OFFICE OF ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENTCrimson Community Grants

Damon Smith

Damon is a graduate student from Lake Chelan, Washington who is studying Political Science and is interested in Judicial Politics and Law. In the future, he hopes to become an educator or run for political office.

Damon is one of the many students at WSU who has received Cougar Community Grants funding to buy technology for educational purposes.

“I think I heard about CCG on Facebook. I applied early in the Fall and was lucky enough to get a $1000 grant to buy a laptop.”

“It would have been difficult if [CCG] wasn’t around. At the time, I was let go from my job at the Chinook because of the pandemic. I was in a really tight position and was not able to afford a new laptop.”

“The laptop that I had was pretty much broken. I thought I could fly by without needing that much technology because most graduate studies involve printing out stuff, having discussions, and reading, but with everything shifting to a more cyber world, I needed a new laptop that could sustain this type of environment.”

Applying was simple and quick.

“I saw that I had a need, and applying was super easy. I got contacted and it went through my financial aid. Someone talked to me afterwards, as a follow up.”

If you need help, reach out to your community and find resources.

“I always tell people this, and I’ve done it for awhile. If you’re in a position where you need help, the worst they can say is no, and there’s no downside to it.”