Student Spotlight:
Reese Murphy

First-year mechanical engineering student Reese Murphy is a recipient of Voiland College’s Distinguished Dean’s Scholarship, which provides full tuition and is renewable for up to four years, thanks to generous donor support.

Reese shares her thoughts about her decision to attend WSU and what she is looking forward to in her first year of school.

What does it mean to receive the Distinguished Dean’s Scholarship?

Receiving the Distinguished Dean’s Scholarship made a path I hadn’t really imagined for myself feel possible. I hadn’t expected my plans to change the way they did, but I’m grateful they did. It gave me the opportunity to study at Pullman and see where this new chapter of my life might lead.

Why did you choose to attend Washington State University?

I originally planned to attend WSU Vancouver because it was close to home and more affordable. My path changed when an unexpected opportunity brought me to Pullman. For some reason, something about the campus felt right to me, even though I couldn’t quite explain why. I spent a lot of time overthinking that feeling, but ultimately chose to stay. The more I learned about the opportunities available to me in Pullman, especially in engineering, the more I felt that I had made the right choice.

Why major in mechanical engineering?

I chose mechanical engineering because I found something I hadn’t known I was looking for. My interest in aerospace began when I learned about the engineers behind a Mars rover mission. I was amazed that people could work together to create something that once seemed almost impossible. There was something about seeing what they had built that made me want to be part of that world too. I didn’t know where that feeling would lead me, but I wanted to follow it.

What’s one thing you didn’t know about your major before you came to WSU?

One thing I didn’t realize about mechanical engineering is how many different paths it can lead to. I’ve realized that choosing a major doesn’t necessarily mean choosing one destination. Sometimes, it can simply give you the tools to discover where you want to go.

What do you want to do with your degree after you graduate?

After I graduate, I hope to work in the aerospace industry and contribute to work that helps turn ideas that once seemed impossible into reality. I’m still figuring out exactly where that path will take me, but I want to keep learning until I find the place where I can contribute the most. For now, I’m excited to see where this dream leads me.