Meet Kairis Jimenez
Class of 2023 | Sports Management | Honolulu, HI | First-Gen
As a first-generation student raised by a single mom, Kairis Jimenez found the college admission process a little daunting at first.
“It was hard because this was all new to me and my mom, too,” Jimenez said. “Financial aid was kind of confusing, but if you take the time to work for it, it’s pretty easy.”
Jimenez chose WSU because of the tight-knit community and the variety of scholarships and financial aid options for out-of-state students. Plus, it was very different from her home state.
“Being from Hawaii, it’s summer all year round. I wanted to experience all four seasons,” Jimenez said. “It’s also been so easy to make friends at WSU and grow as a person.”
During her time at WSU, Jimenez was co-chair of SHAPING, a leadership conference that helps high school students of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent pursue higher education. Every year, a group of students from the Seattle area were able to visit WSU and get an inside look at what college is like. “I really hold those experiences close to my heart because we actually made a difference for these students and made them feel at home,” Jimenez said. “College is where you get all these new experiences and opportunities. If you step out of your comfort zone, it can make you into something great one day.”
I was always into sports. Luckily, WSU has one of the best sport management programs west of the Mississippi. After graduation, I want to go to law school for sports and entertainment and hopefully become a sports agent.
MEET THE PARENT OF A NEW COUG
Shannon (Martin) Langland is the mother of Alex Langland, a Coug freshman studying computer science who started in Fall 2022. Shannon, a 1994 WSU alum, shared some of their experiences and advice from the transition to WSU Pullman.
Meaningful conversations about college
We started talking about academic expectations in high school, encouraging him to take care of coursework questions on his own with his teachers. At the high school level, teachers are still checking in on you and pulling you along a little. At the university level, this goes away. You are an adult, paying for your education, and the professors aren’t going to come to you if there’s an issue. We talked about the need to step up and resolve his own issues and use all his time management skills because once we see him off in Pullman, it’s all up to him.
Cool experiences at WSU
Taking my own child to Pullman was incredible! All the memories were overwhelming and wonderful. I remembered all the emotions and optimism that I had and knew Alex was going through the same thing. The other side was the realization that my baby was starting an exciting new phase of his life on his own, and we (his parents) were being relegated to being observers and motivators, as opposed to being providers. It’s what we spent 18 years working toward!
Alex joined the WSU Marching Band right away and got to attend the WSU football bowl game in Los Angeles! He also auditioned for, and was accepted to, WSU Jazz Big Band. He has made some good friends and is off to a good start, which allows us to exhale.
Advice to parents of new Cougs
Let your young adults figure things out. Be available as a resource, ask leading questions (to make them think), and then let them figure it out. WSU has every resource they will need to succeed and get their needs met. Also, I would advise new Cougs to put themselves out there. Join the club, say hey to the person next to them in lecture, ask the questions, go to the office hours, explore all the options. The years that you’re at university are a rare, short, wonderful time. Take advantage of all the experiences while they’re in front of you.
Cost and Aid Information
Cougs were offered $172.6 million in awards in 2022, and 75% of students received some form of financial aid. Whether it’s loans, grants, or scholarships, there are plenty of options to help your Future Coug secure the funding they need.
Family Weekends for Current Students
If your student chooses WSU, you can look forward to two family weekends each academic year, filled with activities to spend time with your new Coug in Pullman .
Family Resources
- Visit the WSU Pullman campus
- Register for a family and supporter virtual presentation
- Academic Success and Career Center
- Academics and majors
- Health and wellness services for students
- Financial aid information
- Housing and residence life
- Undergraduate research
- Civic engagement and service
- Recreation and fitness
- Community life and entertainment
- More resources for Future Cougs and their families