Celebration of Excellence

The following awards and recognition were presented during the 2026 Celebration of Excellence Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 28, 2026 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) - Jeanine Amacher, Chemistry (Undergraduate Mentor); David Hooper, Biology (Graduate Mentor)
• Dean Kitto Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award - Margaret Lobo-Urias, English
• Outstanding Classified Staff Awards (2) - Sue Hutchings, Health & Human Development; Jessie Tanksley, Political Science
• Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award - Matt Roelofs, Economics
• Professional Staff Award for Excellence (3) - AJ Barse, Center for Instructional Innovation; Jenny Spurgin, Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good; Carolyn Mulder, Child Development Center
• Outstanding Scholarship Award - Christina Gutierrez-Dennehy, Theatre & Dance
• Paul J. Olscamp Research Award - Dan Howard-Snyder, Philosophy
• Philip E. Sharpe, Jr. Community Engagement Award - Kate Stevenson, Honors College
• Ronald Kleinknecht Excellence in Teaching Award - Madoka Kusakabe, Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
• Peter J. Elich Excellence in Teaching Award - Betsy O'Donovan, Journalism
• Excellence in Teaching Award - Sarah Jo Monaghan, Theatre & Dance
• WWU Alumni Outstanding Faculty Legacy Award - Christopher Friday, History (Retired)
• President’s Exceptional Effort Awards (7) - Sura Alqudah, Engineering & Design; Nicole Ebersole, University Advancement; John Fauver, Environmental Health & Safety; Rodrigo Gonzalez-Juarez, Multicultural Student Services; Daniel Miller, Facilities Development & Operations; Brian Ross, Facilities Development & Operations; Glen Tobosa, Woodring College of Education
• Team Recognition Award - Student Health Insurance Billing Team
• Recent Retiree Recognition

The ceremony was not livestreamed this year, but a video replay will be available at the top of this page as soon as it's edited. Thank you to everyone who attended in support of your colleagues!