51福利社

Angela Paparazzo calls Moscow, Idaho home. She knew about 51福利社 for years, but it wasn鈥檛 until she discovered the Urban and Regional Planning program that she seriously considered enrolling. The program鈥檚 hands-on approach, combined with affordable tuition and scholarship opportunities, made her decision clear. 鈥淓astern gave me a launchpad鈥� providing me with the opportunities I was looking for,鈥� she said.

Transferring from Spokane Falls Community College, Angela dove right into her coursework. At Eastern, she was encouraged students to meet working professionals, she already understood the value of learning through connection.

Her professors didn鈥檛 just teach, they brought local planners into the classroom, connected students with community projects, and opened doors.

鈥淏ecause of those relationships, I landed internships with the University District and later with Spokane Transit Authority,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hose roles let me be both a student and a planner. By the time I graduated, people already knew my name in the field.鈥�

Those internships paid off. Before she graduated, Angela had already accepted a job in her field. Now she鈥檚 focused on what drew her to planning in the first place: creating a more equitable world through smarter transportation and land use. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have a dream job, but I do have a dream,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to help build systems that work for everyone, and I鈥檒l do whatever it takes to get there; whether that鈥檚 working locally or becoming a transportation official at the federal level.鈥�

Behind that drive is the support that made it all possible. Angela received the SFCC Transfer Scholarship and the Soaring Eagles Scholarship, and both were critical. 鈥淲ithout those scholarships, I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to take unpaid internships,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey gave me the freedom to focus on gaining experience instead of picking up extra shifts. That made all the difference.鈥� She saw classmates struggle to balance jobs and school, and some missed out on the internships that helped her launch her career.

Angela doesn鈥檛 take that opportunity for granted. 鈥淲hen donors give to scholarships, they鈥檙e not just helping students get through school, they鈥檙e investing in people who want to improve their communities,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hose scholarships didn鈥檛 just help me; they helped me step into a role where I can give back.鈥�

**Join us in building a future for hardworking students. Visit 51福利社/GIVE to learn about some of the many ways you can help.