{"id":6665,"date":"2019-03-21T13:14:20","date_gmt":"2019-03-21T20:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/reconnect\/?page_id=6665"},"modified":"2019-04-10T16:03:48","modified_gmt":"2019-04-10T23:03:48","slug":"coug-spirit-leads-couple-to-give-back-to-wsu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/reconnect\/reconnect-2019\/coug-spirit-leads-couple-to-give-back-to-wsu\/","title":{"rendered":"Coug Spirit Leads Couple to Give Back to WSU"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Coug Spirit Leads Couple to Give Back to WSU<\/h1>\n

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Josh and Holly Siler, both 2002 alums, return to the Pullman campus a few times each year, including for at least one Coug football game.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

O<\/span>n a bustling overpass in San Antonio, Texas,<\/strong> a few hundred people, including Josh and Holly Siler, belt out the refrain \u201cFight, Fight, Fight for Washington State.\u201d The group of loyal Cougar football fans sings the WSU fight song as they all march toward the Alamodome, the site of WSU\u2019s Alamo Bowl game in December 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was such a special, memorable experience,\u201d Holly said. \u201cOnce the pregame party shut down, the chanting and singing started. It was so, so much fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Silers, who met as students at WSU in 2000, celebrated the Cougs victory and their wedding anniversary in the historic Texas city.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat whole trip will stick with us for a long time,\u201d Josh said. \u201cIt was a great display and reminder of Cougar camaraderie.\u201d<\/p>\n

The passion the couple has for WSU goes well beyond traveling thousands of miles to watch WSU football. The 2002 WSU graduates met on the Pullman campus after they were set up by friends. They were engaged before graduation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWSU is just sort of who I am, and it aligns with my core values,\u201d Josh said.<\/p>\n

Josh, who grew up on a farm in St. John, Wash., still helps his dad with harvest each summer. Holly, a native of Wilbur, Wash., also grew up on her family\u2019s farm. She participated in special events that involved her interest in fashion and raising food and supplies for people in need in Eastern Washington. This region is where they\u2019re from, and the place they love most.<\/p>\n

Their life-changing experiences at WSU helped lead Josh and Holly to career success and solidified their desire to give back to the institution they love.<\/p>\n

Now approaching their 40s, the couple has made it a priority to help current and future WSU students.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were exploring ways that we could have an impact right away,\u201d said Holly, who was an Apparel, Merchandising, Design, and Textiles major.<\/p>\n

Helping students graduate<\/h2>\n

One way the Silers accomplished this goal was by establishing a fund to help students who may have unforeseen expenses, like family emergencies, that could keep them from crossing the finish line and earning their degrees.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemoving relatively small hurdles, that are huge roadblocks to a student, is important to us,\u201d Holly said.<\/p>\n

In addition to helping those students facing imme\u00addiate need, the couple has also included a bequest to WSU in their estate plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really important to both of us to think about giving opportunities to those who may not otherwise have had them,\u201d said Holly, chief project officer with the non-profit hunger-fighting group Second Harvest. \u201cWe don\u2019t plan to have children ourselves, but we still want to have an impact on future generations. Giving to WSU is a great way to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

While estate planning may still be a few years off for many young couples, the Silers are also proof of how valuable the donation of one\u2019s time can be. Both Holly and Josh serve on the CAHNRS Student Experience Advisory Council (SEAC).<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re at a stage in our careers where we\u2019re hiring recent graduates,\u201d Holly said. “We can contribute by seeing gaps between what employers need and what students may be learning in class. We can tell WSU about those gaps and help students have a leg up as they start their careers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh, who earned a degree in Agribusiness, said he makes SEAC a priority on his calendar working as a senior vice president at Northwest Farm Credit Services. And he feels rewarded helping current students through SEAC and other mentoring in WSU classes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s eye-opening how so little of my time can have such a big impact,\u201d Josh said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s really brought back my commitment to WSU. There are so many ways to give back to this university and affect people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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