Welcome to the first electronic version of "Excellence!"

Consistent with the university’s ongoing efforts to be more environmentally conscious, we are launching our alumni and friends magazine in an electronic format this semester.  Please give us some feedback on the design and content of the premier issue.

As you will quickly see from the stories we have chosen to include, current students and faculty in the Honors College as well as our alums continue to be leaders in all types of community service activities, both domestically and internationally.  They are also involved in significant scholarship activities at WSU as well as around the world. It is no coincidence that two of the most prestigious WSU faculty awards were very recently won by professors who are currently involved with teaching and mentoring our students.

After many months of planning, the Honors College was pleased to host the Western Regional Honors Council conference at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane March 5 – 7, 2009.  Despite difficult economic times on many campuses, we were gratified that more than 200 people made the commitment of time and financial resources to attend this meeting.

I am also happy to share that successful development efforts have resulted in several recent gifts to Honors, including the generous Jacklin Family Endowment for study abroad scholarships.  We are deeply grateful to our donors who continue to see the wisdom in investing in the future leaders of our nation.

— Libby Walker, Ph.D.
Dean, WSU Honors College