The newly endowed Ran Hennes Scholarship will support Honors students for years to come

Ran Hennes always kept his office door open.

As an adviser, faculty member and associate director of the University of Washington Honors Program, Hennes made time for his students, his colleagues and anyone else who stopped by to chat.

He’d listen as they expressed concerns about classes, talked through career goals, discussed the most recent Husky football game, or asked for advice in their personal life.

One of those students was Jay Fathi, a UW alum who spent a summer during undergrad working right across from Hennes’ office. Despite not being one of Hennes’ students, Hennes eventually became one of Fathi’s closest friends.

After Hennes died in 2010 and the University began thinking about ways to honor his legacy with a scholarship, Fathi knew he wanted to make a gift to the fund. Supporting the Hennes scholarship meant that Fathi could help ensure Hennes was never forgotten and support students while doing it.

“It was a no brainer,” he said. “Ran touched many thousands of peoples’ lives in an incredibly positive way over the decades, including mine. This scholarship is a way to honor his memory and help even more students excel at the UW and become well-rounded leaders in our communities.”

Since 2010, the Ran Hennes Scholarship has supported 18 juniors and seniors in the Honors Program through annual donations to the scholarship fund, giving more students the opportunity to take advantage of the Honors Programs learning opportunities.

Now, 16 years after its inception, thanks to generous gifts from all corners of the Honors and UW community, the Ran Hennes Scholarship is officially endowed, providing a permanent funding source to support students for years to come.

“I can’t imagine a better way to honor his legacy and countless contributions to bettering students’ lives than the ability to offer this scholarship,” said Aley Mills Willis, assistant director and director of academic services and student affairs at the UW Honors Program.

The difference of scholarship

The Honors Program awards scholarships and awards to current and incoming students each year. The scholarships are supported through gifts from alumni, faculty, parents and family members.

An Honors education serves students in both the Interdisciplinary and Departmental Honors who wish to expand their educational experience through Honors coursework and co-curricular experiences rooted in research, leadership and community engagement.

Scholarships help solidify these experiences for students by allowing them the financial support needed to focus on their education.

Steve Harrell, former director of the Honors Program and donor to the Hennes endowment fund, knows the difference a scholarship can make for students. For years, the Honors Program tried to recruit students from diverse backgrounds, but they didn’t always have funding to offer to students who may need extra support, he said.

“My experience shows exactly what the absence of scholarship means,” Harrell said. “For some people, even just a small grant can make a difference.”

‘Why would I ever do anything else?’

Hennes graduated from the UW in 1952 with his bachelor’s degree and returned a few years later to complete his Ph.D. in history. In 1971, he began his 40-year career at the University as teacher, adviser, associate director and fan.

He is remembered for his welcoming nature, his humor, his willingness to help anyone who asked, and most importantly, his commitment to his students — both Honors and otherwise.

“Ran saw the potential in people. He gave you his whole attention in a way that made you feel capable and cared for,” said Brook Kelly, assistant director and director of strategy and operations. Kelly first met Hennes as a student during her first day of orientation at the UW.

With this endowed scholarship, his legacy of caring for students will live on.

“It’s what Ran would’ve wanted because he knew students not just as people taking classes,” Harrell said. “If someone had anything going on outside of school that made it difficult for them to focus on classes, he always found a way to help.”

Some of the students and staff he mentored, like Kelly and Mills Willis, went on to eventually lead the Honors Program in positions similar to Hennes’.

As her own career goals were taking shape, Mills Willis remembered many conversations with Hennes where they discussed their work with students. He would tell her about how much he enjoyed that role and how much he understood that it was a privilege.

But, at the end of the day, Hennes knew he was doing what he was supposed to be, often remarking to Mills Willis, “Why would I ever do anything else?”

Bleeding Husky purple

To receive a Hennes Scholarship, a student must demonstrate an excellent academic record along with active participation in the larger University community. Engaging outside of the Honors Program is a piece that those who knew Hennes know he would appreciate.

Hennes touched every part of the University, said Richard Simkins, former head of the College of Arts and Sciences Advising.

He cared deeply about Husky football, he taught military history, he advised students across majors, Simkins said. “He had the broadest view of the University,” he added.

“He just bled Husky purple,” Fathi said. “You couldn’t be more University of Washington than Ran Hennes.”