June 24, 2026

Reflections from 2026 Honors Huskies

As the 2025-26 Honors graduates enter the next chapter of their lives, we want to celebrate them by sharing some of their favorite memories and experiences from their time at UW and in Honors. Below you’ll hear from our 2026 Honors graduation speakers, Kaytlin Vanderhorst and Mariela Hernandez, as they reflect on the experiences that shaped their undergraduate journeys. Both graduated with Interdisciplinary Honors – Kaytlin studied Psychology and Education Studies with a focus on Social and Emotional Learning, and Mariela studied Biology with a focus on Physiology. 

I loved the UW campus and made many beautiful memories here–ones that I will forever cherish. It was surreal to walk off the campus and close my undergraduate chapter, but I look at the future with excitement!

What has been your favorite Honors course, event, or experiential learning opportunity, and why?
I loved all of my honors courses, so it is difficult to choose which was my favorite honors course. If I had to name one, it would be the Race and Medicine in the US with Professor Damarys Espinoza. I had a lot of fun in the class and met lifelong friends that I will make sure to keep in touch with after UW. I fondly remember making a website of our learning milestones from the course and our 50-60 minute long group presentation. 

What is one piece of advice you want all current Honors students to know?
Keep going. Where there is a will, there is a way—trust me! No path is perfect, but if you continue challenging yourself and leaning on your community for support, you will do just fine! Wishing the best of success to you!

What is something you are most looking forward to after graduation?
I am most excited for focusing on my next chapter: applying to dental school. I am also excited to continue serving my community at Floss Boss The Mobile Dentist in Seattle. I will be spending more time hiking, paddleboarding, cooking, and traveling this next year!

The entire experience was surreal– from the professional photoshoot in Kane Hall (who knew there was a photography studio in the basement!?), to the article written about me and my fellow recipients, and the celebratory luncheon where I got to have lunch and receive the actual medal with UW president Dr. Jones, the Deans and Directors of my academic programs, and my closest supporters who’ve cheered me on throughout college. At such a big institution, surrounded by so many diverse, accomplished, and ambitious peers, despite my own accomplishments, imposter phenomenon has felt like an inevitable and lingering condition. Although my reasoning for getting involved across campus and pursuing academic success has never been for the recognition, there was a sense of validation and self-compassion that I felt when I was told I was a recipient of this award! 

What has been your favorite Honors course, event, or experiential learning opportunity, and why?The Honors Program is rooted in some of the best experiences I’ve had in college. Beyond being a student, I’ve been fortunate to be a Peer Educator and Facilitator, LLC RA, volunteer, Admitted Students Day panelist, graduation student speaker, and more. However, when I consider some of the most impactful experiential learning opportunities, many of them stem from my experiences as an Honors LLC RA in Terry Hall my third year. My floor theme was Taylor Swift, and each hallway was decorated as its own era (Lover was one of the halls I was the most proud of), so that brought me tremendous joy. I created genuine connections with so many of my residents and loved supporting them as they grew confident navigating the university and the Honors Program. And, I especially enjoyed my Student Leader team! I grew so close with my fellow LLC RAs– Aakash and Jamie– and we spent countless hours hosting LLC events, staying up late crafting and chatting, joining each other for building rounds, collaborating with Honors staff and faculty, and getting to develop our friendship outside of being coworkers. The entire year of being an Honors LLC RA is truly a core memory to me! 

What is one piece of advice you want all current Honors students to know? One piece of advice I would want all current Honors students to know actually comes from something I included in my honors autumn quarter reflection as a first-year student in Honors 100 four years ago. When I attended my very first Global Challenges event in 2022, the theme was “The Power of Place and Care.” There were two statements by our panelists, Martine Pierre-Louis and LaShawnDa Pittman, respectively, that resonated with me: “All of it is worth it. Make what you do matter.” I remember clinging on to their advice but not really knowing what I would do with it at the time. Now, four years later, I’ve come to realize that some of the most important, fulfilling, and meaningful things I’ve done at the UW have been grounded in what is valuable to and beyond me. The challenges, stress, sacrifices, and dedication are worth it and do matter when I think about the person I have become, the lived experience and growth that has occurred, and the communities I have been able to interact with. So, I encourage Honors students to discover what it is that is meaningful to them, hold onto that, and know it is worth it and it matters. 

What is something you are most looking forward to after graduation? After graduation, I am looking forward to coming back to the UW in the fall to begin my graduate studies in the Educational Specialist in School Psychology program! I’ve been trying to stay mindful and present while wrapping up my time in undergrad, and I have been pursuing this goal and program for the past few years. The fact that it will be my reality in just a few months is wild to think about! My “why” is driven by a passion to support and advocate for students’ academic success and well-being despite the uncertainties, gaps, and resistance within the education systems they may be navigating; knowing that I get to start my program soon and actualize those “whys” is something I am so excited and grateful for!