From the thousands of undergraduate students at the University of Washington, three are selected each year for the prestigious Undergraduate Medalist Award. Kaytlin Rose Vanderhorst, Carilyn Brandt and Luna Crone-Barón are the medalists for 2024–25, selected by a committee for their high GPAs, rigor of classes and number of Honors courses.
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UW undergrad Parker Ritzmann earns international Schwarzman Scholars fellowship
University of Washington senior Parker Ritzmann, has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar, one of the world’s most competitive graduate and fellowship programs. Schwarzman Scholars will pursue a one-year, fully-funded master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
Strong partnership bridges the distance
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.
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.
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.