Meet Hailey Hopkins. In early March, Hailey received exciting news – she was accepted to the University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, and a week later, Hailey was named to Washington’s All-Academic Team for her academic achievements. “It was an exciting time for me and my family!” she said. 

A current Eastmont High School senior, Hailey joined Running Start at Wenatchee Valley College as a Walking Start student in the summer of 2024. Walking Start is a part of Senate Bill 5670 passed in 2024 that allows for high school rising juniors to begin taking up to 10 college credits prior to entering the 11th grade. “I wanted to experience a college environment while I was in high school,” Hailey shared. She credits Running Start and her professors with making it an “easy transition.”  

Hailey looks forward to starting at UW this fall and through Running Start, will be able to focus on computer engineering classes thanks to the college credits she earned at WVC. “By joining [Running Start], I was able to gain college experience and credits so I could transfer to a four-year program.” 

Hailey also experienced another benefit of the program: “Running Start helped me get ahead and save money on college.” Thanks to her initiative and experience taking college credits through Running Start, she will begin at UW as a sophomore. 

With a passion for math and science, Hailey is part of WVC’s Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program, and works as a math tutor in the STEM Tutoring Center in Wenatchi Hall. “I enjoy helping others succeed in the courses I once took,” she said. 

When asked who inspired her during her time at WVC, Hailey was quick to name MESA Director Rosana Linarez. “MESA helped me have a community, and Rosana has been a huge help,” Hailey said. “She wants us to dream big and push ourselves. As MESA students, we relate to each other since we all know what we want to do in STEM, and we help each other get there.” 

Hailey is grateful to professors like Dr. Derin Wysham and Christa Cacciata, who teach math, and Dr. Jim Lin, who teaches physics. “I think I’ve taken every math class at WVC!” Hailey said with a laugh. She is excited to take what she’s learned and apply it to pursuing a computer engineering career to help others, and she hopes to one day return to the Wenatchee Valley where she grew up to make a positive impact in the community she calls home. 

“I always knew that I wanted to pursue computer engineering as both a degree and career, and the Computer Engineering degree in UW’s Allen School was my dream program!” Hailey said. Her interest stems from the time she and her family spent in a hospital while her brother was being treated for leukemia. Seeing how technology could help advance treatments in healthcare inspired her to one day make a difference as a computer engineer working in hardware or software.  

Her brother and family are excited for where Hailey's education will take her as she prepares to graduate from Eastmont and WVC in June. Hailey’s family has inspired her to succeed every step of the way. “I’d like to thank my parents for their support throughout my academic journey. If not for them, I wouldn’t have been able to get where I am today,” she said. 

As to the future, Hailey is open to the possibilities before her and the professional opportunities she will have in Seattle through internships and jobs. 

“I’m grateful for all of the opportunities that WVC has provided me,” Hailey shared, “and I’m proud of how far I’ve come.”