Student Feature: Go forth, and conquer
By Andy Orr, program manager, BAS in Software Development, November 17, 2017
While earning his bachelor’s degree in software development at Green River College, Brandon Degarimore maintained a stellar grade point average, twice qualified for a scholarship from the National Science Foundation, and received a Distinguished Scholar award at graduation.
Ask him about his journey as a college student and Degarimore is likely to mention his favorite catchprase: go forth, and conquer. It’s become a personal motto that neatly crystallizes the mindset of hard work that has propelled him to success in the workplace.
These days, Degarimore embodies technical excellence in his current role as a systems engineer at Washington state’s largest credit union, BECU. Known for its values-based banking practices, BECU also gives employees paid time off to volunteer in the community — a perk Degarimore is using this academic year to give back to his alma mater.
As a volunteer, Degarimore visited Green River earlier this week to deliver an employment readiness talk to new software development students. He offered tips for searching for an internship, discussed practical resume hacks, and stressed the importance of practicing interviewing and whiteboarding on a regular basis.
As a Green River alum, Degarimore’s message resonated with students. Faculty and staff also enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect and hear about life as a systems engineer at BECU.
In the coming weeks, Degarimore will also return to the classroom as an industry consultant. In that role, he will advise senior-level students who are completing the capstone phase of their degree program.
On behalf of Green River’s software development program, thank you Brandon for volunteering your time and energy to make an impact in the lives of local students. Your service offers a powerful example of BECU’s values at work in the community!
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