Scholarship Helps Student Pursue Public Service Career

Eva Khamphouy is looking forward to a career of public service after graduation.

The 20-year-old from Cottage Grove, Wisconsin will graduate this fall with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a double minor in psychology and sociology.

“I hope to go into law enforcement,” says Khamphouy, who has already started applying for jobs.

Her journey to Eastern began when, as a 17-year-old high school graduate, she bravely moved across the county to a new state and community. She didn’t know a soul on campus, but quickly made friends.

“Everyone here is super friendly. There are so many different communities within the greater school,” says Khamphouy, who enjoys going to the gym and attending games and special events.

Because she’s far from home and on her own to pay for college and living expenses, getting by financially can be a struggle. Khamphouy makes end meet by working full time as a homecare provider for a client in Cheney who struggles with dementia.

When Khamphouy was notified last fall that she’d been chosen for an EWURA Golden Eagle Scholarship award –  the first scholarship she’s ever received – it was thrilling.

 “I was so excited. I feel like me putting in all of my work finally paid off. To hear that it was this scholarship – I was over the moon,” she recalls.

Although she is busy juggling work and classes, Khamphouy gives back by mentoring another student who is a freshman just beginning her college journey.

“She’s a criminal justice major, too and she wants to go into law enforcement. So, I’ve been able to help her a lot with this whole process, because I’m going through it right now.”

Khamphouy enjoys the criminal justice program and the professors who teach its courses.

“I’ve gotten to know all of them pretty much. I think that they really care about their students and just the overall, not only academic, but the overall wellbeing of their students, which has been really nice.”

As she packs in classes to reach her goal of graduating this fall, Khamphouy is thankful for the support of the retirees, saying, “This helps so, so much in ways that they would never know.”