Student Spotlight

By Meredith Floyd (IAS '10)

A Lifetime of Learning

We would be remiss if we celebrate our 20th year without introducing a remarkable student, Mrs. Annelies “Frau” Clauson. Annelies joined UW Bothell as a student in the ACCESS program in 1990 when we first opened our doors. She has been taking classes and livening up classroom discussions with us ever since.

For almost 20 years, Annelies has been an inspiration to both students and faculty on campus with her zest for life, desire to learn and respect for education. As a member of the ACCESS program, Annelies enjoys school without having to worry about obtaining a degree or doing homework. She takes one class a quarter to keep active and chooses classes based on the "time of day the class is offered. No early mornings or late nights for me, I’m retired!" Her favorite classes are those that specialize in art, history, philosophy, and world concerns.

"She is a joy to have in class," says JoLynn Edwards, Professor of Art History & Comparative Arts, "so full of life and evincing such deep understanding of the power of education. She is especially fun to watch as she interacts with the young students with whom she has a natural bond. As a former educator herself, she understands the learning process and delights in making connections among the strands of a particular class."

Annelies moved to the United States after World War II. Having experienced oppression under the Nazi regime, she came to the U.S. with education in mind. Upon earning her Bachelor’s of Arts degrees in Business Education and Elementary Education at the University of Washington, Annelies began teaching German at Juanita High School in Kirkland. While there she established what is viewed as one of the most successful German exchange programs in the country.

Under her watch and care, each year students from Clauson's 3rd year high school German class would travel to Germany and live with a hand-selected German family for six months. While in Germany, they would attend school and completely immerse themselves into the culture. "One of the greatest accomplishments for me", says Frau "is that I was able to send 1,600 students (800 from Germany and 800 from America) to a different country." This year, her exchange program will celebrate its 40th anniversary and a reunion is in the works. “I am so excited to see my students!” she exclaimed "It is rewarding for me to see how my program helped to shape their lives and turn them into the wonderful people they are today."

Annelies' love of education and learning has never faltered and she intends to continue her studies as long as possible, "Life is about having fun and learning through experiences; that is how you grow."

UW Bothell is honored to have been part of Annelies’ educational journey over the last 20 years and invites Washington residents, 60 years or older, to join the ACCESS program, tuition-free. For more information, visit www.uwb.edu/registration/access.