Each year we honor the high achievements of our graduating 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 just prior to Western’s June commencement ceremonies.
Nomination Process:
Any faculty can nominate a student from any major/minor. Nominees must be graduating seniors* who are exceptional in the following three categories:
- 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.
* Nominees must qualify in all three categories and be confirmed to meet graduation requirements. Students who graduate at any quarter during the academic year are eligible (Fall 2024 through Summer 2025), however, award winners are expected to participate in the June ceremony.
The Call for Nominations typically goes out in early February, are due in early April, and must be submitted via the Presidential Scholar nomination form. Additional information and instructions about the online nomination process is available on the Instruction Page.
One award will be granted per college (one award per division of Humanities and Social Sciences). Based on the nominations submitted by faculty, the deans from each college will submit their recommended candidate to the President for final selection. Nominations for students in interdisciplinary programs will be accepted and reviewed on an individual basis since they don't fall within a specific college.
| Activity | Due Date |
|---|
| Nominations Open | February 14, 2025 |
| Nominations Close | April 3, 2025 |
| Dean's Recommendations Due | April 24, 2025 |
| Recipients Notified by President's Office | May 2, 2025 |
Award/Recognition:
The President's Office will notify recipients of their selection in May and facilitate award portraits. Presidential Scholars wear their medallions and will be recognized during June Commencement.
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.
Questions: Please email Michele Anderson (ander624@wwu.edu) or Rayne Rambo (rambor@wwu.edu) in the President's Office.
Recipients:
2023-2024 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Levi Franklin-Montes | College of Business & Economics |
| Ian Schaefer Lorenz | College of the Environment |
| Amalia Voiss | College of Fine and Performing Arts |
| Gabrielle Laipenieks | College of Humanities & Social Sciences (Behavioral) |
| Max Stone | College of Humanities & Social Sciences (Humanities) |
| Kyana Renee Grayer | College of Science & Engineering |
| Meilani Wilson | Woodring College of Education |
More information about the 2023-2024 Presidential Scholars
2022-2023 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Petra Ellerby | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Gil Gepte | College of the Environment |
| Carson McCully | College of Fine and Performing Arts |
| Kainui Rapaport | Woodring College of Education |
| Lily Rayor | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Alina Sokolova | College of Business & Economics |
| Andrea Wooley | College of Science & Engineering |
More information about the 2022-2023 Presidential Scholars
2021-2022 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Hisham Abdus-Salam | College of Business & Economics |
| Aliyah Dawkins | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Liana Garvett | Woodring College of Education |
| Erin Howard | College of Science & Engineering |
| Nate Jo | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Sienna Reid | College of the Environment |
| Aidyn Stevens | College of Fine and Performing Arts |
More information about the 2021-2022 Presidential Scholars
2020-2021 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Emmelyn Affeldt | College of Business & Economics |
| Kathryn Anderson | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Luke Arnold | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Melody Gao | College of Science & Engineering |
| Summer Pascual | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Brahm vanWoerden | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Azucena Zavala Montalvo | Woodring College of Education |
More information about the 2020-2021 Presidential Scholars
2019-2020 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Navada Aviende Pacheaco | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Ray Garcia | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Cindy Marquina Negrete | Woodring College of Education |
| Celida Moran | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Erin Alexandra Smith | College of Business & Economics |
| Madchen Piper Tolbert | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Ana Uribe | College of Science & Engineering |
More information about the 2019-20 Presidential Scholars
2018-2019 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Jona Paulreti Akelipa | College of Business & Economics |
| Kylee Jo Butler | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Grace Anne Dunbar-Miller | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Natasha Pearl Hessami | College of Science & Engineering |
| Iris Baijing Hubbard | Woodring College of Education |
| Breneya Marlene Johnson | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Bradlee Thielen | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
More information about the 2018-2019 Presidential Scholars
2017-2018 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Grace Coffey | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Dalton Jones | College of Science & Engineering |
| Phi Le Nguyen | Woodring College of Education |
| Maria Jose Palacios Figueroa | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Clint Sana | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Emily Stadt | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Honoka Tsutsui | College of Business and Economics |
More information about the 2017-2018 Presidential Scholars
2016-2017 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Brittney Nalani Dover | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Sinai Gonzalez | Woodring College of Education |
| Alexandra Marie Jordan | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Katherine Mahalia Mullen | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Huy Nguyen | College of Science & Engineering |
| Danielle Marie Payton | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Torrey Holden Yost | College of Business & Economics |
More information about the 2016-2017 Presidential Scholars
2015-2016 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Megan Mehan Daley | Woodring College of Education |
| Jasmine Escalante | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Samantha "Sammy" Loch | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Rachel Owen | College of Science & Engineering |
| Dylan Simpson | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Lara Sonnen | College of Business & Economics |
| Aarin Wright | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
More information about the 2015-2016 Presidential Scholars
2014-2015 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Suzanne Hancock | College of Business & Economics |
| Brenda Helen McGarrity | Woodring College of Education |
| Celina Muñoz | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Sadie Normoyle | Huxley College of the Environment |
| David Nuqul | College of Science & Engineering |
| Evan Rumble | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
More information about the 20014-2015 Presidential Scholars
2013-2014 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Bodie Cabiyo | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Andrea d'Aquino | College of Science & Engineering |
| Rivka Horowitz | Woodring College of Education |
| Margaret McGuigan | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Jordan Olivia Richardson | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Paul Wright | College of Business & Economics |
More information about the 2013-2014 Presidential Scholars
2012-2013 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Jon Bash | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Jeffrey Hales | College of Business & Economics |
| María Guzmán | Woodring College of Education |
| Nora Jagielo | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Ayana Robinson | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Alyne Sanchez | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Morgan Schurr | College of Science & Technology |
More information about the 2012-2013 Presidential Scholars
2011-2012 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Donald Cheyette | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Jessica Grace Jones | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Saraswati Noel | College of Science & Technology/Woodring College of Education |
| Michael Pegis | College of Science & Technology |
| Reuben Walker | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Sophie Wenzlau | College of Business & Economics |
| Heather Wrenn | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
More information about the 2011-2012 Presidential Scholars
2010-2011 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Rachael Chapman | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Amy Grambo | Woodring College of Education |
| Analiesse Isherwood | College of Science & Technology |
| Josephine Jackson | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Kelliann Kelly | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Brooke Summerfield | College of Business & Economics |
| Douglas Weckerly | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
More information about the 2010-2011 Presidential Scholars
2009-2010 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Kristina Brooks | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Courtney Cline | Woodring College of Education |
| Carly Grayell | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Benjamin Nelson | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Jennifer Novotney | College of Science & Technology |
| Catherine Shornick | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Anthony Zackery | College of Business & Economics |
2008-2009 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Paula Berg | College of Business & Economics |
| Christina Berger | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Forrest Copeland | College of Science & Technology |
| Holly Faulstich | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Ra'Jeanna Foxx | Woodring College of Education |
| Gina Kim | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Sharde Mills | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
2007-2008 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Daryl Allen | College of Business & Economics |
| Chris DeSisto | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Stephen Goldrick | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Adria LaMorticella | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Daisy Phillips | College of Science & Technology |
| Laura Southern | Woodring College of Education |
| Kelsey Tritt | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
2006-2007 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Jennifer Angelosante | College of Science & Technology |
| Amy Fuhrman | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Miho Kanda | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Sebastian Kohlmeier | College of Business & Economics |
| Cara Murphy | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Susannah Scott | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Karen Siverson | Woodring College of Education |
2005-2006 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Chris Bickert | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Ryan Clemens | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Angelika Herbold | College of Science & Technology |
| Teizeen Mohamedali | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Mandana Shoushtari | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Ann Stabbert | Woodring College of Education |
| Nathaniel Young | College of Business & Economics |
2004-2005 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Michael Clyburn | Woodring College of Education |
| Amber Johnson | College of Science & Technology |
| Jessica Rowley | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Brandi Redfern | College of Business & Economics |
| Serena Sprungl | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Kathryn Walton | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Golnar Zandpoor | Huxley College of the Environment |
2003-2004 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Tegan Callahan | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Heera Chandani | Woodring College of Education |
| Jonathan Clare | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Abigail Lambert | College of Science & Technology |
| Katie Meyer | College of Business & Economics |
| Jayme Rios | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Lindsay Welliver | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
2002-2003 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Nicole Bowerman | College of Science & Technology |
| Katherine Frankhauser | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Kari Hendrickson | Woodring College of Education |
| Peter Johnson | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
| Ryan Masters | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Dian McClurg | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Christine Wright | College of Business & Economics |
2001-2002 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Chris Axling | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Richard Burkhart | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Julie DeBellis | Woodring College of Education |
| Amber Hamilton | College of Science & Technology |
| Monica Miller | College of Business & Economics |
| Andrea Titterness | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Aaron Tobiason | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
2000-2001 Presidential Scholars
| RECIPIENT | COLLEGE |
|---|
| Cassandra Baddeley | Woodring College of Education |
| Jasmine Jordan | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Patrick Kohl | College of Science & Technology |
| Ryan Kuttel | College of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Jana Putnam | College of Business & Economics |
| Lauren Seaby | Huxley College of the Environment |
| Alison Secrest | College of Fine & Performing Arts |
