10 Years, 1000+ Students: a legacy of life-changing access
By Britt Board
Assistant Director of Communications
This year, Pacific Lutheran University marks 10 years of the 253 PLU Bound Scholarship. This full-tuition scholarship program has transformed the lives of more than 1,000 Washingtonian students (and counting!) since its launch in 2015.
As a regional-serving university where most first-year students come from within Washington, PLU advances its mission through scholarships that open doors to higher education. These awards remove financial barriers, support local students, and provide the resources they need to build brighter futures in their local communities.
For Caden Metje ’27, a dual-degree physics and engineering major, the scholarship has been life-changing. “This scholarship has had a profound impact on my time at PLU,” Metje says. “As someone fully responsible for funding my own education, college can feel overwhelming. But this scholarship changed that. It’s not just financial aid — it’s a constant reminder that I’m not alone in this journey. It feels like someone is in my corner, rooting for me to succeed.”
It’s a constant reminder that I’m not alone in this journey. It feels like someone is in my corner, rooting for me to succeed.
Funded through a combination of PLU, state, federal, and College Bound scholarships, the 253 PLU Bound Scholarship provides full tuition to eligible Washingtonian students who have fulfilled the College Bound program requirements and earned a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Over the past decade, this scholarship has expanded access to higher education for students who might not have been able to afford college. This support ensures that cost is not the deciding factor in who can earn a PLU degree and pursue their goals.
BY THE NUMBERS
10 years of impact.
are first-generation college students
current 253 PLU Bound Scholars
live and work in Pierce and King Counties after graduation
higher graduation rate than the overall PLU average
TOP MAJORS
Nursing, Business, Psychology, Biology, Computer Science
From Campus to Community
Joanna Morales ’19, a sociology graduate with a minor in Hispanic studies, is one of those 1,000+ students. Now a law school graduate and legal advocate for immigrants, youth, and families at Legal Counsel for Youth and Children in Seattle, she credits the scholarship with making her education, and her career, possible.
“The 253 PLU Bound Scholarship changed my life by opening the door to my PLU experience,” Morales says. “It gave me a financial head start, allowing me to choose my path, graduate, and pursue my law career advocating for others. I’m inspired each and every day by the opportunity to serve and uplift my community.”
Gisel Perez ’24, a nursing graduate, says the scholarship gave her not only an education but also peace of mind.
“Thanks to the 253 PLU Bound Scholarship, along with other scholarships, I was able to graduate completely debt-free — a privilege I know not everyone has,” Perez says. “This financial freedom allowed me to focus on preparing for my nursing licensure exam with confidence, and I’m proud to say I passed and am now starting my career as a home health nurse.”
Her story is one of many showing how 253 Scholars turn educational opportunity into community impact.
A legacy of opportunity
Ten years in, the stories of 253 Scholars like Metje, Morales, and Perez illustrate the power of investing in students and the ripple effects of those investments. When PLU students thrive, our Washington communities do too. The 253 PLU Bound Scholarship supports the development of leaders, problem-solvers, and engaged community members who make that vision a reality.