Entertainer, student, influencer, Indonesian, son and fighter — these are just a few of the words Bilal Hasan ’23 uses to describe himself. 

Since graduating from the School of Nursing & Health Studies at the ����vlog��Ƶ, Hasan has been fighting professionally in mixed martial arts. 

He is currently the Flyweight Champion in the Cage Fury Fighting Championships, but his dream is to soon become a champion in MMA’s largest promotion, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. 

It’s a dream within punching distance. 

Growing up in martial arts

Hasan has been competing in martial arts since the age of five, starting with Taekwondo. Although he won gold medals in major junior events such as the U.S. Open and competed for Team USA at the Junior World Championships, he admits that he got off to a rocky start. 

“When I started martial arts, I sucked at it,” he said. “I would lose every single tournament. I constantly lost and lost, and I think the reason I lost was because I thought too much about what people thought about me and how I looked. I let the pressure get to me.” 

Hasan said he has learned over time to embrace the pressure, something he believes is leading to his success now in MMA. 

“I’ve realized that a lot of people try to block out the audience and their surroundings, but not many people can embrace it. One of the sayings that I say to myself is that ‘the pressure is a privilege.’ 

“It’s a huge privilege because not many people are able to be in this position.”

Finding success in the cage

After he graduated in 2023, Hasan began fighting in MMA professionally, training out of Charlie’s Combat Club in Everett, where he is also a coach.  Fighting in the CFFC, Hasan is the undefeated Flyweight Champion. He says he thrives during his fights due to his love of being an entertainer. 

“I love to put on a show,” he said. “One of the people that I’ve been obsessed with ever since I was a young man is Michael Jackson — not only in terms of his music but also just the way he portrayed himself and how he performed. I feel like no one else had his aura.” 

I just go in there and try to have as much fun as possible, and one thing I tell myself is that there’s literally nowhere else I’d rather be in that moment.

The adrenaline of beginning an MMA fight “is unlike anything in the world,” said Hasan. 

“I just go in there and try to have as much fun as possible, and one thing I tell myself is that there’s literally nowhere else I’d rather be in that moment,” he explained. “I’m at home when I’m inside that cage. I get to fully be free and fully express myself while everyone is watching. And I just feel so grateful for that exact moment.” 

Despite his love of fighting and entertaining, Hasan admitted that when he first steps into the cage, the absurdity of what he’s doing does enter his mind and for a moment he wonders, “What the hell am I doing here?!” 

Building a personal brand

Hasan was born in Hawaii and grew up in Mukilteo, Washington. Still, he has a large connection to the country his family calls home — Indonesia. And as Hasan has grown in success, he has amassed a large following there. 

This has added extra pressure to his career because he now has a whole country watching him, but he has chosen to embrace it. “I know they’re watching my every step,” he said. “So, I want to make sure that I’m the best version of myself that I can be.” 

One way he is embracing his popularity is by focusing on building up his personal brand. Unlike other sports, such as soccer and basketball, MMA fighters need to manage their own careers, including sponsorship deals, something Hasan is still learning about. “I didn’t want to necessarily classify myself as an influencer and fighter,” he said, “but nowadays you have to in the mixed martial arts world.” 

Recently, to try to capitalize on his success, Hasan traveled to Indonesia to work with sponsors. The reception he found there was unexpected. 

“It felt like I was a celebrity. Everywhere I’d go, three or four people would want pictures with me,” he recalled. “It was like nothing I ever imagined.”

Studying health at UW Bothell

For someone who makes a living fighting, Health Studies might seem like a strange major, but Hasan’s motivation was to learn more about the human body and how to take care of it in the best way possible. 

Hasan was training full-time while attending college, and he said the experience helped him to learn how to balance the different areas of his life effectively. His main takeaways from UW Bothell centered around the importance of community and how to be a good student — which has proven useful in his professional life where he does a lot of reading, journaling and self-analysis. 

I’m still a student at the end of the day. That’s why I love mixed martial arts so much — because there’s something to learn every single day.

“Being a good student, you have to be locked in. You have to have a routine,” he said. “I’m still a student at the end of the day. That’s why I love mixed martial arts so much — because there’s something to learn every single day.” 

As a recent graduate, Hasan said the advice he would give to current students and new alumni is to build a solid community for support. 

“You are who you surround yourself with,” he said. “Find a good group of people that are just going to help you progress in whatever you want in life.” 

A future filled with success

While Hasan is already a success in combat sports, his goal is one day to be a UFC champion. He said it is only a matter of time before he gets invited to fight in the promotion. He also realizes that he won’t be able to compete forever, so his long-term goal is to open his own gym in Indonesia. 

Hasan may already be a recognized champion, but he said he is still working on improving himself every day — and he attributes his success to the positive effect of pursuing martial arts. 

“I think without martial arts I wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in today,” he said. “I think martial arts have given me the ability to analyze myself constantly, because to get into the cage and be the best fighter possible, you need to be the best person possible outside of the cage — not even just in terms of martial arts but also my relationships in life, how I am as a son and how I am as a coach in my gym.

Without martial arts, I don’t think I would be the best version of myself.

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“I was part of the AVID program in high school,” Vorn said. “It opened my eyes to what college could mean — not just in terms of income but in what kind of life I could build.”

That drive led her to UW Bothell, where she embraced the challenges of being a first-gen student. “I didn’t want to waste what my parents had given up,” she said. “So, I made the most of every opportunity. I asked for help when I needed it, and I built strong relationships with people who believed in me.”

A mentor and a moment of transformation

One of those relationships changed everything: Professor Deborah Hathaway.

“She was my sunshine,” Vorn said. “Her classes helped me express myself and find confidence — especially in her voice and movement class. It pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me embrace who I am.”

What started as an academic requirement became a turning point for Vorn. Hathaway’s mentorship helped Vorn build more than just skills — it built a new mindset.

“She taught me that it’s OK to feel uncomfortable,” Vorn said. “That’s often where growth happens.”

From volunteering to a career in science

Vorn’s journey into health and manufacturing began before college. Her first job was at an orthodontist’s office where she had her braces done. What started as a volunteer gig — helping make impressions and putting rubber bands on brackets — became a hands-on introduction to health care.

After college, that early curiosity led her to a role as a Manufacturing Associate at Bristol Myers Squibb, where she now contributes to life-changing treatments on a global scale.

“My background, my culture, and my family — they’re all a part of what motivates me,” she said. “In Cambodian culture, family is everything. And my parents were involved every step of the way in my education.”

Honoring the past, while building the future

At UW Bothell, Vorn learned to bridge her past and future — finding balance between discipline and self-expression, hard work and healing.

“I was taught to be tough and to work hard,” she said. “But college also taught me how to breathe, how to ask for help, and how to grow in ways I hadn’t imagined.”

Now, as a young professional in the biotech industry, she continues to carry those lessons with her — honoring her roots while forging her own path forward.

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Hometown: Seattle, WA

What was your first job?

I was a barista at Starbucks. I met the guy who played Josh (Bradley Whitford) in “The West Wing.” He gave me a $100 tip because it was Christmas!

What springs to mind when you hear the word “impact”?

Healing. There are lots of different threads of healing throughout my life, from my professional career in nursing to my non-professional mountaineering career. Healing has many dimensions. I’ve been lucky to have many opportunities in my life. I encourage people not to be afraid to explore other avenues for healing, whether it’s music, spirituality or something else. Open your heart to love and healing!

What is one of the ways you make an impact on the world?

Each year I go to Lourdes in France and assist with pilgrims there. I help with medical concerns and provide support within the sanctuary, as a member of the L’Association Médicale Internationale de Notre-Dame de Lourdes. This year I will become an official member of the Hospitalité Notre Dame de Lourdes, which was inspired by the Order of Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem. Their job during the Middle Ages was to look after the sick, the poor and pilgrims.

Who has had a big impact on you?

My nursing mentor, Sharon. I think of her professionalism, her competency and her ability to authentically show that you mattered to her.

What motivates you?

My perspective on the world is simple, I like to have fun — that’s important. But I also want the things I do to be impactful, not just for me but for other people. I have a group of kids who are leaving my youth program this year, and I hope they remember me as their mentor and as their coach. I hope that I help influence them to be good human beings — conscientious, responsible and kind.

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Hometown: Kent, WA

What was your first job?

Soccer coach for a Seattle Sounders summer camp.

Why start your own business?

It was the idea of not working a 9-5 my entire life. I want to have fun, I want to travel, and I want to play soccer while not worrying about work!

Why a photo booth?

I wanted to create a business that could expand to different areas and cater to any event. I believed that taking pictures was one thing that everyone does, and it captures memories that last for years.

What has been your favorite event so far?

The very first event we did was for a wedding reception. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but the night was super interactive and fun with the host extending our time by an hour. The vibes were immaculate, and since I didn’t expect anything, it was an event to remember.

Do you have any advice for your younger self?

Be adventurous and take risks. Life is all about taking risks to find yourself and to find what you’re best at.

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