WGU Washington Awards Degree to Ten Thousandth Graduate

KENT — WGU Washington recently surpassed the 10,000 graduates milestone. That means 10,000 bachelor’s and master’s degrees have been awarded to hard-working women and men across the state — and 10,000 lives have been transformed by the power of education. To celebrate, the online, nonprofit university is matching its largest scholarship offer to date with the WGU Washington 10,000 Graduates Scholarship. WGU Washington will award three scholarships worth up to $10,000 toward any of its more than 50 degree programs. Because of the university’s reasonably-priced tuition, the $10,000 award could cover all or most of the tuition cost.

Learn more about the WGU Washington 10,000 Graduates Scholarship by following @WGUWashington on social media.

Of all the ambitious, self-starting women and men to receive degrees from WGU Washington, the distinction of being the university’s ten thousandth graduate goes to Rebecca Myers of Tacoma. A wife and a mother of three, Rebecca earned a master’s in mathematics education while working full time as a second grade teacher.

“The flexibility of WGU Washington was exactly what I was looking for,” said Rebecca. “I would read articles and write papers at soccer practice, in the evenings when my kids were in bed, and on the airplane while on vacation. I even was able to use the computer in my hotel lobby several nights to complete assignments. Now, my degree means a base pay increase in my field regardless of my employer. The math endorsement of my master's allows a competitive edge to future opportunities.”

WGU Washington uses an innovative approach to learning called competency-based education, which focuses on measuring learning rather than time spent in the classroom. Students earn their degrees by demonstrating mastery of the subject matter they need to be successful and real-world competencies. The university collaborates with employers across a variety of industries to develop curriculum that is relevant to its students and their chosen fields.

Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, competency-based education also allows students to take advantage of their existing knowledge and previous experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. While WGU Washington’s degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their progress, saving both time and money.

Additionally, WGU Washington faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.

This scholarship is open to new students who have been officially admitted to WGU Washington. While multiple scholarships will be awarded, this is a competitive program, and scholarships will be awarded based on a candidate’s academic record, readiness for online study, and current competency, as well as other considerations.