Callie Allen

Callie Allen has been in the labor and delivery realm of healthcare for almost nineteen years where she has been a nurse for fourteen years. She worked in level 1 trauma center emergency departments, with low-risk and high-risk OB, and she spent a year in level 4 NICU. Nothing has changed her love of working in labor and delivery.

In 2019, Callie and her family moved to Spokane Valley, Washington to be closer to her extended family and only sister. In her new home, she discovered the world of union nursing. Within the units she worked in, she took on leadership roles and gained the confidence to follow her lifelong dream of becoming a midwife.  

Soon after graduating from WGU, Callie applied to Frontier Nursing University and will start her program in October. 

“My ultimate goal is to be an agent of much-needed change in the world of maternal health. I hope that the knowledge and skills I will gain in my ongoing educational journey will help me provide respectful, equitable, and safe healthcare for all birthing people in the future.” 

Jared Hughes

Born and raised in McMinnville, Oregon, Jared Hughes grew up in a single-parent household. Ever since he was a child, Jared wanted to pursue a degree in higher education as his parents never pursued theirs. 

Eight years ago, Jared won the Education Pathway Student of the Year award for his hard work as an education intern at his high school. He spent time in elementary and middle school classrooms learning what the profession was like. After trying out the College of Business, Jared decided to follow his passion and transferred to the College of Education.  

During his time as an undergraduate, Jared welcomed two children, worked full-time, and made sure that his wife pursued her dream as a mental health counselor. Now, both he and his wife are in graduate programs. 

“Teaching isn't just a career choice for me. I've seen the struggles of poverty first-hand in my life and know what it's like being the student in the classroom who is angry at the world. I pride myself on my ability as a teacher to reach students who walk in those same shoes by creating a safe place for at-risk students to feel at home.” 

Christen Solberg

Christen is a proud Washingtonian who grew up in Snohomish and now shares life with her husband of twelve years, Tommy, their three beloved dogs, and a rotating cast of foster pups. A lifelong animal lover, she also paints pet portraits on the side and can often be spotted cruising around town in her colorful Jeep, Penny Pea.

Before returning to school, Christen worked across a wide range of fields, from property management to coordinating staffing at a nursing home.  She brings a strong belief in the value of all kinds of work and all kinds of people. She is committed to celebrating diversity and equality and proudly stands in support of LGBTQIA2S+ communities. 

Christen can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under two minutes, completed the 206-mile Seattle to Portland bike ride, and read her high school diary at the Salon of Shame. She loves themed parties with sequins, and brings heart, humor, and glitter to karaoke and of course, dog-wrangling.

Christen dedicates this degree to her son, James, who passed away in February. His spirit, humor, and fierce love for life continue to inspire her every day. This milestone is for him and for everyone who's ever struggled, taken the long way around, and kept going anyway.  Life is precious.  Hug your kiddos, love your neighbors, and never take a single moment for granted. 

Natalie Worden-Cowe

Natalie Worden-Cowe is a musician-turned-software-engineer and neurodiversity advocate. She has been featured in major publications including The New York Times, recently spoke as a panelist at Microsoft's Ability Summit, and received the Empowering People with Disabilities Award for her contributions to breaking down barriers in the workplace. 

Receiving her first paying gigs as a teenager, Natalie initially pursued a successful career as a professional french horn player, performing with major orchestras, with Juno and Grammy award-winning jazz musicians, on recordings with pop musicians, and even on national television for major sporting events and TV shows. When an injury ended her full-time music career, she pivoted to tech through WGU where she first earned a Bachelor's in Computer Science and now a Master's in Data Analytics. Her discovery of Microsoft's Neurodiversity Program ultimately led her to her current position, where she has been able to leverage her neurodivergence to provide a unique perspective on problem-solving and innovation.
 

Today, Natalie continues to advocate for neurodiverse voices as a member of advisory committees at Microsoft, serves her local community as a board member of the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra, and is excited to begin mentoring through Cornell Tech's Break Thru Tech initiative this fall. She has returned to playing french horn for personal enjoyment and regularly speaks about career transformation and educational accessibility. Her experience demonstrates that diverse professional backgrounds and non-traditional paths bring essential value to every industry.

Clairese Jorgensen

Clairese Jorgensen has taught fourth grade for the past four years – a role that has brought her growth and joy. This year, teaching became even more meaningful for Clairese as she was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year. 

During her time teaching, Clairese was on the path of completing her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, a journey that was full of challenges and triumphs that she would not trade for the world. 

Clairese has been happily married for twenty-one years and has two children, a daughter starting her junior year at university, and a son starting his senior year of high school.

Samantha Hogue

As a homeschooler, Samantha Hogue attended community college. After maintaining a perfect 4.0, Samantha experienced burnout and withdrew after two years. 

After an almost ten-year gap, Samantha returned to higher education at WGU earning her bachelor’s in business management. During that gap, Samantha worked her way up from retail to administrative assistant and is now an accounting specialist for a land surveying firm. 

Samantha is a passionate believer that the arts change lives and shares the joy of singing and theatre in her spare time with her better half. Her favorite experience was the opportunity to play Mary Poppins. Samantha is honored to be performing the national anthem and would like to dedicate the performance to her grandfathers, who both served our country.