The UW campus has changed, times have changed, and our program has changed. We’re guessing you’ve changed, too! This year we are celebrating six full decades of intentional community building, innovative thinking and global citizenship through the University of Washington Honors Program. Our mission is to create engaged citizens and leaders who serve their communities. Explore this site to hear Honors stories and connect with old or new friends. Enjoy this stroll down memory lane!
I’ve seen Honors programs around the country, and they’re often places that hold students in. Our Honors students aren’t held apart. They’re leading conversations all over campus. Honors also gives faculty a place to try new ideas that feed back out to the whole University of Washington, making us a better place. And we have the power, because of our size, to change the world for the better. That’s why I care so much about Honors, that’s why I give to Honors. Because of what it does, for the University, and for the world.”
— UW President Ana Mari Cauce
Six Decades of Honors Huskies Stories
At the end of the day, it’s the individual experiences, courses taught, ideas shared, and other memories that make up the Honors Huskies timeline. Click below to browse through our gallery of stories, find friends, and be inspired.
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Our Evolution…
Founded in the early sixties, the Honors Program continues to draw fantastic people into the UW. Honors constantly evolves to remain relevant, expand access and inspire today’s world shapers. The past 60 years are filled with notable milestones highlighting the creativity, intellect, and curiosity in our community.
Click through the buttons to scroll through the years to learn about how the program has changed grown and changed.
1961: Honors founded with Barnet Baskerville from Speech Communication as the first Director.
Incoming students with highest GPAs were invited to join the Honors Program, there was not a separate application process. Honors students enjoyed quiz sections with professors, dorm space in Padelford, and a lounge to study and mingle with other Honors students.
Admissions Stats Interdisciplinary Honors 1961
Invited: 236
Enrolled: 136
1971: Ran Hennes attended the University of Washington on an NROTC scholarship, graduating with a B.A. in 1952. After three years in the Navy, he returned to the University and completed his Ph.D. in history. In 1971 Ran began a 40-year career as associate director in the UW Honors Program and taught a variety of courses in military history.
Admissions Stats Interdisciplinary Honors 1975
Applied: 287
Enrolled: 109
Steve Harell, pictured above on the far right at Honors Director Breakfast in 2017, was the Honors director from 1987-1994.
1984-87: First Honors scholarships are established with a combination of cash awards, tuition waivers, and support for study abroad.
Admissions Stats Interdisciplinary Honors 1985
Applied: 302
Enrolled: 153
1992: Honors Program is centralized at the UW, moving from Arts and Sciences to the Office of Undergraduate Education, working across all departments and colleges.
1994: Honors starts emailing!
Admissions Stats Interdisciplinary Honors 1991
Applied: 329
Enrolled: 113
2000: Honors office moves into its current location in Mary Gates Hall. It has been a continual hub for studying, community building, and advising for students.
2002: Honors Peer Mentoring program begins.
2002: Clark Speed is the first to receive the Honors Excellence in Teaching Award
2003: Honors Living Learning Community is established, fostering even more community and connection outside of the classroom.
2006: Honors first Experiential Spring Break launched, students volunteered in Mississippi for Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
Admissions Stats Interdisciplinary Honors 2000:
Applied: 1307
Enrolled: 158
Admissions Stats Interdisciplinary Honors 2008:
Applied: 2736
Enrolled: 237
2012: Library in Mary Gates 211 is named in honor of Ran Hennes.
2015: Public programming begins in Honors with the first Global Challenges Event, engaging the whole community in complex interdisciplinary problem solving.
2016: Honors students love to take their learning outside of the classroom. Seattle Times features a joint Environmental Studies Honors Field Studies course taught by Tim Billo.
2019: Honors awards first Community and Curriculum Innovation Scholar appointment to Velma Veloria.
Admissions Stats Interdisciplinary Honors 2015:
Applied: 2955
Enrolled: 223
COVID-19 forces the whole Honors community to pivot online and reimagine academic and community engagement.
June 2020: Honors first (and not last) virtual graduation ceremony
2022: First Professor Roger and Jane Soder Honors Equity Scholarship awarded.
Admissions Stats Interdisciplinary Honors 2020:
Applied: 4073
Enrolled: 250
Admissions Stats Interdisciplinary Honors 2021:
Applied: 5472
Enrolled: 268
Special thanks to the Honors Anniversary Ambassadors who are helping us celebrate and share stories throughout the year.