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!