Students Making the Most of the UW

Danny initially came to the UW thinking he wanted to go into law enforcement, but soon turned to anthropology where he realized he could learn about, and stay connected to, his Samoan ancestry.

How massive Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton worked through an unimaginable tragedy and became a top-flight NFL prospect

Varsha Govindaraju, a senior student majoring in anthropology and law, societies, and justice with minors in human rights and diversity was recently selected as a 2015-16 Luce Scholar.

"Learning another language is discovering another avenue for self-expression," says Joy Maa (Spanish, Japanese, 2014), who is fluent in four languages.

Ever heard of a student writing a second honors thesis "mostly just for fun"? Meet Kathleen Noll (History, Classics/Latin, 2014), a scholar of medieval history.

Soon after arriving at the UW at 15, Reid Dale (Mathematics, 2014) thrived in graduate-level courses in math and philosophy.

International student Jueqian Fang (Photomedia, Cinema Studies, 2014) studied science in China but discovered a passion for art at the UW.

President's Medalist Megan Kufeld is both an athlete and a scholar."I want people to realize that it is possible to be both," she says.

When a foot injury sidelined dancer Anna Zemke (BA, Dance, Biochemistry), she gave up one dream to pursue another. But she never lost her passion for dance, even as she pursued a second degree in biochemistry.

"I find theory of computation and logic extremely beautiful," says Sam Hopkins (BS, Mathematics, Computer Science), whose fascination with mathematics and philosophy have informed his computer science research.

An interest in social justice led Sam Nowak (BA, Geography) to the Department of Geography, where he pursued research on issues of inequality, particularly among Seattle's homeless and other marginalized populations.

For Mimi Cagaitan (BA, English, Comparative History of Ideas), an unusual family history was the motivation for her research and a class she led about international marriage migration—the so-called "mail-order bride" industry.

After years of balancing UW studies with a demanding full-time dance career, Pacific Northwest Ballet dancer Leah O'Connor will earn a bachelor's degree in sociology in June.