2025 Year in Review

On August 1, Robert J. Jones became our 34th president, bringing a life story rooted in first-generation success and a bold vision for a debt-free future for students.

Explore his Inaugural Vision

We introduced you to Marine biology student and Husky Marching Band drummer Ryan Shapero— splitting his time between UW labs and tossing salmon at Seattle’s famed Pike Place Market. 

Get to Know Ryan

Every fall, thousands of new Huskies pack Husky Stadium to form a giant block W — a tradition that marks the official start of their UW journey.

Watch the Timelapse

A $500,000 grant is powering the expansion of UW Medicine’s Phase 2 clinical trial of WOKVAC, a next-generation therapeutic vaccine designed to prevent breast cancer recurrence.

Read the Full Story

UW researchers helped develop a spinal electrical-stimulation device that is giving people with paralysis new control over movement — allowing some patients to stand, take steps, and regain everyday independence once thought impossible. 

See the Device in Action

After years of development, an assistive-feeding robot moved beyond the lab — helping users with physical impairments enjoy meals independently in classrooms, offices and even their own homes. 

See how the Tech is Changing Lives

In Nobel laureate David Baker’s lab, researchers across disciplines are using AI and protein design to tackle some of humanity’s toughest challenges — from medicine to sustainability. 

Take a Look Inside the IPD

A toaster-sized, UW-created sensor now monitors Highway 97 around the clock, alerting Yakama Nation officials to crashes, weather changes and traffic hazards in real time — technology with the potential to save lives.

See How the Device Works

UW aeronautics professor Jim Hermanson spent decades study jet propulsion, but had never been able to fly in a fighter jet. In July, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels had a dream come true, suiting up to fly above Seattle with some of the world’s most talented pilots.  

Read about his High-Velocity Experience

Taylor Swanson — a local athlete was a top track standout who considered joining the South Korean national team. A knee injury and cerebral palsy diagnosis has changed her trajectory, and now she’s helping uplift other athletes with disabilities, proving that strength and passion don’t come from ability alone. 

Watch her Full Story

UW researchers built ProxiCycle, a handlebar-mounted device that detects when cars get too close to cyclists on the road — helping cities map safer routes and identify crash-prone areas.

See how the System Works

The University of Washington played a pivotal founding role in launching the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, home of the world’s largest digital camera. The UW helped design the observatory and built the software that will analyze massive amounts of data and images developed by the facility.

A Glimpse into Outer Space

Furmata, a UW a cappella group made up of students from across disciplines, earned first runner-up at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella finals. Only one member is a music major — but together, their sound wowed a global stage. 

Here them Sing

More than 7,400 graduates — the most ever — crossed the stage at Husky Stadium as 50,000 friends and family members cheered them on, marking a historic milestone for the University. 

Relive Commencement

After ten years as UW’s 33rd president, Ana Mari Cauce returned to the classroom, leaving behind a legacy defined by a belief in the power of public higher education. 

Reflect on her Tenure

There’s nothing like the energy of move-in — thousands of students arriving with carts, parents, roommates and all the hope and nerves that come with starting college. 

Watch the Move-In Video

At Meany Hall, UW organist Stephen Price and students performed a Halloween concert featuring classics like Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D minor” — the soundtrack of centuries of scary stories. 

Listen to the Spooky Performance

Bound in calfskin and detailed in gold, a rare 1544 printing of The Divine Comedy became one of UW Libraries’ newest treasures. Its linen-fiber pages and historic binding have preserved it for nearly 500 years. 

See the Remarkable Volume

A Coast Salish story pole, hand-carved over 18 months, was installed near Denny Hall — honoring the stories, traditions and teachings of the Coast Salish peoples. 

Learn About its Creation

Each spring, the iconic Quad cherry trees transform campus with clouds of pink and white — a moment that draws thousands of visitors and signals the start of a new season at the UW. 

Explore the Blossoms 

The UW community mourned the loss of women’s soccer goalkeeper Mia Hamant after her courageous battle with cancer. Inspired by her spirit, the Huskies went on to win the Big Ten title and advance to the NCAA Elite Eight. 

Read the Tribute 

UW researchers partnered with shellfish farmers to transform surplus Ulva seaweed — once a costly nuisance — into a nutrient-rich, climate-smart soil amendment. But when federal funding was frozen, the future of the project was thrown into uncertainty. 

Watch the Story 

Every year, 100 students across 11 majors build a Formula-style race car from scratch. In 2025, the UW team won the autocross event in Michigan and is now heading to Germany for its first international competition since 2017. 

Meet the Formula Motorsports Team 

Using NASA satellite data and machine learning, UW civil engineers developed a tool that maps river temperatures across Washington — including 40 years of historical readings — to support tribal and state fisheries. 

See How it All Works 

Alum Luis Carmona helps lead the Seattle Sounders’ and Seattle Reign’s RAVE Foundation, working to break down barriers so every kid has access to play soccer. His journey — from helping his brother’s team to earning a UW scholarship to becoming a community leader — started with one simple belief: every kid who wants to play, should. 

Read Luis’s Story