天美影视传媒

Ran Hennes always kept his office door open.

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

He鈥檇 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鈥� students, Hennes eventually became one of Fathi鈥檚 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.

鈥淚t was a no brainer,鈥� he said. 鈥淩an touched many thousands of peoples鈥� 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.鈥�

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.

鈥淚 can’t imagine a better way to honor his legacy and countless contributions to bettering students鈥� lives than the ability to offer this scholarship,鈥� 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鈥檛 always have funding to offer to students who may need extra support, he said.

鈥淢y experience shows exactly what the absence of scholarship means,鈥� Harrell said. 鈥淔or some people, even just a small grant can make a difference.鈥�

鈥榃hy would I ever do anything else?鈥�

Hennes graduated from the UW in 1952 with his bachelor鈥檚 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 鈥� both Honors and otherwise.

鈥淩an saw the potential in people. He gave you his whole attention in a way that made you feel capable and cared for,鈥� 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.

鈥淚t鈥檚 what Ran would鈥檝e wanted because he knew students not just as people taking classes,鈥� Harrell said. 鈥淚f 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.鈥�

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鈥�.

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, 鈥淲hy would I ever do anything else?鈥�

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. 鈥淗e had the broadest view of the University,鈥� he added.

鈥淗e just bled Husky purple,鈥� Fathi said. 鈥淵ou couldn鈥檛 be more 天美影视传媒 than Ran Hennes.鈥�