Honors College Ambassadors
Honors student ambassadors serve as liaisons between the college and prospective students and their families. The ambassadors are current students who represent Honors at academic fairs on campus and university recruitment events. They also visit high schools across the state to share their WSU and Honors Experiences with Washington communities.
View Previous Ambassadors
Sydney Almgren
Year: Senior
Major: Environmental Science and Ecosystem Sciences
Minor: Spanish and Sustainable Development
Why did you join the Honors College?
I joined the Honors College because I wanted to get the most out of my college education and make sure that I was challenging myself. My high school never offered any honors classes and only a few dual credit ones, so having an honors curriculum and more opportunities was something I’d always wanted.
How has the Honors College prepared you for your future?
Not only has the Honors College challenged me academically, it has also been a source of personal growth as well. Being a well-rounded student prepares me for a successful future, no matter what that future may include.
What is something you wish you wish you had known when you first started college?
It may not seem like it now, but college really does fly by! While you might feel obligated to participate in every academic or extracurricular activity that comes your way, don’t forget to make time for fun things too! Sometimes they are just as important.
Kathryn Anderson
Year: Sophomore
Major: Management Information Systems and Marketing
What opportunities or experiences have you had through the Honors College?
This past Spring I was able to take “Approaches to Global Leadership” taught by the Honors College Dean Dr. Grant Norton, and the Assistant Dean Dr. Robin Bond. In this class, we had the unique opportunity to compete in a global case project which focused on answering problems surrounding the demands of world trade, concerns for the environment, and the advancement of technology in China. What made this class especially valuable and unique was that each WSU team had a team member from the Chien-Shiung Wu Honors College of Southeast University. This course further opened my eyes to global issues and allowed me to meet so many amazing students from across the globe. Being able to have hands-on instruction from both Deans and work with international students was a valuable and rewarding experience that I know only exists within the Honors College.
Share a personal experience at WSU or in the Honors College.
My freshman year, I participated in formal Panhellenic recruitment and I joined a sorority. Initially, I was hesitant to join an organization because I wasn’t sure if I would ultimately enjoy it or have the time; I couldn’t have been more wrong! I have made countless friends, many of whom are fellow Honors College students, and have gained a wide support network throughout the Greek community. I am now serving as the president of my sorority which is allowing me to further develop my leadership skills. If you are considering getting involved, I could not recommend it enough. There are many amazing clubs, organizations, and activities at WSU. My involvement in a variety of organizations is what has defined my college experience.
Future plans/goals?
I currently am pursuing a double major in MIS and marketing and I plan to work in the digital marketing field for a major retail corporation. I want to help companies use technology and MIS to optimize their marketing and digital efforts to have efficient, clear, and meaningful connections with their customers. I want to continue to pursue my education and eventually earn my MBA with a focus in marketing.
Allison Beggs
Year: Junior
Major: Sociology
What do you like most about being a student in the Honors College?
The Honors College provides a rich environment to promote personal and academic growth. The Honors College provides ample opportunity to get involved and there are many highly motivated and high achieving peers. Additionally, professors have a better chance to invest in each student because of the small class sizes.
What opportunities or experiences have you had through the Honors College?
I was able to do research over the summer through financial assistance for housing provided by the Honors College. I was also able to work with and meet students from Southeast University located in Nanjing, China through the Honors College leadership program.
Share a Personal Experience at WSU or in the Honors College
My parents dropped me off in August just in time to attend the fall ALIVE! session. The first two days of ALIVE! were full of fun, exciting things mixed with a little bit of heartbreak form leaving my parents and my home in Missouri. When it came time to sign up for classes, there was nothing left. It was overwhelming and not at all how I had planned to start my college experience. An Honors College advisor spotted the two baby tears starting to well up in my eye and calmly suggested that we go for a walk. On our way around the building they knew exactly what to say to bring everything back into perspective and when we returned, I was ready to take on the world and the filling up classes.
Hannah Gilliland
Year: Junior
Major: Entrepreneurship, Marketing
Minor: Spanish
Has anything surprised you about being in the Honors College?
I have been so pleasantly surprised by just how much the Honors College faculty cares for us as students! I am so grateful for all of the support and guidance that they have given me.
Is there anything special about living in Pullman or about being a Coug?
The real question is: what is not special about being a Coug? Between the exciting Cougar Football Saturdays, the tight-knit WSU community, and the constant thrill of being apart of an active campus, there is nothing to dislike about Pullman!
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I actually grew up in Florida and was planning on attending the University of Florida, but after my parents brought me on a WSU campus tour I changed all of my plans at the last minute! I fell so in love with everything and everyone at WSU.
Haley Morris
Year: Junior
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Spanish
What opportunities or experiences have you had through the Honors College?
I have had so many opportunities through the Honors College, it is hard to keep track! The greatest opportunities that I have had relate to undergraduate research. The Honors College has taught how to network with faculty and staff to get involved in research, and has also invited me to present at conferences to further my research experiences. I have also had help applying for Distinguished Scholarships through the Honors College, such as the DAAD/RISE German Academic Exchange and the Goldwater scholarship.
Future plans/goals
Upon graduation, I plan to head straight to graduate school to continue studying biochemistry. After that, I plan to enter a career researching cancer development and therapeutics.
Share a personal experience at WSU or in the Honors College.
My favorite thing about the Honors College are all of the unique classes that it offers. My favorite class that I have taken was one about the philosophy of happiness – it was a very fun class, and I learned a lot about myself!
Patrick Robichaud
Year: Senior
Major: Civil Engineering
Minor: Spanish, Sustainable Development
What opportunities or experiences have you had through the Honors College?
I participated in the 1st and 2nd year leadership classes in the Honors College and really enjoyed them. They were some of my favorite classes because of the presentations and guest speakers. I also studied abroad for a semester at Swansea University in Wales and went on a faculty-led trip to Ecuador which were both fantastic experiences and I recommend that everyone study abroad during their time in college.
Future plans/goals:
I plan on getting a Master’s degree in Water Resources Engineering and I want to work with cities to make sure they have a reliable water supply as the climate changes. I am also interested in science policy and how our government can adopt more science into its regulations.
How has the Honors College prepared you for your future?
The Honors College has taught me the importance of relationships and getting to know your professors; which is easier to do in smaller classes. The programs and presentations that the Honors College hosts have taught me the importance of hard work and that you should apply for as many things as possible because you never know when you might get accepted.
Claire Stein
Year: Junior
Major: Zoology, Pre-Vet
Minor: Math
What has been your favorite Honors College class thus far and why?
My favorite Honors class was English 298 with Professor Hanly. The class was about medieval literature, specifically Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.” The class was so interesting because it combined history and literature. I could also tell that the professor was incredibly passionate about the course he was teaching, which truly made the class more enjoyable!
What is your favorite place on campus and why?
There’s a little patio on the third floor of the Spark Building that not too many people know about. It’s my favorite place because it has a great view of Pullman, and there’s tables and lawn chairs up there so you can do work and then just relax!
Favorite memory from your freshman year at WSU:
One of the first big snow dumps of the semester happened on a weekend, so naturally my roommate and I spent hours that night sledding down Thompson Flats. I built a snow man and also a snow sheep, which took me more time to make than it probably should have.\
Katie Vinzinski
Year: Junior
Major: Accounting, Human Resources
Minor: Economics
What opportunities or experiences have you had through the Honors College?
I was a participant in HABILE, the Honors and Business Innovation Leadership Experience, which provided me with a community mentor, and I am currently in the process of securing an internship with the company he works for–as a sophomore! Honors has also provided many opportunities to interact with successful faculty and community members in my fields of study.
Future plans/goals:
I am completing 150 credits in four years, with a double major in accounting and human resources and a minor in economics. While my majors may seem like an unlikely combination, I am striving to understand the accounting side behind recruiting good talent, and the personal side behind payroll and budgeting. Ultimately, I hope to sit for and pass the Certified Public Account Exam.
Share a Personal Experience at WSU or in the Honors College
In my Honors 298 class, Writing and Research Honors, I was meeting with the professor often regarding a specific set of assignments. She took the time out of her day to get to know me personally and help review my writing. She offered personalized suggestions, asked how I was doing academically outside of her class, and how I was doing in life. She was such a positive force on my first semester in college, and I saw this genuine consideration in her relationships with my classmates as well. She even made us homemade cupcakes with caramel sauce on our last day of class! I can’t do her dedication to her students enough justice, but she made such in impact on my first semester of college academically and otherwise!
Lucy Wavra
Year: Junior
Major: History, Education
Minor: Spanish
Has anything surprised you about being in the Honors College?
I was surprised the Honorable College was so diverse! We are proud to represent people from all backgrounds, of all ethnicities, sexualities and genders, and people involved in a variety of clubs and teams all across campus. Go Cougs!
How has the Honors College helped shape your college experience?
The Honors College has provided a home base for me academically. I try to balance my commitments with an activity to do for fun, a job, a leadership commitment, and an academic commitment. The Honorable College provides a hands-on and mentally challenging environment to get the gears turning in my head, as well as provide a safe and uplifting community of students and faculty that want to see you succeed.
Future plans/goals:
I plan to graduate with a BA in History, a minor in Spanish, and potentially a minor in Communication. Then, I plan to get a Masters in Education, and move on to a career in secondary education. After retirement, I would like to work in a museum as a curator or program specialist. And if all of this fails, I will attend the most prestigious clown school and join the circus.
Christi Webster
Year: Junior
Major: Bioengineering
What opportunities/experiences have you had through the Honors College?
Through the Honors college, I have had the opportunity to work with a student from China through Honors 298 Global Leadership Seminar on a case study regarding China’s carbon emissions. I never would have expected that I would get to work with someone on a group project in another country. It was really cool that the Chinese students came to Pullman for the final presentation so we could meet the person we were working with face to face.
Favorite memory from your freshman year:
One of my favorite memories was the day is snowed so much they cancelled classes for the whole day. My friends and I went sledding down Thompson Flats, built miniature snowmen outside Global Scholars Hall, and finished the day by baking and making hot chocolate.
What is something that you wish you would have known when you first started college?
I wish I knew that a section within a course can vary. When I signed up for classes, I only looked at the times and not the professor as well. This was super helpful to know when signing up for Honors courses because sections of the same class can be completely different.