Ridgway Scholar Spotlight: Liyat Shenkute, ‘26

Liyat Shenkute is a junior in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Seattle University. Born and raised in Washington, Shenkute thrives in the outdoors, spending her free time hiking, climbing and backpacking—activities she also leads through Seattle University Recreation. Her love for nature and wilderness medicine is what inspired her to pursue a career in nursing, particularly in emergency and critical care.

Shenkute chose SU for its small class sizes, holistic approach to education and leadership opportunities, all of which have empowered her to grow as a leader. “Focusing education around developing leaders has been an amazing opportunity, because it has given me a sense of independence, giving me tools to be responsible and authentic, while most importantly, helping [students to] connect with one another,” she said.

Throughout her time at SU, Shenkute said “I’ve grown to understand the inequities and disparities that individuals face in our local community, and I’ve become passionate about getting involved and learning about how I can make our community stronger and supportive.”

In her Ridgway project "University Camping Equipment Renovated for Houseless Individuals in the Greater Seattle Area," Shenkute seeks to repurpose and repair damaged camping gear from Seattle University’s outdoor program to provide essential shelter to houseless individuals in the community. The project will transform tents, sleeping bags and other outdoor gear into life-saving resources for those struggling to stay warm and safe on the streets. Partnering with the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank, which serves over 140,000 people annually, Shenkute’s project will help address the lack of donated shelters for houseless individuals.

After graduation, Shenkute plans to work in critical care as a bedside nurse and later pursue further education focused on advancing health equity. Through her studies and experiences, she is dedicated to making a lasting difference in both health care and her community.