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OMA&D Remembers Francisco “Frank” Irigon (’76, ’79)
September 17, 2024
Francisco “Frank” Irigon died Thursday, September 12, 2024, at age 77. He passed away surrounded by his family after living with long-term heart disease. Irigon had many identities. He was a family man, a husband, father and grandfather. He was a veteran, executive director, newspaper founder, community builder and political candidate. He will be remembered by many as an activist,…
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Highlights from the 2024 Annual Celebration Gala
June 14, 2024
The 2024 Annual Celebration Gala was a night to remember, with 500+ corporate, community and campus partners, and individuals in community to support OMA&D students and honor the evening’s award recipients. Through their generosity, we raised more than $470,000 to support EOP students! The evening began with a social reception to the music of the live house band Chapter 5.…
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Photos from the 2024 Annual Celebration Gala
May 29, 2024
Navigating the Photo Gallery When you click on a photo, it will open in a full screen image. To return to the gallery, click the back arrow in your browser’s navigation bar. Step and Repeat Photos taken by Nate Gowdy. For publication or reuse of these photos outside of the University of Washington, please contact Nate Gowdy for permission. Reception…
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OMA&D Remembers Eddie Ray Walker
January 26, 2024
Eddie Ray Walker passed away on Monday, December 4, 2023. As a lifelong advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, especially in relation to Black-centered art and Black artists, Walker has left an indelible mark on the University of Washington. His actions as a student and throughout his life have helped shape the experience of thousands of OMA&D students over…
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Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman to Receive Charles E. Odegaard Award
January 9, 2024
The University of Washington Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity has announced Suquamish Tribe Chairman and UW Regent, the Honorable Leonard Forsman ’87, as the next recipient of the Charles E. Odegaard Award. As a long-time advocate for Native rights and civil rights, and the first American Indian appointed to the University of Washington Board of Regents, Forsman will receive…
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Mariama Suwaneh to Receive the Inaugural Spark Award
January 9, 2024
The University of Washington Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity has announced Mariama Suwaneh, ’17, as the inaugural recipient of the OMA&D Spark Award. As an actively engaged student at the UW and an avid community builder since graduation, Suwaneh embodies the diversity, equity and inclusion leadership that inspires young changemakers and exemplifies the spirit of the Charles E. Odegaard award.…
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2023 Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture Recap
November 6, 2023
On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, OMA&D held its annual Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture. This year, the lecture featured Dr. Joanne Woiak, Associate Teaching Professor for the Disability Studies Program at the University of Washington. Her lecture “Engaging Disability, Empowering History: Ethics and Politics of Disability History” highlighted the exclusion and erasure of disabilities from history and the impact…
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The Raap Approach
October 25, 2023
How Melissa Raap’s first-generation college student experience shapes her work today. Melissa Raap, MSW (’11) manages the University of Washington’s Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity Champions program. Champions serves students on the UW Seattle campus who are alumni of foster care or unaccompanied homeless youth by helping them navigate the challenging bureaucracies that come with being a student.…
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Thank you! 2023 Celebration Event Recap
June 6, 2023
With help from OMA&D supporters, we raised over $370,000 for OMA&D and EOP scholarships! On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity and the Friends of the Educational Opportunity Program Board of Trustees hosted 550 people in the University of Washington Husky Union Ballroom for a wonderful evening of music, dancing, dining and celebrating together in…
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Celebration is Back! Highlights from the 2022 Celebration Gala
June 1, 2022
A Message from VP Rickey Hall Thank you for supporting our annual gala, Celebration, presented by the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity and the Friends of the Educational Opportunity Program Board! We are grateful to our community of supporters who came together in person and virtually last week to honor Frank Irigon as the Charles E. Odegaard award recipient…