Since its founding, the University of Washington’s Robinson Center for Young Scholars has served academically advanced students across the region. Yet for many Auburn School District families, those opportunities remained out of reach. The barrier was never a lack of talent or curiosity. It was access.
Category: Features
Typically longer in length and relevancy than content in the news category. Features content is more likely to be republished over time.
Serving through Honors: Grounded in tenacity, focused on service
For Bella Boulter, serving through Honors meant looking beyond the code to the people behind the UW’s systems. Through her Honors experiential learning internship with the Office of the University Registrar, she examined how technology shapes the student journey — and helped lay the groundwork for a new innovation lab where students can build tools, test ideas and create a more accessible Husky Experience.
5 community connections we loved in 2025
Across Seattle and throughout Washington state, the Community Engagement & Leadership Education (CELE) Center is instrumental in the University of Washington’s community engagement — connecting the UW with neighborhoods, schools and community organizations to address critical social issues. Through authentic, reciprocal partnerships, the CELE Center provides students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to contribute to thriving communities.
The CELE Center’s programs are centered around four focus areas: community-engaged learning, leadership education, pre-K–12 student success and place-based initiatives; examples of programs within the CELE Center include the Dream Project and Riverways Education Partnerships. Since the University received the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification in 2020, the CELE Center has continued to deepen learning, expand opportunity and advance a more just region.
CELE Center programs invest in student leadership and long-term partnerships that strengthen both the University and communities. Below are five stories from this year that CELE Center staff wanted to highlight that show what this work looks like in practice. For more detail and data, be sure to check out the Center’s 2024-25 annual report.
1. Othello-UW Commons and Creators Corner: A hub for community and creativity
At Othello-UW Commons, the CELE Center is growing a student-led, community-fueled space where campus and neighborhood meet. This year, Othello neighborhood resident and student assistant Mia Doan helped organize Creators Corner, a student-led pop-up market that centers and uplifts queer artists and small-business owners of color — giving them a platform to share and sell their work in the Commons, from prints and jewelry to live art at neighborhood events.
“I’ve been going to art markets with my friends ever since high school — it’s our favorite hangout activity, said Doan, now a UW graduate student. “But we’d always have to catch the train up north to go to those markets. The Creators Corner is one way to bring that joyful celebration of creativity to the south end [of Seattle].”
From Creators Corner to the South Seattle Welcome event and other neighborhood gatherings, Othello-UW Commons connects students, residents and businesses across the south end of Seattle. The Commons team met face painter Caroline Tran and photographer Von’Rico O’Neal of Hey Suav Photography at the Othello International Festival, then invited them to the South Seattle Welcome — an event for new UW students from Southeast Seattle that brings together families and neighbors. There, both creators gained exposure and built connections with students, families, community partners and UW staff.
Through its physical space, events and relationships, Othello-UW Commons supports neighborhood businesses while creating a welcoming place for experimentation, collaboration and growth.
2. CELE K-12 tutors in Seattle Public Schools: Amplifying learning for thousands of students
Through the CELE Center’s K–12 programs, more than 250 UW students served as tutors in Seattle Public Schools this year, partnering with teachers in classrooms across the district. With roughly 30 students in each classroom, that’s an estimated 7,500 K–12 students receiving more individualized support in reading, math and other core subjects.
This long-standing partnership with Seattle Public Schools, recognized this year with a UAA Distinguished Partner Award honoring Ania Beszterda, volunteer services program administrator at SPS, shows what is possible when we invest in sustained relationships. CELE Center tutors don’t just help students grasp content; they build trust, offer encouragement and create more room for teachers to focus on the diverse needs in their classrooms.
For UW students, this work is a powerful form of community-based learning: They gain firsthand insight into educational equity, practice collaborative problem-solving with teachers and contribute to stronger public schools across our region.
3. Riverways Education Partnerships and CASE: Learning alongside community
Through Riverways Education Partnerships, UW students travel to rural and tribal communities to learn with and from local educators, families and youth. This year’s visits through the three Culture And Science Exchange (CASE) programs invited students to spend time on Yakama, Quileute and Makah lands, listen to community leaders, support youth programs and reflect on what responsible partnership really looks like.
The impact is two-way: Youth meet and learn from college students who genuinely care, while UW students gain a deeper understanding of reciprocity and educational justice. These relationships, built over time, help students recognize their role in supporting, rather than directing, community-driven work.
“These student–community relationships are years in the making. We have UW students who have worked with their partner communities for two, three, even four years,” says Richard Parra, assistant director of Rural and Tribal Partnerships. “Riverways and CASE remind our students that meaningful change comes from showing up consistently, actively listening and supporting what communities are already working toward.”
4. Leadership education: From the classroom to community impact
At the CELE Center, leadership is not a title, it is a practice rooted in community and civic responsibility. This year, a combined 232 students enrolled in CELE Center leadership courses and the leadership minor, exploring what it means to lead with equity, humility and collaboration in a complex democracy.
At the Spring CELEbration event in May, students in the Husky Leadership Certificate program presented their capstone projects, showing how they applied their learning in community organizations, student groups, public institutions and workplaces. Together, they form an interdisciplinary network of student leaders who carry their practice into every space they inhabit — strengthening civic life across our region.
Through reflection, relationship-building and community-based experiences, CELE Center’s leadership education deepens student learning, broadens access to leadership development and prepares students to engage in the ongoing work of building a more just, democratic society.
“When students are given the space to reflect on their leadership in real community contexts, learning becomes something they carry with them — not just a course requirement, but a responsibility,” said Fran Lo, executive director of the CELE Center. “We see leadership education as preparation for participation in a living democracy, shaped through relationships, humility and sustained engagement. These experiences help students understand not only how to lead, but why their leadership matters beyond the University.”
5. Dream Project: From near-peer mentoring to educational access leadership
For nearly two decades, the Dream Project has shown what is possible when UW students work alongside high schoolers to expand college access and advance educational equity across our region. What begins as near-peer mentoring often grows into a long-term commitment to supporting students and schools.
Jacob Shapiro is one example. A former Dream Project mentor and student intern, Shapiro continued this work after graduation as an AmeriCorps member supporting college and career readiness tutors in Seattle Public Schools. Today, he works with Seattle Promise, where he recently led a financial aid workshop for Dream Project college and career readiness assistants, bringing his experience full circle.
“My foundational professional experiences at Dream Project laid out the groundwork for my career,” said Jacob Shapiro. “Now, as an outreach specialist for Seattle Promise, I get to turn conversations into possibilities for students just beginning to imagine their futures. I appreciate the opportunities that Dream Project — and CELE as a whole — have offered me.”
Shapiro’s story is one of many. Dream Project alumni can be found in classrooms, nonprofits, youth-serving organizations and public institutions, carrying forward the skills, relationships and justice-centered values they developed at CELE. Together, they form a growing network of educational access leaders strengthening pathways for students across Washington.
Looking ahead
Across Seattle and throughout Washington state, the impact of the CELE Center is powered by partnership — including generous donors who believe in students as catalysts for change and in education as a tool to strengthen democracy.
As we look to the year ahead, additional gifts can open doors for more students and expand community-rooted learning and leadership. Alumni, family and friends are leaning in to strengthen the ripple effects of this work across schools, neighborhoods and regions through their philanthropy.
First Year Programs announces new name: New Student & Transfer Programs
The name of First Year Programs has recently changed to New Student & Transfer Programs. The updated name more accurately reflects the work of the unit and the full range of first-year and transfer students it serves at the University of Washington. The change aligns with a University-wide shift in language and provides clarity as the UW adopts more inclusive terminology around student populations.
For more than two decades, First Year Programs has played a central role in supporting new undergraduates as they transition into the UW. Through orientation, first-year and transfer seminars, peer-led programs and other efforts that help students find community and connect with campus resources, First Year Programs has helped thousands of Huskies navigate their academic and social pathways. The move to New Student & Transfer Programs recognizes both the continued evolution of the unit’s work and its long-standing commitment to all new undergraduates.
“Our new name makes it clear that every student’s entry point into the UW matters,” said LeAnne Jones Wiles, executive director of New Student & Transfer Programs. “Whether students are arriving straight from high school or transferring from another institution, we are here to ensure they feel seen, supported and connected from day one.”
In August 2025, the Office of Admissions formally shifted from using freshman to first-year, bringing UW terminology in line with peer institutions across the country. The change reflects national trends in equitable and inclusive language and clarifies how the University defines first-year and transfer students. As a result, the name First Year Programs no longer accurately represented the broad population the unit serves, including students entering directly from high school and students transferring from other colleges and universities.
New Student & Transfer Programs facilitates Advising and Orientation, Dawg Daze, First Year Interest Groups (FIGS), Transfer Seminars, and the Commuter and Transfer Commons (located in the Husky Union Building). These programs help students build relationships, understand academic expectations and establish a strong foundation for their time at the UW.
Learn more about New Student & Transfer Programs at nstp.uw.edu.
UW undergrad named 2026 Rhodes Scholar
University of Washington senior Shubham Bansal, ’26, has been named a 2026 Rhodes Scholar, one of the most prestigious academic awards for U.S. students.
UW opens the Transfer Center
Transferring to the University of Washington is a major milestone for thousands of Huskies who start at Washington’s community and technical colleges. This fall, the UW is opening the Transfer Center in Mary Gates Hall, uniting programs and partnerships under Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising and providing transfer students with a centralized, welcoming home for advising, peer mentorship and campus connections. As a central space for connection, collaboration and celebration, the Center builds transfer community year-round.
“Establishing a Transfer Center is the critical next step,” said Joslin Boroughs, director of advising initiatives and partnerships for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising. “Centralizing brings visibility to the transfer student experience and improves coordination so we can support student success. Think of the Transfer Center as your campus partner. It’s a single front door for referrals and a resource hub for best practices.” A central point of contact, transfer guides and departmental connections streamline referrals for prospective and current students, as well as faculty and staff.
The Transfer Center unites long-standing partnerships between UW advisers and Washington’s community and technical colleges to remove barriers to timely transfer. It also connects existing initiatives such as Path to UW, which gives prospective students early access to UW resources. The Center’s space is reservable for partner-hosted, transfer-supportive events.
“The Path to UW partnership with Seattle Colleges is re-writing the story of transfer to a flagship university,” said Melody McMillan, senior executive director of Seattle Promise at Seattle Colleges. “Built with student access and success at the center, Path to UW was shaped by student and faculty feedback — and acting on that feedback works.”
“Coordinated advising through the Path to UW program meets students earlier and more consistently — expanding access to a world-class public research university,” said Michaelann Jundt, senior associate dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Transfer students at a glance — 2025
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Enrolled: 1,685 transfer students
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From Washington community and technical colleges: 1,400 (83%)
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Regions: Puget Sound, Olympic Peninsula, Southwest, Central and Eastern Washington (such as Seattle Colleges, Bellevue, Peninsula, Clark, Yakima Valley and Spokane)
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Top majors: business, computer science, psychology, biology, nursing, communication, economics, informatics, engineering, design, English, sociology, environmental science and resource management
Students will also meet Transfer Ambassadors, a peer leadership team developed with First Year Programs — who host welcome events, offer one-on-one support and help students navigate their first year on campus.
“Adjusting to new teaching styles and the course load can be overwhelming,” said Transfer Ambassador and psychology major, Iqra Mohamed, ‘26. “What helped me was introducing myself to people near me on day one and joining study groups. It can feel intimidating, but it sets you up for success and builds self-advocacy.”
“With a dedicated space, there’s a go-to for questions and drop-in support,” Mohamed added. “It shows a place designed for transfer students, which can strengthen belonging. Transfer can feel like a short stop, but the Center will help students feel more connected and find accessible opportunities to create a memorable UW experience.” Kitchen access, study spaces and lockers remain available in the Commuter and Transfer Commons.
Ambassadors continue outreach at partner colleges, closing the loop from exploration to enrollment. “Seattle’s students are brilliant and driven,” added McMillan. “When institutions align around them, applications turn into admissions, admissions into enrollment, and enrollment into graduation and career.”
“One year in, we expect growth in ambassador engagement, referrals and event participation — clear signals that students are reaching support sooner,” said Boroughs.
“Over the past decade, the University of Washington has become more vocal and intentional about transfer student success,” said Jundt.
“The Transfer Center is that commitment made visible — a place where students can find their path, and their people, from day one.”
About Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising
Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising supports undergraduates across all majors with academic planning, exploration and success — connecting students with advising, resources and opportunities that help them graduate on time and thrive at the UW.
The heart of Honors
In the Honors Program, where interdisciplinarity and inquiry define the student experience, Professor Jon C. Herron exemplifies the kind of teaching that changes how students see the world — and themselves.
UW alum Evan Siu named Schwarzman Scholar
University of Washington alumnus Evan Siu, ’23, has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar, one of the world’s most competitive graduate and fellowship programs.
Siu, who earned a bachelor’s degree in informatics, joins the program’s 10th class of 150 scholars chosen from nearly 5,000 applicants worldwide. Schwarzman Scholars will pursue a fully funded master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where they will study China’s role in global trends alongside leaders in business, technology and policy.
“Whether through software, policy, investment or classrooms, my goal is to widen access through technology to finance, information and trade networks so geography isn’t the limiting factor in human potential,” Siu said. “I’m excited to walk that path with my classmates, giving as much as I learn from all of them.”
Siu is an associate product manager at Visa in San Francisco, where he has supported products across AI-powered fraud and identity, cross-border payments, small-business tools and cryptocurrency. He now works with Visa Ventures, helping shape the firm’s strategy for investing in fintechs and startups worldwide.
“My professional experiences have shown me how financial technology can bank the unbanked, reduce barriers in commerce and make interactions between nations more seamless,” Siu said. “I hope to apply those lessons to deepen U.S.–China collaboration.”
At the UW, Siu combined his informatics studies with leadership roles in entrepreneurship and technology communities. He was active in the Lavin Entrepreneurship Program, DubHacks Next, UW Blockchain Society, UW Consulting Association, and helped open undergraduate access to the Creative Destruction Lab during its inaugural year on campus.
Born in the United States and Chinese by ethnicity, Siu traces his passion for U.S.–China exchange to a middle-school trip to Shanghai, where QR-code payments first showed him how technology could simplify everyday life.
With the incoming class, the Schwarzman Scholars network includes more than 1,300 members from 104 countries and 459 institutions. Alumni of the program are leading across industries and working together to address urgent global challenges. This year’s record-high number of applications demonstrates young leaders’ growing investment in understanding China and shaping the future of global cooperation.
About the Schwarzman Scholars Program
The Schwarzman Scholars is an elite scholarship program founded in 2013 by Blackstone Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman. The program was created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century by preparing the next generation of global leaders.
Up to 200 scholars are selected annually from a broad range of backgrounds, including business, technology, science, politics, healthcare and more.
About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The Schwarzman Scholars Program process is supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.
What happens on campus doesn’t stay on campus: Why undergraduate experiences matter for everyone
Every fall, new Huskies arrive at the University of Washington — curious, driven and a little nervous. More than 25% of our first-year students are the first in their families to seek a four-year degree. Of the UW’s undergraduate population, 55% receive financial aid, 74% are Washington state residents, representing all 39 Washington counties. Throughout their undergraduate journey, thousands will plug into research and community engagement, gaining experience and developing character traits that prepare them for their future.
Why should you care? Because it’s not just about current students. What happens at the University of Washington doesn’t stay on campus. In just a few fast years, undergraduates will leave with more than a diploma: They’ll carry with them the persistence, empathy and civic responsibility our workplaces, communities and democracy demand.
We readily see the ripple effects of undergraduate education, from the alum who teaches your child multiplication, to the nurse who cares for your parent, or the software engineer at your office who solves a thorny problem. However, undergraduate experiences beyond the classroom, like research, community engagement and leadership education have the potential to become difference-makers for students and the world they graduate into. They enliven and animate classroom experiences and bring students into the breadth and depth of the UW, one of America’s leading research universities. Teaching the next generation the foundations of research and service for the public good matters to Washington state residents personally, publicly, profoundly for decades to come.
Research, community engagement and leadership education — the areas we focus on in our work — are integral to students’ career preparation and teach skills, habits and mindsets that AI can’t generate. Undergraduate researchers learn persistence, flex the muscle that discerns fact from fiction, apply knowledge across a range of complex problems, and so much more. Students who learn to lead through communities wrangle with ethics, deepen their self-awareness, practice respectful dialogue, and develop a sustained commitment to our civic spaces.
One undergraduate researcher explored how people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s feel about different interventions and saw firsthand how those facing this disease have different opinions and approaches to the idea of memories. She was surprised to learn that some viewed forgetting as a gift. She plans on taking the lesson of being curious about different perspectives to her journalism career.
Another undergraduate volunteered in schools, helping students apply to post-secondary education. In this service and leadership work, he practiced public speaking and community-listening skills. He’s brought these skills to his law career representing victims of crime. He learned that listening and effective communication builds trust between communities and the justice system.
Let’s look at the big picture again. By 2031, an estimated 72% of jobs will require education beyond high school. Students who take part in research, community engagement and leadership education are more likely to persist to graduation. These opportunities help students articulate their why, which sets them apart in scholarship applications, job interviews, graduate school applications and more. More than two-thirds of UW graduates stay in Washington state. Undergraduate research, community engagement and leadership development teach the habits of heart and mind we should expect from our business community, politicians, civic leaders and the neighbors next door.
Summer’s over and fall is here. We are delighted to begin again — as we do at the start of every new school year — with this newest group of Huskies. We can’t wait to see what inspires them within and beyond the classroom and, most importantly, how they will contribute to the world beyond them. There is no time like the present, for their future and ours.
Fran Lo is the executive director of the Community Engagement and Leadership Education Center at the UW. Sophie Pierszalowski is the director of the UW’s Office of Undergraduate Research.
Four UW undergrads awarded Fulbright scholarships to study, teach and conduct research abroad
Four University of Washington undergraduates have been awarded Fulbright scholarships for the 2025–26 academic year, joining three other UW students and alumni selected for the prestigious international program. They join about 2,000 recipients nationwide who will pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach English abroad.
This year’s undergraduate awardees will travel to Germany, Mexico, Tajikistan and the United Kingdom to engage in research, teaching assistantships and advanced study in the arts.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program is the nation’s flagship international exchange initiative, supporting students in building global connections through education, service and scholarship.
Explore the full story from UW News.
About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The Fulbright application process is supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards. The UW campus application process for students interested in Fulbright U.S. Student Programs (and other scholarships supporting graduate studies around the world) will get started this spring. Watch for updates about OMSFA’s Global Fellowships Prep program.