Honors College Students Recognized at WSU Distinguished Scholars Celebration

By Gary Hyatt , WSU Honors College – gary.hyatt1@wsu.edu

Washington State University honored some of its most exceptional students at the annual Distinguished Scholars Celebration on November 7,

2025. The event highlights the hard work, academic excellence, and extraordinary dedication required to earn nationally competitive awards. This year, several students from the WSU Honors College were celebrated for earning some of the nation’s most prestigious scholarships and fellowships.

During the program, guests were welcomed by April Seehafer, Director of Distinguished Scholarships, followed by remarks from Chris Riley-Tillman, Provost and Executive Vice President. Mary Sánchez Lanier, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Engagement and Student Achievement, recognized each of the scholars for their achievements, with closing remarks delivered by Bill Davis, Vice Provost for Academic Engagement and Student Achievement.

Among the honorees were six outstanding students from the Honors College whose accomplishments represent years of intellectual curiosity, determination, and service:

• Hollen Foster-Grahler, Fulbright U.S. Student Program
• Joan Castaneda Gonzalez, Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
• Eva Rickard, Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
• John Bussey, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
• Suzanne Gelston, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
• Aarya Bajaj, Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

Each of these awards is highly competitive at the national level and reflects exceptional academic performance, research excellence, and a strong

commitment to global engagement and service. Being selected as a Fulbright Student, Goldwater Scholar, NSF Graduate Research Fellow, or Gilman Scholar is not only a tremendous individual honor but also a testament to the depth of mentorship, academic rigor, and community support found within the WSU Honors College.

The Honors College expresses deep gratitude to the faculty and staff who support students throughout the application and advising process. In particular, we extend a heartfelt thank you to Assistant Dean Robin Bond and Dean M. Grant Norton, whose leadership, encouragement, and unwavering commitment to student success play an integral role in preparing scholars for these elite opportunities. Their guidance helps students refine their ideas, strengthen their applications, and envision their future impact.

For more than a century, WSU students have been named among the nation’s most accomplished scholars. The Distinguished Scholars Gallery in the CUB now features the names of more than 350 WSU students and alumni who have received prestigious, nationally competitive awards, an inspiring reminder of the legacy these students join.

This year’s Honors College awardees continue that tradition with distinction. We congratulate them on their remarkable achievements and look forward to seeing the ways they will shape their fields, communities, and the world.

Honors Students Shine at National NCHC Conference in San Diego

By Gary Hyatt , WSU Honors College – gary.hyatt1@wsu.edu

Three Honors College students Michael Fasci, Anita Valdez, and Jo Castaneda Gonzales proudly represented Washington State University at the 2025 National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) Conference held November 6–9 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. Assistant Dean Dr. Robin Bond accompanied the students as they presented their undergraduate research among peers and faculty from across the nation.

This year’s conference theme, “Celebrating 60 Years – Charting Partnerships and Collaborations to Inspire Honors,” marked a milestone anniversary for NCHC and brought together 1,335 attendees from 753 institutions, including both honors programs and honors colleges. The gathering emphasized the essential role of collaboration, innovation, and community in shaping the future of honors education.

Michael, Anita, and Jo participated in the highly competitive Poster Presentation Session, where student researchers present their work during a two-hour interactive format. Throughout the session, presenters engaged with faculty judges and conference attendees, discussing the significance, methodology, and impact of their projects.

Preparing for the conference required each student to carefully design a professional research poster that communicated their findings clearly, visually, and effectively — a skill that mirrors expectations at major academic conferences nationwide. Their commitment to excellence ensured that WSU Honors was represented with professionalism and pride.

For many students, NCHC is not only an academic experience but a transformative one. Following the conference, Anita Valdez shared her gratitude with the Honors College:

“I wanted to take a second and thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend such an amazing conference. I really enjoyed my time in San Diego with Michael and Jo, and I met a lot of incredible students with a wide variety of interesting projects… I especially loved listening to keynote speaker Emily Calandrelli. Growing up as a girl interested in STEM, I never really thought about how little female representation there is in science-related shows and movies, but if you had asked me to draw a scientist, I probably wouldn’t have drawn someone who looked like me. I hope she continues to serve as a great role model for activists and women in STEM.”

She added that she was “incredibly grateful to the Honors College for this experience, and proud to be a WSU Honors Student.”

The Honors College celebrates Michael, Anita, and Jo for their hard work, their dedication to research, and their outstanding representation of WSU on a national stage. Their achievements reflect the power of undergraduate inquiry and the importance of supporting students as they explore, question, and contribute to a broader academic community.

Go Cougs!