Meet Mackenzie Crow, zoology student and WIGA Scholarship Recipient
Mackenzie Crow is a member of the Suquamish Tribe, a zoology student at Washington State University, and a two-time recipient of the Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA) scholarship. In a conversation earlier this month, we asked Mackenzie about the importance of education, her career goals and what it means to be a WIGA Scholarship recipient.
Q: You’re in your junior year at WSU, studying zoology. Can you tell us why you chose this major?
I have known since I was a kid that I wanted a career where I can help and make a difference. I was lucky to grow up in an area where we could take field trips to nearby zoos and I think that’s where my initial love for zoology came from. I’ve always been fascinated by exotic animals like sloths and red pandas, so when it came time to pick a major, I knew zoology was for me.
Q: What are your career goals?
My main career goal is to become a zookeeper at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. That’s where my initial love for this work began. I hope to one day work with large exotic animals like cheetahs, elephants and red pandas. I want to learn everything there is to know about these animals and use my knowledge to educate others. I want to make a difference by teaching people how threats like climate change and unlawful hunting practices are affecting wild animals, and what we can to do help protect them.
Q: How do you hope your work in conservation will benefit your community or the environment?
Once I have been a zookeeper for a while, I would like to transition into wildlife conservation and research. I grew up on a coastal reservation, where I went crabbing with my family. Over time, I have seen the crab population decrease, and I know it’s not just crabs, and it’s not just happening here in Washington. Certain animal populations are decreasing all over the world, on land and in the ocean. Research into why and what can be done is critical, especially to tribes that rely on them for a large portion of either income or diet.
Q: Why is higher education important to you? How has your heritage and culture has influenced your educational goals?
I come from a place where not many people in the past had the opportunity to get a higher education. I was surrounded by amazing, loving people who told me to dream big and taught me how important it is for there to be more Native American representation, especially in places where historically there hasn’t been much at all. By getting my degree, I’m honoring those who encouraged me to achieve what they didn’t get to.
I was fortunate to have some amazing role models growing up—my mom and sister both have higher education degrees. I want to continue that legacy and be a good role model for my younger sister, cousins and other kids in my community. I think it is important to be a good leader to show those younger than me that getting a higher education and achieving your dreams is possible.
Q: What role has the WIGA Scholarship played in your educational journey?
The WIGA scholarship has played a huge role in my educational journey. Because the funds are unrestricted, I can use them to pay my rent or purchase textbooks and school supplies. It is no secret that college is hard and stressful, so I am grateful to not have to stress about money on top of that.
I was fortunate to study abroad with a program called Semester at Sea, taking college classes on a ship with over 500 other students and traveling to ten different countries. The WIGA Scholarship Program helped make that possible. I will be forever grateful to WIGA and everyone who helped me continue my education while being able to see the world and experience different cultures.
Q: Lastly, what has been one of the highlights of your zoology education so far?
During my second year at WSU, I took an animal science class in which I learned about and then worked with animals like cows, sheep, horses and deer. It was my first real, hands-on experience, and it solidified that zoology is what I want to do.
Then, during my study abroad on Semester at Sea, I went on two safaris in Kenya and South Africa and I got to see real, wild, exotic animals. Seeing elephants, lions, giraffes and rhinos was an eye-opening experience—I was even given the most amazing opportunity to pet a cheetah! It has easily become the top highlight of my zoology education and really showed me that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.