COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
JUNE 11, 2021
The Trustees, Faculty, and Staff of The Evergreen State College Welcome You
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
George S. Bridges, Ph.D. Jeremy Mohn, M.P.A. President Director of Government Relations
John Carmichael, Ph.D. Eric Pedersen, M.Ed. Vice President for Chief Enrollment Officer Finance and Operations Therese Saliba, Ph.D. Susan Harris, M.P.A. Interim Vice President for Inclusive Executive Associate to the President Excellence and Student Success and Secretary to the Board of Trustees Jeannette Smith, Ph.D. Interim Associate Dean of Student Sandra Kaiser Affairs and Engagement Vice President for College Relations Amanda Walker, Ph.D. Vice President for College David McAvity, Ph.D. Advancement and Executive Director Interim Provost and Vice President of the Evergreen State College for Student and Academic Life Foundation
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Monica Alexander ’13 Tacoma Melinda Bratsch-Horsager ’20, ’22 Tacoma Karen Fraser Olympia Fred Goldberg Olympia Irene Gonzales Spokane David Nicandri Tumwater Miguel Pérez-Gibson ’89 Olympia Ed Zuckerman ’77 Seattle
ACADEMIC DEANS
Abir Biswas, Ph.D. Kathleen Eamon, Ph.D. Karen Gaul, Ph.D. Larry Geri, D.P.A. Greg Mullins, Ph.D. Marcia Tate Arunga, Ph.D. Elizabeth Williamson, Ph.D.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
John Withey, Ph.D. Director, Master of Environmental Studies
Michael Craw, Ph.D. Director, Master of Public Administration
Susan Feldman, Ph.D. Director, Master in Teaching
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.
It may be necessary to encounter defeat so you can know who you are, and what you can rise from.”
– Maya Angelou
Order of Exercises For the conferring of Degrees
WELCOME AND DEDICATION George S. Bridges, Ph.D., President, presiding
TRUSTEES’ WELCOME Karen Fraser, Chair of the Board of Trustees
SPEAKER Tay Zonday ’04
GRADUATION ADDRESSES Faculty Speakers Ruth Hayes & Laurie Meeker Undergraduate Student Speaker Hailey Salazar ’20 Graduate Student Speaker Benjamin Feldbush ’21
PRESENTATION OF THE CANDIDATES David McAvity, Ph.D., Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
CONFERRING THE DEGREES Karen Fraser, Chair of the Board of Trustees
RECOGNIZING THE GRADUATES Members of the Board of Trustees: Monica Alexander ’13, Melinda Bratsch-Horsager ’20, ’22, Karen Fraser, Fred Goldberg, Irene Gonzales, David Nicandri, Miguel Pérez-Gibson ’89, and Ed Zuckerman ’77
CLOSING Please join us in singing the Alma Mater and Geoduck Fight Song; Both songs written (1971) by Malcolm Stilson, M.L., emeritus librarian, and arranged by Linda Waterfall (2007).
2021 Evergreen Commencement Speaker TAY ZONDAY
Tay Zonday ’04 is a People’s Choice award-nominated, YouTube and Webby award-winning singer-songwriter, voice talent, brand spokesperson, advocate, teacher, and digital industry veteran seen in more than a billion YouTube views. With a baritone voice that is often compared to Paul Robeson, Barry White, and Brad Roberts of the “Crash Test Dummies,” Zonday also does commercial voice and spokesperson work for a growing portfolio of clients that have included Cartoon Network, NASA, and Major League Baseball.
Zonday blasted into the worldwide spotlight with his viral hit “Chocolate Rain” with appearances on a number of platforms, including Good Morning America, NPR, CNN, and Comedy Central’s Tosh.0. He’s been interviewed on the front page of Sunday’s Los Angeles Times as well as in The Chicago Tribune, Wired Magazine and more, including dozens of independent and university publications. He has been referenced in a number of pop-culture touchstones such as “Saturday Night Live,” "Guitar Hero," and “The Today Show” as well as by luminaries such as Trevor Noah, John Mayer, and more.
A true Greener, Zonday studied a variety of disciplines during his time at Evergreen, including audio production, media, and philosophy. After graduation, he attended the University of Minnesota in his home state where he continued his path of interdisciplinary learning, earning a master’s degree in American Studies. Zonday continues to release original music, write a memoir, teach, consult, and race toward a future filled with possibility.
Undergraduate Student Speaker HAILEY SALAZAR ‘20
Hailey Salazar (she/her) is a Yo’eme/Apache scholar working to revitalize Indigenous knowledge systems through her passions in traditional medicine and arts, environmental activism, policy, and education. She graduated from Evergreen in December 2020 with a focus on Indigenous medicine and music.
In the program Teachings of the Tree People, Hailey created an artistic film called Sacred Waters to raise awareness of the political and ecological dangers and consequences of the LNG export terminal being illegally built on Puyallup land along the Commencement Bay estuary while honoring the elements. Hailey’s basketry has been featured in exhibits highlighting the importance of estuaries.
As the medicine carrier for her lineage, Hailey cares deeply for the Earth and her inhabitants. This responsibility fuels Hailey’s actions, including work on new green energy technologies and fundraising for Indigenous artists, Amazonian clean- water access, Guatemalan landslide recovery, and community herbal care, among other causes. Hailey is involved in advocacy on behalf of plant medicines and plant preservation.
Hailey is now a master’s student in Arizona State University’s Indigenous Education program. Graduate Student Speaker BENJAMIN FELDBUSH ‘21
In 2019, Benjamin Feldbush graduated with a BA from The Evergreen State College Tacoma. Before graduating, he learned Evergreen was bringing its Master of Public Administration program to the Tacoma campus. After researching what public administration entailed, he was excited and eager to apply to the program. He was accepted and never looked back.
Benjamin is an operational coordinator for Comprehensive Life Resources, which provides behavior health services to Pierce County. He is also the racial equity chair for The Road Home, a continuum of care group that addresses homelessness.
Benjamin believes in reciprocity. Everything he aspires to be is based on giving back to a community that is struggling to hold on to an identity that is being eradicated through gentrification and white privilege. Benjamin is passionate to help at-risk youth and adults find alternative means to becoming financially, mentally, and physically capable to a sustainable living without the fear of death, incarceration, homelessness, and hopelessness. Benjamin uses critical thinking and design thinking as a base to encompassing equity as a method to creating equality for the public he serves.
Benjamin is a father of three boys who inspired him to never give up and embrace the struggles, sacrifices, and failures in life that will drive you to reach all your goals and dreams.
Faculty Speakers RUTH HAYES & LAURIE MEEKER
Ruth Hayes joined the Evergreen faculty in 1997 and has been teaching animation theory and practice in broadly interdisciplinary contexts. Her creative research involves animated experiments in film, video, and digital media as well as flipbooks and other pre-cinema formats. Ruth earned her MFA in Experimental Animation at California Institute of the Arts in 1992 and her BA in Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard College in 1978.
Laurie Meeker joined the Evergreen faculty in 1989 and has been teaching filmmaking and documentary studies in the Media Arts and Studies Path as well as in interdisciplinary programs involving education, political economy, feminist theory, and visual arts. Laurie’s documentary film work includes a multi- generational project covering the struggle of the River People in the Mid- Columbia River area to sustain their traditional fishing, root gathering, and hunting practices as protected by the treaties, co-directed with Lavina Washines of the Kahmiltpah Band, Yakama Nation. Laurie earned her MFA in Film Production from The University of British Columbia in 1985 and her BA in Film Production/Still Photography from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in 1980.
Ruth and Laurie collaborated to produce their graduation speech, recording it in Evergreen’s Center for Creative and Applied Media. They took the opportunity to highlight some of their students’ creative work by integrating images into their speech.
Candidates for Degrees Class of 2021
BACHELOR Mark Arginteanu Taylor Birdsall OF ARTS Dawn Arn Kyle Blackburn
Athena Ayres Kiarra Bolade Aliya Abadir Mavis Baird Gabriel Bonifield Erin Abbott Jennifer Baldwin Collin Booker James Abler Misty Barlan AJ Brady Emma Abraham Mitchell Barrett Wilder Brannon Amina Aineb Tiana Barrios Christie Brant Deanna Ainuu Anna Bartholomew Lacey Brazeau Kay Ajifu Emily Bassett Taos Briggs Adlantus Akers- Thomas Bauer Kenneth Brock Newton Ronnell Baylis Parker Brock Nichole Alexander Tessa Beck Fey Avery Brookshire Kharma Amador Mana Behbahani Stephanie Bruton Audrey Anderson Kira Benson Molly Bryan Roberta Anderson Casey Berg Lillian Bryce Jacob Anderson-Kester Emily Bettis Colin Brynildson Caelan Angell Kecia Betts Gracie Bucklew Abigail Angelucci Eddy Biggs Danny Burkett Thomas Anour Hanceneau Biongo Savvy Burton Annee Appelgate Paradise Butts Shane Corson Samantha DeSpain Meredith Butz Symon Coy Valerie Dingman Elmer Callahan Oliver Cramer Max Dixon Meghan Callahan Christina Cravens Garrett Doering Mae Calverley Michael Crosby Katrina Dohring Chenoa Cameron- Amanda Crowson Adam Donahue Lewis Brianna Cruz-Ramos Eric Donner Danny Capps Ellice Cryder Kimberly Doucette Jessica Carmel Natalie Cummings Jason Doudt Brendan Carr-Potter Charlie Dale Ever Duncan Adam Carter Quan Dang Alegra Dunn Kailyn Carter Brittany Daniel Aaron Edlund Dylan Cassels Orrie Daugherty Shannon Edwards Jennifer Cassidy Nicholas Davis Amanda Eichelberger Bahi'chi Castañeda Tyler Davis True Emeka Patricia Cerza Tamara Davis Veronica Emmerson Cameron Chapman Anika Davison Kayla Emmett Kolton Clark Jesse Dean Luna Endicott Max Clark Taylor Deerwester Tyler Engeman Kate Cochran Fred Delaney Arthur Erholm Gar Codling Patrick Delaney LaMekia Evans Ella Coffey Lilienne Delarosa- Jared Fahmy Finn Colando Tillero LaKecia Farmer Audrey Connor Andre Dengo Merina Fatherree Tazi Cooper-Cobert Amanda Desantis Soil Fisher Christina Folk Sofia Grajal-Puche Adam Hartman- Samuel Frampton Anthony Grandberry Whitfield Chase Fritz Talia Grandstaff Khadija Hassan Kelly Fujimoto Rowan Green Bridgette Heads Daniel Fune Jon Greene Theo Hedderly-Smith Ryan Furbush Rachel Gregory Ian Henderson Shameka Gagnier Bree Grim Summer Hendrickson Adonis Gaines Zakary Grimshaw Hunter Herman Lauren Gano Mariah Guilfoil-Dovel Jennyfer Herrera Chelsea Garland Paige Guthrie Kaia Herrin Louie Gasper Gloria Gutierrez Robert Hicks Samantha Gavin Jack Habegger Jenine Hillaire Helvi Gemmer Daniel Hagelberg Jessie Hiller Daniel Gibson Amanda Hahn Jocelyn Hillyer Devante Givens Jefferson Hall Carolyn Holland Jacob Gloss Harry Halsted Patrick Hope Declan Goldenbogen Laurie Hamilton Sara Hoskins Christina Gomez Martita Hammer Barret Houk Isao Goodson Peyton Hammond Jennifer Howard Reier Goodwin Josh Hankin David Hubert Robert Gorrill Aronald Harper Caysie Huff Katelyn Gose Shawn Harries Tasha Hungate Nicole Gowin Vanessa Harriss Ryan Hunt Jubilee Grace Griffin Hart Bilinda Hunter Mo Gradinaru Levi Harter Taylor Hurley Robbie Huygen Reese Kendrick Jessica Lee Carniyah Israel Samuel Kerley Andrea Lee Terry James Christina Kessler Martha Leon Joanna Jech Nadia Kilcourse Neva Lewis Anthony Jepson Brooke Kimbrough Alvaro Licea Annie Jessee Maureen Kimemia Deirdre Lineweaver Mars Jindrich Jaclyn Kirby Oscar Lira Brianna Johnson Jonathan Klingenberg Abel Llewellyn Cory Johnson Christina Klucarich Jonah Logue James Johnson Nicole Kochman Joseph Lombardo Megan Johnson Asa Kowals-Rose Lauren Lopez Travis Johnson Cody Krebs Zoe Lovato Matthew Johnston Laurie Krebs Samantha Luna- Emma Jones Jordan Lachapelle Patterson Kameron Jones Miranda LaMere Hannah Lund Christian Jordan Brady Land Jean Lynch-Thomason Sullivan Jordan Anne Landis Noah Lyons Violet Jurich Kelly Lane Kate Madden Stacey Jurss Madeleine Lang Laura Madsen Kara Justis Sara Langness Sebastian Maple Julianne Kagy Emma Lantz Kristina Marchand Ursula Kalahan Isabelle Leclair Sena Markowitz Stevi Kamphaus Donna LeDuc De'Ja Marshall Artell Kelly Autumn Lee Christine Martin Lukas Kelly Janina Lee Makiva Joseph Martinez Ana Nau Heather Pennah Lance Masserant Bailey Navarro Elizabeth Petersen Johnny McCaffrey Gabriel Needham Maxwell Peterson Olivia McCormick Efthimia Nielsen William Peterson Zachary McCuin Kiyle Nieman Daniel Pfeifle Johana McCutchen Austin Nix Alexandria Phillips Linda McDonald Alyssa Nordman Starr Phillips Melissa McKee David Normoyle Ashe Phoenix Autumn McKinney Ashley Oberholtzer Emma Picard Leah McKinney Erika Olsen Quitze Pilling Fiona McMains Lorraine Olson Hannah Poage Quinn McMillian Jennica Onstot Alina Poggenburg Garry McNealley Viridiana Ortiz Averi Pollard Tyler Merritt Hernandez Benjamin Pollard Alexandria Messina Esther Osborne Roman Polusmak Jacob Meyer Tasneem Osman Matthew Pomroy Mia Milton Scott Osmun Jessica Portschy Monica Mitchell Mykaila Ostrom Jaden Powell Grey Mohan Miriam Padilla Esther Prentice Emiliano Monchilov Rebecca Padilla Artiom Prodeus Shady Moody Sarah Palatnik Kimberly Quinonez Paula Mosman Simone Pardee Kelly Ramirez Ivett Munoz Sophie Parker Oscar Ramirez Libbey Murray Madeline Parvankin Grace Ramos- Sam Nannetti Kit Patrick Cartagena Darcy Ramsfield Jayden Sabins Sydney Spaeth Khloe Reece Maria Salazar Andrew Spannagel Payton Reid Thomas Sauer Sarah Spell Maya Reynolds Jackie Schramm Madison Spenker Bethanie Ricca Emery Schwartz Jesse Stafford Megan Richard Lionel Scott Stella Stanard Briar Richards Hishyar Sedeeq Daniel Stein Olivia Richards Maya Seicol Ellis Stemple Ursula Riess Alexea Seil Carter Stephens Pierre Rivera Dan Selden Skyler Stephens Amanda Roark-Lujan Kevin Sellon Marian Stolp Kadesha Roberson Aliki Serras Joseph Stone Avery Rodriguez Madeleine Shachat Natalya Strizheus Carlos Rodriguez Ethan Shalom Breanna Strobele Nick Roetemeyer Claire Sherman Wylie Suda Morisa Rollocks Jacob Sholtis Mercury Marvin Austin Rood Alex Short Sunderland Ellis Roper Angela Silva Cara Sutton Elizabeth Rosback Phillip Silva Megan Sweetin Sam Rosen Molly Simons Joel Swenson Jane Rubinstein Lauren Sitz Julia Swortz Kellianne Rumsey Joel Skavdahl Eli Tail Stella Runner Rorie Slater Shajuanda Tate Ian Ruotsala Sterling Smith Lauren Thacher Ashleigh Rushly Ina Smith Nicholas Thiele Marcy Thomas Myles Vine Miyah Wilson Vanity Thomas Mina Vojtech Rebekah Woelkers Danica Thomas Lydia Waniorek Jessica Wojnar Jonathan Thompson Patrick Ward Soraya Womack Theo Tollefsrud Molly Warshaw Julie Wood Pearl Tottenham Leisa Waters Christine Wood Thomas Townsend Rowan Waters Heather Zabrowski Julia Tribe Kiara Watson Sophia Tuchel Rachael Webster BACHELOR OF Allison Turkington Jessica Weiler ARTS & SCIENCE
Dawn Twiddy Ceciley Weinman Aaron Akimoff Sky Upham Lia Weinman Anna Ambrose Shirley Urman Lucas Weis Kail Antonio Anthony Valdez Lo Weiss Amy Balazs Anna Valibeigi Hannah Welch Tylee Blowers Denney Vallejo Rainier Westrom Martha Carpio-Cansino Robert Vanderpool Gavin Wheeler Kalika Carver-Cox Damont Vann Andréa White Andrew Chamberlain Matthew Vargas Zoe Whorton Robin Chapman Norma Vazquez Danielle Wilbur Celesta Cryder Hernandez Michelle Wilder Nicholas Denk Michael Vergeront Sabastian Wilkinson Mihaela Dodan Ricky Vertolli Sadie Williams James Duffy Ana Vigil Andrew Williamson Brandon Ellington Angelica Villegas Chase Wilson John Fabian Paul Fay Janice Pryor Jacob Barringer Marisa Fisher William Ray William Burton Alaria Franzoni Nickolas Rettinger Bianca Cloudman Savanna Gorham Corwin Ries Jeneiva Cole Allie Huska Alicia Rose Cris Davis Karina Johnson Ashe Sands Robert Dunn Jade Jones-Hawk Saul Silberman Kai Dunwoodie Ria Kaelin Carolina Silva Hannah Ferwerda Maya Kahn-Abrams Kyzlen Stein Sara Flahaut Myles Kautsky Phuoc Truong Megan Folkers Daley Koenig James Waggerby Kiley Fredericks Araminta Little James Walton Mariya Garbuz Pallas Mabus Aelfhild Wiklund Kayla Garrison Jacqueline Maxwell Katrina Wingfield Michelle Graham Lily McGarey Mia Wungnema Rebekah Graham Paul Morris Noe Yoder Ashton Greene Sage Mullady Michael Zirpoli Grace Hanson Paul Navajas Sorrel Hartford Julia Santoyo BACHELOR Abbie Heimowitz Newhouse OF SCIENCE Ashley Hrkach
Kristina Osuna- Sean Johnson Chelsey Anderson Bourgeois Tucker Johnson Hannah Anderson Aife Pasquale Brandy Laurie Armstrong Randa Pearce Kamakawiwoole Obi Baratt Celsey Price Sebastian Karlsson Kelsie Barnett Adam Kover Rietta Rain Robert Wittmier Alexandra Kroupa Tyler Ramey Zachary Young Erin La Chappa Lauren Ré Tony Lauricella Adi Rex Master of Robert Leesemann Lily Robinthal Environmental Studies Alexa Leohner Teddy Rutberg Nicholas Leonard Eric Sable Timothy Atkinson Madesyn Lockwood Leah Schoonover James Blacklaw Evan Low Kelsey Shurvinton Megan Bungum Daniel McMillan Mikayla Shuster Jessica Converse Michael Melchert Adam Smith Tyler Cowdrey Aletheia Merrill- James Tarby Sarah Croston Lukens Jamie Terry Jesse Dotson Avery Merritt Thao Thai Hillary Foster Reanna Miller Lauren Thompson Kelsey Foster Alexander Moran Madeline Thompson Alma Gaeta Alexa Morris Norman Trushaev Heather Gibons Rhema Neas Spencer Vieira Alexis Haifley Tai Nguyen Bryce Waggener Annette Harnish Sheldon Niernberger Zachary Walker Gretchen Helpenstell Jesse Noll Trinity Sage Walsh Brandie Horn Grace Ordos Cheyenne West Danielle Kies Victor Ortiz Severyn Westbrook Graham Klag Florentino Pantaleon Mitchell White Naomi Korchonnoff Nathan Perry Brian Wismar Erika Larson Sarah Larson Ivy Ayers Rebekah Guenther Timothy Leque Sherwanda Beck- Mari Heusman Caitlin McNamara Atkinson Stacey Isaacs Jaileen Merced Felicia Bell Nicole Johnson Jacob Meyers Michelle Bellmer Alicia Jolley Shohei Morita Ahmear Bland Rokea Jones Patrick Murtagh Cindy Bradley Echo Keough Claire Olson Erin Brewster Carolina Landa Philip Pearson Hannah Brunink First Last Claudine Reynolds Grace Burkhart Alex Markley Savannah Richard Valeria Chagoya Miranda Martens Pamela Ronson Jennifer Chamberlin Beth Mason Carly Rose Jane Chapman Marybeth McCarthy Raquel Sejour Kirby Christopher Andrea McKinney Skyler Specht Domenica Clark Shayla Miles David Stocks Ebonie Clark Bianca Milevoj Timothy Teets Chiara D'Angelo- Nicholas Mitchell Lester Tobias Patricio Tracy Norton Xavier Wurttele- Laura Janet De La Cruz Brigid Ann Olson Brissolesi Benjamin Feldbush Daniel Payne Linsey Fields Katherine Randklev Master of Joshua Fike Heather Rees Public Lynda Foster Dallas Roberts Administration Lindsay Fujimoto Jennifer Rodriguez Arturo Avila Devin Gayton Antonio Sablan Katherine Sackmann Nora Selander Amanda Wilson Abbe Salk Marisol Tapia Hopper Marcia Zitzelman Tyeisha Sanders Joseph Wilcox Erin Schafer Nikki Williams
This program lists those whose paperwork was finalized by April 30, 2021.
Share your Evergreen memories, pictures, and videos using #EvergreenGrad2021
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATES!
Special thanks to the 2021 Graduation Planning Committee
GRADUATE HIGHLIGHTS
“I’m a trans guy. Growing up, I never saw trans guys on TV until I watched Our America with Lisa Ling with my mom. I felt really lucky at such a young age to see that and to say ‘that’s who I am.’ I related to that. But that was a show that was meant for adults. So, for me, craving that representation…I want to create that representation for kids out there who might be in the same situation. And who may just not see themselves in media. I think if you see yourself in a TV show as a kid, then you feel more empowered. I think that’s really important." — Symon Coy, class of ’21
“I’m a volunteer trip leader with The Outdoor Program. And I also recently got a position as the lead setter at the climbing gym. It’s a learning opportunity for me. I’m a climber, so it’s interesting to learn to set routes. And through TOP, I’ve also become interested in outdoor leadership and outdoor education. And I want to explore what that might look like as a career.” — Rebekah Graham, class of ’21
As the Marketing and Communications Student Fellow, Allie Huska has provided the M&C team with plenty of creativity and support. She has served as the student voice for Evergreen’s social media channels and our various communications campaigns. On countless occasions she has represented and advocated for her student peers with professionalism and enthusiasm. We are excited to see Allie’s future success. With her education in science and communication and her personal interests in art, we know there will be something unique in store for Allie. — Allie Huska, class of ’21 submitted by Allie's colleagues in Marketing and Communications
“What draws me to therapy and to counseling is to make change at sort of a micro level. That’s kind of the approach I take to life in general. People have a tendency to emphasize these macroscopic, very complex problems, but then become paralyzed with attempting to address them or come up with a solution, because there is no single solution to really complex issues. The truth is that they’re made up of smaller parts and pieces. So, for me, the most powerful change comes on that individual, personal level. That’s the way that I think our minds work.” — Lance Masserant, class of ’21
“My ultimate interest in life is to build a billion-dollar company. I want to have a social enterprise someday. I like what Bob’s Red Mill does; they hire previously incarcerated individuals. Or TOMS—for every pair of shoes bought, they donate a pair. So, I think that’s really cool, because you can’t only have a singular focus in life.” — Theo McIntosh, class of ’21
“...I was able to learn about ecosystems. How does their loss affect the people here? Who is fighting to protect those ecosystems? How can we be involved in the process of that? I learned that in studying nature, there’s always ways to integrate the social element. You don’t have to just be a natural scientist, you can pair with people who are working to protect a certain landscape and who have been there forever. That, for me, lit all these different lightbulbs.” — Lauren Ré, class of ’21
“I’m planning on going into astrophysics or planetary geology. So, it's the study of exothermic planets and such...things that are outside of our solar system. I've been following gravitational waves and things like that. So, really anything with space is my interest, and the physics of what makes everything tick." — Jamie Terry, class of ’21
Sophie arrived at Evergreen with a passion for food, health, and sustainability, but the day they discovered the role of a midwife, Sophie knew they had found their calling. In their time at Evergreen, Sophie had proposed and investigated innovative concepts such as the commodification of birth, the terror of birth, and reproductive liberation. In Spring 2021, Sophie crafted an Individual Learning Contract (ILC) based on a lactation counselor training offered by Childbirth International, Sophie’s fourth ILC related to reproduction. After graduation, Sophie plans to continue a life of advocacy in the realm of reproductive liberation and pursue a career as a midwife. — Sophie Tuchel, class of '21, created in collaboration with Sophie and member of the faculty Carolyn Prouty
Academic Costumes & Regalia
The origins of academic dress date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when universities were taking form. The ordinary dress of the scholar, whether student or teacher, was the dress of a cleric. Long gowns and hoods were worn and may have been necessary for warmth in unheated buildings. Today, many institutions choose distinctively colored gowns. The design of the sleeve indicates the level of the degree earned by the wearer. Hoods have both the colors of the institution and a band indicating the academic discipline in which the degree was earned.
Evergreen Masters
Each master’s degree program graduate is wearing a hood edged in a distinctive color: brilliant gold signifies a Master of Environmental Studies; deep turquoise indicates a Master of Public Administration; and pale blue marks a Master in Teaching.
Tacoma Program Evergreen Tacoma graduates are wearing stoles made from Kente cloth, a type of woven silk and cotton fabric native to the Ashanti people (Ghana). Kente cloth, worn only in times of extreme importance, is a key symbol of African cultural heritage.
Evening & Weekend Studies (EWS)
Students and faculty wearing black, green, and white stoles accented with a moon and sun represent EWS. They honor the nights and weekends graduates spent earning their degrees while working day jobs and supporting families.
Native Programs
MPA-Tribal Governance and Native Pathways Program graduates are wearing stoles with a peacock-blue Pendleton design that pays homage to button blankets, the standard form of ceremonial regalia for Northwest coastal tribes. Some students are also wearing handmade cedar caps or regalia that are representative of Native cultures.
SPEEDY THE GEODUCK, OUR COLLEGE MASCOT
Founders of the college wanted a mascot that epitomized the difference between traditional schools and Evergreen’s innovative ideas. It had to be the opposite of typically snarling, fierce, aggressive mascots.
They chose the geoduck, the world’s largest burrowing clam, which lives on the shorelines of our beautiful Puget Sound. The word geoduck derives from the Lushootseed gwideq, meaning “to dig deep.”
Alma mater
Omnia Extares, Omnia Extares Alma Mater, Evergreen Omnia Extares
Geoduck Fight Song
Go, Geoducks go, Through the mud and the sand, let’s go. Siphon high, squirt it out, swivel all about, let it all hang out.
Go, Geoducks go, Stretch your neck when the tide is low, Siphon high, squirt it out, swivel all about, let it all hang out.
Words and music by Malcolm Stilson, M.L., Emeritus Librarian, 1971