Alum extends annual accounting scholarship

Bellingham-born-and-raised Brett Jordan, ’07, recalls the liberating sensation of first coming to Western as a student. “It had such a unique vibe,” he says. “I just remember feeling that here was a place where you could lay out your own path.”  Jordan’s path through his time at WWU as an accounting major included being a member of the cheerleading squad as well as being involved in various aspects of student leadership and gaining a valuable internship thanks to, he says, the caliber of Western’s accounting department. He also relied on scholarships and student loans to carry him through college, and vowed, even then, to give back the first chance he got.

And he’s done precisely that. In 2011, Jordan contributed his first $1,500 scholarship, established with his employer’s gift-matching policy. Two years ago, that annual gift went up to $2,500, and this year, he’s committed to funding the Jordan Scholarship in Accounting for the next five years. It’s a robust and continued show of support from a young alumnus who also sits on Western’s Alumni Association board and advocates for Western – as well as for his chosen profession, accounting – in Olympia on a regular basis. “After graduation, I was sad, and began considering how I was going to stay involved with the Western community,” he explains. “As a student leader, I was on the legislative affairs committee and I’d go down to Olympia on Viking days and lobby with the students. I loved it. Now, as part of the Alumni Association, I work with the board’s advocacy group. I like being able to give back to the school that I love with a scholarship, by representing part of Western’s voice in Olympia and by supporting alumni events and activities.”

It doesn’t have to cost the earth to support student scholarships, he notes, appreciating the personal sense of investment he has with each recipient. “With recent budget cuts, even a single scholarship can make a big difference to a department. I imagine a student who was like me, working his/her way through school, doing multiple activities, being involved in their community and just trying to make it. Stressing out about the cost of higher education really dampens your ability to be effective in those forums. I like giving back to a student who is extremely active in the profession, at Western or just in the community in general – I want to help them continue in their efforts.”

 

“I think a lot of people are hesitant to give,” adds Jordan, “because they think, ‘Oh, my small amount won’t have a significant impact,’ but that’s far from reality. Any gift of any amount is still a gift that has impact.”