{"id":34165,"date":"2026-06-30T11:58:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T18:58:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/news\/?p=34165"},"modified":"2026-06-30T13:06:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T20:06:20","slug":"an-eternal-optimist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/30\/an-eternal-optimist","title":{"rendered":"An eternal optimist\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Koket Gebiremichael knows what it\u2019s like to be the new girl in school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Ethiopia, she came to the U.S. at age six. Her American classmates weren\u2019t always kind, sometimes mocking her mispronunciations of English words.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because her family was new to the American education system, Gebiremichael navigated the next 15 years with little guidance. Yet she is the first in her family to attend college in the states, and funded her dual degrees at the University of Washington Bothell in Health Studies and in Law, Economics & Public Policy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gebiremichael faced challenges on every front during her four years on campus: financial, social and personal. Each time, she turned adversity into opportunities to connect, serve and uplift others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

足彩app哪个是正规的 legacy of an immigrant family<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Known for her relationship-building abilities and optimistic attitude, Gebiremichael was presented with the 2026 Chancellor\u2019s Medal at Commencement on June 14. At first, she was inclined to downplay the significance of this accomplishment. Wasn\u2019t she simply doing what needed to be done? Handling the things that were expected of her? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the legacy of an immigrant family, she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then, a realization: \u201cI can take a deep breath. This award shows me that I\u2019ve made an impact, and I hope that impact is something that moves forward with other students.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the fall, this Chancellor\u2019s Medalist will continue her studies in to get a graduate in nursing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating a space for community<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gebiremichael said she was very shy when she arrived at UW Bothell, unsure of what to expect. But she kept her eyes open. When she noticed an uptick in the number of East African students on campus, a light bulb went off: Probably a lot of her peers were navigating the same issues she faced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

足彩app哪个是正规的re was no club for this growing demographic, no organized way for students to meet and support each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So Gebiremichael decided to take action. With friends Yabsera Legesse and Eskndr Tadesse, she created BunaTalk<\/a> (CoffeeTalk), a club for the Habesha community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

足彩app哪个是正规的 kickoff event in January 2025 attracted more than 100 students. Gebiremichael and her fellow organizers were expecting 20 or 30. \u201cIt was genuinely so shocking,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May 2025, just five months after its inception, the club was recognized for its impact on campus life with the Club Council\u2019s Rising Star Award. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two
Koket Gebiremichael receives the 2026 Chancellor\u2019s Medal from UW Bothell Chancellor Kristin G. Esterberg. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Calling on hard-won skills<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While at UW Bothell, Gebiremichael juggled a full courseload, family responsibilities and multiple jobs. She started working at 16, she said, committed to paying for her own college education. Among her many roles: nursing assistant, lab assistant, children\u2019s tutor and residential hall adviser. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was the latter that called on Gebiremichael\u2019s hard-won skills in navigating unfamiliar situations and creating inclusive spaces. She was hired for the role midway through her sophomore year. By then, the other apartment advisers had worked together for months and had established their own groove. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a hard transition for me,\u201d said Gebiremichael. \u201cImagine 26 staff members who all know each other, have been hanging out together, and you\u2019re the new one. It was back to being a kid.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

足彩app哪个是正规的 new job also wreaked temporary havoc with her financial aid, adding unexpected pressure to pay tuition out of pocket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rising to the challenge<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Katherine Higgins, Horizon Hall resident director who nominated Gebiremichael for the Chancellor\u2019s Medal, admired how she tackled these obstacles. \u201cShe had to quickly find her place, build trust and learn expectations all at once,\u201d said Higgins in her nomination letter. \u201cThrough this stressful experience, the thing that stood out to me about Koket was her optimistic mindset.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFaced with what others might describe as impossible, she dug deeper, met with Financial Aid, put in more hours to meet people and build relationships, and left nothing to chance.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gebiremichael went on to become a treasured member of the apartment adviser team. \u201cHer natural relationship-building abilities and joyfully optimistic spirit pull others in and somehow make them feel a sense of belonging in the residence halls,\u201d Higgins said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also noticed how Gebiremichael was quick to remember details about people and to check in when someone needed extra support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSometimes,\u201d said Gebiremichael, \u201cthat\u2019s all you really need \u2014 to sit down with someone who can say, \u2018I\u2019ve been there, I came through it and so can you.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening up with confidence<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Something else changed for Gebiremichael during her time at UW Bothell. In the early days, she said, she didn\u2019t speak much in class. \u201cI would just take notes and listen.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Dr. Stephanie Iverson Cabral, associate teaching professor in the School of Nursing & Health Studies<\/a>, posed questions in her \u201cIntroduction to Epidemiology\u201d class, Gebiremichael\u2019s hand was oftenchalf-up, half-down. She hesitated to speak up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Iverson Cabral called on her nonetheless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe was very encouraging, whether I got the answer right or wrong,\u201d Gebiremichael said. \u201cIt opened me up and made me more comfortable. I stopped second-guessing myself.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Her natural relationship-building abilities and joyfully optimistic spirit pull others in and somehow make them feel a sense of belonging in the residence halls.”<\/p>Katherine Higgins, resident director, Horizon Hall <\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Expanding your horizons<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gebiremichael encourages others, especially first-generation students like herself, to adopt a similar attitude. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake every opportunity you get,\u201d she said. \u201cI was so shy, but I expanded my horizons and tried new things.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And ever the optimist, she added, \u201cIt might work out! No matter what happens, you\u2019re gaining experience.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2026 Chancellor\u2019s Medalist recognized for turning adversity into opportunities to\u00a0connect, serve and uplift others.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":34166,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_is_archived":false,"_archived_contact_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[202,211,200,204],"tags":[],"school":[419,420],"class_list":["post-34165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-news","category-honors-and-awards","category-profiles","category-students","school-school-of-ias","school-school-of-nhs"],"acf":{"related_links":{"toggle_visibility":false,"link_1":"","link_2":"","link_3":"","link_4":"","link_5":""},"highlight_box":{"toggle_visibility":false,"title":"","content":"","button":"","button_style":"angled-purple-button","button_screen_reader_text":""},"contact_type_1":{"toggle_visibility":true,"contact_title":"","email":"","phone":"","box":"","address_line_1":"","address_line_2":"","location":""},"contact_type_2":{"toggle_visibility":false,"contact_title":"","email":"","phone":"","box":"","address_line_1":"","address_line_2":"","location":""},"social_media":{"toggle_visibility":false,"facebook_url":"","instagram_url":"","linkedin_url":"","twitter_url":"","youtube_url":""},"blog_archive_sidebar_visibility":false},"yoast_head":"\nAn eternal optimist\u00a0 - 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