TRiO Student Support & Retention Services

MS 6-3
PO Box 98000
Des Moines, WA 98198-9800

Thursday, January 28, 2016

To Whom It May Concern:
It is my pleasure to write this letter regarding Katie Bates promise as a student affairs
professional. I have supervised Katie for over seven months during her role as a Seattle
University Graduate Intern and recently as the TRiO Interim Program Coordinator. Throughout
this time, Katie has demonsrated care, compassion, and an unwaivering commitment to excel in
her role and to meet the needs of our most vulnerable students.
In her role in TRiO, Katie founded the TRiO Mentor GUIDE program which matches second
year TRiO students to newly enrolled TRiO students as peer-mentors. In order to succeed in this
endeavor, Katie researched other peer-mentor programs across the country to gather promisingpractices. Through her research and ability to connect with other professionals within this field,
she kicked off the Mentor GUIDE program Fall quarter 2015.
As a pilot initiative, she recruited and trained 5 mentors to work with 5 mentees. Through the
challenges of creating a program from the ground up, Katie was reflective and flexibile with her
plan. This has resulted in a more fluid program that has risen to the needs of the students and the
obstacles associated with program development.
In addition, Katie was integral in the success of other components of the TRiO Program
including but not limited to: TRiO Kick Off Event, Highline College New Student Experience,
TRiO Campus Visits and numerous other workshops and activities. Katie goes above and beyond
her role to support the program and our students who are predominatly first-generation and lowincome students. I have witnessed her passion to serve this student population. She speaks to
students with understanding and compassion. She is a strategic thinker and problem solves to
build structures that address student needs. This is evident from the flexibile approach she
incorporated creating the Mentor GUIDE program which required her to continually assess
progress and challenges while scaffolding new modes for programming.
Recently, Katie began her new role with TRiO as the Interim Program Coordinator. She
coordinates core functions of TRiO and co-instructs the TRiO Transfer Foundation Course, a
class that prepares students for the transfer and scholarship application process. She is a natural
speaking infront of students. Students respect her instruction because it is both clear and
descriptive. We have had the opportunity to sit down on a weekly basis to discuss how to deliver
content and meet classroom learning goals. Her inquisitive approach and her ability to ask the
right questions about the class and her other roles in TRiO has contributed to her success. Katie
isnt afraid to ask question and she knows what type of questions to ask, which is an essential
skill to have as a student affairs professional and represents her desire to learn and grow.
www.highline.edu
phone
(206)878-3710, ext. 3303

fax
(206) 870-4834

email
asaechao@highline.edu

It is with these holistic qualities that I am confident Katie will serve as a great addition to any
organization and institutional that is privileged to have her.
Sincerely,

Ay Saechao
Director of Student Support and Retention Services

www.highline.edu
phone
(206)878-3710, ext. 3303

fax
(206) 870-4834

email
asaechao@highline.edu