Provost's Staff Gives for Students

Melinda Assink, executive assistant to the Provost, takes a very supportive and personal approach to WWU Give Day every year—she asks the student employees in the Provost’s office what clubs, teams, departments, programs, or scholarships they would like to support and she donates in their names to those funds. 

“I find out what they are passionate about. I typically give to four groups,” she said.

Assink says the idea was an epiphany she had one day. “The two student employees I started doing this with were Edward Kiolbasa, WWU Cross Country Team, and Hannah Okotcha, WWU National Society of Black Engineers.”

This year, Assink is giving in honor of biological anthropology major Abby Seay (anticipated graduation in 2025), whose area of interest is the Outdoor Center and political science and anthropology double major Dibora (Della) Markos (anticipated graduation in 2025-26), whose is passionate about The Blue Group and the Black Student Union.

The students and very honored for the investment in their interests. “I love doing it, and it’s meaningful for them,” Assink said.