Ms. Velasco-Faga’autau, program support supervisor 2, Student Support Services, Student Affairs, received a 2019 Crimson Spirit Award.

Her nominate praises her as “one of those incomparable individuals on campus that is well-respected by both students and administrators alike.”

Ms. Velasco-Faga’autau, a WSU alumna, serves as Program Coordinator for the Office for Access and Opportunity (A&O) and the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program. The TRIO SSS program is a federally funded program designed to enhance the academic skills of students in order to increase the retention, academic achievement, and graduation rates of participants from first-generation/low-income or disabled backgrounds.

With the growth of the TRIO SSS program and A&O needs, Ms. Velasco-Faga’autau proactively demonstrated leadership in the areas of supervising student staff members, coordinating logistics for multiple search committees, and on-boarding new staff members through Suite Orientations and Safety Orientations. She also provides individual guidance on office policies and procedures, food pantry access for students, and organization of academic, career, and social events for the area. She does all this with a mastery understanding of customer service.

Executive Director Lucila Loera describes Ms. Velasco-Faga’autau’s function as “crucial to the management of our A&O unit, allowing program staff to lend considerable time to the support and development of first-generation students at Washington State University.” Loera also credits Ms. Velasco-Faga’autau with making the Lighty 260 suite feel like home for students and staff alike.

Ms. Velasco-Faga’autau’s notable successes with numerous projects and her outstanding service ethic represent significant contributions to organizational and student growth. She has “distinguished herself through significant contributions in the areas of administrative excellence and exceptional professionalism and compassion for all WSU community members.”