Last updated: February 11, 2025
Article
Latinx Experiences at Hanford: Michelle Molina

Photo courtesy of Michelle Molina
Many people in the Tri-Cities have origin stories that include migration, dedication to family, hard work and contributions to the community. The origin stories of Latinas and Latinos are no different. The Hanford Latinx Experiences oral history interviews share the experiences of just a handful of the many Latinas and Latinos who have contributed unique skills to the development of the Manhattan Project, to Hanford, and to the Tri-Cities. These stories reflect the lives of many people who helped build a place that hundreds of thousands call home today.
Michelle Molina grew up in Quito, Ecuador. In her interview, she shares memories of living in Ecuador with friends and family as well as adjustments she made in her move to the Tri-Cities as a teenager in 2009. Many of the ways Michelle found community in the Tri-Cities was connecting with other students who had roots outside the United States. ; hHer involvement with the International Club at Hanford High School was a definitive moment in her transition to life in the Tri-Cities. Michelle pursued an education and an eventual career in engineering. After college, she found work at the Waste Treatment and Completion Company as a vit-plant engineer. Michelle has contributed to cleaning up Hanford’s nuclear waste since 2018, is now working for Washington River Protection Solutions, and has found essential support from Women in Engineering—a professional organization committed to promoting women in engineering and STEM.
Listen to audio clips from Michelle’s interview with Drew Gamboa on October 18, 2024.
-
Michelle describes community in Quito Ecuador
Video Player is loading.
Michelle describes community in Quito Ecuador in an interview with Drew Gamboa on October 18, 2024.
- Date created:
- 02/04/2025
-
Michelle describes Quito Ecuador
Video Player is loading.
Michelle describes Quito Ecuador in an interview with Drew Gamboa on October 18, 2024.
- Date created:
- 02/04/2025
-
Michelle moves to the Tri-Cities
Video Player is loading.
Michelle discusses moving to the Tri-Cities in an interview with Drew Gamboa on October 18, 2024.
- Date created:
- 02/04/2025
-
Michelle describes transitioning to the Tri-Cities
Video Player is loading.
Michelle describes transitioning to the Tri-Cities in an interview with Drew Gamboa on October 18, 2024.
- Date created:
- 02/04/2025
-
Michelle describes finding community in the Tri-Cities
Video Player is loading.
Michelle describes finding community in the Tri-Cities in an interview with Drew Gamboa on October 18, 2024.
- Date created:
- 02/04/2025
-
Michelle describes finding community at Whitworth University
Video Player is loading.
Michelle describes finding community at Whitworth University in an interview with Drew Gamboa on October 18, 2024.
- Date created:
- 02/04/2025
-
Michelle talks about pursuing chemistry in school
Video Player is loading.
Michelle talks about pursuing chemistry in school in an interview with Drew Gamboa on October 18, 2024.
- Date created:
- 02/04/2025
-
Michelle becomes an engineer
Video Player is loading.
Michelle talks about becoming an engineer in an interview with Drew Gamboa on October 18, 2024.
- Date created:
- 02/04/2025
-
Michelle describes her initial role at Hanford
Video Player is loading.
Michelle describes her initial role at Hanford in an interview with Drew Gamboa on October 18, 2024.
- Date created:
- 02/04/2025
-
Michelle talks about Latinos at Hanford
Video Player is loading.
Michelle talks about Latinos at Hanford in an interview with Drew Gamboa on October 18, 2024.
- Date created:
- 02/04/2025
-
Michelle gives advice to younger people
Video Player is loading.
Michelle gives advice to younger people in an interview with Drew Gamboa on October 18, 2024.
- Date created:
- 02/04/2025