Uyanga Erdenebileg, GRC International Student Alumna Gives Back
By International Programs, December 16, 2022
On December 15, 2022 Uyanga Erdenebileg (Class of 2009) visited Green River College because she wanted to give back. Right after she started at GRC in 2008, there was a global economic crisis. Her parents experienced a lot of financial hardship and struggled to keep their daughter in school. In 2008 and 2009, Uyanga, was the recipient of two Foundation Scholarships that made it possible for her to continue her education.
Uyanga also had the good fortune to find a job on campus. She worked at the front desk reception in the International Programs building. This opportunity opened many doors for her. She shared an inspirational moment with current students, about the first day on her new job where she had to put labels on 1000+ welcome envelopes for new students and how the Director of Intensive English told her that what she was doing was the most important job of all. She shared that this taught her to have the determination to treat every job like it was the most important and do it well however menial it was.
"I learned so many skills, especially working in the IP office. I made lifelong friends and am so grateful to GRC and how the people and opportunities shaped me into who I am today. I always wanted to come back and give back. I have had this idea for many years. I told myself that I will do it one day. One day when I am ready, one day when I am financially able etc. Then my Dad passed away and it just hit me that there is no "perfect" one day and I will never be fully ready. So I decided to just do it. I think it's true what they say 'The perfect moment is now'." Uyanga created a scholarship in her father's name.
On her LinkedIn profile, Uyanga wrote:
“I finally had the courage to do something I’ve been meaning to do for a long time, but it’s sad my late father didn’t have the chance to see it.
"Over the course of my educational and professional career, I realized it’s important to always remember where you started and remember the good people who have had a positive influence on your life and helped you come to where you are now. This winter, 13 years later I came back to my home college - Green River College in the small town of Auburn, Washington, a place where it all started, a place where I met my lifelong friends and a place where I grew up. As a small token of appreciation and a way to give back to the community, I’m starting the ‘Erdenebileg Scholarship’ for Mongolian and international students to honor my late father who gave his everything to make sure his daughters got their education. My special thanks to Wendy Stewart the Vice President of International Programs, George Frasier, MBA the Vice President of College Advancement, and others in the GRC Foundation and International Programs office for their support. May the recipients go and accomplish great things and keep our father’s legacy going. Forever. 🙏🏼”
Uyanga Erdenebileg graduated from Green River College in December 2009. She got her Associate's in Business. After doing an OPT year, she transferred to the University of Washington, Foster School of Business where she graduated with a BA in Accounting. After graduating from UW she worked for Deloitte & Touche and for the past 7 years she has been working for Rio Tinto (Oyu Tolgoi mine) in Mongolia. She also had the opportunity to do two postgraduate degrees in Mongolia and the UK. This year she was selected for the prestigious U.S. Government Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship. Only one person is selected from Mongolia each year.
"I truly believe in Green River College's slogan, 'You can go anywhere from here'. My friends from GRC are now top executives working in industries all over the world. When we were attending GRC, we were only 16 and 17-year-olds. We had no idea what the world had to offer and I am so grateful and so happy that I can give back."
