Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1477292
A nyone attending Gonzaga University during the past 25 years has a basketball story to share. Jennifer Por- to's might be one of the more interesting. During her sophomore year, the Bull- dogs made the Sweet 16—and the Elite Eight—for the first time. "e whole campus erupted," Jennifer recalls over lunch at Hagerty's. "It was the most positive celebration you can imagine. ere were strangers hugging in the quad." Two years later, as a senior, Jennifer attended all of the team's home games and was determined to see them play in the NCAA tournament. "I decided that I was going to go wherever they went if I could afford it," she says. "So, I stayed on campus for spring break and worked so I could have money to do this." en reality came. "e flight to Memphis turned out to be way too ex- pensive," she says. If not for a local news station, her dream might have ended. "I got a call saying they wanted to do a story about a student going to the game," Jennifer recalls. "e story became 'Get Jennifer to Memphis.' Because of that news story, I got a call that boosters, who did not know me, offered to pay for my airline tickets and hotel room." e Bulldogs again advanced to the Sweet 16, with Jennifer traveling to all three tournament games. Later that year, she completed her undergraduate degree with a major in political science and a minor in music. "When I graduated, I decided I was either going to go to Nashville to become a singer or go to law school," she says. In college, she had performed in musicals, sang the national anthem at sporting events, and even spent a summer as a singing waitress on a dinner cruise boat. "Who knows," she smiles. "We might hear me sing at WAC Night at Climate Pledge Arena next year." Life changes Jennifer ultimately passed on her Nash- ville dreams. A college internship in the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C., guided her toward the law instead. She carried on to Gonzaga School of Law. Upon graduation, she moved to Seattle for her first full-time job at a law firm. Shortly aer arriving in 2004, she joined the WAC. A friend from law school spon- sored her. Jennifer was 25. "I think the first time I came to the Club was for Jubilee," she says. "But also, the HR director at the law firm sent out an e-mail with information about the WAC. I joined because of all the things the WAC offered someone new to Seat- tle. Little did I know that joining would be one of the best decisions of my life." Her Club leadership began in 2005 when she joined the 20s/30s Commit- tee. "Jennifer has a deep passion and total understanding for what the WAC can contribute to someone's life," WAC President & CEO Chuck Nelson says. "Her context of what the Club is all about runs from being a young member through years of commitment as a mem- ber leader on the club governance side." She's volunteered on a WAC commit- tee every year since 2005 and joined the Board of Governors in 2017. "It's been one of the joys of my WAC career to en- gage with her as she's grown through her Club service career," former Chairman Tammy Young says. "When she joined the Board, we developed a friendship and mentoring relationship. It was clear to me immediately that she's a student of everything she takes on. Above every- thing else, Jen realizes the most import- ant part of the Club is the relationships we build here." For Jen, those relationships have an- chored two decades of personal and pro- fessional evolution. "I feel like I grew up here," she says. "I've gone through many life changes, and the WAC is still here for me. I'm thankful to have created many strong friendships with WAC members that have lasted throughout the years. is is a very warm, kind environment. e WAC has always been what I needed it to be." A volunteer at heart Jennifer spent most of her childhood in Portland, Oregon. She comes from what she calls "the smallest little family," with WAC member since 2004 20s/30s Committee 2005–2007 2009–2011 Vice Chair 2009–2010 Chair 2010–2011 How To Committee 2007–2009 Vice Chair 2008–2009 Program Board 2008–2011 In the Know Committee 2011–2014 Jennifer Porto Jennifer with Immediate Past Chairman Jason Hamilton; cooking with WAC friends at a Women of the WAC event this past summer. Continued on page 32 30 WAC Magazine | wac.net