Mission

The mission of the Alumnae Board is to assist highly motivated students who are in need of financial aid to achieve a higher education by providing annual full-tuition scholarships to the University of Washington.

University of Washington Alumnae Board History

It all started in 1909 when Carrie Cowgill became the first woman to receive a scholarship to the University of Washington.  This first ever first scholarship awarded to a UW female student made a lasting impression on the young woman who was working her way through school with a student job at UW’s Suzzallo Library and her single mother’s support and encouragement. 

The $100 scholarship, from the privately endowed Sarah Louise Ackerman Scholarship awarded during Cowgill’s junior year at UW, was enough in 1909 to make a major financial difference and Cowgill, later Carrie Cowgill Thompson, decided she would give back to other students when she could.

Carrie Cowgill Thompson was born in Eugene, Ore., and her father died when she was two weeks old, leaving her mother to raise her alone.  Mrs. Cowgill, who only had a grade school education, made Carrie’s education top priority, becoming a dress maker to support her dream of a college education for her only child.  She moved to Spokane for Carrie’s high school years and then to Seattle so Carrie could attend UW.

Carrie graduated in 1910 and in 1911 married Dr. Albert Thompson, who practiced dentistry in Seattle.  They had six children and one foster child and also ran a boarding house in the University District until Dr. Thompson’s death in 1940.  Carrie ran the boarding house alone until 1946 and then worked as a bookkeeper and a caregiver.

Following World War II, Carrie Cowgill Thompson, so inspired by her earlier scholarship, decided to enhance the tradition that helped her 37 years earlier.  In 1946 she found many of the  UW women who had received scholarships or loans, asked for contributions and established a scholarship fund.

This was the beginning of the University of Washington Alumni Association’s Alumnae Board (UWAB), then a six-member board assembled to distribute funds and continue the tradition of awarding UW scholarships to deserving women. Thompson's daughter, Lucile, served two years as its first president.

Governmental regulations in the 1970’s and changing times on campus broadened the UWAB's focus to include males.  Since 1979, young men as well as women have received UWAB scholarships.  Recipients are selected on the basis of financial need, scholastic achievements, leadership, community service and a strong work ethic.

The $100 award to Carrie Cowgill Thompson launched a campaign by many interested UW women graduates over the years to help other women finance their education at the UW.

Today the UW Alumnae Board ranks in the top five organizations at the UW for the total number of scholarships awarded annually from any one organization and is the most prolific scholarship fund-raising group of the UW Alumni Association.  UWAB scholarships are also the only full-tuition scholarships awarded from the UW Alumni Association.

In 1999 UWAB was honored to be recognized as a "Laureate", a distinction given to any individual or organization that contributes at least $1 million to the UW.  UWAB is listed on the Donor Wall in Suzzallo Library as a permanent symbol of the University's enduring gratitude.

Board Officers

Executive Board:
Valerie Ford – President
Janet Smith – Vice-President, Scholarship
Anne Savery – Vice-President, Auction Chair
Janine Johnston – Secretary
Joyce Hilton – Treasurer

At-large members:
Karin Blakley
Anna Choi
Jeannine Lupton
Kristin Nelsen
Natalie Rerecich
Anita Steele
Cindy Thompson
Karen Waddington
Lori Weza
Katie Zisserman