First-generation inspiration First-generation inspiration First-generation inspiration

As I begin my term as president of the UW Alumni Association, I reflect on the journey of my father, Gilbert Smith, a 1964 graduate of the UW School of Medicine, and the profound impact that his experience as a first-generation college student had on shaping my path to the leadership role I hold today.

As for so many, higher education was not a given for my father, and he faced numerous challenges. He worked tirelessly, balancing part-time jobs with rigorous studies while overcoming societal and familial expectations that did not initially prioritize education. When he walked across the graduation stage, diploma in hand, he set a precedent for our family. Where education had once been a distant dream, it soon became an attainable and expected milestone.

His story is a testament to the power of education in developing intellectual curiosity, creating professional opportunities and fostering change and mobility. My brother and I were the beneficiaries of his unwavering determination and commitment and are proud to be among the scores of UW graduates that the UW Alumni Association serves and supports.

As a member of the UWAA, I have seen firsthand how its programs, services and initiatives support the UW and higher education in the state of Washington. My father’s path as a first-generation college student highlights the important role and impact of this community at the University. You can learn more about UW’s first-generation graduates through the UWAA’s First Generation College Stories initiative.

The UWAA creates pathways and opportunities for all who care deeply about this mission. I am a proud Spokane Husky and encourage you to engage from wherever you are.

I invite you to join me and 60,000 UWAA members in making the difference an organized alumni community has on the life of its university. Go Huskies!

Mark Ostersmith, ’90, was a UW business major and has had a career in finance. He lives in his hometown of Spokane.