The WAA - Seattle Chapter 1998 and 1999 Scholorship Fund was awarded to Katie Senn, 1998 graduate of Kent High School. Katie is pursuing a career in International Business. She has sent us the following notes.

I am now officially an alum of the University of Wisconsin-Madison! I graduated this past May with a degree in Communication Arts, thanks in large part to the generosity of the WAA - Seattle Chapter.

I am currently in Madison, but will soon be headed back to Seattle. It will be bittersweet leaving my home of the past four years, as I have formed many friendships and enjoyed the various social, cultural and educational offerings of Madison. I am eager to return to Seattle, however, despite the fact that I am scheduled to have knee surgery on August 19th. Once I have returned to Seattle, I plan to start interviewing with companies that are offering positions to teach English in Japan. I have been waiting for the opportunity to go to Japan for quite some time, so that I can improve my fluency, and now seems like as good a time as any! If all goes well I will be heading east after I have recuperated from my surgery. But in the meantime, I have A LOT of packing to do!

So, I just wanted to take the time to thank you all for your support throughout my four years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I look forward to seeing you all at this year’s beer and brat picnic!!

Sincerely,
Katie Senn

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May 26, 2001 Mid-year Report

Summer is finally here, and for the first time, I will be staying in Madison. I'm not sure if I am prepared for the Wisconsin heat and humidity, but I will have to tough it out! I'm taking two classes this summer, Japanese and an Environmental Studies class. My Japanese class meet from 8:30-2:30 five days a week, and my other class meets from 7:00pm-10:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so that should keep me busy! When I'm not in class I will be working at Ancora Coffee Roasters with Sue and George Krug, so if any of you are in Madison, stop on by! Hopefully I will also have time to sit out on the terrace, and enjoy Madison minus a couple thousand students.

In addition, I hope to also visit with family over the summer, and make it to our annual family reunion. My summer schedule will be hectic, but if it means me graduating in May, it's worth it! Other than that, not much is new. I hope you all have a good time in Oregon, rooting for the Badgers!!

Sincerely,
Katie Senn

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March 26, 2000 Mid-year Report

I thought I'd drop you a little note to let you know how things are going this year at UW-Madison. This year has gone by very quickly. We had spring break last week, which offered a much needed release after long nights of studying for midterms. But now I'm back into the swing of things and ready to finish off the school year.

This year I got back into Japanese, taking it both fall and spring semesters. The course I am taking this semester is extremely rigorous, meeting 8 hours per week. I think it is better that way though, because it forces you to stay on top of things, you can't slack in that class! We usually have quizzes twice a week, so between Japanese and my other classes I am kept busy.

Wisconsin athletics has been very entertaining this year as well, as I'm sure you all know. I made it to most of the home football games this year, and I went to a hockey game, a basketball game, and even a wrestling match! (against my will) I didn't make it to Pasadena this year, however, since I had to go home and work. It should be interesting how the football team fares next year without it's star running back.

Anyway, I just thought I'd take some time to drop you a quick note before I get tied up with 12-weeks exam studying. Enjoy the game on the 1st , I'll be in touch!

Sincerely,
Katie Senn

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March 19, 1999 Founders Day Greeting

Greetings from Wisconsin!

I would like to share with all of you, at your Founders Day celebration, how much the scholarship that I received from your organization has helped both myself and my family. Attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which has always been my lifelong dream, has provided me with a unique opportunity to expand my horizons in many ways. There are so many wonderful programs here to choose from! I once again feel like I can be anything I want to be, as so many opportunities are placed within my grasp. The educational environment, as far as I'm concerned, cannot be topped. All of my professors have been very helpful, and regardless of class size, will always take the extra time to help you if you are struggling.

Aside from the academics, I have formed many lasting friendships that have made my time away from home a little more bearable. My roommate and I get along wonderfully, and my girlfriends and I have our weekly rituals such as "Dawson's Creek" night. A couple of my friends are even planning on visiting me in Seattle this summer to see what all the hype is about. I told them that we might have to take a paddleboat back from the airport if it doesn't stop raining soon!

My family, too, is eternally grateful for your support. Your contribution to my education has really helped to ease the financial burden that comes along with having a college age student. I know it was already hard enough for them sending me 2,000 miles away for school, but with the support you've shown us, the load was lightened considerably.

I would like to take this time to thank each and every one of you that made this year possible for me. You, as a community, stood behind me and gave me the opportunity to realize my dreams. The confidence you had in me and your unfailing support has meant more to me than words can express. So I will conclude simply by saying, once again, THANK YOU!

Sincerely,
Katie Senn

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December 27, 1998 Mid-year Report

Upon arriving home this holiday season I just had one thought, "Man is it cold!" But on the other hand, it is really very nice to be home. I'm enjoying home-cooked meals and showers where shoes are not required. So now, from the comfort of my home, I am able to reflect upon my first four months in Madison. For the most part, this can be summed up in three words: FUN, FRIENDS, and yes, FOOTBALL!

Perhaps you're wondering where school fits into all this, in the category of fun? Well, yes.. I've taken a lot away from each of my classes, and, although I haven't received my report card yet, I've assured my parents I've done just fine! I enjoyed all my classes, except for maybe Econ 101. I didn't have any classes really early in the morning last semester, so that was a definite plus. But next semester is a different story. I have Econ 102 at 8:50 AM at Bascom Hall. Could anything be more wrong than that? A nice, early morning , brisk winter uphill hike to Econ (not the most exhilarating class in the world mind you). Course scheduling has turned out to be quite a juggling act for me, as I've discovered that as freshmen, we get what's leftover after the upperclassmen fill their schedules to their liking. It'll be a lot better next year, right ???

Working at Ancora also fits under the category of fun. It's been great working for former Rain City Badger, Sue Krug, at her University Avenue location. I've been working an average of about 15 hours a week. Up to this point, I've been working at the front counter, but when I return from Christmas break I will begin training to be a barista (great experience for when I look for summer work in Seattle). I'm not one to brag, but we do have the best coffee in Madison!

I've also made a lot of new friends since I've been at the UW. In addition to friends and co-workers I've met at Ancora, most of my campus friendships were formed while living in temporary housing at Jorns Hall down on the beautiful shores of Lake Mendota. I'm now in a permanent residence hall, Sellery, where I worked it out so that one of my friends, Krista, and I could room together. Everything is working out well with that arrangement, as we are very compatible. Most of my other friends still live on the lakeshore, so I don't get to see them as often as I'd like to. I really miss the more peaceful, tranquil setting of Jorns, but I guess until you've experienced that highly populated, nonstop party atmosphere of one of those high-rise dorms on busy, noisy Johnson Street, you can't say you've really had that freshman experience! A couple of my friends have cars, so it's been nice to once in awhile take a trip to a `real' grocery store. We're already beginning to make plans to live together somewhere off campus next year.

And last, but not least, there's football. With the Badgers going to the Rose Bowl, there has definitely been a higher degree of excitement on campus. I attended the last three home football games, and let me tell you, there is no where that Badger pride is more evident than at Camp Randall on Game Day. I'm not going to Pasadena, but I'm sure there will be a contingent of ever faithful WAA - Seattle Chapter there to help cheer the team on to victory. It should prove to be a very exciting game, to say the least. As I'm sure you are also aware, the Badgers also have had an awesome Basketball season this year. all the more reason to be proud to be a Badger!

Lastly, I would like to thank each and every one of the WAA - Seattle Chapter for all the generous support you have given me thus far. My Dad and brother, Kyle, had a great time at the picnic and enjoyed meeting all of you. I wish I could have been there, but registration got in the way. My mom thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgia of being back on campus after 25 years. Although many buildings have been torn down or remodeled and new buildings added, the campus still had a very friendly, familiar feel. She toured me around as though she had just been there a week ago and showed me many of her `old haunts'. Next year I should be able to pre- register for the Fall term and will hopefully be able to attend next year's picnic and meet you, too.

I wish you all have a very happy and healthy New Year, and if in your travels, you find your way back in Madison, please drop in for a cup of the best java in Madison at the Ancora. Or, visit me at my dorm (if, you'll excuse the mess and chaos).

Sincerely,
Katie Senn
Rain City Badger, In-training