Homecoming Scholar Profiles

Fall is in the air when leaves start to change colors, you hear the roar from Husky Stadium, and the hustle and bustle of Red Square picks up as students begin making their way to class. It’s also Homecoming season and that means UWAA Homecoming Scholars!

For 2023, six extraordinary students have been selected that exemplify “Husky spirit” and make an impact on our campus community. This year’s group of undergraduates and graduate students were celebrated during the October 21 homecoming game at a pre-game reception with UW President Ana Mari Cauce and presented with checks on-field during a break in the action.

UWAA spoke with several scholars to find out what impact the scholarship will have for them in the upcoming year. “[I]t’s not just about avoided financial debt, receiving a scholarship is also a recognition and enabler for the work that truly matters to me…I spent my summer working on a mission for NASA, and had the opportunities to support the Trans Collective at UW,” notes Tawni Rodríguez Ng, ‘27, an undergraduate majoring in Biology and minoring in Aerospace.

Madeleine Lucas, ‘25, a graduate student in Earth and Space Sciences, worked closely with the Quileute Tribal School in La Push, WA to connect students and their environment with “place-based” learning, “By living in the place that I am studying, I feel inspired every day. The same goes for the students I teach. I’ve found students get most excited about the lessons in which they are learning about the geology where they live.”

Anthony Heng, ‘27, pursuing his doctorate at the School of Medicine told UWAA that “I found inspiration and mentorship in so many people…facing adversity is normal, but you don’t have to go through your challenges alone! I think it’s important to build a support network that you feel comfortable reaching out to when things get tough.”

Funding for the UWAA General Scholarship Fund is supported by special ticket pricing at local sporting events like UW Night at the Mariners, signature UWAA events like Alaska Airlines Dawg Dash and financial support from corporate partners. This year UWAA’s longstanding partner AT&T doubled the impact of our scholarships to $4,000 per scholar with their Dawg Dash Cares initiative.

Learn more about all six of this year’s Homecoming Scholars on our website.

Receiving a scholarship is also a recognition and enabler for the work that truly matters to me.

Tawni Rodríguez Ng, ‘27