Making support easier to find: Adrian Restrepo’s ’25 capstone creates campus-wide impact
Before it became a campus-wide project, the idea was simple: make it easier for students to find support when they need it. For communications major Adrian Restrepo ’25, that idea turned into a senior capstone project to support PLU’s Wellbeing Services and Resources (WSR) –…
Three pillars: How service, identity, and community shape social work senior Eric Canel ‘26
When asked what brought him back to school after his military career, Eric Canel ’26 remembers having clarity around his next step. “After serving in the Army, I wanted to continue serving in a different way. Returning to school gave me the opportunity to turn…
PLU Receives Teagle Foundation Grant to launch “Transformative Text Scholars” pilot program for Tacoma and Pierce County high school students
PLU faculty have received a grant from the Teagle Foundation to run a Pilot Program in the Summer of 2026, intended for underserved high school students in the Tacoma and Pierce County areas. The pilot program, developed by Adam Arnold (Philosophy/IHON), Carmiña Palerm (Hispanic and…
How one Lute family turned a birthday into community support
For Ellen (Brotherston) Aronson ’07, the Lute culture of care continues long after graduation. A second-generation graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, Ellen’s PLU connections run deep: her parents met on campus, extended family members are alumni, and she still shows up — at events, through…
PLU Marriage and Family Therapy grads open inclusive practice in Tacoma
On a Friday morning, at a coffee shop where they meet for their weekly “admin day,” Megan Irving ’24 and Kiara Holden ’24 talk all things Bloom Again Therapy , their new private therapy practice rooted in accessibility, identity, care, and community. “It sounds big,…
10 Years, 1000+ Students: a legacy of life-changing access
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…
Student-athlete Ashley Akamine ’25 makes data part of the game
For Ashley Akamine ‘25, college was never going to be about choosing one path. “Seeing how two different aspects of my life — athletics and computer science — come together in meaningful ways has been both exciting and rewarding,” says Ashley, who’s finishing up her…
“My Indigeneity shapes the way I walk in the world”: Paradise Gladstone’s story
Paradise Gladstone ’25 nearly dropped out to become a mortician. That wasn’t the plan when she started at PLU, but between helping raise her younger siblings, working over 30 hours a week, and juggling 16-credit semesters, the idea of switching paths crossed her mind more…
With her son by her side, Zoneice Grose ’25 charts a path of purpose through social work
When Zoneice Grose ’25 walks across the stage at graduation this spring, she’ll have earned far more than a degree. A first-generation college student, a mother, and a dedicated advocate for equity in education, Zoneice’s path to social work was winding, but it all made sense.…
Gracie Hansen ’25 turns a calling into action with a social work degree at 20
From a young age, senior Gracie Hansen ’25 felt a calling to help others. “I chose social work because I truly believe my purpose is to bring hope to the world and make a difference in people’s lives.” Now, as she prepares to graduate with…
Senior Justinpal Singh’s heart for service, science, and creating community space
Looking back four years ago, Justinpal Singh ’25 remembers that he was seeking a university that was more than just a place to get a degree. “I really wanted a university that was not necessarily competitive, but more so encouraging and fostered individual growth,” Justinpal…
Bridging Borders: PLU nursing students gain global health experience in Oaxaca
“I am forever changed by the people of Oaxaca, Mexico. Through direct community engagement, I learned how to meet people where they are and build trusting and meaningful rapport despite language barriers.” – Claire Hindman ’26, PLU Nursing Student What happens when classroom learning meets…