Presidential Scholar Award

We honor the high achievements of our students through the Presidential Scholar Awards. During Western's Centennial in 2000, President Karen W. Morse instituted the Presidential Scholars Award to honor graduates for their exceptional scholarship and service to the university and community.

These awards are presented annually at Western’s spring commencement ceremonies.

Nomination Process:

Nominees must be graduating seniors who:

Are accomplished scholars;
Have demonstrated success in furthering multicultural programs and activities;
Have achieved levels of service to the community that have benefited their peers, their departments, and the community.

One award will be granted per college (one award per division of Humanities and Social Sciences). The deans will nominate candidates based upon recommendations from the faculty, in accordance with customary college practice.

All nominations must be submitted via the on-line nomination form by 5 p.m. Friday, April 2, 2021. (Please note: the online form is not supported by the Internet Explorer web browser.) Additional information and instructions about the online nomination process is available on the Instruction Page.

Completed nominations will be compiled and submitted for review to the respective nominee’s college by Wednesday, April 6, 2021.

Dean’s recommendations are due in the President’s Office by 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Nominees must qualify in all three categories.

Award/Recognition:

Engraved medallions are typically conferred during commencement, but due to the pandemic, in 2021 they will be mailed to each recipient in early May in order for them to take self-portraits with their medallions for the virtual commencement ceremony. Students who graduate at any commencement during 2020-2021 are eligible, however, award winners are expected to attend the June ceremony.

Announcement of the Presidential Scholar recipients to the campus and the public, and arrangements for the award presentation will be made by the President’s Office.

Please address questions to: Rayne.Rambo @wwu.edu

2019-2020 Presidential Scholars

Navada Aviende Pacheaco - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Ray Garcia - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Cindy Marquina Negrete - Woodring College of Education

Celida Moran - Huxley College of the Environment

Erin Alexandra Smith - College of Business and Economics

Madchen Piper Tolbert - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Ana Uribe - College of Science and Engineering

More information about the 2019-20 Presidential Scholars

Previous Presidential Scholars:

2018-2019 Presidential Scholars

Iris Baijing Hubbard - Woodring College of Education

Kylee Jo Butler - Huxley College of the Environment

Bradlee Thielen - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Breneya Marlene Johnson - College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Social Sciences Division

Jona Paulreti Akelipa - College of Business and Economics

Natasha Pearl Hessami - College of Science and Engineering

Grace Anne Dunbar-Miller - College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Humanities Division

More information about the 2018-2019 Presidential Scholars is available here.

2017-2018 Presidential Scholars

Honoka Tsutsui - College of Business and Economics

Grace Coffey - Huxley College of the Environment

Maria Jose Palacios Figueroa - College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Humanities Division

Dalton Jones - College of Science and Engineering

Emily Stadt - College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Social Sciences Division

Clint Sana - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Phi Le Nguyen - Woodring College of Education

More information about the 2017-2018 Presidential Scholars is available here.

2016-2017 Presidential Scholars

Brittney Nalani Dover - Huxley College of the Environment

Huy Nguyen - College of Science and Engineering

Alexandra Marie Jordan - College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Social Sciences Division

Torrey Holden Yost - College of Business and Economics

Danielle Marie Payton - College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Humanities Division

Katherine Mahalia Mullen - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Sinai Gonzalez - Woodring College of Education

More information about the 2016-2017 Presidential Scholars is available here.

2015-2016 Presidential Scholars

Jasmine Escalante - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Megan Mehan Daley - Woodring College of Education

Dylan Simpson - Huxley College of the Environment

Samantha "Sammy" Loch - College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Social Sciences Division

Rachel Owen - College of Science and Engineering

Lara Sonnen - College of Business and Economics

Aarin Wright - College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Humanities Division

More information about the 2015-2016 Presidential Scholars is available here.

2014-2015 Presidential Scholars

Celina Muñoz - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Sadie Normoyle - Huxley College of the Environment

Evan Rumble - College of Fine and Performing Arts

David Nuqul - College of Science and Engineering

Suzanne Hancock - College of Business and Economics

Brenda Helen McGarrity - Woodring College of Education

2013-2014 Presidential Scholars

Paul Wright - College of Business and Economics

Margaret McGuigan - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Jordan Olivia Richardson - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Bodie Cabiyo - Huxley College of the Environment

Andrea d'Aquino - College of Science and Engineering

Rivka Horowitz - Woodring College of Education

2012-2013 Presidential Scholars

Alyne Sanchez - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Nora Jagielo - Huxley College of the Environment

Jeffrey Hales - College of Business and Economics

Jon Bash - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Ayana Robinson - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Morgan Schurr - College of Science and Technology

María Guzmán - Woodring College of Education

2011-2012 Presidential Scholars

Donald Cheyette - Huxley College of the Environment

Jessica Jones - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Saraswati Noel - College of Science and Technology/Woodring College of Education

Michael Pegis - College of Science and Technology

Reuben Walker - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Sophie Wenzlau - College of Business and Economics

Heather Wrenn - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

2010-2011 Presidential Scholars

Rachael Chapman - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Amy Grambo - Woodring College of Education

Analiesse Isherwood - College of Science and Technology

Josephine Jackson - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Kelliann Kelly - Huxley College of the Environment

Brooke Summerfield - College of Business and Economics

Douglas Weckerly - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

2009-2010 Presidential Scholars

Kristina Brooks - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Courtney Cline - Woodring College of Education

Carly Grayell - Huxley College of the Environment

Benjamin Nelson - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Jennifer Novotney - College of Science and Technology

Catherine Shornick - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Anthony Zackery - College of Business and Economics

2008-2009 Presidential Scholars

Paula Berg - College of Business and Economics

Christina Berger - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Forrest Copeland - College of Science and Technology

Holly Faulstich - Huxley College of the Environment

Ra'Jeanna Foxx - Woodring College of Education

Gina Kim - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Sharde Mills - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

2007-2008 Presidential Scholars

Daryl Allen - College of Business and Economics

Chris DeSisto - Huxley College of the Environment

Stephen Goldrick - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Adria LaMorticella - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Daisy Phillips - College of Science and Technology

Laura Southern - Woodring College of Education

Kelsey Tritt - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

2006-2007 Presidential Scholars

Jennifer Angelosante - College of Science and Technology

Amy Fuhrman - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Miho Kanda - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Sebastian Kohlmeier - College of Business and Economics

Cara Murphy - Huxley College of the Environment

Susannah Scott - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Karen Siverson - Woodring College of Education

2005-2006 Presidential Scholars

Chris Bickert - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Ryan Clemens - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Angelika Herbold - College of Science and Technology

Teizeen Mohamedali - Huxley College of the Environment

Mandana Shoushtari - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Ann Stabbert - Woodring College of Education

Nathaniel Young - College of Business and Economics

2004-2005 Presidential Scholars

Michael Clyburn - Woodring College of Education

Amber Johnson - College of Science and Technology

Jessica Rowley - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Brandi Redfern - College of Business and Economics

Serena Sprungl - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Kathryn Walton - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Golnar Zandpoor - Huxley College of the Environment

2003-2004 Presidential Scholars

Tegan Callahan - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Heera Chandani - Woodring College of Education

Jonathan Clare - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Abigail Lambert - College of Science and Technology

Katie Meyer - College of Business and Economics

Jayme Rios - Huxley College of the Environment

Lindsay Welliver - College of Fine and Performing Arts

2002-2003 Presidential Scholars

Nicole Bowerman - College of Science and Technology

Katherine Frankhauser - Huxley College of the Environment

Kari Hendrickson - Woodring College of Education

Peter Johnson - College of Fine and Performing Arts

Ryan Masters - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Dian McClurg - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Christine Wright - College of Business and Economics

2001-2002 Presidential Scholars

Chris Axling - Huxley College of the Environment

Richard Burkhart - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Julie DeBellis - Woodring College of Education

Amber Hamilton - College of Science and Technology

Monica Miller - College of Business and Economics

Andrea Titterness - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Aaron Tobiason - College of Fine and Performing Arts

2000-2001 Presidential Scholars

Cassandra Baddeley - Woodring College of Education

Jasmine Jordan - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Patrick Kohl - College of Science and Technology

Ryan Kuttel - College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Jana Putnam - College of Business and Economics

Lauren Seaby - Huxley College of the Environment

Alison Secrest - College of Fine and Performing Arts