Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways recognized among top local projects by Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County

The University of Washington Tacoma’s Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways program was named one of the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County’s “Excellent 10,” an annual recognition of projects making a meaningful impact on the region’s economic growth.

The university received the award during the Economic Development Board’s Annual Meeting on March 24.

“The Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways is a powerful example of how collaboration can turn vision into impact, making it a clear choice for one of this year’s Excellent 10 Awards,” said Michael Catsi, President & CEO of the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County. “This program stands out for its ability to directly connect students to in-demand careers while aligning education with the real workforce needs of our region. By bringing together higher education, public agencies and community partners, it is building a diverse, homegrown talent pipeline and strengthening the foundation for long-term economic vitality in Tacoma-Pierce County.”

The Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways provides students with hands-on experience working on municipal projects in Tacoma city departments, helping them prepare for engineering careers close to home. The program was established through a partnership between UW Tacoma’s School of Engineering & Technology, the City of Tacoma’s Tacoma Public Utilities and Tacoma-based education nonprofit Degrees of Change.

“At UW Tacoma, we’re committed to preparing students not just for their first job, but for a lifetime of making a difference in their communities,” said UW Tacoma Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange. “The Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways shows what’s possible when we work with local government and community organizations to connect our students with real-world learning opportunities. We are grateful to the Economic Development Board for recognizing this powerful partnership, and we look forward to working together to strengthen the future growth and vitality of the South Sound.”

Since welcoming its first cohort in January 2025, the Strickland Fellowship has provided 17 students with hands-on experience through job shadowing, guided tours of City of Tacoma facilities and mentorship with city staff. Multiple early program graduates have already received job offers from Tacoma Public Utilities, showing how the program is helping to build a local pipeline for STEM careers.

The program was formally named last August in honor of Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, whose leadership as mayor of Tacoma helped shape its vision.

To learn more about how the Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways is preparing the next generation of local engineers and supporting Tacoma’s workforce goals, visit tacoma.uw.edu/stricklandfellowship.