feedback from their time at Eastern. Congratulations on getting your degree! And welcome to the Eagle Alumni Family! Go Eags!

What is your major and minor/certificate and what made you choose that major/ minor?

My majors are in philosophy and political science. My minor is in psychology. I chose to major in philosophy because I am interested in life’s biggest questions, and also because I think philosophy teaches one how to think for themselves both critically and reflectively. I chose to major in political science because it has its foundations in philosophy, and because politics plays an essential role in civil life. I chose to minor in psychology because I am fascinated with the scientific facts and questions of the human condition, and I like learning about why we do the things we do. 

What is one of your favorite memories so far in your program/at Eastern?

One of my favorite memories in my time at Eastern was presenting at the EWU Spring Symposium in 2022. I recommend participating in the symposium to all students. It’s such a great experience and provides a supportive environment that allows one to hone their presentation skills. 

What’s one class that wasn’t in your major that you’d recommend?

RCLS 301: Overview of the Craft Beer Industry.

What is your plan after graduation?

My plan after graduation is to attend graduate school for a degree in philosophy!

What was the hardest assignment you’ve had to do and how did you get through it?

The hardest assignment I’ve had to do was my culminative essay for my philosophy capstone course with Dr. Kirby. I got through it by utilizing knowledge I had gained in previous courses and by taking advantage of Professor Kirby’s guidance and mentorship.

In celebration of our college graduates, we reached out to our seniors for a little highlight and feedback from their time at Eastern. Congratulations on getting your degree! And welcome to the Eagle Alumni Family! Go Eags! 

What is your major and minor/certificate and what made you choose that major/minor? 

My name is Emma. I will be graduating with a BAE in Visual Arts Education and a minor in Special Education. I chose this path because of my love for and connection with art. I want to share my knowledge, love, and experience with future generations, in hopes that they will connect with their creative minds to express their own thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Art offers so many benefits, especially to those whose minds are still developing. 

What was your favorite class and why?

My favorite class that I took would be my painting class from my junior year. Not only did I learn new painting techniques, I also learned a lot about myself as an artist and a person. With the wisdom and support from my professor, I was able to change my view on life and how to make every day count, which I cannot thank him enough for.

What is your plan after graduation?

After graduation, I plan on working as a K-12 art teacher in rural Eastern Washington. I eventually want to start up a non-profit art organization for youth and families in rural areas that have little exposure to the arts.

If you made one rule every teacher had to follow, what would it be? Why?                       

If I had to make one rule for every teacher to follow, it would be to let your students be creative any chance they get. 

What was your favorite place to eat on campus or in Cheney?      

My favorite place to eat in Cheney is Bene’s. You can’t top the grilled cheese eggs benedict!

In celebration of our college graduates, we reached out to our seniors for a little highlight and feedback from their time at Eastern. Congratulations on getting your degree! And welcome to the Eagle Alumni Family! Go Eags! 

What is your major and minor/certificate and what made you choose that major/minor?

I am a major in Art Education. I actually didn’t originally choose Art Education to start with, I was a Mechanical Engineering major and switched majors after reading an article in one of my English courses. The article was about how many students are going to college for careers that will make them a lot of money but won’t fulfill them as a person. I realized that was exactly what I was doing and decided to switch my major to Art Education. Art has been a passion of mine since I can remember, and I want to share the beauty of it with today’s youth.

What was your favorite class and why?

My favorite class was the contemporary sculpture class I took with Greg. It was such a fun way to experiment with materials and really broadened my horizons as an artist.

What is your plan after graduation?

Hopefully, I’ll be able to find a job teaching Art somewhere near Spokane, but if not, I’ll be substitute teaching!

If you made one rule every teacher had to follow, what would it be? Why?

You have to love all your students the way you would your own family. I believe that every teacher should care deeply about their students. There will always be kids who push your buttons, but at the end of the day, you love them the same and do your best to teach them how to be good human beings.

What was your favorite place to eat on campus or in Cheney?

My favorite place to eat on campus is the food court in the PUB. I’m a sucker for the tater tots!

In celebration of our college graduates, we reached out to our seniors for a little highlight and feedback from their time at Eastern. Congratulations on getting your degree! And welcome to the Eagle Alumni Family! Go Eags!

What is your major and minor/certificate and what made you choose that major/minor?

I’m majoring in Studio Art with a minor in Design. I wish I switched the two because I found out I really enjoy UX design, so my plan is to find a way to move forward in that direction. Art has always been a passion of mine although I haven’t had the time to practice it, being a mother of four!

What is your plan after graduation?

My plan after graduation is to work and save up some money to be able to get a certificate for the UX program. 

Which faculty member in your program did you connect with the most and why?

I’m a returning student from 11 years ago, so unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to build close relationships with my instructors but Sonja and Meg from the design program are really great and I enjoyed their classes a lot. I felt like they had a good balance of classwork, lectures, and projects, and they truly wanted to help their students succeed.