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Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement Distinguished Scholarships Program

Our Latest Annual Event

Distinguished Scholars Celebration

Watch on YouTube.

About This Event

The entire university community is invited to this annual, fall networking event to celebrate all WSU students who received a distinguished scholarship over the course of the past year. Each awardee is recognized and given a unique WSU Distinguished Scholar pin. The names of all awardees are included in the informational, permanent display in the WSU Distinguished Scholars Gallery in the Compton Union Building, the site of this annual event. The first Distinguished Scholars Celebration was held in 2014 and coincided with the dedication of the Distinguished Scholars Gallery.

When, Where, and Who

The 2021 Celebration on Oct. 22 was in-person once again in the CUB’s Distinguished Scholars Gallerty, unlike the 2020 event that was held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. The day’s special guest was Provost and Executive Vice President Elizabeth Chilton, WSU Pullman Chancellor Designate. DAESA program encees included Bill Davis, vice provost for academic engagement and student achievement, Mary Sanchez Lanier, assistant vice provost, and April Seehafer, program director. Several mentors and supporters of the student/alumni recipients also attended to support the awardees.

Celebrated Awardees

Awardees are students or graduates from WSU in Pullman unless otherwise noted. Those celebrated at the event in 2021 were:

  • Jonnie Bray, Udall recipient
  • Kara Brown, NSF GRFP recipient
  • Owen Canterbury, Fulbright recipient
  • India Dykes, Goldwater recipient
  • Kimberlee Hughes, NSF GRFP recipient
  • Haley Morris, Goldwater recipient
  • Trinette Nadile, Gilman recipient
  • Maximillian Obasiolu, WSU’s first Schwarzman finalist
  • Trinity Pierce, Gilman recipient
  • Gunnar Sly, Goldwater recipient
  • Frances Ward, Udall recipient (WSU Spokane Health-Sciences)
  • Daphne Weber, WSU’s first Fulbright-Hays recipient

Our Other Annual Events

Freshman Scholars Progression

Preview of the photo gallery from inaugural 2015 Progression event.

This invitation-only, mid-winter event is to inspire high-achieving freshmen to consider pursuing prestigious, nationally competitive awards to broaden their educational experience and boost their résumés.

At each annual Progression:

  • Students who earned a top GPA in fall semester are recognized for this achievement.
  • Top faculty and staff members explain to tables of students what steps can be taken along the paths to distinguished scholarships.

Distinguished Scholars Reception

This spring event is to honor the year’s distinguished scholarship applicants as well as their faculty and staff mentors, and to pay tribute to Distinguished Scholarships Program Board of Advisors and committee members.