Katy Cook, 2L, Named to the Husky 100

The Husky 100 is an honor that recognizes students who are taking their education beyond the classroom and making a difference on campus, in their communities and for the future. This year, Katy Cook, 2L, has been named to the Husky 100.

For the past 10 years, this program has recognized the outstanding work and achievements of students on all three University of Washington campuses who are making the most of their Husky Experience, said UW Provost Tricia Serio in the April 21 announcement. “The Husky 100 include undergraduate, graduate and professional students who have founded start-ups, created artwork, served as mentors, conducted research and volunteered for nonprofits. They work on our campuses, in our communities and for local businesses. They are leaders and innovators.”

The daughter of an immigrant domestic worker, Cook recognizes that labor exploitation and injustice against immigrant communities are deeply intertwined. At 17, she began organizing by participating in immigrant justice actions. Then, while studying at Florida International University, Cook organized with Florida Student Power Network’s Migrant Justice Committee and worked for a Miami-Dade County Public Schools Board member to advance equity in the school system. As a legal assistant at a criminal appeals firm, Cook witnessed how the legal system uniquely burdens marginalized communities seeking justice and relief. With her experiences and education, Cook is committed to empowering immigrant workers while working to eliminate the systems that allow the exploitation and abuse that they face. In 2024, she was named a Peggy Browning Fund Fellow, working at the Equal Justice Center.

“As I work towards becoming the first attorney in my family, I am honored to be included in the Husky 100,” Cook said in a statement. “As a first-generation Venezuelan-American, low-income student, and first in my family to pursue higher education, I strive to honor the strength and benevolence of my mother’s sacrifices as an immigrant and the resilience and beauty of my Miami community. At UW, my work in the Immigration Law Clinic, learning from professor Georgina Olazcon Mozo, has shaped my understanding of what it truly means to be a trauma-informed, client-centered lawyer: someone who creates a space of safety and humility and empowers clients to be their authentic selves in a system that criminalizes their existence. Grounded in my lived experiences, I’m committed to building a world where rights, dignity, and humanity are not dictated by borders, defined by discrimination, or treated as negotiable privileges—siempre lucharé por mi comunidad.

Please join us in congratulating Cook and celebrating the rest of the Husky 100 across the UW.