Honors Grads 2020

Proudest Moment: I'd have to say my proudest moment at UW was getting into the English department Honors program and fulfilling one of my academic goals. Being able to learn and work with the faculty and my peers has been amazing, and I literally could not have picked a better time to be in an Honors cohort focusing on temporality and human extinction.

Thesis: In the Wreckage of Humanity: Ruins, Agency, and the Art of Post-Apocalyptic Video Games

My experience at the University of Washington has been defined by my commitment to literary scholarship and health care, as well as the personal empowerment I've felt in pursuing both English literature and STEM. This has all set me on my path towards becoming a physician, (hooray for studying for the MCAT soon!), and I'm hoping to keep up my writing as much as possible in the future. My love for creative writing and English has only grown in the English Honors program, and I can't be more excited for what's next.

I'm beyond grateful for the friendships I've made during my undergrad, and for everything I've been able to learn. Cheers to four years, UW.

Proudest Moment: Finding my passion in social sciences and pursuing it through independent study

Thesis: The Meanings of Sustainability: Associations with Pro-Environmental Behaviors

Environmental science student interested in the human dimension of the environment. Pursuing a master’s degree in global environmental change and policy in London. Hope to enact positive change!

Proudest Moment: Abigail's proudest memories at UW were traveling to Spain to conduct research and turning in her 53 page thesis in preparation for graduation.

Thesis: The Social Perception of Value: STEM vs. Social Science and Humanities, an Ethnography of Communication

My Website

Abigail is a journalist with a passion for learning about other cultures. On her study abroad trip to Spain, she fell in love with the people, languages, architecture, and history of a culture different from her own. While there, she conducted her first ethnography. Upon her return to the U.S., she decided to continue to learn about cultures through this research process.
At the same time, she used her curiosity to fuel her work in journalism, writing about social issues like homelessness, access, and diversity. This earned her the Pioneer Award for Excellence in Journalism. In addition, she has been a Dean's List student for her entire UW career which earned her an award for High Scholarship.
Following graduation Abigail will be looking for a position where she can use her writing, photo, and video storytelling skills to create truthful and informative journalism, PR, or content creation.

Proudest Moment: Graduating from the UW architectural design program

Thesis: Lighting Design for Health and Happiness in Nordic Architecture

My Website wqchua@uw.edu

Hello! I am Wen, and I am an architectural design student. I love pretty things, running, playing the violin and eating croissants.

Proudest Moment: One of my proudest moments at UW was receiving an offer to be a Post-Bachelor Fellow at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). This program will enable me in the next few years to continue my work in global health research and pursue a fully-funded MPH at UW.

During my time at UW, I was able to pursue a double degree in Public Health-Global Health and Economics. By being able to take courses in both these majors, I was able to explore my interests in global health economics and the crucial intersection between financial stability and health. As an undergraduate, I was able to participate in a study abroad program through the School for International Training (SIT) in India focusing on public health, gender equality, and community-based initiatives. For the past year, I was an Undergraduate Research Assistant on the Cost Effectiveness team at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), where I have also accepted a Post-Bachelor Fellowship.

Proudest Moment: My proudest moment is organizing an online event that raised $10,000 to be distributed between emerging artists and POC owned organizations during the Covid19 crisis.

bentayuw@gmail.com

(They/Them)
I am an artist, educator, and organizer that mobilizes art as a tool for social justice. I am a proud GSBA scholar, lifelong activist, and dedicated Seattle community member.

Proudest Moment: My second-to-last quarter here at UW, I wrote a paper in Jeffery Knight's honors seminar about Shakespeare's so-called "horse sonnets." I have always struggled with research papers, and I never felt like I could read or understand Shakespeare. This turned into the first research paper I felt came fully, loudly, and entirely from own voice, and it was also the first time I realized, after a quarter of careful study, I could read Shakespeare. I have never felt such pride over a research paper before, and since writing it, I have felt like an entire realm of writing has opened up to me.

Thesis: Plathology: Plath, a Piece in the Puzzle of American Women’s Poetry Tradition

rileygraceborden@aol.com

Hello all! My name is Riley Grace, and after graduating with my two year degree at Skagit Valley Community College, I have been at the UW now for two wonderful, challenging, jam-packed years. Where do I begin to describe this journey? I think I must have told 50 people during my first few weeks at UW how ridiculously joyful I felt every morning to wake up as a student at this university. I had spent months prior researching clubs and groups at UW and planning how I would use every second of my two years. The opportunities at UW ended up being as endless and wide as I hoped and planned for. Now, multiple clubs tried and joined, new people met and befriended, final papers and exams completed later, I feel just as fortunate and thankful. From the professors who dedicated hours to the development of my writing and voice, to engaging classes, to a consciously diverse curriculum, I have most positively been shaped by my experiences as an English major, and I extend my thanks to every individual in the department and across the humanities who made my experience possible. Post graduation, I am looking forward to spending my next three years at UW's law school!

Proudest Moment: Earning a Mary Gates Scholarship for my research!

Thesis: A New Metric for Evaluating Pro Sports Expansion Franchises

maxkahn@comcast.net

I moved out of the Chicagoland area to come to Seattle without a specific study area in mind. I dabbled in computer science, business, and philosophy at UW before deciding on Geography! I'm very thankful that the Geography Department was able to support my interest in sports and pursue sports research, culminating in a year-long thesis project studying the themes of relocation and expansion in professional sports. I like to think that my earlier classes in computer science and business helped provide a basis for my research project that wouldn't have been possible otherwise, so in a sense, I'm grateful that I came to UW as an undecided student and wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Seattle, thanks for being the best home I could have asked for over the last four years, and GO DAWGS!

Proudest Moment: When I first learned that my little brother, Jack would be the fourth sibling in my family to attend the University of Washington and to have that opportunity to once again study together at the same school!

Thesis: E-cigarettes in the Greek Community: Identity, Health Perceptions, and a Vaping Culture

I am so grateful for my time at the University of Washington. I have met some of the most incredibly, inspiring individuals, and I am honored to have studied alongside them. When I first came to the University of Washington, I was unsure of my path—I just knew that at end of the day that I wanted to help people. After a few quarters, this eventually led me to my first medical anthropology course: Anthropology and International Health, which guided me to my passion of studying health care. Since then, I have been lucky to have been able to take courses that have explored the social, cultural, and biological factors that have influenced health and the systems related to it and showed me a future career in working towards creating greater access to healthcare, a human right. Moreover, these courses inspired me to apply for departmental honors, allowing me to conduct independent research studying the impact of e-cigarettes in the Greek Community.

I was inspired to study French by recommendation from a professor. Studying French has been one of the most difficult and rewarding endeavors of my undergraduate career. For the first time, I was forced to contend with several of my own shortcomings as a student and challenged me to learn new studying methods. Through this department, I was provided the opportunity to study abroad in Paris and further develop my linguistic skills. I am so grateful for the professors and students from that department who have continually supported me and helped me grow to be a better student and person.

Outside of my coursework, I was fortunate to become involved early on at the University. I joined a sorority and made life-long friends. I gained valuable exposure working as a Laboratory Assistant for Pallanck Lab in Genome Sciences. I worked as a Research Assistant for Professor Alex Hill in a biological anthropology project. I interned at the Borgen Project and helped advocate for poverty-reduction legislation. I also volunteered at the East African Community Services and worked with refugee families helping tutor their children.

These experiences in and out of the classroom have helped shape my perspective on life. I hope to one day help create a better, more equitable world. After graduation, I will begin working as research associate studying health disparities in lung cancer screenings and access in the Pacific Northwest. Eventually, I plan to go to graduate school for Public Health to receive a Master’s and hopefully a Ph.D. in Health Services.

Proudest Moment: Working with my mentors and Principal Investigator on a scientific project and gaining hands on skills and experiences in biochemical research.

Thesis: Insights into the N-Terminal Region IXI Motif Binding Interactions of HSPB5

My experiences as a biochemistry major and in teaching Chem 142 students in quiz sections as part of STEM-Dawgs led me to appreciate the fact that knowledge must be shared and taught well to promote understanding. As president and founder of PreMedsUnited at UW, I built a community of pre-health students that support and motivate one for success. As a future physician, I aspire to continue my teaching and mentoring pursuits in medical school and beyond.

Some words of wisdom: Stay steadfast in your dreams and you will achieve them. Don’t perceive setbacks as failures, rather they are a part of your journey. You can’t have success without failure. Be sure to make the most out of your education, whether that is participating in extracurricular activities, tutoring students, or getting to know your professors during office hours. After all, getting an education is more than just reading books and taking exams, it is getting to know your colleagues and future co-workers to become the next generation of leaders and changemakers in your communities and for the world.

My interests include studying the Arabic language and cooking and baking a lot of different Middle Eastern food. I also love to travel, and a place I’ll never forget is visiting the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq during the Summer of 2019 (and yes, it was excruciatingly hot!).

Proudest Moment: Finally finishing my thesis and winning the Lev Award

Thesis: How the Rise of Local Identity Eroded Pan-Chinese Nationalism in Taiwan and Hong Kong

As a Taiwanese American, the nuances of Taiwan's complicated relationship with China has always fascinated me and is also a catalyst for my interest in political science and international relations. Throughout my undergraduate career, I was involved with various on-campus organizations that focused on important international issues. Most notably, I served as President for the Model United Nations club at UW. Through my role, I attended and staffed various international and local conferences where I was able to gain a better understanding of and appreciation for the dynamics of the international community.

This fall, I will be attending UW Law School as a Gregoire Fellow. This unique opportunity will offer me the chance to receive mentorship from former governor Christine Gregiore and to intern at a variety of local law firms, government agencies, and corporations. As a future law student, I hope to study international business law and continue to learn about Asian law and government.

Proudest Moment: My proudest moment at the UW was attending a study abroad program centered around social justice in Spain!

Thesis: Practitioners Competence in Mental Health

I am a passionate person centered around accessibility and equity for minorities. As a result I decided to become a part of departmental honors in order to run a study. As a result I will further my education in the Advanced Standing Masters Program at the University of Washington. My ultimate goal is to become a doctor in social work.

Proudest Moment: In ESRM 315, we took a field trip to Mount St. Helens and had a tour of a forest lead by Jerry Franklin. He is an inspiration in the forestry world, so getting to meet him was an amazing opportunity.

Thesis: The Effects of Stand Age, Species, and Geographic Location on Seed Counts Within Serotinous Cones

ashleyhillis2020@gmail.com

Hi! My name is Ashley Hillis and I am graduating with a degree in ESRM with a focus in forest management and with departmental honors. My time at UW has been filled with so many research opportunities that have provided invaluable experience. For instance, I worked with two different UW grad students in the Quantitative Ecology lab monitoring different types of animals. I also worked for the center in urban horticulture collecting data on the beautiful cherries trees at UW to help make a model to predict when they will bloom. I also took my research interest outside of UW and did a summer of fieldwork with Pacific Wildland Fire Science Lab. I spent the summer under the California sun measuring vegetation and tree DBH in high severity burned areas. When I came back to UW I spent my senior year continuing research in fire disturbances by studying serotinous cones and different variables that affect the seeds they contain. I did this work under the guidance of Michelle Agne a Ph.D. student in the Harvey Lab. Over the summer I will continue doing work with the Harvey lab doing fieldwork. In the future, I plan on continuing my passion for environmental science and attending graduate school.

Proudest Moment: Organizing and teaching a six week intensive lab internship program for four local underprivileged high school students!

Thesis: How Does the Cell Polarity Protein Crumbs Regulate Tube Formation in Drosophila Melanogaster Egg Chambers?

sydneybowker@comcast.net

Hey, I'm Syd and I'm graduating with a BS in Biochemistry with departmental honors! I worked as a researcher in Genome Science's Berg Lab for all four years of college. I'm hoping to pursue a career in clinical research coordination after graduation. During my time at UW I made a some great friends and learned a lot about myself and my interests. I am proud to be a first generation student, and glad to be graduating in Seattle, the city I grew up in.
With huge thanks to my family and friends who have supported me throughout my life, and especially over the last four years.

Proudest Moment: Getting the opportunity to exhibit my art work at the UW Tower, the Husky Union Building, and the UW Medical Center in Winter 2019

Thesis: Art Heaux - a one-off 20-page publication on character study, emotion, and underlying themes of past and present

My Website

I spent my 4 years at UW studying technology and global media in the Department of Communication as well as Photo/Media in the School of Art, where I was a part of the 2019-2020 Honors cohort. Off campus, I was a member of Chi Omega sorority, where I served as the Alumni Relations Coordinator for 2 years. When I wasn’t in the art building working on my next project, I was a volunteer with ASUW A+E for 2 years where I was a committee lead for Spring Show 2019, and I got the opportunity to be a Game Day Recruiting Intern for Husky Football during the 2018-2019 season. My passions currently lie in bringing ideas to life, creating memorable live experiences for audiences, and making safe and equal spaces for people in the various sectors of the entertainment industry, regardless of race or gender identity.

Proudest Moment: Seeing my friends with whom I transferred from community college graduate from the UW and continue to carve out their own path.

steiner.gen@gmail.com

Born in Boston, grew up in Austria, fell in love with music early on and eventually took an interest in chemical engineering. I enjoy long-distance running, lining up for archery sessions, hanging out for some Dungeons & Dragons, and am almost always down to learn a new skill. My time here at the UW, with its resources and research environment, allowed me to pursue many of these interests, and provided an education that I know has already had a lasting effect on my trajectory forward.

Proudest Moment: Being apart of the Student Employee Leadership Board and representing UWild Adventures.

Thesis: Human-Wildlife Conflict in the Peruvian Amazon: How Community Engagement Can Change Wildlife Conservation

I always tell everyone that I joined PoE for the field trips. Everyone who knows me knows that what really drew me to Environmental Studies is my love of outdoor spaces. My time at UW has allowed me to a gain greater understanding of what privileges I have that allowed this love affair. The adventures I've had so far taught me that it is an opportunity to struggle and to pick myself back up both indoors and out. The accomplishments I'm most proud of are not those on paper but the impact I worked so hard to make on the people I worked for, young people, and my peers.

Proudest Moment: Seizing the opportunity to work in a laboratory setting for all 12 quarters I attended the University of Washington.

Thank you mom I love you! My success wouldn't be possible without your unconditional love and support.

Proudest Moment: Holding a baby octopus caught in a bottom trawl during a research cruise on the RV Rachel Carson!

Thesis: The Effects of Increased Salinity on the Behavior and Survival of Juvenile Dungeness Crab (Cancer magister): Implications for the Control of Burrowing Shrimp in Willapa Bay, Washington

As a SAFS major, you might guess I love just about anything that has to do with water or the things that live in in, and you would be correct! Some of my favorite activities include swimming, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, paddle boarding, fishing, hiking, and spending time outdoors with my family and friends. In my free time, I also love to read, ride horses, dance, hang out with my pets, cook, and bake.

I worked throughout my time at UW at the Burke Museum Fish Collection, Biology Department Field Trip Program, and the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team. With these organizations I was able to gain valuable experience and connections, and still managed to maintain a high GPA and consistently receive awards and recognition from my School and College.

I am also a first generation college student, and as the first in my family to graduate from a University, I am especially proud to say that I was able to fully fund my higher education with the help of contributions from generous scholarship donors. I am so thankful to all those who have supported me on my pursuit for education, and will forever treasure my UW family and memories!

Proudest Moment: My proudest moment was receiving a study abroad scholarship to study in Canada through the Killam Fellowships Program.

My two passions in life are earth sciences and performing arts. I am so glad that I was able to pursue both at the University of Washington, majoring in Earth and Space Sciences with departmental honors and minoring in Dance. Throughout my years in college, I have received three scholarships, studied abroad for four months in London, Ontario, CA, and became involved in two research projects with the Earth and Space Sciences and Atmospheric department. I am proud to be graduating with departmental honors and cum laude.

Proudest Moment: I am proud of all the opportunities I have taken to give back to my community.

Thesis: Effects of Regenerative Agriculture on Soil Health

I would like to make large-scale impacts in the world of environmentalism. I have been so grateful for the opportunities I have been given at the University of Washington. The most notable is simply access to the amazing outdoors of the pacific northwest. My program allowed me to spend so much time among the trees where I am happiest!

Thank you to everyone I've met along the way and to all of those who have made me into the woman I am today. I could not have achieved this without all of you.

Proudest Moment: When I found out that Ghana's Ministry of Energy adopted two policy recommendations from my undergrad Donald C. Hellmann Task Force Program 2020 report on Sub-Saharan Africa renewable energies into the country's new Draft National Energy Policy!

I am a graduating senior and a first-generation college student. One of my favorite experiences at UW was traveling to Brazil through the FLAS fellowship. With that experience, I confirmed how much I love learning languages and engaging with people from cultures different than mine. I'm excited to keep learning and growing in the areas of literature and diplomacy.

I will always be grateful for being part of the Jackson School of International Studies and the Spanish Department and for the amazing friends and teachers that I met through my undergraduate studies.

Proudest Moment: I mentored a student at UW through the EDUC 401 program. I was able to utilize many of the skills I have learned in my undergraduate education. The best part was seeing their personal growth and realizing I made a small difference!

My Website mackenziemprice@gmail.com

My name is Mackenzie and I am graduating June 2020! I transferred to UW from a small, private school and it was a hard transition. But I am so glad I made the choice to join the UW community. I found my family and friends as captain of the Alpine Ski Team, balancing schoolwork with long weekends traveling and skiing all over the Northwest. Academically, I am passionate about the importance of the humanities and public policy in regards to equity of education. I had multiple opportunities to work with students, both at the high school level and college level, getting real hands-on experience inside the classroom that I will take into my future as an educator. Through the Honors English Cohort, I co-created a website, Eco-Poetry Washington, that analyzes poems through an eco-critical lens and maps their location throughout Washington State. In addition, I worked closely with faculty to research the reconciliation of land use rights between the National Park and Indigenous Peoples in Alaska. I hope to bring these holistic experiences and knowledge to wherever I go next in life! Go Dawgs!

Proudest Moment: When I graduated with 2 degrees, and one of them is an honor degree.

I am so glad to graduate as honors. I am excited to connect with other honor alumini.

Proudest Moment: Being selected as a Husky 100 has been one of my proudest moments at UW.

ChiaraRDesantis@gmail.com

The University of Washington’s welcoming and open nature propelled me to embrace all parts of myself, especially my multiracial identity and hair loss disease, Alopecia Areata. Throughout my four years, I learned that there is power in looking different and want to use my platform to pay it forward. I chose to pursue a degree in Public Health-Global Health so I can use my own experiences within the healthcare system to bridge inequities and make it more inclusive and accessible for all.

Proudest Moment: When the paper was accepted to RSS.

Thesis: Learning Cluttered Scene Manipulation with Goals

My Website

I study Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington. I am an undergraduate researcher advised by Prof. Dieter Fox in Robotics and State Estimation Lab. I also work closely with Dr. Yu Xiang in NVIDIA Robotics Lab. My research focus lies in Computer Vision and Robotics. I also have broad interests in Optimization and Machine Learning.

Proudest Moment: I studied abroad in Peru in Summer 2019 with a really great group of people. We worked hard on our research projects in the Amazon rainforest and had a lot of fun doing it. I'll never forget that experience and the community I got to be a part of.

I took a lot of interesting classes and did a lot of interesting research. I was involved in leadership, several RSOs, and I studied abroad. I'm particularly interested in ecology, ethics, and the intersection between them.

Proudest Moment: Being inducted to the Husky 100

Thesis: Deep Learning Applied to Unreliable Contact Prediction in De Novo Protein Models

My Website

I'm a new Ph.D. student at the joint Carnegie Mellon -- University of Pittsburgh Computational Biology program. My primary research interests are improving out-of-the-box deep learning methods for computational biology and biological simulation. I aim to improve therapeutics development and bioinformatics availability in low resource settings.

Proudest Moment: Joining the Newbook Digital Texts Project and realizing my passion in research with Dr. Walter Andrews as my mentor

Thesis: Bitnation: Reimagination of the State-Citizen Relationship and Technological Optimism

My Website jiony4321@gmail.com

I was 13 when I left my hometown in South Korea and immigrated to the US. Understanding very little English and speaking even less, I could not imagine how achieved and proud I would feel after five years at University of Washington. Pursuing double degrees was no easy decision, but I was able to thrive thanks to the faculty and staff members at University of Washington who encouraged me to continue interdisciplinary learning and research.

Thanks to Dr. Walter Andrews, whom I met as an undergraduate researcher at UW, I stepped into the interdisciplinary path where I was able to combine my interests in international human rights and technologies. After graduation, I will be starting my first job as a Security Analyst in Chicago. After building more skills and experiences in the private sector, I hope to come back to the academia as a researcher in usable security and privacy tools and continue Dr. Andrews' legacy in interdisciplinary research.

As I move forward to the new city and the new chapter of my life, I will remember the excitement, fear, and courage I felt as a 13-year-old whose life started anew. I would like to thank my parents who made my education possible, all my friends who supported me through thick and thin, and UW faculty and staff members gave me countless valuable lessons.

Proudest Moment: Kicking off my last year as a dawg by running the Seattle Marathon!

Thesis: Stress activates the dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor system in the prefrontal cortex to disrupt cognition

sannecasello@gmail.com

I'm so grateful to have immersed myself in my two passions, neuroscience and art history, during my time at the University of Washington. Studying abroad in Florence summer quarter of my first-year year ignited my love for art history and inspired me to pursue a minor. The opportunity to take these classes bestowed a breadth of knowledge I wouldn't have otherwise obtained and have been some of the most enlightening classes I've taken at the UW - many thanks to the lovely professors of the Art History department!

In academic contrast, the opportunity to be a member of the Chavkin Lab the past four years has shaped my undergraduate experience. Neuroscience has always been one of my passions, but my positive experience in the Chavkin Lab has solidified my desire to pursue Neuroscience as a career. The ability to develop as a neuroscience researcher, influenced by such positive mentors, is why I was able to accept a position at the National Institutes of Health in Washington D.C. to participate in research on psychiatric disease before applying to graduate school.

Ultimately, I'm beyond thankful for the friendships I've fostered during undergrad. From the neuroganglia to 4727, I can't imagine undergrad without you. Thanks for the mems University of Washington & go dawgs!!!

Proudest Moment: Presenting my capstone research on compostable diapers at the Program on the Environment Capstone Symposium

k.jobe@outlook.com

My upbringing, of environmental education, skiing, and backpacking in the Pacific Northwest, fostered my goal to work toward a career in environmental policy to help ensure the environment as we know it will stay prime for adventure for all future generations. I’ve been an executive officer of Global Sustainability Initiatives, a College of the Environment Student Ambassador, and intern for Connect 3 — a nonprofit that partners with villages in Ethiopia and Peru to improve waste, water, and education practices.

Proudest Moment: Getting into my engineering major, and managing to keep my GPA high enough for Honors.

I'm an MSE graduate who has a lot of love for semiconductors and quantum materials.

Proudest Moment: Having a spark of curiosity in my heart and designing experiments with my research mentor. It feels ever so rewarding to know that every little step I took brings us a step closer to unlocking the secrets of nature.

Thesis: The Effect of Wnt5a Ligand on ROR2 Dimerization

tian.laura.li@hotmail.com

I have always been fascinated by the complexity and diversity of the human brain and the UW’s Neuroscience Honors program gave me the opportunity to explore the field of brain science. During my time as a student, I was not only able to learn about the various aspects of neuroscience in classroom, but I was also able to gain first-hand research experiences in lab. Starting from my junior year, I joined the Barria lab here at UW studying neuronal plasticity, which is the molecular basis of learning and memory of the brain.
In the meanwhile, I have always been a passionate ballet dancer and I am very grateful for the opportunity to also minor in dance here at UW. The diverse courses in dance technique, history, and anatomy allowed me to grow into a well-rounded dancer.

Proudest Moment: My proudest moment at UW was receiving the Guthrie Prize for the best empirical paper

Thesis: Effectiveness of a Transdiagnostic Evidence-Based Treatment on Improving Child Clinical Outcomes in Washington State Community Mental Health

cjrn1@live.com

I am a first-generation student that is originally from Puerto Rico who loves to go out dancing. Since my father is in the military, I have moved all around the world and had the opportunity to interact with a variety of individuals from different cultural backgrounds. This has helped me understand and communicate with individuals more readily and has given me a fair amount of opportunities that I would not have had otherwise. I am passionate about both the research and clinical sides of psychology and hope to eventually receive my Ph.D. in child clinical psychology.

Proudest Moment: Successfully adapting to a new language, culture, and way of life while studying abroad.

Thesis: Towards Resource-Efficient Contextual Word Representations for Parsing

My Website

I’m graduating with a dual degree in Computer Science (Data Science) and Linguistics. I’ve always pushed myself to gain a deeper understanding of everything I pursue and to work to advance the lives of others. To this end, I’ve filled my time at UW with experiences that have challenged me to grow intellectually and personally.
My research is in natural language processing, and I design computational approaches to tackle problems involving language. At UW, I’ve developed techniques for effectively modeling languages for which data is scarce and conventional methods are ineffective. I hope to bring the benefits of language technologies, like translation and misinformation detection, to speakers of such underrepresented languages. As a TA for the NLP class, I had the opportunity to share these experiences with many of my colleagues in CS.
I’m passionate about expanding my perspectives, and during the fall of my senior year, I studied abroad at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. In addition to challenging myself through graduate-level coursework, I gained valuable experience in appreciating, adapting to, and understanding a new culture.
I’ve interned three times as a software engineer: twice at Indeed.com, and once at Facebook. Following graduation, I’ll intern once more at Facebook before returning to UW, where I’ll pursue a M.S. in Computer Science and continue my research in NLP. I hope to continue learning, exploring the world, and improving others’ lives!

Proudest Moment: Making lifelong friends, and making lifelong memories with them.

My Website kurt3903@gmail.com

I came to UW in 2016 with the intent to become a nuclear physicist. It was a big change for me, not only transitioning from high school, but also to live in the city and take care of myself independently. I made many new friends and had the best roommates I could have hoped for here at UW! I also had a great part-time job working at Bay Laurel Catering, which was a very unique and rewarding experience. I got to participate in undergraduate research in the UW Quantum Ion Computing Group, working alongside a fun and talented group to put my physics skills to work.
The Physics Departmental Honors program showed me several new and exciting research applications in modern physics. I got to study several experiments in great detail, which not only improved my understanding of the physics involved in these studies, but gave me a greater appreciation for the applications of physics and the knowledge I was gaining.
Life at UW has certainly opened up my eyes to trying out new experiences and opportunities - I now see the wide variety of possible careers and higher education that await me as a physics graduate. While I am considering graduate school in my future, I want to get a job where I can apply my physics knowledge and see what fields I want to pursue in detail. I can't wait to see what the future holds for me and my fellow graduates!

Proudest Moment: My proudest moment was being able to help new Bioengineering students as a TA for an introductory lab course. I take pride in being able to help others and pass on knowledge to future graduates.

Thesis: Rehabilitative Haptic Stimulation Device for Sensorimotor Impairment

I'm Max, a Bioengineering major with interests in neural engineering and data science. I've always been fascinated by the intersection of biology and engineering, and how we can use organic systems to inspire new technologies. I'm hoping to delve deeper into the how the complexities of nature can be captured by artificial processes, and how this knowledge can be applied in meaningful ways to improve human life.

Proudest Moment: Being a part of Husky 100 for 2019

I am very stoked to be graduating from UW PoE! I majored in environmental studies and am very interested in public policy, history and political science. I started out farming at the UW and ended interning with King County and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. I have loved my time at UW and cannot wait to enter this hectic world and participate in making it better.

Proudest Moment: During the final gallery demonstrations for DXARTS 471: Mechatronics Art, my friend's art project was suddenly failing. They had invited their family and were in tears that after all the work they put in, it was inexplicably breaking. While other students demonstrated their projects, I applied my experience with embedded systems to debug the project. Approaching the last minute, even after being told by my friend to give up, I figured out what was wrong and got it working again. The demo went flawlessly. My friend hugged me and their mom thanked me, and I don't think I've ever felt more proud of myself.

Thesis: Hardware Implementation of a Wireless Backscatter Communication Protocol for Brain-Controlled Spinal Interfaces

My Website anand272@cs.washington.edu

My purpose is to make the world more beautiful, sustainable, and efficient through innovation and empathy. Solving complex problems, defined through engineering, is the core of my character. I'm developing a strong foundation in computer engineering, which I'll apply to fields such as neural computation and engineering. Through my experience at UW, I've contributed to a variety of innovative projects (robotics competitions, hackathons, neural engineering research, virtual reality in prison, etc...) utilizing a variety of tools (code, laser cutters, oscilloscopes, soldering irons, etc...). I've met some of the most amazing people and learned some of the most fascinating concepts here, and I'm excited to pursue my Master's here in the fall.

My hobbies include free skates, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and playing video games like Titanfall 2. My favorite shows include Avatar the Last Airbender and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Taking Neuroethics and Moral Issues of Life and Death, while witnessing local activism over the last couple quarters, has motivated me to delve into essential questions relatively unrelated to engineering, but an engineering perspective doesn't necessarily hurt. So while I'm interning at Cisco Webex Teams this summer, I'll also be reading up on topics like ethics and intersectionality.

Proudest Moment: I am proudest of my honors thesis because it was challenging. It required intense focus, adaptability, and persistence.

Thesis: Las semillas de la sombra (Shadow's Seeds)

Hi, I’m Terezia. I have nurtured the dream of earning a B.A. for a long time. I have always loved the Spanish language and was fascinated by its musicality and potential to express emotion. However, it was through the study of literature written in this language that I realized how deeply Spanish resonated within me.

Proudest Moment: I helped to found and direct an organization at UW called Capillaries: The Journal of Narrative Medicine. Capillaries is a quarterly journal, intended for undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff from all departments in the humanities and sciences to explore the commonalities we share as humans and to understand how both objective facts and subjective feelings intertwine in healthcare. Since February 2018, we have worked to provide a safe space for community members to discuss and share their most vulnerable and often silenced experiences through writing and art. Recently, we published our Spring 2020 journal, featuring 60 works of narrative prose, poetry, and artwork, created by students and healthcare workers about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.capillariesjournal.com/

Thesis: The Role of STING in Latent and Lytic KSHV Infection of Primary Endothelial Cells

Hi, I’m Alice! Looking back on the past four years at UW, perhaps the word that best captures this experience is “homeostasis” –the process by which a living entity maintains a steady internal system while adjusting to changes in its external environment. Although the term is often used in a biological context, it has resonated with me on a more philosophical, human level: My UW experience has involved constant interrogation and assessment of my own internal values and aspirations in response to the university environment. Upon starting college, I was interested in understanding both the biological and psychosocial facets of human health and thus immersed myself in classes ranging from medical bacteriology to medical anthropology. I was also drawn, however, to my classes in the English Department. The process of writing and sharing my own poetry was empowering, and studying literature ranging from Victorian novels to modern short stories from Ghana provided the most powerful examination of what it means to be human –from how we navigate moments of love and loss to how we make sense of our positionality in our community and the broader world.

I am humbled to have also had the opportunity to conduct and publish research through UW’s Microbiology Department, to found and lead a literary journal (“Capillaries”) dedicated to empowering students to share their stories on health and healing, and lastly, to give back to my community through volunteering/social justice work. These experiences have shaped my desire to pursue medicine in the future and to continue finding balance between various goals –conducting research, honoring the stories of the community through the arts, and helping others to navigate the most vulnerable moments of their life and attain their own sense of personal homeostasis.

To my mentors and professors who instilled in me a love for learning, to my labmates, project collaborators, and friends for their warmth, laughter, and support, and to the programs and organizations that provided me with research funding and grants for launching and sustaining Capillaries: Thank you for taking a chance on me these past four years. I am indebted to you all~

Proudest Moment: As a sophomore, I worked as a member of the field crew that recovered the Tufts-Love Tyrannosaurus rex for the Burke Museum.

Thesis: Comparative osteohistology of extant small-bodied mammals with implications for understanding the growth dynamics of Mesozoic mammals

I came to UW as a transfer from Seattle Central Community College. Since becoming a Husky, I've co-authored three papers, mentored dozens of students, and made life-long friendships. While pursuing my degree, I worked as the lab manager for Dr. Gregory Wilson and studied the evolutionary dynamics of mammals across the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction boundary. As a member of the Wilson lab, I spent the last three summers in Montana collecting fossils for the Hell Creek Project and volunteering with the DIG Field School to give K-12 teachers hands-on experiences in geoscience. In the fall, I will continue as manager of the Wilson lab while pursuing a graduate position in paleobiological studies.

Proudest Moment: My proudest moment is more of a collection of little moments. I was honored with the job of being a TA for two quarters and every time a student would come to me for help, we would work together to best tackle the topic at hand. My happiest and proudest moments at UW were simply watching the student's expression change from confusion to understanding.

Thesis: In-vitro Bubble-Enhanced Heating for Focused Ultrasound Treatments in the Brain

Hi, I'm Sierra. Although this is not exactly how I pictured the end, I am still so proud and thankful for the last four years. I have had the great pleasure of putting something of myself into every piece of my work here at UW and have found a passion and love for medical imaging and its applications in global health. I want to thank my family, friends, and co-workers for their constant support. And now, I am off to graduate school. TTFN!

Proudest Moment: One of my proudest moments at UW was getting into honors, and fulfilling one of my most important longterm academic goals. Getting to interact with and learn from my History Honors cohort was one of the most exciting experiences of my college career, and I am extremely grateful for every minute of it.

Thesis: Wives, Daughters, and Rebels: Women’s Interactions With the Law and Society During the Triumviral Proscriptions

Over the course of my time at UW, I have been able to expand my horizons and be a part of so many wonderful organizations. This has all set me on the path to becoming a teacher, and I am excited to be starting my masters in teaching next year!

Proudest Moment: Making the Dean's List for nearly 4 years straight

I am a transfer student that has had nothing but a good experience at UW. Over my three year here, I have been blessed to have made many educational and personal relationships that I will cherish forever. Getting to watch the Dawgs play a Rose Bowl in Pasadena is something I will never forget. GO DAWGS

Proudest Moment: One of my proudest moments is the time I spent abroad where I really grew as an individual during a challenging time.

Thesis: “I get out and start walking”: Refusal of the Asian American Family Unit by Exploring Debt, Migrancy, and Queer Reproduction in Ling Ma’s Severance

Originally from Boulder, Colorado, I've lived in 5 different cities during my college experience. Movement has characterized my understanding of the world and meeting new people and learning new things is something I always seek in my life.

I'm graduating with a BBA with a Marketing concentration and a BA in English: Language and Literature. The English Honors program was one of my favorite endeavors in college because I truly loved getting to know my cohort and learning in a supportive environment. I also learned how much I enjoy learning about critical theory and conducting research and I look forward to applying to graduate programs to continue my research on racial capitalism, Marxist feminist studies, and Asian American literature!

At UW, I worked at doughnuts and coffee shops, literary agencies and publishers, and focused on mentorship with my RSOs. I have fond memories of speaking with professors after class outside Suzzallo, reading in the quad during Spring Quarter, and hosting brunches with my roommates. It's been an incredible 4 years!

Proudest Moment: One of my proudest memories at UW was having the opportunity to share my passion for bioengineering with other students through my position as a TA!

Thesis: Regulating chimeric γc cytokine receptor expression through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted integration

Hi, I'm Piper! It has been an amazing four years at UW, and I'm so grateful for the many amazing experiences I've had here. It was a pleasure learning alongside so many brilliant students and having the chance to explore my passions through classes, volunteering, and research. I am excited to spend the next couple years working before heading to grad school or medical school! Thank you to my professors, friends, and family for their never-ending support and encouragement in the pursuit of my dreams.

Proudest Moment: Among all the small moments like trying new things and taking challenging courses that I am proud of, the memory of reading the first article I got published and printed in The Daily my first-year year was a very exciting and proud moment.

Thesis: The Progression of Presidential Speeches Over the Course of Operation Enduring Freedom

znshadan@gmail.com

I moved to Seattle from San Diego with a readiness to try new things, meet new people, and learn and challenge myself as much as I could. Even with the eagerness I had as a young first-year, the people, personal growth, challenges, and experiences these past four years brought me were more than I could have ever expected. My passion for people, social and political justice, and writing grew, and inspired me to double major in both Communication and Political Science. For nearly a year and a half I wrote for The Daily, exploring topics in wellness, politics, sustainability, and entertainment that let me dip my toes into journalism. In my second-year, I acted as a constitutive member and network ambassador for the UW Sustainability Action Network, headed by Lance Bennett, where my team and I worked to build a platform for various student organizations to collaborate and build a movement towards social, political, economic, and environmental sustainability. Then came my third year where I fulfilled a dream I dreamt when I was just a kid, and that was to live in Paris, France. My exchange brought me to studying at The Paris Institute of Political Studies, where I took courses in strategies and ethics of war, rhetoric in the French political system, and EU integration, amongst many other topics. I was able to ameliorate my French and German language skills, travel across Western and Eastern Europe both with others and independently, and meet people from all different cultural and academic backgrounds. The year reaffirmed my passion for diversity, culture, languages, and conversation rooted in listening and sharing experiences and perspectives. This affirmation encouraged me to pursue a thesis under the Department of Communication during my fourth year, where my ultimate research topic aimed to critically analyze the extent to which American exceptionalism exists and plays a role in political relations. The result was focused on comparing presidential speeches throughout Operation Enduring Freedom, speaking more narrowly to the differences between presidential communication, and suggested further explorations in assessing the purpose of political partisanship. In this past year, I also had the pleasure of working at the Odegaard Writing and Research Center, working with UW students, faculty, and staff in familiarizing themselves with and strengthening their writing processes.

While my plans after graduation are yet to be determined, I am hoping to find a position in the non-profit sector where I can apply what I have learned these past four years, and will continue to learn as I transition from student to professional, to change-making and cause-oriented work.

Proudest Moment: Getting into departmental honors for both of my majors within a week!

Thesis: Evaluating technological tools to support environmental literacy, Correlating landslide susceptibility and risk using GIS and statistical methods

Being a student at the College of the Environment, I'm constantly amazed by the power of people and education in order to creatively solve environmental issues. For our society to be proactive in solving major environmental catastrophes like climate change, we need to be better science communicators, activists, and advocates for justice and equity. The University of Washington has introduced me to a variety of people, which has just given me the opportunity to mentor, teach, and learn fro and is just one step in being a leader and role-model in my community.

#GoDawgs

Proudest Moment: Getting the Foster Undergraduate Scholarship

raewang98@gmail.com

I'm thankful that the honors program has challenged me to research more in my interested academic areas. For my two ad hoc projects, I completed a research paper discussing America-China Trade War and one regarding "Clustering Performance Comparison Between Expectation Maximization Algorithm and K-means Using Spotify Data". Cheers to all the hard work and happy graduation to all the class of 2020 huskies!

Proudest Moment: This past winter I had the opportunity of organizing Introduce a Girl to Renewable Energy as the Outreach Director of Women in Chemical Engineering. 193 girls showed up for an afternoon of hands-on instructional demos provided by UW STEM organizations

Thesis: Establishing a Method for the Quantification of Poly-ethylene Glycol Surface Density

evanepst@gmail.com

Hi! My name is Evan and I use he/him pronouns.

I moved to Seattle from Boston to attend UW. It's true what they say... west coast, best coast. Since moving here, I've discovered a love of the outdoors: hiking, camping and skiing on REAL mountains. I made some amazing friends, both in and out of Honors. But maybe most importantly, I found a direction.

I committed to Chemical Engineering in Sophomore year without any idea about what Chemical Engineering was. As researcher in the Nance Lab, a ChemE lab which engineers nanoparticles for use in the brain, I discovered a passion for applying my education and abilities to challenges facing pharmaceutical research. I took this new passion and interned for Just Biotherapeutics, working to overcome the limitations viscosity imposes on protein-based therapeutics. I hope to continue this work for years to come.

Proudest Moment: One of my proudest moments has been when I represented UW at an international conference and had the opportunity to sharing my research.

Thesis: Winter under-ice patterns of greenhouse gases in lakes of interior Alaska

I have had moments of great joy in the last four years of UW. Not all my moments were as joyful as others but there were certain parts of my UW life that kept my spirits high against the coursework and winter weather of UW. Working in David Butman's lab pushed me out of multiple comfort zones and as a result gave me one of the most steady and consistent parts of my UW career. I have to thank UW Women's Rugby for giving me a community which turned into forever friends and best roommates. Lastly, I loved all of my ESRM classes and I have treasured this experience that started with an interest and grew into a passion making me not only a scientist but more of a steward of the Earth.

Proudest Moment: Working as a House Manager at Meany Center for the Performing Arts

Thesis: Film, Medicine, & Moscow: Translations of Maxim Osipov's "Little Lord Fauntleroy" & "Fantasy"

levi.j.sy@gmail.com

My time at UW has certainly been one of unexpected, yet completely fulfilling, events. Coming to UW four long years ago, I knew that I wanted to get a degree in the physical sciences, likely in chemistry or biochemistry. While that did come to pass, it was one of the few parts of my education that followed my initial plans. Little did I know then that I would begin studying the Russian language, study abroad in St. Petersburg for a summer, and pursue an additional degree from the Department of Slavic Languages & Literature, much less write a translation thesis, translating two contemporary short stories from Russian into English. Despite the unforeseen nature of all of this, I wouldn't change it for the world.
Beyond classes, I enjoyed playing the French horn in various bands and orchestras on campus, as well as working at Meany Center for the Performing Arts as an usher and now a house manager. Looking forward, I hope to take a year or two off of school and then pursue a higher degree, likely in international relations or political science. Thank you to all of my friends, colleagues, and professors for your support!

Proudest Moment: Building complicated ML models (after days of debugging) that benefit and potentially save human health

Thesis: A Take on Generalized Spatial Mismatch Hypothesis: Effects of Residency Away From Work on Income Inequality

kangb6187@gmail.com

UW wasn't the highest ranking school I was admitted to. Some told me that I was making a huge mistake and I will come to regret it someday, but something that I can't really express pushed me to come to UW. Now that I'm done, I can tell what that "something" was: Cooking, friends, all-nighters, research, mentorships, bowling, hiking, internships, coffee chats, cold emails, stressing, drinking, binge-watch, TA-ing, free food, clubs, machine learning, and much much more.

I don't regret a single bit coming to UW. I'm finishing strong and all the experiences stay with me forever.

Proudest Moment: Finishing my degree! Graduating :)

Thesis: Covid-19 Pandemic Effects on UW Nursing Students

-I am excited to start my next journey in nursing by attending Johns Hopkins University and their Family Nurse Practitioner program
-I was happy to spend time as BSN curriculum chair for my cohort and advocating for my cohort by facilitating conversations with faculty and professors
-I enjoyed being a part of many clubs such as SON dawgs Husky Nurse Camp and Future Nurses club. Both programs allowed me to see the potential in many students as future Husky nurses.

Proudest Moment: Making the Annual Dean's List three consecutive years in a row to graduate with departmental honors after being rejected by all seven engineering majors I applied for in the summer of 2015.

albertmeuse22@gmail.com

When I came to the University of Washington in 2012, I vaguely knew I wanted to be an engineer, but I didn't really carry out the type of self-reflection needed to truly understand what my motivations were. In the past years I have went through a lot of adversity, and have matured greatly. I have become much more inquisitive, and curious. Although I have learned a tremendous amount in my time at UW, I am significantly less presumptive than I used to be, as I am much more aware of just how little I know. My long meandering undergrad experience has culminated in a double major in Bioresource Science & Engineering, and Environmental Science & Resource Management, in addition to a minor in Chemistry. In these programs I have learned a great deal about chemical engineering and forestry, and I intend on applying this knowledge in a way that addresses this current climate crisis we find ourselves in. This past year, under Anthony Dichiara, I conducted research on how graphene sponges made from carbon nanomaterials can be used for water treatment. I have worked as a dispatcher for the US Forest Service, as a canvasser for Environment Washington, and as a process engineer for NORPAC.

Proudest Moment: My proudest moment was getting the opportunity to attend UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy as a Law Fellow through the Public Policy and International Affairs Program

Thesis: School To Prison Pipeline

imanm1998@gmail.com

I am a first-generation college student and the daughter to Ethiopian immigrants. My passion for choosing this path of education is to one day shape Public Policy around issues of bias in our criminal justice system, more specifically in their use of punishment. I am passionate about working to dismantle mass incarceration because of how it is disproportionately affecting Black people and all people of color. My honor’s thesis gave me a deeper understanding of the School-to-Prison pipeline and has allowed me to determine how I want to create in the world after my time at the University of Washington. I plan on pursuing a Master’s in public policy with a focus on criminal justice and education to create systemic change and equity to these issues.

Proudest Moment: My best memories at UW come from spending time with outstanding, goofy, and vibrant individuals who not only motivated me to become better, but also to enjoy life once (or twice) in a while.

Thesis: Effect of SS-31 on the Sod1KO Model of Sarcopenia

My Website kevinanguyen2@gmail.com

Hello! I'm Kevin Nguyen. I'll be graduating with a degree in Physiology this year, and I enjoy drawing and painting in my free time.

It feels surreal to conclude my 4 years of undergrad at UW. I remember back to the beginning of high school when I first designated UW as my dream school like it was yesterday. So much has happened during my time here and I will carry the endless memories, relationships, and lessons with me as I continue along my own journey.

Some highlights from my undergraduate career include: working on an extensive research project in the Marcinek lab for almost 3 years; learning from and assisting patients in clinical settings every summer; and collaborating with rad individuals on the Neurobiology Club officer board. And while STEM classes were something else, I'll give some credit to the endless and toiling hours of study for allowing me to indulge in the arts of learning and physiology.

Most importantly, my undergrad experiences have given me a greater perspective on life. There are many many things in this world that need to be improved upon. Personally, I will pursue medicine to not only to heal others but also to fight and rectify the disparities and conflicts that obscure the field from its full potential. My past interactions with other bright individuals along my journey have ensured me that they will do great things and change their respective fields for the better as well.

Proudest Moment: Receive the Mary Gates Research Scholarship

I am from China. I like dancing, reading and yoga. My career direction is biomedical science, so I also did some research at several labs at UW.

Proudest Moment: Working on problem sets with my friends are both the proudest and most rewarding moments that I've had at UW. Solving some 446 problems with Luke are definitely the most memorable of the bunch.

Thesis: Verifying Strong Eventual Consistency in δ-CRDTs

My Website ttaylorr@cs.washington.edu

I am graduating with a BS in Computer Science with Departmental Honors from the Paul G. Allen School for Computer Science, and a minor in Mathematics. My thesis is about verifying that δ-CRDTs achieve Strong Eventual Consistency. After graduation, I am continuing to work at GitHub full-time.

Proudest Moment: My proudest moment has been establishing the UW Eye Club; an organization that promotes vision care awareness and related philanthropic opportunities.

Thesis: The evolution of French in a province surrounded by English

My Website radnick9@gmail.com

I have always had an interest for the complexities of the human. My passion has guided me towards a career in healthcare. In particular, i’ve found the technical aspects of surgery to be most appealing. After conducting research for over three years, i’ve come to appreciate the finer details of biology and how fascinating the life sciences can be. I was honored to be chosen twice as a Mary Gates scholar for my research. Sharing my research with others at the Undergraduate Research Symposium has been quite a memorable experience for me, where I’ve been able to converse with individuals and observe their diverse research interests. It was quite an inspiring event where I learned about the amazing work being done at the UW. Moreover, completing a dual-degree has given me the privilege to learn about two completely different studies, while still integrating them into my daily life. I’ve found that French gets me to think about every other educational aspect that Physiology cannot cover solely by itself. Whether it may be the practicality of learning the language itself, global and cultural history, or even philosophy and literature, I’ve felt like French has been a significant contributor in providing me a well-round education. I am eager to begin the next stage of my educational journey. Currently, I am completing my remote EMT training with the intent of joining my local county’s emergency services department and their search and rescue crew. Through this, I am hoping to gain useful life experience before I attend medical school.

Proudest Moment: Learning enough German in 9 months to have meaningful conversations during my study abroad.

Thesis: Functionalizing Exfoliated Black Phosphorus with Rhenium Carbonyl Species

davidhales@berkeley.edu

I came into UW undeclared and unsure about my academic interests. My first-year year I made some good friends in the honors general chemistry sequence and enjoyed the content so I applied to the chemistry major. I was lucky to find communities in STEM, music, and ultimate frisbee that helped me find a place in college. I'm super grateful for those communities and the all the awesome people I met through them. Spring and summer of my sophomore year I studied abroad in Heidelberg, Germany, and took classes in chemistry and German. As a lifelong introvert, my study abroad really helped to push me out of my comfort zone in a constructive way. Winter quarter of my junior year I started zooming through my double major in physics, which has been a uniquely challenging experience. At the same time, I also started research on black phosphorus chemistry as part of the Velian group. I'm thankful to Prof. Velian and all of the members of the Velian group for their patient mentorship and support as I learned what it means to be a scientist. I'm proud to graduate with departmental honors in both chemistry and physics. After graduation, I will pursue a PhD at UC Berkeley in synthetic inorganic chemistry.

Proudest Moment: One of my proudest moments was when I was awarded the SAFS Faculty Merit Award

Thesis: Zebrafish embryo screening to evaluate the effective removal of toxics from urban stormwater runoff using novel bioretention methods

I grew up with my two brothers and little sister in the small city of Herriman, UT where I spent my time swimming, hiking, playing soccer, riding horses, and playing the saxophone. Since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to move away to the ocean. At first, I thought that meant going to college in California but life brought me to the University of Washington, and I am so glad it did. I have loved my time at the UW. I have experienced some truly exceptional opportunities including a summer in Alaska studying salmon and a quarter at Friday Harbor collecting data from research boats and studying skates. Attending a school with 47,000+ students can be difficult but I was lucky to find community within the College of the Environment where I represented as a student ambassador for a couple of years. I am excited to jump into the next stage of my life where I hope to apply my degree in a career oriented toward environmental education and outreach to work for a sustainable future for all.

Proudest Moment: Studying abroad and meeting lifelong friends

Thesis: Evaluation of Maasai-Water Relationships in a Changing Landscape: A Case Study of Former Kimana Group Ranch

As an Environmental Science major, I started at UW with an interest in protecting our environment and wildlife, and after these four, short years that interest has grown into a dedication for the decolonization of conservation practices and the inclusion of communities in environmental decision-making. I worked in the SEFS advising department, interned at King County for three summers, studied in Kenya, volunteered, danced in two dance departments shows, and made a lot of good friends and memories along the way.

I am so grateful for my time here and my support system. I couldn't have done it without them. I hope to effect positive change and work towards a more sustainable future, as well as hike, sew, and drink lots of tea.

Proudest Moment: Organizing outreach visits to high schools to teach bioengineering to schools with diverse populations that have traditionally been underrepresented in the field of bioengineering.

Thesis: Classification of Alzheimer's Disease Patients using Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based Network Connectivity Analysis

hkredden3@gmail.com

Hello! My name is Hyae Won (Hannah) Redden and I am a senior graduating from the Department of Bioengineering and the Department of Biochemistry. I was born in Seoul, South Korea and immigrated to the U.S. when I was three years old, growing up first in Little Rock, Arkansas and later University Place, Washington, before starting school here in Seattle.

Throughout my time at UW, I have been fortunate to have taken part in so many transformative experiences through taking engaging courses, participating in extracurricular activities, and interacting with so many extraordinary people. Some of my most meaningful experiences include coordinating a reading program at Seattle Children's Hospital and the UW Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; receiving a Gilman Scholarship to study abroad in Nepal, where I was able to assess health technology needs in the OB/GYN department; coordinating a website for Science Explorers, a graduate student group that develops science lesson plans for elementary-aged students; serving as Outreach Chair for the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) at UW for the past 2 years; and being a part of the Department of Bioengineering Diversity Committee, where I was not only able to contribute to improving efforts to improve diverse outreach, but also reflect on inequalities that exist in society and in higher education and think critically about action items to address such issues. These experiences, in conjunction with my research and academic studies in biochemistry and bioengineering, have fueled both existing and new passions and I hope to take these perspectives with me as I pursue a career in healthcare.

In my free time, I enjoy bullet journaling, hand lettering, taking on miscellaneous arts and craft projects, reading (especially autobiographies and memoirs), and traveling. My favorite travel memories during my time as an undergrad include holding a newborn baby at an outreach center in Bolde, Nepal, working as a patisserie assistant in a tiny little town called Nitry in France, and learning more about my home country. After graduation, I hope to continue learning about different cultures in the communities around me as well as while traveling abroad.

And of course, I wouldn't be here today without all of the amazing people that have helped me along the way, so thank you to the amazing peers, professors, and mentors that have contributed to such a great undergrad experience! Also, I'd like to thank my family for all of the endless love and support!

Proudest Moment: Seeing the public release of the Washington Legislative Explorer, a database project that was the culmination of more than a year of hard (and often arduous) work.

Thesis: Judicial Prescience: How Judges Incorporate Expectations in Grants for Certiorari

My Website

When I got to UW, I was going to be attending my third college; after receiving an A.S. from North Idaho College and transferring from the University of Oklahoma, my curiosity always got the better of me and I could never settle on a field. Nonetheless, I was determined and the faculty, resources, and opportunities at UW allowed me to grow into my passion. Over the last three years, I was able to complete a research fellowship, the political science honors program, write two independent research papers, and produce a web database to help citizens educate themselves on the activities of the Washington state legislature. Even more fulfilling are the bonds to friends, faculty, and a community of scholars.

I am taking my next step in the fall as I start a Ph.D. in Politics at Princeton, where I was honored with a Centennial Fellowship. To my friends, family, professors, and all those who supported me -- thank you and Go Dawgs!

Proudest Moment: I am proud of the growth I have seen in my person over these past years.

Thesis: Investigating the Properties and Mechanism of Action of Potential Novel Analgesic AS1

Lais is an avid scholar with an interest in neuroscience, biology, nutrition, and more. During her time at the University of Washington, she worked in the de la Iglesia lab on a project on the NaV1.1 channel in Dravet Syndrome, for which she won the Mary Gates Research Scholarship in winter of 2019. She then was a Pain Research Scholar in 2019 and moved to the Dhaka lab. She wrote her Neuroscience Departmental Honors Thesis on her work in the Dhaka lab on the impact of a potential novel analgesic AS1 on aversion in zebrafish.
Outside of school, Lais spends time volunteering through COPE and at ROOTS Young Adult shelter. She also enjoys biking, drawing, and reading.

Proudest Moment: The proudest moment is being awarded the Mary Gates Scholarship for my research conducted at UW.

Thesis: A Biodegradable, Multifunctional Hydrogel as a Vascular Graft Sealant

My professional interests are studying physiology and biochemistry and trying to engineer low cost, reasonable, and effective solutions to problems that arise in the human body such that they can be treated successfully. This passion will hopefully lead me towards a career in medicine where I hope to contribute towards revolutionizing the way medicine is practiced. Participating in a translational research project for 3 years has sparked my interest in the field of research and how it is related to medicine. During my spare time I am interested in playing and watching basketball, cooking, and exercising.

Proudest Moment: I completed my economics honors thesis.

Thesis: The Impacts of Universal Health Insurance on Educational Attainment: Evidence from the Seguro Popular Program in Mexico

My Website shhsu@cs.washington.edu

Please visit my website for more details about me.

Proudest Moment: Interning in Washington D.C. with the support of the Jackson Munro Public Service Fellowship!

Thesis: Effectiveness of Critical Ongoing Resource family Education (CORE-Teen): Support for Resource Parents of American Indian Teens

tao.stacie@columbia.edu

In my four, short years at the University of Washington, my interest in working with young children has grown into a life-long dedication for dismantling intergenerational & systemic inequity and racial disproportionality in the child welfare system. Numerous non-profit organizations and early intervention/learning centers have guided me towards a path of advocating for trauma and culturally informed social policy. As I pursue this work, I aim to create lasting social change through a transformative justice lens and uphold intentional practices to dismantle traditional power dynamics that have led to deep system inequity. Outside the classroom, I spent my spare time involved with research, public service, study abroad, and playing my trumpet with the Husky Marching Band & UW Symphony.

I am immensely grateful for the opportunities and support I received through the University of Washington; the womxn of color faculty and mentors that encouraged me to dream bigger; and my social work cohort for being role models of social change, accountability and grace.

I am eager to embark on my next journey of pursuing a Master’s of Science in Social Work at Columbia University, where I will be working with The Center on Poverty and Social Policy.

Proudest Moment: I am proud of finishing my Honors thesis, and of the relationships and opportunities I created during my time at UW!

Thesis: “Family is Everything”: Importance of Embracing Family for Indigenous College Students’ Educational Success and Leadership Development

faaumukaimana@gmail.com

I am Fa'aumu Kaimana, and I am graduating from the UW with majors in Medical Anthropology & Global Health, and Sociology. I explored the concept of family in my honors thesis, which investigates the role of family in Indigenous students’ educational success at the University of Washington. In a year's time, I hope to pursue a doctorate program in Indigenous Studies or a related field, and research the relationship between language and resilience among Seattle area Indigenous communities.

2020 President's Medalist (Four-Year Award), awarded by President Cauce at graduation
2020 Husky 100 Award Recipient, awarded for an exemplary Husky Experience inside the classroom, in communities, and beyond
2020 Curtis Wienker Award for Best Honors Thesis in Anthropology
2020 Albert W. Black Undergraduate Community Service Award

Proudest Moment: I am proud that I used my time at UW to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis in Venezuela through my artwork, and had the freedom to explore a wide range of mediums finding ways to improve and innovate my work and its powerful message.

I started my path in the Arts in my country of origin, Venezuela, and I could not be more excited to finish my degree in Interdisciplinary Visual Arts at UW. Although Venezuela is no longer my home it is still my main source of inspiration. I am looking forward to use the skills I learned during my time at UW to keep creating meaningful art outside of the classroom.