Vice provost Mary Sánchez Lanier, distinguished scholar Jacob Buursma, and director April Seehafer pose for a celebratory photo in front of the Distinguished Scholars gallery wall in the CUB.
Annual Events

Distinguished Scholars Celebration

Distinguished Scholarships > Annual Events > Distinguished Scholars Celebration

At the annual Distinguished Scholars Celebration, we gather in the Compton Union Building at the WSU Distinguished Scholars Gallery to celebrate the latest group of exceptional WSU students who have applied for and received top, nationally competitive distinguished scholarships.

Join us at the Fall 2026 Distinguished Scholars Celebration, November 13, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. in the WSU Distinguished Scholars Gallery in the Compton Union Building on the WSU Pullman campus.

This fall event celebrates 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 medallion. The names of all awardees are included on the informational, permanent posters on the walls of the Gallery.

The Distinguished Scholarships Opportunity Fund has helped prospective distinguished scholarship awardees such as these to fortify their eligibility for prestigious, nationally competitive awards. The support has helped them secure tutoring, travel, and supplementary experiences, for example.

Support the Distinguished Scholarships Opportunity Fund

New Distinguished Scholars Recognized at the 2026 Distinguished Scholars Celebration

  • Fulbright U.S. Student Program
    • Mikayla Beckley
      Doctor of Medicine, WSU Spokane
      Malawi
    • Abigael Mbaluka
      Doctor of Medicine, WSU Spokane
      Kenya
    • Sarah Murphy
      English
      Czech Republic
  • Gilman and Gilman-McCain
    • Ryan Ashley
      Anthropology, WSU Vancouver
      Spain
    • Jenna Bastian
      Public Health
      Fiji
    • Lillian Dale
      Biology
      United Kingdom
    • Eva Gill
      Nursing
      Zambia
    • Gabriella Gray
      Chemistry
      Chile
    • Melissa Juarez Garcia
      Psychology
      Spain, Portugal
    • Stacy Kavashia
      International Business
      South Korea
    • K. Eric Mayo-Gutierrez
      Mechanical Engineering
      Japan
    • Hannah McAdams
      Earth & Environmental Science (Honors)
      Peru
    • Nicole Scoggins
      Social Sciences, WSU Global
      France
    • Matea Shizuru
      Public Health
      South Africa
    • Kayla Tate
      General Studies, WSU Global
      United Arab Emirates
    • Zoe Thompson
      Digital Technology & Culture,
      WSU Vancouver
      Japan
    • Alan Valencia
      Computer Science, WSU Tri-Cities
      Sweden
  • Goldwater
    • Nicole Diefenbach
      Genetics & Cell Biology (Honors)
    • Taylor Page
      Biochemistry (Honors)
    • Katy Touretsky
      Neurosciences (Honors)
  • Hollings
    • Cheri Heng
      Mechanical Engineering
  • NSF GRFP
    • Samuel Hall Watson
      Environmental Sciences,
      WSU Vancouver
    • Tiana Tonge
      Mechanical Engineering
  • Truman
    • Collin Bannister
      Philosophy & Political Science
      Finalist
Mary Sánchez Lanier makes an amusing statement as April Seehafer and Jacob listen and laugh in response.
Assistant Vice Provost Mary Sánchez Lanier (left), Director April Seehafer (center), and 2023 Goldwater recipient Jacob Buursma (right) catch up with each other after the celebration.

The first Distinguished Scholars Celebration was held in 2014 and coincided with the dedication of the WSU Distinguished Scholars Gallery. The gallery commemorates the university’s numerous past recipients of distinguished scholarships.