Nearly 50 years ago, UW professors Halbert and Nancy Robinson envisioned a school to serve academically talented students with accelerated needs. Today, the Robinson Center stands as a refuge, a long-awaited home for scholars eager to embark on journeys of intellectual and self-discovery. The Center鈥檚 focus, experience and infrastructure in nurturing gifted young scholars within the environment of a leading public university is a key factor in parents’ and their students鈥� decisions to drop out of high school and enroll in the program.
Category: Features
Typically longer in length and relevancy than content in the news category. Features content is more likely to be republished over time.
15 Seconds at a Time: Honors Program
In this video, Honors Program Director Stephanie Smallwood takes on the challenge of explaining the Honors Program in less than 15 seconds at a time. 15 Seconds at a Time is a series where we find out if various Undergraduate Academic Affairs departments can explain their work in only 15 Seconds at a Time.
The Path to UW and beyond
“When I first embarked on the Path to UW program, I was daunted, to say the least,” said Chloe Sarmiento, a journalism and public interest communication major.
As a first-generation college student, Sarmiento, 鈥�24, had always aspired to pursue higher education. “With the assistance of my professors at Seattle Central College and the Path to UW program, my transition was smoother than I anticipated. I am grateful for the generous support I’ve received,鈥� she said.
Sarmiento is one of the 20 undergraduates in the first graduating cohort of the Path to UW. She describes her time at the 天美影视传媒 as truly unforgettable 鈥� forming enduring friendships, acquiring invaluable experiences and taking on challenging academic courses all fostered her growth as a student. Resources within her major enabled her to broaden her horizons and pinpoint her specific interests. 鈥淭he most important part of my college experience at UW was gaining practical experience in the media landscape,鈥� Sarmiento explained. She added, 鈥淲ith my professors’ support, I could achieve exactly that.鈥�
The , an innovative partnership with the program, launched in January 2022. This critical initiative addresses educational equity gaps,聽 paving the way for students like Sarmiento. These students are transitioning from North, Central or South Seattle Colleges to the 天美影视传媒.聽
At the UW, Sarmiento鈥檚 coursework and hands-on learning experiences allowed her to kick-start her dream career in the music industry. She recently concluded her role as the GRAMMY U representative for the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Recording Academy, taking on leadership roles and being an on-stage trophy holder at the 2024 GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony in Los Angeles. After graduation, Sarmiento plans to continue working in music.聽
Nationally, only one in seven students who start at a community college complete a bachelor’s degree within six years. In Washington, less than half of community college students who intend to transfer to a four-year institution do so. With support from the (DEEL), the Path to UW is working to close equity gaps by providing robust advising services, peer connections, guidance on course selection and assistance with applications to ensure a smooth transition.
Sarmiento encourages students considering transferring to the UW to make full use of these available resources. 鈥淭here are numerous resources specifically for transfer students, and using them will only benefit you,鈥� she advised. 鈥淜nowing your support network and building meaningful connections will ensure a smooth transition into UW, so start developing those relationships early!鈥�
鈥淚 was nervous when I embarked on the Path to UW program,鈥� admitted Jonathan Bristle. Graduating from high school during the COVID-19 pandemic left him uncertain of his next steps. His Path to UW adviser recommended a class to help him explore his interests. “This class was beneficial because I answered questionnaires about career paths that matched my personality. Eventually, I selected biology as my major!” Bristle exclaimed.
At the UW, Bristle, 鈥�24, sought research experiences while navigating the large classes. 鈥淭ransitioning from a small classroom to a lecture hall can be daunting,鈥� Bristle recalls, remembering his initial foray into a CHEM 237 lecture without knowing anyone. 鈥淓ventually, I found a group of people who also found organic chemistry challenging. They’ve been a fantastic support system as friends and study buddies.鈥�
Bristle was determined to overcome the challenges of finding research opportunities as a junior. He ultimately secured positions in ecology, fieldwork and molecular biology. 鈥淚 value these experiences because they influenced my career interests and helped me identify my preferences,” Bristle shared. 鈥淎 research career has always been in line with my goal of making a meaningful impact on people鈥檚 lives.鈥� Bristle aims to pursue his Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology, focusing on pathology or virology. 鈥淚 enjoy studying the molecular mechanisms of diseases and viruses.鈥�
His main advice for new transfers is to soak up as much as possible at the UW, recommending 鈥渢ransfer students should network, utilize resources and seek opportunities throughout the academic year or summer.鈥� He also advises transfers to apply for summer internships, saying, 鈥渢hey are a great way to build experience and connections, and the Career and Internship Center can help you apply.鈥澛�
鈥淲hen I was first thinking about transferring to UW the application process seemed overwhelming,鈥� said Jackson Kolar. When he learned that the Path to UW provided advising support, he was relieved, 鈥渕y adviser made the application and transfer process run so much smoother.鈥�
Kolar, 鈥�24, cites his time at the UW as one of rich learning, 鈥淢y academic journey was only part of the learning experience when I consider how much I came to know about myself.鈥� Balancing personal, academic and work life, Kolar navigated, through trial and error, the management of activities, choices and goals. 鈥淚 learned how to manage stress and came to understand how important routines are in my life to keep me productive,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 learned how to live on my own and build connections with people, all while pursuing a degree in psychology.鈥澛�
Kolar made the Dean鈥檚 list various times over his two years at the UW and has expanded his worldview from a psychological standpoint. Kolar鈥檚 experience allowed him to learn to pursue the things he most values. After graduation, he is set to travel abroad, even visiting his first-year roommates in India. Upon his return, Kolar plans to pursue a career at the Seattle Clinic while considering graduate school.聽
To undergrads considering a transfer, Kolar encourages them not only for the opportunity, but the adventure. 鈥淯W is a massive school with a place for everyone,鈥� Kolar shared. 鈥淯W has resources for students to pursue a wide-range of activities and studies, while supporting students from all backgrounds in their own way socially, academically and personally.鈥�
Innovating leadership at the Spring CELEbration
The 2024 Spring CELEbration highlighted the intersection of service and leadership at the 天美影视传媒. Students involved in the Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center and Mary Gates Endowment Leadership Scholars showcased their service, leadership and activist work from the academic year. The HUB, North Ballroom and Conference Rooms were filled with energy on May 24, the date of the culminating student event. Family, friends, mentors and community partners interacted with students during the CELEbration, which included lightning talk rounds, table talk presentations, poster sessions and a video showcase.
Honors Program undergrad Nathan Loutsis, 鈥�24, majoring in political science: international security with minors in public policy and leadership, first connected with the CELE Center as a UW Presidential Scholar. 鈥淒irector Fran Lo not only collaborated with me to develop an individual leadership plan but also connected me with leadership opportunities that arose during my academic journey,鈥� Loutsis explained.
Loutsis鈥� commitment to public service began at age 14 through a youth volunteer program with King County. In high school, a personal incident sparked his passion for creating safe school walking routes. As a result, Loutsis began serving as a planning commissioner for Kenmore at 16. “I brought a unique perspective to the table, representing a younger and often overlooked demographic,” Loutsis said.
With his background in local service and community governance, Loutsis was an ideal candidate for the , a UW tri-campus, interdisciplinary program that widens the pathways to public service. Loutsis is currently a city council member for Kenmore, a position he won in last year’s election, “Running for office was challenging, but I won and continue to fall in love with public service and civic engagement every day.鈥� Loutsis added,聽 鈥淚 enjoy empowering young people to participate.鈥�
At the event, Loutsis presented his Husky Leadership Certificate in a table talk format, sharing his leadership development project. Initially, Loutsis viewed leadership as a hierarchical construct. Over time, he saw it as an interpersonal and social influence. “Leadership is unique to each person. How we utilize our strengths and character to guide others is significant,” said Loutsis.
As he prepares to begin his master鈥檚 in public administration at the Evans School this fall, Loutsis credits the CELE Center as a pivotal part of his Husky experience. “This community has supported me in unimaginable ways, providing comprehensive leadership development,” he says. Loutsis believes the CELE Center equipped him with leadership skills and helped him discover his potential. “I can continue this work, developing the skills, theories and competencies to serve my community more effectively.”
Foundations for success
Ellis Fellow and Husky 100 awardee, Bryan Ortega, ’24, presented his leadership reflection during one of the evening鈥檚 lightning rounds. A first-generation Latino student majoring in molecular, cellular and developmental biology, Ortega participated in the CELE Center鈥檚 Undergraduate Community Based Internships (UCBI) program. He attributed his strong leadership foundations and values to his family, stating, “My parents and grandparents are my main inspiration; they have been the foundation for what I have accomplished so far,” he said.
Ortega began his years of community service volunteering at a local hospital in Independence, Oregon, during high school. After moving to Seattle as a first-year student, he dedicated himself to youth shelter advocacy and spent two years working with young adults experiencing homelessness. Through UCBI, Ortega partnered with El Centro De La Raza, offering financial literacy support to empower people of all races. Currently, Ortega is an associate teacher at Bright Horizons, an early childhood education center, where he works with children ranging from infants to six years old.
Ortega emphasized that leadership embodies a profound commitment to growth and continuous learning. He views the role of a leader as a guide and a source of support, with a firm grasp of humility. “If you’re a leader who can’t admit that you’re making a mistake, are you really leading?” he questioned.
Ortega highlighted the importance of communication as a leader, not just for expressing his ideas but also for engaging in meaningful conversations. “There’s so much more that I’m excited to continue learning, and UW and the Ellis Fellowship have been integral in helping me develop my core values,” he reflected.
As Ortega prepares to pursue medical school, he looks at his CELE Center experience with gratitude. “I couldn’t be more fortunate for the opportunity and the connections I made. I learned to trust in myself and my abilities, and to see myself as a scientist,” he shared.
A way to give back
Su Cho, 鈥�24, is a neuroscience major who demonstrated her leadership and service through her involvement with the Dream Project as a College and Career Readiness Assistant (CCRA). Presenting via the poster format of the event, Cho expressed her connection to the project鈥檚 mission, stating, “I was drawn to this work because I am also a first-generation student whose parents didn鈥檛 know about college and the systems here.鈥� Cho found a passion in providing resources and guidance to first-gen students, immigrants and those from low-income families.
Cho shared how her sensitivity and understanding of the unique challenges faced by these students made her a strong leader in the Dream Project. Her personal experiences allowed her to be more respectful and sensitive when dealing with students’ family situations, financial status and other personal matters. “Having gone through a similar experience allowed me to understand their perspective,鈥� Cho said. 鈥淚 was able to support them respectfully, promoting their empowerment and self-respect. I hope this equips them with more opportunities and paves the way for future success wherever they go,鈥� Cho shared.
Cho cited her service with the Dream Project as not just beneficial to the students she assisted, but also to her personal and academic growth. She viewed her role mentoring high school students as they navigated through barriers as a way of “passing down all the resources and giving back what I’ve received.鈥� Cho hopes to apply these experiences in her future healthcare career, using her expanded understanding of diverse individuals and their circumstances to understand and serve all of her patients.
Photos from the 2024 Spring CELEbration
These photos are a sampling of students鈥� projects and presentations. Photos by Jayden Becles and Nancy Huizar.
About the Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center
The provides students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to contribute to thriving communities; building authentic community and campus partnerships drive the work. CELE Center programs are centered around the areas of community-engaged learning, democratic engagement, leadership education, preK-12 student success and place-based initiatives.
About Mary Gates Leadership Scholarships
encourage undergraduate students to develop their leadership abilities through practical experience, personal reflection and in community with mentors and peers.
Finding my way
Hiking through the flower-covered rolling hills of the Methow Valley in 2022, my field cohort headed for beaver habitat. Our trail involved crawling under barbed wire in the midday heat, and by the time we finally arrived at the steep slope, I didn鈥檛 even attempt to continue.
A boundless connection
For Kavin 鈥楰en鈥� Srinakarin, 鈥�24, it all began in the Forest Club Room of Anderson Hall. Amid the serenity of evergreens, he and his fellow research assistants at the Human Interaction with Nature and Technological Systems (HINTS) Lab gathered every Friday to discuss scales, factor analysis and connect through shared experiences in nature.
Wen Eckelberg selected as scholar for China鈥檚 Yenching Academy
Wen Eckelberg, ’24, an undergraduate at the 天美影视传媒, was recently chosen for the competitive Yenching Academy Scholars program at Peking University.
Arts, humanities and sciences unite at 27th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
The 27th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium showcased a diverse array of more than 1,200 student presenters, including nearly 200 UW Honors Program students, representing an impressive spectrum of majors, research projects, fellowship and scholarship awardees.
The intersection of service and leadership
On May 23, the 天美影视传媒鈥檚 Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center will present the 2024 Spring CELEbration, a forum for undergraduates to showcase their contributions to service, leadership and activist work conducted in partnership with the community.
UAA鈥檚 LeAnne Wiles receives Thorud Leadership Award
We are delighted to congratulate LeAnne Wiles on being named one of two recipients for the Thorud Leadership Award, the highest award for leadership at the 天美影视传媒! Wiles is the executive director of First Year Programs and Strategic Initiatives in UAA鈥檚 Student Academic Services. Wiles began her UW career in First Year Programs in 2009, managing parent orientation, the First-year Interest Group program and other elements of First Year Programs. In the last 15 years, she has made an indelible mark on how new students are welcomed to campus and how they find a sense of belonging in their first year. To be effective in this work, Wiles and the First Year Programs team she leads reach out across campus, developing partnerships with academic and administrative units with the vision of creating a campus-wide welcome and culture of belonging for first-year students.