Kristen Nolan

EWU urban and regional planning student, Kirsten Nolan, knows firsthand about the incREDible power a scholarship has in the life of a student, a family, and a community. “Long after the last dollar has been spent, the benefits of the education I have attained will continue to multiply,” she said.

Kirsten Nolan’s passion for urban planning, community development, local economic development, and sustainable communities is rooted in volunteer work she has done since she was a little girl. “I was raised to leave a place better than I found it, and I believe that time and/or money can be a means to accomplish that,” she said. “My motivation lies within the great meaning of my work rather than income; I can think of nothing greater than contributing to strengthening my community.”

Kirsten’s urban and regional planning classes at EWU have bolstered her passion. “I have utilized many of the skills I learned in the program in my position as program manager at Sustainable Resources INW, a local nonprofit that provides sustainability education to community members and local businesses,” she said.

Kirsten’s generosity in the community is as much a part of her moral fiber as her humility. “There are so many hardworking, talented, and deserving students here – I was incredibly honored to be recognized as a donor-supported scholarship recipient,” she said. “I felt humbled, empowered, and so very grateful. It was a wonderful feeling to share the excitement with my family who taught me the value of perseverance and hard work.

“The gift you give so generously has the incredible power to not only affect an individual in the moment but a family well into the future. Long after the last dollar has been spent, the benefits of the education I have attained will continue to multiply both within my own family and in my community. I thank you for your wholehearted support in the education of others. It is the most amazing feeling to be a recipient of another’s generosity; it is a feeling I shall never forget and a feeling I plan to pass forward.”