Graduate Profiles

Autumn 2008 - Summer 2009

The Honors Program salutes its graduates!

Welcome! Please join us in celebrating University of Washington's Honors graduates for the 2008-09 school year. Below you will find a list of some College Honors and Departmental Honors alumni and students who have completed, or are about to complete, their degrees here at University of Washington. We invite you to view their profiles to find out more about these remarkable individuals and their exciting plans for the future!

Sincerely,

The Honors Staff

(2007-08 graduate profiles are still available here)

Lisa Akiyama
Myra Jon Aquino
Alireza Bagheri Garakani
Mitra Barahimi
Angela "Anja " Barnard
Nevet Basker
Spencer Bliven
Noelle Carne
Rachel Carter
Bora Chang
Kira Conrad
Alex Feng
Samantha Lee Gonzalez
Julia Hamilton
Courtney Hampson
Laura Harrington
Bárbara Martínez Holmquist
Spencer James
Laurel Kanawyer
Sergey Karayev
Jordan Kho
Lori St. Kitts
Miriam Korngold
Ema Katrina Land
Rosie Lindeke
Michelle Low
P. Ryan Mayock
Rosalie McGurk
Justin Meyer
Monica Elise Nelson
Sarah Elizabeth Ouderkirk
Ji Sun Park
Allison Parker
Anthony Poon
Melissa Lyles Powel
Rachel Powers
Preethi Prema Raghu
Boris Sanjaya
Phillip A Setran
Sarah Shepherd
Jane A Silver
Alex Cho Snyder
Brendan Stewart
Erik Stinson
Erica Victoria Tartaglione
Mandie Tollefson
Rachel Waszkewitz
Kathy Wei
Kathryn Ann Whitaker
Benjamin Philip Wood
Avi Joseph Zellman

  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Psychology, Molec/Cell/Dev Biology
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Effects of Muscimol Reversible Inactivation of the Prelimbic Area on Spatial Working Memory
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    I will be traveling to Europe!
    ...One year after graduating?
    I will be working as a Research Assistant at the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS) at UW.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Hopefully I will be conducting research as well as clinical work in the field of Neuroscience.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Through my honors research project, I was able to work on a truly independent project. This involved many turmoils and hard work, but it was very mind-stimulating. The honors program has taught me the importance and the necessity of scientific research to further better our lives and society.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Don't be afraid to be involved in many activities. If you really have passions for each of your activities, you will some how manage to fit everything in your busy schedule (although you might be deprived of sleep!). At the end, you will be glad you had participated in everything.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Summer 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    B.S. Biology (Physiology), B.A. Comparative History of Ideas
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Navigating Binaries: Fictionalizing Go-Betweens
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Playing video games while my luggage continues to remain unpacked for a summer study abroad to Kenya to study global health. And attending a bunch of grad parties.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Traipsing somewhere on the globe toting health reports and a camcorder, after having finished sending out applications for med school.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Balancing a successful career in medicine, global health, and filmmaking. And playing video games with my nieces and nephews.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Study abroad!!! And take the time to truly understand what YOU want to do with your life, mistakes and failures notwithstanding. :)
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Computer Science
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Real-Time Activity Classification on Windows Mobile
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10723447
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Packing bags and preparing to set off to San Jose!
    ...One year after graduating?
    Laying by the pool in warm San Jose weather.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Work experience at a few different places. Possibly in the process of or done with graduate school.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    For Dept honors in CSE we are required to do research, write a thesis, and present our work to our department. This was a great learning experience and is a opportunity to get some powerful recommendation letters for potential graduate studies in the future.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    It will be challenging, but rewarding. Work hard, and good luck.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Neurobiology
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Characterizing the Relationship between Septal and Cortical Activity in the Neonatal Mouse Brain
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Spending time (outside of the u-district)with family and friends
    ...One year after graduating?
    Buried in books at UW medical school
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Hopefully completing the final years of residency!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Political Science
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Integrating Germany's Muslims: Faces of the German Islam Conference
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    After graduating I will be reading for fun (lots of books on Islam and the Middle East, in both English and German), walking dogs around Greenlake and Wallingford, babysitting German kids, and hanging out with friends.
    ...One year after graduating?
    I want to work in Germany. My internship with the Department of Commerce introduced me to the Aerospace and Aviation industry and a career in Aviation consulting interests me. Alternately, I could put my thesis research to work as an integration counselor in Berlin. :D As long as it?s in Germany.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    I hope to find the time to continue learning Arabic, and add Turkish to my repertoire as well. It would be great to get a pilot's license too. Ideally I would like to have a job that gives me the flexibility to travel. And grad school may also be in the cards.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    CLARKE SPEED made me believe anything was possible, and encouraged me to apply myself and pursue all my dreams. Participating in the Honors Exploration Seminar in Berlin helped me develop my Senior Thesis topic. Researching and writing my Thesis has been the most meaningful part of college for me.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Find some way to step outside of your comfort zone, whether that be in a class, study abroad, etc. The process of self-reflection that accompanies immersing yourself in something totally foreign is the best way to learn. :-)
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Communication & Political Science
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Media Bias: Coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in Four International Media Outlets
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Home with my kids
    ...One year after graduating?
    In a leadership role in a community/non-profit/political organization.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Who knows -- maybe on my next career already?
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    A great opportunity for independent research, stretching my mind and making an original contribution.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    It's never too late!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Winter 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Biochemistry & Computer Science
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Efficient Modeling of Disulfide Bonds with Rosetta
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    After graduation I will continue working in David Baker's lab on further applications of my thesis topic.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Next year I'll be working on my PhD at UC San Diego.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    In ten years I'll be doing research in bioinformatics. Most likely that will be algorithm and software development for structural biology or proteomics.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Doing research is very important if you are interested in a scientific career. Doing Honors is one way to get experience doing novel, significant research with experience PIs.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Start your paper early. The introduction can be written well before you have any results. Writing an outline for the paper before you even start the experiment can be useful to make you think about what evidence is needed to support your claims and what work is unnecessary.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Winter 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    History, Minors in French, African Studies and European Studies
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Sport in Senegal During the 1960s; A Discussion on Nationalism and Pan-Africanism
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    went straight to work after my last final
    ...One year after graduating?
    in graduate school
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    done with school and travelling the world
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Don't forget to have fun because it goes by fast
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    English, Political Science
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    The Expatriate and Racial Tensions Abroad: Itís All About Home
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    I'll be in Phoenix starting summer institute for Teach for America!
    ...One year after graduating?
    I'll be teaching elementary students in Baton Rouge.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    I guess we'll see in 10 years!!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Biochemistry
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Variation in Human APOBEC3H Protein Stability and Antiviral Function against Retroviruses: Gaining Insight into the Patterns of Susceptibility and Resistance to HIV
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Relaxing with family, friends, and my guitar.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Finishing my first year of teaching junior high or high school level chemistry with Teach for America in Washington D.C.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Working with kids, in medicine.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    The incredible staff and support system, the unique and stimulating classes, and the inspiring professors that make up the Honors program has been one of the highlights of my undergraduate career. Thank you.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Be well-rounded. Take classes outside of your major, or pick up a new hobby and discover/develop a different side of yourself.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    BS in Nursing, BA in Spanish, and BS in Public Health
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Halting the Havoc of HIV in the "Land of Smiles": HIV/AIDS Prevention Campaigns in Thailand
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    on a flight to Dublin to celebrate!
    ...One year after graduating?
    making money, having my student loans all paid off, and loving my job.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    content.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    I would recommend Honors to anyone who wants to get more out of their undergraduate experience.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Take full advantage of the resources this school offers, TAs, advisors, and students who have gone before you. Then, pave your own road.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Economics
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    The Effect of Illegal Music Downloading on the Probability of Legal Purchases
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Celebrating with friends and family, relaxing after a long exciting week!
    ...One year after graduating?
    Working @ Accenture as a consulting analyst, hopefully being well on my way to being financially independent
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Completed a MBA program at a top school in the US, as well as working abroad in China where my extended family resides. I look forward to becoming a global businessman who will never forget his own culture!
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    I loved the support the honors advisors have given me in guiding my education, and the great variety of courses that was available to me through the honors program.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Definitely get involved in everything you might be interested in, whether becoming a president of a club or just attending a few events. It's cliché, but don't be afraid to try something new.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    English
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    From Daughters of Eve to Saints and Heroines: Evidence for the Mobility of Women in Old English Literature
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Either hopping on a plane to visit a village near Buffalo to make wine and see family...or sleeping. I'm hoping for the latter.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Finishing up my MA in Medieval English Literature at the University of York, UK.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    I anticipate having a PhD and teaching Medieval Literature at a university and teaching high school English (or Studio Art!) at the same time. I don't actually know if they let you do that, but that would be awesome.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    This is technically for all undergrads, but here you go: Study what you love. You'll be happier. Take advantage of participating in social causes that are important to you. For realz. To be cliche, broaden your horizons. Go abroad...particularly to non-"Western" countries.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Music and Biochemistry
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    I'll be on a plane with some of my family to Florida and the Bahamas for some quality bonding time.
    ...One year after graduating?
    I see myself finishing my first year of medical school and still going strong.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Ten years wiser.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    It had a huge impact, especially studying abroad in Amsterdam.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Try new things that you never knew would wow you before.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    International Studies, African Studies
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    The United States Peace Corps: International Development Organization or Tool of U.S. Foreign Policy? A historical study of the Peace Corps' purpose and goals
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Spending time with friends and family on Lake Washington to celebrate!
    ...One year after graduating?
    For the next two years, I will be in the Bay Area for Teach for America. So one year from now I will be finishing up my first year of teaching, and probably exhausted out of my mind. But at least it won't be raining!
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Ten years after graduating I hope to be working at a non-profit tackling social justice issues (education, or international development). After getting my masters in Education and Non-Profit Management, I want to be back in Seattle, married, and with a golden retriever!
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    The most incredible opportunity Honors opened up for me was the drive to pursue Jackson School Departmental Honors and write a thesis. While it was the most difficult part of my college experience, it was also incredibly rewarding. 90 pages, baby!
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Take a class from Clarke Speede. You may leave it not knowing what just happened to you, but it is a unique and memorable experience you shouldn't miss!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Women Studies and CHID
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Working at the Honors Office, of course!
    ...One year after graduating?
    Ngooya ngaa Labele! (hopefully)
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Probably still wondering what I'm going to do with my life, and how to add women + migration into something productive. Or maybe being a midwife. Or maybe going to grad school. Or maybe being a ceramicist. Or maybe...
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Honors has been the solid core of my experience here, a great springboard that has led me to all sorts of cool stuff here at UW. Through Honors, I helped build houses in Mississippi, had the time of my life in Sierra Leone, got a sweet job, found my amazing major, took crazy classes, and then some.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    See your advisers early & often! Apply for lots of stuff. Take classes just because they sound interesting. Enjoy half-price nachos at the Inn at least once. Go to stuff on campus. Get internships & volunteer. Do the readings (or at least half of them). And of course, go abroad, one way or another!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Spanish, Romance Linguistics, and a minor in Music.
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    El turismo en España (Tourism in Spain)
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    On a plane to Hawaii!!!
    ...One year after graduating?
    Graduating from Grad School (MATESOL: Masters of Arts for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) at the UW.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    No idea. Probably teaching somewhere...
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    It was great to challenge myself and do more of what was expected. It helped me have a more focused learning experience.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    It's great to challenge yourself, but it's also very important to enjoy life; so do honors only if you'll be able to have some special time to enjoy life :).
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Biochemistry
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Clinical significance of type II fatty acid biosynthesis in Plasmodium (malaria-causing parasite)
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    http://sites.google.com/site/spencerscomet/
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    I will be on the Mediterranean in Alexandria, Egypt! I will be studying Arabic there on the Critical Language Scholarship, and trying to get a visa to travel through Libya, Iraq, or Iran after I finish.
    ...One year after graduating?
    I will be halfway through the Post-Bachelor Fellowship at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle, and possibly simultaneously pursuing an MPH.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    I hope that I will still be skiing 50+ days per year, surfing and mountain biking as much as possible, and splitting my time between the Pacific Northwest, the Middle East, and Indonesia. In addition, I hope that I'll be fluent in Arabic and practicing medicine in a public/global health context.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    It has ranged from the pain of taking honors physics and honors organic chemistry to the euphoria of traveling around the world on the Bonderman Fellowship, but in retrospect everything has been extremely humbling. I think Honors is there to help you appreciate the experience of developing humility.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Study abroad. Apply for scholarships. Study something you love (you won't know what this is until you're a senior, but try to guess). Don't study in Odegaard. Use good grammar and be polite in emails. Buy a cheap camera and take tons of pictures. Check out the Seattle Public Libraries. Use the IMA.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Creation of a key to beached marine mammals and sea turtles from Alaska to Baja California
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    One day after graduating, I'll be celebrating my achievements with family and friends from around the country.
    ...One year after graduating?
    One year after graduating, I'll be finishing an internship at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Ten years after graduating, I hope to be loving life as an aquarium biologist. I may also find myself working for a non-profit organization devoted to the care, keeping, and conservation of our aquatic resources.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    The Honors program gave me some of my closest friends, some of my most interesting classes, and the pride of knowing that I can accomplish so much more than I ever thought possible.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    The professors who teach Honors courses were chosen for a reason: they're excellent at what they do. Take as many Honors courses as you can fit into your schedule; chances are they'll be among the best courses you've ever had. Sometimes it feels like a long haul, but it's worth it in the end.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Computer Science, Psychology
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Virtual Zoom: Augmented Reality on a Mobile Device
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    http://iamthedivebomber.net/
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    .tib elttil a rof elttaeS nI
    ...One year after graduating?
    UC Berkeley for Computer Science.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Rafting down some river, avoiding cannibalistic tribes, foraging for non-radioactive fruit.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    I did not really take many Honors classes, but I enjoyed the community as a member of HSAP.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Microbiology; Biology ( Moleculat, Cellular, and Developmental)
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Generation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Foamy Virus Vectors
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    jkho.webs.com
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    spending time with my family and packing for my California-Nevada trip.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Doing research as a full-time UW employee at my current lab.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Working as a scientist in a biotechnology company.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Doing honor research (and thesis), which is the requirement of my departmental honor program, has allowed me to learn a lot of thing that I've never heard in classes.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Don't be afraid of applying to any available scholarships. Sometimes, you just don't realize that you're actually qualified enough for those. If you're a science major, get involved in research as early as possible.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Anthropology
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Luminescence Dating of Olcott Sites in Western Washingon
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    http://loristkitts.com (newly created)
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Spending much needed time with my family and myself, possibly in my P-patch. Also beginning projects that have been sitting on the back burner for a while, including my new website.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Working on independent research, continuing to work as a freelance writer, ending another tax season, hopefully planning to enter Graduate school in the Fall and planning a trip to who-knows-where.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Ten years ago I had no idea that I would be here. I only hope that I am healthy, content, positively challenged and continuing to learn.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    The opportunity as an Undergraduate to work through the thesis process was, although difficult at times, incredibly satisfying. I now feel so much more prepared for Graduate school and my career.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Embrace the challenges you are given because it is then that you will find real learning. Know that no education or experience is ever wasted and learning is a lifetime experience.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Philosophy
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Is there Moral Justification for Age-Based Rationing?
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Sailing on the Puget Sound!
    ...One year after graduating?
    Finishing my first year of law school at the UW!
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Working at an immigration law firm, saving the world one family at a time...
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Awkward icebreakers at the barbecue for incoming freshmen, midnight snacks with other dorm kids from the honors floor, bonding over gelato and art on the Rome study abroad trip... Honors was a pathway for me to meet some of my best friends- it's cheesy, but it's the truth.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Find a passion that is NOT related to school, and pursue it wholeheartedly!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    International Studies and Comparative History of Ideas with a minor in African Studies
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    The Construction of Black Gender Identities and Their Relationship to Violence Against Women in Post-Apartheid South Africa
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    http://www.emaland.blogspot.com
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    In my room, packing to move to the East Coast and Teach for America
    ...One year after graduating?
    Settled in Hoboken, New Jersey and one year into Teach for America. Hopefully a little better at teaching and excited to spend a summer traveling before I start my second year. I am hoping for a trip to Europe with my mom so we can visit Italy where I studied abroad and Hungary, our homeland.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Absolutely no idea. Maybe with a career in education development. Maybe working abroad in Africa. Maybe I'll have kids? Who knows.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    I lived in honors housing and felt I had an immediate community on campus. I am still friend/live with friends from the dorms. I also traveled to Italy on my first study abroad with Honors and loved it. Honors was my small school within a giant campus.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Travel as much as possible. Take advantage of all of the additional speeches on campus - they are worth checking out. Balance school and friends because memories with friends are long lasting.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Autumn 2008
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One year after graduating?
    I expect to be attending the UW Nursing-GEPN program (for which I have already been admitted)!
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    I expect to be working as a nurse-midwife and, as a bumpersticker I once saw said: helping people out.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    I loved the great discussion and liberal arts themes present in college honors classes. They provided a nice balance to my biology coursework.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Take classes you enjoy and have fun!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Summer 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Accounting & Communication
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Intimacy as a critical component of heterosexual relationships: An analysis of the role of biological sex in intimate expression and expectations
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    After I graduate at the end of August, I am taking a couple weeks to travel in Spain and Greece before I start work in September!
    ...One year after graduating?
    Coming out of my first year working for Ernst & Young, a Big 4 Accounting firm, as a part of their internal audit team alive :), having successfully passed all four sections of the CPA exam, beginning to prepare myself to apply to graduate school
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Graduating or having graduated from a Top Business School with an MBA, starting a family
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    I've had the chance to work with some of the most outstanding, intelligent, and inspirational professors in the nation. They have shown me what it truly means to be successful in whatever field you aspire.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Make time for the things you course about most in your life: friends, family, studies, athletics,philanthropy, etc. School is very important and top priority to us but never forget that it isn't everything. College is about taking advantage of all kinds of opportunities. Live it up. Time flies.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Summer 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Philosophy, Premedical Sciences
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    rmayock.blogspot.com
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One year after graduating?
    I'll be off in medical school somewhere.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    I will be off in my own clinic, somewhere in Africa.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Travel. Get out there. Don't just study, live.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Astronomy and Physics
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Exploring Japan with a friend, without knowing any Japanese!
    ...One year after graduating?
    In the Astronomy Masters-Ph.D program at UC Santa Cruz.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Hopefully either getting a job at a university or at NASA!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Computer Science
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    UrbanSim
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Back home in Portland, OR.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Living and working for Cisco in San Jose, CA.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    ??? (Somewhere exciting I hope)
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    To satisfy the departmental honors requirements I participated in the CSE Department's UrbanSim research project which turned out to be a very rewarding and educational experience.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Good Luck!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Philosophy & Anthropology
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Contemporary American Thought on the Beginning of Personhood
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Enjoying a day off, spending some time with my family.
    ...One year after graduating?
    In London, continuing graduate work in Philosophy at King's College.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Doing what I love, teaching Philosophy at a small liberal arts college.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Both honors programs prepared me for the graduate work I will be doing. I had the opportunity to participate in graduate level seminars in Philosophy and do my own research project in Anthropology. This kind of experience would not have been possible had I not participated in the honors program.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Believe in yourself.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Law, Societies, and Justice
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    The International Criminal Court and the Challenge of Deterring Child Soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    sarahouderkirk.blogspot.com
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Hanging out in the sunshine (hopefully!), BBQ'ing with my family and friends.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Working at a law firm, with money saved up to travel for the summer before law school. Spend the summer climbing mountains and hiking in the Andes.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    32 years old, law school will be paid off, and I will be working at a law firm and starting a family. :)
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    The Honors department pushed me to set high goals and work hard toward achieving them.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Date a nice guy/gal who likes you. Take summer classes that meet outside. Do internships ASAP--you need the exp points. Get letters of rec before you graduate. Stop wasting time on Facebook. Take more pictures. GET AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE--BACK UP YOUR STUFF! (trust me) Ride a bike. Volunteer. Dance!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Summer 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Bioengineering
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Fabrication of a Biodegradable Multidrug Delivery System Using Layer-By-Layer Deposition to Prevent Bacterial Infection
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    www.cyworld.com/jisunpk
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    In Seattle, probably touring around with my mother. I have not had a chance yet to go up the Space Needle.
    ...One year after graduating?
    I will be in Seattle working in biotechnology/pharmaceutical company, back in Korea to prepare professional school examinations, or just relaxing and having fun in Korea with my families and friends.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    I will have my own family by then and will be working for my family and for the people who desperately need my help. I can be at anywhere by that time. I would not like to limit myself only to Seattle and Korea. I can be in Luxembourg, England or in New Zealand.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    For our Departmental Honors, we had to do a public presentation and many people from our department presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. It was a great experience and I was so proud of everyone from their successful research experiences.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Explore and experience everything you can when you are an undergraduate. For me, I did lots of research and volunteering and they became few of my great experiences at the UW.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Summer 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Business Administration: Entrepreneurship
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Research project on the nonprofit sector of South Africa while studying abroad there, and a research project on the entrepreneurial marketing strategies of third-world citizens funded by microfinance organizations
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Still wearing my cap and gown!
    ...One year after graduating?
    Possibly still wearing my cap and gown...
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    In a fulfilling career as a dietitian here in beautiful Seattle.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    I met the coolest people, traveled 10,000 miles, and pulled all-nighters. You'll love it!
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Stake out a secret study spot on campus all to yourself.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Winter 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Computer Science & Engineering; Sociology
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Building a Transportation Information System Using Only GPS and Basic SMS Infrastructure; Acculturation and the Educational Aspirations of the Children of Immigrants
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    www.light-within.org
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Dazed.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Working six days a week and spending my free time on other projects (more working - yay).
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Back in school, finishing up my PhD.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Spanish
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Dialectology of Cuban Spanish
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    I'll be at Golden Gardens. Writing my thesis has been fascinating. I've always wanted to study Spanish dialects and with a liberal arts degree I haven't had many opportunities to do this type of research. That said, this sun is making it really hard to be inside and I can't wait to hit the beach.
    ...One year after graduating?
    I'll still be speaking Spanish. I will either apply to business grad schools in S. America and Spain or study translation and interpretation locally. If I stay local, hopefully I'll be working as an interpreter at a hospital or as a translator for the Mariners
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    In terms of location, I hope to be all over the globe. In terms of career, I hope to have attained the title of professional Spanish-English-Japanese translator and interpreter.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Being in the honors program has taught me not to fear a challenge. I am not a writer and the idea of an honors thesis was daunting. Eight weeks into it, however, I realize that it really hasn't been that difficult. After all, an enormous challenge is nothing more than little obstacles put together.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Don't let stress take over your college career. Everyday that you're able to dedicate yourself to studying something you're passionate about is a great day, but don't forget to live a little. Life is a juggling act, but make sure at least one of the things you juggle is something you really enjoy.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Linguistics
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Emotion concepts in multilinguals
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Relaxing with my family who's traveled multiple hours from Hawaii and Delaware to come help me celebrate graduation! Later on in the day you'll find me jumping off the docks at Conibear Shellhouse--Husky Alumi!
    ...One year after graduating?
    I will either be traveling the world by sailboat, seeing all the places I didn't quite get to during study abroad, or helping coach the UW Novice Rowing team to a Pac-10 title.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Out on the water, rowing a single shell in the cold morning and thinking about how great it was that my generation was able to stop global warming. (Wishful thinking?)
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Some of my favorite classes ever were through the UW Honors program. The creativity and quality put into these classes truly enriched my undergraduate experience and I feel a better well-rounded person for it.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Take any class Jon Herron offers!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Geography
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    How Homeless Children Find Stability at School, a study in geography looking at school responses to assist students experiencing homelessness
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Taking a big gulp of air before I drive down to California and plunge into summer quarter at Stanford...
    ...One year after graduating?
    Next June I will have just finished completing my MA in Education with an Elementary Teaching Crediential, and hopefully by the fall I will be in the classroom!
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Teaching, traveling, writing, or having a family? Maybe I will be studying education internationally, or getting another degree dealing with educational leadership or administration.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Honors courses gave me a chance to engange in community service-learning opportunities and try my first hand at teaching. The small class sizes and flexibility of courses within the program also allow for a much more creative and intimate educational experience.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Be self-motivated and adventurous. Engage in meaningful service with others. Get to know your amazing professors, they are an invaluable resource. Take risks and try different kinds of courses early on so you have time to find and focus on your interests.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Summer 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Industrial Engineering
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Feed-Forward System in Cost Control and Management
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Partying and celebrating with families from Indonesia
    ...One year after graduating?
    Taking GRE/GMAT for graduate school
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Owning an enterprise and being a part of a team in rebuilding the economy in Indonesia
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Honors Degree in my undergraduate allows me to dig my knowledge deeper under the guidance of my faculty adviser.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    You are in the right track! Honors programs are designed for those who have high intellectual curiosity and maturity.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Neurobiology
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    The Effect of NRG on Remyelination
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    A college graduate!
    ...One year after graduating?
    A stressed out, poor, but hard-working medical student!
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Either doing a fellowship in an advanced neurology sub-specialty or starting my career as a neurologist at the UW!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Speech and Hearing Sciences: Communication Disorders
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Comparison of Custom and Generic Aided Audibility Index (AAI)
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Hanging around Seattle, getting some well-deserved R & R.
    ...One year after graduating?
    One year after graduating I will be finished with my first year of the Doctor of Audiology program at the University of Washington.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Working as an audiologist at a major metropolitan hospital.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Take advantage of everything the Honors program has to offer, from job opportunities to seminars.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Summer 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Nursing & Women Studies
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Analysis of birth practices in the context of the healthcare systems in Indonesia, Thailand and the United States
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    www.janesilver.blogspot.com
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Driving across the state in the sweltering summer heat with a boy and a dog.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Preparing to start graduate school for Nurse-Midwifery and working in the Harborview Psychiatric Emergency department.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Passionately contributing to the health of the community and our mother earth, one gentle birth at a time as a locally practicing independent nurse-midwife.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    I feel that I have had a wonderful opportunity to conduct research, work with faculty, travel internationally and receive University recognition all due to the honors program. It's been a great solidifying academic experience.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Hopefully anyone's honors experience, while academically based, takes the individual far beyond academia and allows you integrate yourself into the world on an interdisciplinary level.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Winter 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Computer Science
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Designing and Evaluating Player Learning in Human Computation Games
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    http://evolutionlive.blogspot.com/
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Trying to finish the hundred other projects I've been putting off in order to get my thesis done in time.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Making awesome learning games and hopefully launching the soon-to-be amazingly successful MMO I've been working on for the past year...
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Leading the revolution in education, making use of the strengths that games offer for learning and restructuring the system to match the needs of a post-industrial, ecologically aware society. Also, making beautiful and deeply meaningful artistic games, transforming perceptions, saving the world.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Made my time at UW worthwhile. Seriously, all of my favorite, most memorable classes were in the Honors program. The classes that really broadened my worldview, accelerated my spiritual development, and satisfied my interdisciplinary cravings were all in the Honors program. Thank you!
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    If you see a class taught by Neil Banas or Clarke Speed, take it! You will be glad you did. Also, spend more time outside, get plenty of sleep, and eat lots of vegetables!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    Women Studies
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Racing Jewels: A Feminist Commodity Chain Analysis of Diamonds
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    I will be at home, reading a good book...or two.
    ...One year after graduating?
    I hope to be employed in the publishing field, probably still in Seattle. Ideally, I'd be preparing for graduate school.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    I want to be writing...somewhere, anywhere. If the writing pays my bills, even better.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    The Honors program encouraged me to seek out individualized research experiences that have allowed me to delve into subject matter not covered in any listed courses at the UW. It's the best preparation for grad school (or any intellectual career path) that anyone could ask for.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    You can pursue research on any subject you want. Don't hesitate to ask professors to work with you on an independent project--they are often just as excited to see a motivated student as you are to learn. And take advantage of reading groups if you can. No grades, but lots of valuable discussion!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    English
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Masculinity In 90s American Cinema by Women Directors
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    http://mentholuniversitypress.blogspot.com
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Celebrating; possibly at a graduation party.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Going to advertising school in SF.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Working in advertising in what is known as a 'major market' a.k.a. probably not Seattle.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Clark Speed 'changed' me and made be 'believe' in witches.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Spend as much time as you can in these two places: 1) Honors lounge 2) Neighborhood bar/club/preferred concert venue. They balance well.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Biology (Physiology)
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Resetting the liver and brain biological clock by restricting food access in zebrafish
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Still celebrating the long anticipated and awaited graduation with family and friends :) (and will continue to do so for days to come!)
    ...One year after graduating?
    working at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Seattle in the Department of Gastroenterolgy with Dr. George Ioannou as a Research Coordinator on a human observational clinical study: "Liver Tissue and Blood Repository, and Prospective Cohort Study of Chronic Liver Disease".
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    working in the biotechnology industry after having obtained my doctorate in biomedical research. I will be living somewhere that has palm trees and warm (rain-free!) weather. I hope to continue my family's tradition of returning to bella Italia for summer vacation time with my husband and kids! :)
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Honors shaped my undergraduate experience to be a very personalized one. The classes were intellectually stimulating, the staff was amazingly caring, my three years spent serving on the Honors Student Advisory Panel taught me that students can effect real change!
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Take a Clarke Speed and a Mary Pat Wenderoth course (they'll change your life!), get involved in Honors, participate in research EARLY on, travel somewhere you'd never think you'd go, surround yourself with great supportive friends, love passionately, and don't be shy- just dance!!!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Spanish and the Comparative History of Ideas, minor in European Studies
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Microlending and el Movimiento No Pago: Nicaragua's Struggles to Balance Government Intervention and a Healthy Microfinance Market
    Personal Website or Blog URL:
    http://mandietuesday.livejournal.com/
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    I'll be feverishly selling 95% of the things I own in preparation for spending my summer on the island of Utila, Honduras in order to attain my scuba diving Divemaster certification!
    ...One year after graduating?
    I'll be finishing up my year of teaching English in Andalucia, Spain, through the Spanish Ministry of Education's North American Language and Culture Assistant program. Then, I'll be preparing to spend my summer backpacking southern Africa and finally getting to attend a World Cup soccer game!
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    I have absolutely no idea where I'll be, but hopefully it will have involved getting a master's degree in South America, either having or working towards a PhD, having picked up a third language somewhere along the way, and still spending the majority of my time traveling (or living!) abroad!
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Starting with participating in the Honors study abroad program in Rome during my freshman winter quarter, Honors has allowed me to travel the world, take entertaining as well as interesting classes, and become more deeply involved in my education from the very beginning.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    As is my advice for any other undergraduate, STUDY ABROAD. There is nothing that opens the world and its many opportunities to you more intensively than participating in a study abroad program, whether it be through Honors or a department. Also, volunteer and get yourself involved! Find a passion!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Economics
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Crude Oil Commodity Futures: Are Speculators to Blame for Unwarranted Price Trends?
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    A few days after graduating my dad and I will be climbing to the top of Mt. Rainier, followed by a half marathon a week later. I am in the process of training right now so my dad doesn't kick my butt too bad!
    ...One year after graduating?
    One year after graduating I will be halfway through my 2 year Business Analyst program with Deloitte Consulting in Seattle. If the housing market persists, I plan to have purchased or be in the process of purchasing a small place of my own.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Ten years after graduating I plan to have completed my MBA at either London Business School or a top U.S. school, and be well-established in my career. I plan to be living somewhere on the west coast with a beautiful family at home.
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Being a part of college honors program has exposed me to very diverse and extensive educational experience. This program provided me with the means to expand my worldly knowledge to a level higher than I ever could have imagined.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    STUDY ABROAD! Studying abroad with the college honors program in Argentina was by far my most cherished college experience.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Bioengineering and Computer Science
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Anti-Cancer Nanopods: Rational design of a peptide based gene delivery vehicle targeted to hepatocarcinoma
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Sleeping.
    ...One year after graduating?
    Getting my PhD in Bioengineering at Stanford University.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Hopefully not still getting my PhD in Bioengineering at Stanford University.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Spring 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Biochemistry & Anthropology
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Pain Scale: The Creation of Knowledge in Western Medicine
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    relaxing for the first time in four years.
    ...One year after graduating?
    finishing my first year of medical school at UW and preparing for an International Health Opportunities Program in India.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    practicing emergency medicine in a large urban hospital.
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Winter 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    Departmental
    Major(s):
    B.A. Business Administration
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    at work
    ...One year after graduating?
    in another country working for an NGO
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    enjoying the unpredictability of life
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Study abroad!
  • Quarter and Year of graduation:
    Winter 2009
    Are you graduating with College Honors or Departmental Honors?
    College
    Major(s):
    Anthropology, Business Administration (Accounting and International Business), and International Studies (Jewish Studies)
    If you completed an Honors Thesis or Honors Research Project, what was the title or topic?
    Jewish-Arab Conflict & Relations: Social-Psychological Perspectives
    Where do you expect to be...
    ...One day after graduating?
    Celebrating at a friend's wedding!
    ...One year after graduating?
    In Oakland, completing my first year as a mathematics teacher with Teach For America, or in Ghana (after the end of the TFA year) working with the microfinance institute we established this year, Lumana Credit.
    ...Ten years after graduating?
    Solving global poverty and taking every opportunity to enjoy life!
    Please share any comments you have on the impact that Honors has had on your undergraduate experience:
    Beginning my first day at UW, Honors helped direct me towards opportunities, challenges, and successes that defined my university experience. This exposure to multiple disciplines and strategies allowed me to customize my time and engage with the university community on a more meaningful level.
    Do you have any advice for current Honors undergraduates?
    Get involved. Use the things you learn to enhance the things you love. Go abroad. Don't forget who you are or where you come from. Ask for help. Remember, every rule has an exception--it's up to you to find it. Write goals. Take classes that sound interesting and aren't required. Never settle. SMILE