Honors strengthened my college experience in more ways than I could have imagined. Throughout my years at Western, Honors has grounded me through its curriculum and its community. From the first-year sequence, to volunteering in the community through Honors, to working on my Capstone, Honors provided me with numerous opportunities that have only enhanced my college experience. The people I've met and the ideas I've learned while in Honors inspire me to stay curious, move with kindness, and never be shy of a challenge.
Who We Are
The WWU Honors College is a community of students and faculty who actively seek to challenge themselves and each other. Since its founding in 1962, Western’s Honors College allows students to combine the best of a private liberal arts college experience (small classes, interaction with professors and other students, and the opportunity to work on research and creative activities with faculty) with the advantages of a much larger public institution, including a wide variety of majors, outstanding academic facilities, and numerous extra-curricular options.
Honors students come from all over the United States and abroad, bringing a wide range of perspectives, interests, and talents with them, which enhance the quality of everyone’s education. In Honors, our motto is "We cultivate community by striving compassionately for knowledge."
Investing in our students
With your generous donation, you support student research, scholarship opportunities, and ensure students receive the best possible learning experience. Scholarships provide our students with financial freedom which in turn enables them to focus on their studies and explore different educational opportunities such as study abroad experiences. The more support we receive from people like YOU, the more support we can give to our students.
Funds
We are so grateful to all of our generous donors who support our department in a variety of ways. From the general Honors College fund which supports community building events and student-led activities to scholarships that relieve some of the tuition burden for our students.
Honors College Fund: Your gifts are used to implement the expansion of the University Honors College: sponsor scholarly programming with campus partners, develop study abroad opportunities and scholarships, support student research, and fund field trips and student-led events.
Endowments
Kozak-Mariz Memorial Endowment: In honor of former Honors Director Dr. George Mariz's family, this endowment provides sustainable support of WWU Honors students through a wide range of academic and programmatic activities, including but not limited to, student research, travel, equipment, guest lecturers, program development, and scholarships. More information can be found on the Honors website.
Frank and Reba Mariz Honors Endowment: The Mariz Fund, in honor of former Honors Director Dr. George Mariz, who tirelessly built Western Honors as its Director for nearly 30 years (1987-2016), provides sustainable support of WWU Honors students with scholarships, research and creative project support, conference travel, and more.
Emily Lang Memorial Scholarship Endowment: The Emily Lang Memorial Scholarship was started in honor of WWU Honors student Emily Lang. This scholarship is awarded to an Honors student who shares Emily's passions: those who demonstrate love for the outdoors and community service.
Scholarships
Aaron Edward Gastellum Scholarship: The Gastellum Scholarship is awarded to an Honors College student in a College of the Environment major on the basis of academic merit.
Adams Honors Scholarship: The Adams Scholarship is awarded to an Honors student on the basis of academic merit.
Leake Family Scholarship: The Leake Family Scholarship is awarded to an Honors College student on the basis of financial need. Whenever possible, preference will be made to applicants who demonstrate, in descending order of priority: financial need; outstanding academic merit, as determined on a year to year basis.
