By Nia Wong
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
As the new year begins, students in the University of Washington (UW)’s Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program are starting it with renewed hope and excitement after a transformative $50 million donation eased tuition costs for generations to come. That sense of optimism began taking shape weeks earlier, when Program Director Max Louzon invited students to a gathering in December.
From left, students Esmeralda Marquez, Rachel Wu and Jasmeen Cheema react to learning that their clinical-rotation tuition, about $4,000 to $5,000 per quarter, will be covered by the kindness of an anonymous donor. (Credit: UW Medicine)
“Max told us to dress like we were seeing our grandma and that we would be expected to attend a little conference,” said Rachel Wu, a UW student in her final year of the UW-MLS program.
Wu is among 70 students currently enrolled in the school program hoping to eventually conduct research or work with patient lab tests in hospitals, clinics, and laboratories once she completes her degree, along with fellow classmate Jasmeen Cheema, a fifth-year double major in microbiology and MLS.
“I kind of assumed it was going to be like a networking event, and we would just talk to them, and maybe see why they were donors,” said Cheema.
Coffee and bagels were laid out on the day of the reception on Dec. 1, 2025, but both Cheema and Wu realized the reveal would be much bigger than what their peers had been light-heartedly guessing once they saw media and cameras filling the reception room.
“About an hour and a half in, that’s when the Dean of the School of Medicine explained that we had gotten a huge donation in the program,” said Cheema.
The $50 million gift by an anonymous donor will cover in-state tuition during clinical rotations for the current UW-MLS senior cohort of 35 students and future cohorts for the next 50 years, as well as expand the program enrollment to 100 students over the next 10 years.
“This is huge. There have been people who unfortunately had to drop out of the program, or consider dropping out now and then, applying again when they’re in a better financial situation,” said Cheema.
According to the UW, there is a shortage of medical laboratory specialists, as demand has increased for lab lab services in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.
While Cheema says she gained grants ahead of this donation to fund her education, the first-generation student understands the concerns that come with paying for higher education.
“I have an older sister, but for me and her, navigating college was quite difficult. I guess we didn’t really know what we were doing. And so I feel like this whole time, I’ve just been going with the flow, and I think that’s also kind of why it was exciting to hear about the donation,” said Cheema.
Cheema says her younger sister is considering pursuing an MLS degree and is relieved some of the tuition costs will be covered, potentially for her sibling and for incoming UW-MLS students.
“I’m incredibly happy for my classmates that they were given this donation and an opportunity to be able to spend more time, you know, learning in their clinicals without having to worry,” said Cheema.
Immediately following the announcement, Wu remembers watching some faces turn from shock to tears.
“Especially after seeing all the news about the current administration and the reeling back of funding for education, that kind of news has been getting everybody kind of down in the dumps,” said Wu.
Wu describes this donation as a “beacon of hope” and says it recognizes the behind-the-scenes yet life-saving work she and UW-MLS students aspire to accomplish.
“I really just want to be able to help physicians help patients, and the more physicians I can help, then the more patients I can help,” said Wu.
“I’m forever grateful the donor was willing to help us expand this program. It makes us feel appreciated. Honestly, it just feels really great and I’m just very happy that people still care.”