Warren "Wawa" Snipe, '94

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Alumni

Philadelphia, PA

Wawa arrived with no sign language—and left with a world stage.

Finding His Rhythm at Gallaudet

Meet Warren “Wawa” Snipe, ‘94 — a proud Gallaudet University alum who credits his transformative journey to the opportunities he found here. When Wawa first arrived, he knew nothing about sign language, but thanks to the JumpStart program, he quickly advanced from a complete beginner to a confident communicator.

Wawa embraced every opportunity that came his way—from being a part of the Gallaudet Dance Company to becoming a member of the Wild Zappers, the first all-men Deaf dance company. His experiences not only shaped his identity but also fueled his passion for entertainment, allowing him to tour the world and share his love for music and performance.

Wawa’s journey is a testament to the power of Gallaudet in nurturing growth, confidence, and connection.

#IAmGallaudet Stories

Explore the stories of a variety of members of our Gallaudet community.

A person sitting in a yellow chair, gesturing with their hands while speaking. The background features the hashtag "#iamGalaudet" in colorful text. There are cameras set up in the foreground, indicating a recording or interview setting.

Lorenzo Lewis

IEI Coordinator & Government with Specialization in Law
Chattanooga, Tennessee

A smiling male athlete wearing a blue and yellow "Gallaudet Bison" sports shirt, with a blurred background featuring the words "iamGallaudet." The atmosphere is positive and energetic.

Cas Mastropaolo, ’24

Alumni
Milan, Ohio

A woman with curly hair and large earrings sits on a stool, smiling and making a hand gesture. She is wearing a mustard-colored top and is positioned in front of a camera setup, with a blurred background.

Melissa Yingst, ’00

Host of Melmira
Los Angeles, CA

A person with shoulder length blonde hair and navy blue polo shirt is sitting and watching another person sign.

Sabina Shysh

Alumni
Belarus and Arizona

The #IAmGallaudet campaign is part of The Gallaudet Promise, our ten-year vision to share the story from many different angles and show that there are many different ways to be deaf. These stories are moving, insightful, and often triumphant. These also reflect the importance of the space Gallaudet has offered to nurture the growth of a broad range of successful members of the deaf, hard of hearing, and signing community.