Celebration of Excellence

The following awards and recognition were presented during the 2025 Celebration of Excellence Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center Concert Hall:

• Years of Service Recognition
• Arlan Norman Award for Excellence in Student Mentoring (2) - Dr. Melissa Rice, Geology/Physics & Astronomy (Undergraduate Mentor) and Dr. Ying Bao, Chemistry (Graduate Mentor)
• Carl H. Simpson Bridging Award - Dr. Steve Hollenhorst, WWU Peninsulas Initiative
• Excellence in Teaching Award - Dr. Deborah Hanuscin, Elementary Education
• Peter J. Elich Excellence in Teaching Award - Dr. Melissa Osborne, Sociology
• Ronald Kleinknecht Excellence in Teaching Award - Dr. Matthew Seifert, Psychology
• Outstanding Classified Staff Awards - Chris Baker, University Marketing and Elizabeth Heitkamp, Outdoor Maintenance
• Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award - Dr. Grace Wang, Urban & Environmental Planning & Policy
• Outstanding Scholarship Award - Dr. Marco Hatch, Environmental Sciences
• Paul J. Olscamp Research Award - Dr. P. Clint Spiegel Jr., Chemistry
• Philip E. Sharpe, Jr. Community Engagement Award - Dr. Kristin Anderson, Sociology
• President’s Exceptional Effort Awards (8) - Meagan Bryson, Academic Advising & Student Achievement Center; Axel Cichocki, Disability Access Center; Caitlyn Daniels, University Marketing; Deborah Frost, Enterprise Application Services; Monica Jackson, Risk, Ethics, Safety, & Resilience; Katy Potts, University Police; Dr. Christina Van Wingerden, Human Services; Amy Salinas Westmoreland, Multicultural Student Services
• Professional Staff Awards for Excellence - Maggie Feeney, Counseling, Health & Wellness Services; Dina Murphy, Financial Aid; Abby Senuty, Career Services Center; John Thompson, University Communications
• WWU Alumni Outstanding Faculty Legacy Award - Dr. Spencer Anthony-Cahill, Chemistry
• Team Recognition Award - WWU Douglass Day Team (Jenny Forsythe, English; David Schlitt, Western Libraries; Nia Gipson, Multicultural Student Services)
• Recent Retiree Recognition

The ceremony was not livestreamed this year, but a video replay is available at the top of this page for those that were not able to attend. Thank you to everyone who attended in support of your colleagues!