By Douglas Esser
Cynthia Yee’s five children are all University of Washington graduates, current or prospective students.
Her friend, Toni Hartsfield says, “I admire her for her dedication to education and her devotion to her family.”
Photo: Cynthia Yee, left, and daughter Hannah Wong. (Kristian Gorman photo)
The Bothell family suffered the loss last year of husband and father Yiu-Tak “Patrick” Wong, who shared Cynthia’s belief in the value of education for their children — especially at a University of Washington campus.
“We know University of Washington is a really good school and provides a great education to the children,” says Cynthia. “I think this is the road of success — to go to UW.”
Esther Wong was first. The 2013 grad from University of Washington Bothell in society, ethics and human behavior works in a law office.
Hannah Wong is a 2016 UW Bothell grad in culture, literature and the arts. She plans to pay off student loans then hopes to attend grad school in art history for a career at a museum or gallery.
Katie Wong and Michael Wong are both completing their first year at University of Washington in Seattle and are deciding on majors. Hannah says Katie is interested in gender, women and sexuality studies. Michael is thinking about a major in law, societies and justice.
The college path seems clear for younger brother Kyle who is a junior at Inglemoor High School. It's safe to say that a University of Washington admission application is in his future, and his mother says she is hoping it will be to the Bothell campus.
The children decide on their own whether to attend the UW in Seattle or Bothell.
“There’s friendly competition but at the same time there a mutual understanding of things, especially at finals week,” says Hannah.
The family also has a lot of UW gear, says Cynthia, which they often wear on Fridays.
Cynthia says her parents valued education and sent her to the University of Saskatchewan. She moved to Seattle to join her husband and now works at UW Bothell as a fiscal specialist.
"What else is better than education?” she says.
This photo is Cynthia Yee’s screen saver. l-r: Kyle Wong, Michael Wong, Esther Wong, Cynthia Yee, Katie Wong, Hannah Wong. (courtesy photo)
