Who We Are

The WWU Honors College is a community of students and faculty who actively seek to challenge themselves and each other. 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.

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.

My experience with Honors has taught me again how to be curious, how to ask questions that matter, and how to foster my own creativity and learning. Every person involved in my Honors journey has supported me with their time and care, showing me the ropes on how to be a person, and extending to me the very special partnership of learning together. This community of practice has encouraged me to keep going, be vulnerable, and always search for new adventures. It has been an invaluable experience and one that I carry with me and utilize every single day.

Funds

This year, we are so grateful to have one more addition to the funds that generous donors have created to support our students. Dr. George Mariz, who tirelessly built Western Honors as its Director for nearly 30 years (1987-2016), and his family have generously created a new Kozak-Mariz Memorial Endowment (more information on the Honors website!). As we build this new line of support for the Honors College, we hope you’ll give special consideration to donating to this new fund this year – designed to help us enrich Honors student experiences in multiple different ways.

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.

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.

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.

Frank and Reba Mariz Honors Endowment: The Mariz Fund, in honor of former Honors Director Dr. George Mariz, 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.

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.