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Malik Standley is no stranger to hard work. Like many Western students, he works to support his education, and has been employed at almost every restaurant in downtown Bellingham. He believes in working hard and studying harder, but his road to a �������� education has had a few bumps.

A native of Spokane, Standley came to Western for its sense of community, small class sizes, and beautiful surroundings.

“I like it here because of the ocean. I feel like it’s the breath of the planet, and I love being close to it. It gives life to this town, along with all the wonderful nature everywhere.”

His older brother—the first in their family to go to college—was a role model, excelling in school and setting a high bar. Standley didn’t want to let him down.

But he struggled. Although he had the capacity to succeed at Western, he felt adrift and decided to take a break. He left school to work on a fishing vessel in Alaska. That summer, battling the relentless schedule and dangerous conditions of commercial fishing, he found himself longing for Western.

“Alaska was a wake-up call. You can’t slack on a commercial fishing boat. It was a no-excuse environment I wasn’t used to.”

After a year at Whatcom Community College, Standley returned to Western with stronger grades, new determination, and a desire to push himself. He switched from rowing to rugby, buckled down with his schoolwork, and received his first scholarship—the Bowman Family Distinguished Scholars in Leadership scholarship. The scholarship provided not only financial support but also a renewed sense of purpose.

“The more you see what the working world is like, the more you appreciate school.”

Standley has embraced his leadership courses, nurturing his natural ability to take initiative and inspire those around him.

“My favorite class so far has probably been Leadership Studies 450. Leading a class is a really fun experience. I also love Calculus II with Seth Nuckolls. He’s a great professor who just tells it like it is.”

With just one more class before officially declaring his major, Standley is on track to study computer science. His interests range from cybersecurity to game development.

“I really want to be a game developer. I love coding and programming, but I also love art,” he says. “I’m not a robot—I love music and theater too.”

Balancing creativity and technology takes a kind of leadership that Standley is ready for.

��������'s 10th annual Give Day is April 24, 2025

Scholarships help students like Malik overcome challenges and stay focused on their futures. Your support makes these journeys possible. This �������� Give Day, invest in students and their dreams.