{"id":90749,"date":"2026-09-11T17:11:47","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T17:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/?page_id=90749"},"modified":"2026-09-11T17:11:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T17:11:47","slug":"cahss-awards-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"CAHSS Awards – 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1609,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"class_list":["post-90749","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"primary_content_copy":"

CAHSS Excellence Awards – 2026<\/h2>\n

Taking the time to reflect on our accomplishments and achievements is one of the most important highlights of the year and is an opportunity to formally set aside some time to recognize and celebrate our aspirations and accomplishments as educators and students. All of the students and faculty are very unique in their own way and truly represent the diversity amongst our multi-faceted disciplines within the programs, departments, college, and university.<\/p>\n

They all have a passion for what they do, and their dedication to their field is not limited to the classroom but extends throughout the university and our local communities.<\/p>\n

Our college is very proud of these students and faculty and their accomplishments, and we are thankful and appreciative of the selfless support that many have received from their family and friends.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","background":{"ID":19911,"id":19911,"title":"CAHSS Awards 2023","filename":"CAHSS-Awards-2023-24-scaled.jpg","filesize":382991,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/09\/CAHSS-Awards-2023-24-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-excellence-awards-2023\/cahss-awards-2023-24\/","alt":"CAHSS Awards 2023","author":"433","description":"","caption":"","name":"cahss-awards-2023-24","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":18122,"date":"2023-09-27 02:06:21","modified":"2023-09-27 02:06:39","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/09\/CAHSS-Awards-2023-24-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/09\/CAHSS-Awards-2023-24-300x188.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":188,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/09\/CAHSS-Awards-2023-24-768x480.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":480,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/09\/CAHSS-Awards-2023-24-1024x640.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":640,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/09\/CAHSS-Awards-2023-24-1536x960.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":960,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/09\/CAHSS-Awards-2023-24-2048x1280.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1280,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/09\/CAHSS-Awards-2023-24-scaled.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":188,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/09\/CAHSS-Awards-2023-24-scaled.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":250,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/09\/CAHSS-Awards-2023-24-scaled.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":375}},"title":"CAHSS Excellence Awards ","bold_title":"2026","content":"","secondary_nav_menu_type":"menu","blocks":[{"acf_fc_layout":"contact-cards","layout_type":"","module_background_color":"off-white","title_alignment":"text-left","title":"Frances B. Huston Medallion Awards","sub-heading":"Recipients of this award have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement with a minimum 3.75 GPA in their previous four quarters and have qualified for the award in one or more of the following areas: leadership, service to the university, and\/or service to the community. Faculty Mentors are selected by the student award recipients and are celebrated for their excellence in teaching and mentorship.","sections":[{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90750,"id":90750,"title":"Mia Blomgren","filename":"Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","filesize":141828,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/screenshot-2\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"CAHSS Excellence Awards 2026","name":"screenshot-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-18 15:20:18","modified":"2026-08-18 15:20:42","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":604,"height":664,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1-273x300.jpeg","medium-width":273,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","medium_large-width":604,"medium_large-height":664,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","large-width":604,"large-height":664,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","1536x1536-width":604,"1536x1536-height":664,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","2048x2048-width":604,"2048x2048-height":664,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":273,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":364,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":546,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Mia Blomgren","title":"","department":"Communication Studies - PR emphasis","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mia Blomgren is a driven communications student, student leader and philanthropist. She has made significant contributions to the campus community and the local community thru her exceptional leadership and service activities. As President of EWU PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) and as a board member for the past three years, Mia helped lead the team, plan events, and support students\u2019 professional development.<\/p>\n

Mia has organized and led several professional development and community service activities including organizing a supply drive families staying at The Ronald McDonald House of the Inland Northwest, a health communications “Pro-Tour” to local healthcare organizations in Spokane and several workshops devoted to helping students learn how to find jobs and internships with industry professionals. As a member of the Cheney Lions Club (the world’s largest community service organization), Mia has utilized her background in communications and public relations to help promote and organize community service events in her local Cheney community and lead partnerships between EWU students and the nonprofit including helping organize Christmas card and Valentine’s Day card drives for the seniors at the Cheney Care Center. Mia helped lead two tables at the Cheney Public Library during Cheney Holiday Hoopla to help kids make cards for the Cheney Care Center seniors and helped organize a table at the URC Fitness Center to encourage college students to create Valentines for the Cheney Care Center seniors.<\/p>\n

Mia is also an exceptional student with a straight \u201cA\u201d average who cares deeply about her education and professional development. This spring, Mia will be representing EWU PRSSA as one of only two students at the Regional PRSSA Conference in New York and last year Mia represented the chapter at the International PRSSA ICON Conference in Anaheim, California. Mia is also a great human who cares deeply about other people and making a difference on campus and in her community. It is an honor to nominate Mia for the Frances B. Huston Award.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Jessica Boyer","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90751,"id":90751,"title":"Azaria Purdy","filename":"Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","filesize":273826,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/azaria-purdy\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"azaria-purdy","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-18 15:23:47","modified":"2026-08-18 15:23:47","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1331,"height":1246,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy-300x281.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":281,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy-768x719.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":719,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy-1024x959.jpeg","large-width":1024,"large-height":959,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1331,"1536x1536-height":1246,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1331,"2048x2048-height":1246,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":281,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":374,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":562}},"name":"Azaria Purdy","title":"","department":"Communication Studies - PR emphasis","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

(Unfortunately, Azaria couldn\u2019t be present at the awards ceremony, so Professor Jessica Boyer accepted Azaria’s award on her behalf.)<\/p>\n

Azaria Purdy is an exceptional student, student athlete and servant leader who is deeply committed to giving back to her community. Azaria has maintained a straight \u201cA\u201d average while also serving as a student athlete on the EWU Track Team, completing an internship with the Spokane chapter of the NAACP, being involved as a member of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) and working a part-time job.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Azaria cares deeply about the community and has utilized the skills she\u2019s learned in her communications and public relations courses to help make a positive impact in several meaningful ways. For example, through her public relations internship with the local Spokane chapter of the NAACP Azaria utilized her background in communications and social media to help promote public awareness initiatives aimed at dismantling racial barriers and promote civil rights. Azaria played a key role in thoughtfully guiding the NAACP\u2019s community engagement efforts, helping the organization respond to community needs, organize and promote events and strengthen its social media presence to maximize the reach and impact of its initiatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Additionally, during her internship with the 90+ Project (a Spokane-based youth soccer organization focused on mentoring, character development and increasing access to soccer for low-income families), Azaria analyzed barriers, evaluated national initiatives and assessed market saturation by examining how local organizations can support and promote young women in sports through funding events, projects and programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Azaria has demonstrated exceptional dedication across all her courses. She is a critical thinker who often leads the class in thoughtful discussion. Azaria encouraged me to think more deeply about my curriculum and the ethical relevance of public relations in contributing to social and cultural change. She is an inspiring student and leader! It is an honor to nominate Azaria for the Frances B. Huston Award.<\/span><\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Jessica Boyer","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90755,"id":90755,"title":"Waahinhewin Williams","filename":"Waahinhewin-Williams.jpeg","filesize":956924,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Waahinhewin-Williams.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/waahinhewin-williams\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"waahinhewin-williams","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-18 15:34:08","modified":"2026-08-18 15:34:08","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1804,"height":2388,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Waahinhewin-Williams-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Waahinhewin-Williams-227x300.jpeg","medium-width":227,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Waahinhewin-Williams-768x1017.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1017,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Waahinhewin-Williams-774x1024.jpeg","large-width":774,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Waahinhewin-Williams-1160x1536.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1160,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Waahinhewin-Williams-1547x2048.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1547,"2048x2048-height":2048,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Waahinhewin-Williams.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":227,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Waahinhewin-Williams.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":302,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Waahinhewin-Williams.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":453,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Waahinhewin Williams","title":"","department":"Art","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Waahinhewin \u201cNay Nay\u201d Williams is an exceptional art student whose leadership, creativity, and community engagement make her a strong candidate for the Frances B Huston Award. She demonstrates outstanding leadership through her involvement in the Native American Student Coalition (NASC), where she has helped organize significant campus events, including the annual Spirit of the Eagle Powwow. Her ability to bring people together reflects her community focus and confidence as a leader.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nay Nay integrates her artistic practice with her passion for cultural engagement: organizing, networking, and building connections. Her dedication extends beyond campus, supporting advocacy and visibility for Indigenous voices.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since transferring from North Idaho College two years ago, Nay Nay\u2019s academic and artistic growth has been remarkable. Her work combines strong technical skill with conceptual depth, often expressed through beauty, humor, and whimsy. Her research explores food as a power cultural lens, addressing themes of heritage, storytelling, and socioeconomic disparities. Through this focus she examines how food relates to health, nourishment, and human connection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nay Nay is truly remarkable \u2013 her leadership, artistic voice, and commitment to community set her apart. I am excited to see where her path leads next.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Marc LaPointe","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90753,"id":90753,"title":"Abby Jensen","filename":"Abby-Jensen.jpg","filesize":857089,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Abby-Jensen.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/abby-jensen\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"abby-jensen","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-18 15:30:56","modified":"2026-08-18 15:30:56","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1878,"height":1516,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Abby-Jensen-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Abby-Jensen-300x242.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":242,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Abby-Jensen-768x620.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":620,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Abby-Jensen-1024x827.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":827,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Abby-Jensen-1536x1240.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1240,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Abby-Jensen.jpg","2048x2048-width":1878,"2048x2048-height":1516,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Abby-Jensen.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":242,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Abby-Jensen.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":323,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Abby-Jensen.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":484}},"name":"Abby Jensen","title":"","department":"Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Abby Jensen is a vivacious learner and a vibrant student leader whose intellectual curiosity extends far beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. As a transfer student to EWU, she has maximized her time by cultivating meaningful scholarship that explores the interconnectedness of social justice issues. Abby consistently demonstrates an ability to articulate complex perspectives, approaching her work with both empathy and intellectual curiosity.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a double major in Gender, Women\u2019s, and Sexuality Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies, Abby brings a nuanced understanding of how systems, theories, methods, and cultural practices intersect. She is a deeply reflective thinker and an enthusiastic communicator, able to translate complex theoretical ideas into accessible and impactful exchanges.<\/span><\/p>\n

Abby\u2019s academic work is complemented by her strong commitment to leadership and community engagement. As president of the student organization Generation Action, she is highly motivated, goal-oriented, and innovative in her approach to campus programming and student organizing. She has played a key role in organizing events, protests, and counter-protests focused on reproductive justice, immigration rights, and gender-affirming care. In addition, she has attended multiple Generation Action summits centered on leadership, advocacy, and coalition-building.<\/span><\/p>\n

Her dedication to community well-being is especially evident in her hands-on initiatives. Abby has partnered with campus and local organizations to distribute essential sexual health resources to EWU students, including emergency contraception (Plan B), condoms, pregnancy tests, and menstrual products. She also actively shares educational resources related to sexual health and gender-affirming care, helping to foster a more informed and supportive campus community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Abby excels in working with individuals from diverse backgrounds. She is emotionally mature, self-reflective, and consistently engages others with respect and openness. Within the academic learning community, she stands out as a leader who introduces innovative perspectives while honoring the lived experiences of others.<\/span><\/p>\n

Her scholarly contributions further demonstrate her commitment to interdisciplinary and intersectional thinking. Abby recently presented her paper, <\/span>\u201cAnnemarie Mol, Feminism, and Interdisciplinarity: Feminist Insights as Resistance,\u201d<\/span><\/i> at the 45th Annual Lewis & Clark College Gender Studies Symposium and will present this work again at the EWU Symposium in Spring 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

In all aspects of her academic, leadership, and community work, Abby embodies the qualities of an empathic, intersectional thinker. Her approach to learning is evident in the creative and innovative ways she seeks out knowledge and applies it to real-world challenges. Abby Jensen is an exceptional student whose leadership, scholarship, and dedication to community engagement make her highly deserving of this recognition.<\/span><\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jessi Willis","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90754,"id":90754,"title":"Annette Carpenter","filename":"Annette-Carpenter.jpg","filesize":695980,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Annette-Carpenter.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/annette-carpenter\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"annette-carpenter","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-18 15:33:52","modified":"2026-08-18 15:33:52","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1858,"height":2156,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Annette-Carpenter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Annette-Carpenter-259x300.jpg","medium-width":259,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Annette-Carpenter-768x891.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":891,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Annette-Carpenter-882x1024.jpg","large-width":882,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Annette-Carpenter-1324x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":1324,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Annette-Carpenter-1765x2048.jpg","2048x2048-width":1765,"2048x2048-height":2048,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Annette-Carpenter.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":259,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Annette-Carpenter.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":345,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Annette-Carpenter.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":517,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Annette Carpenter","title":"","department":"Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Annette Carpenter is an exceptional scholar and nuanced critical thinker whose work bridges theory and praxis in meaningful and transformative ways. Her commitment to advancing equity is evident in both her academic pursuits and community engagement, reflecting a deep dedication to creating a more just and inclusive world.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a double major in Gender, Women\u2019s, and Sexuality Studies and Psychology, Annette\u2019s interdisciplinary scholarship illuminates the complex social dynamics that shape systems of privilege and marginalization. Her research consistently centers the lived experiences of marginalized communities, demonstrating both intellectual rigor and ethical responsibility. Among her notable projects is an investigation into the patterned underdiagnosis of ADHD in female clients, where she insightfully observes that \u201cin young females, ADHD is understudied, misunderstood, and underdiagnosed.\u201d As a future clinician, Annette critically examines how gender bias influences diagnostic practices and access to care, underscoring the broader implications for equitable healthcare and holistic well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

Annette\u2019s research is distinguished by her ability to ask incisive questions about implicit bias and its impact on medical and psychological experiences. Her commitment to socially conscious, anti-racist, and anti-sexist scholarship is further exemplified in her work on the mental health consequences of fear and trauma experienced by immigrant communities amid xenophobic immigration policies. In every project, Annette is guided by a central, ethically grounded question: \u201cHow much suffering could be prevented?\u201d This inquiry reflects not only her intellectual curiosity but also her profound commitment to feminist integrity and social healing. Throughout her academic career at Eastern Washington University, her work has consistently foregrounded issues of justice, care, and community well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the classroom, Annette has demonstrated outstanding leadership and a strong commitment to community engagement. Since 2023, she has served in multiple leadership roles\u2014including president and vice president\u2014within the student organization Generation Action. In these roles, she has actively fostered student empowerment, creating opportunities for leadership development through collaborative projects and events. Her efforts have contributed to community connections such as Queer Comedy Nights, and initiatives addressing increased access to mental health resources, and ongoing programs that amplify student voices and build inclusive campus spaces.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflecting on her leadership philosophy, Annette writes, \u201cLeadership is about guiding and supporting others to lead.\u201d This ethos is evident in her work with Generation Action, where she has cultivated a supportive and dynamic community while developing her own skills in communication, collaboration, and advocacy. Annette Carpenter stands out as a scholar-leader whose intellectual depth, ethical commitment, and community impact make her an outstanding candidate for recognition as a Frances B. Huston nominee.<\/span><\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jessi Willis","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90752,"id":90752,"title":"Tara Kelsey","filename":"Tara-Kelsey-scaled.jpeg","filesize":1091875,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Tara-Kelsey-scaled.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/tara-kelsey\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"tara-kelsey","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-18 15:27:18","modified":"2026-08-18 15:27:18","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1880,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Tara-Kelsey-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Tara-Kelsey-300x220.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":220,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Tara-Kelsey-768x564.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":564,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Tara-Kelsey-1024x752.jpeg","large-width":1024,"large-height":752,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Tara-Kelsey-1536x1128.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1128,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Tara-Kelsey-2048x1504.jpeg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1504,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Tara-Kelsey-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":220,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Tara-Kelsey-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":294,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Tara-Kelsey-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":441}},"name":"Tara Kelsey","title":"","department":"English as a Second Language; Spanish Secondary Education","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

It is an honor to nominate Tara Kelsey for the Frances B. Huston Award in recognition of her academic excellence and exceptional leadership on campus and in the broader community. With an outstanding 3.92 GPA, Tara demonstrates intellectual curiosity and a consistent commitment to excellence, graduating with a double major in Spanish Education and English as a Second Language, earning certification to teach both Spanish and ESL at the high school level.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tara\u2019s leadership is most evident in her service. Through her work with Refugee and Immigrant Connections Spokane (RICS), she has shown a deep commitment to inclusion and belonging. In the afterschool program, she supported newly-arrived elementary students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds by designing engaging activities that fostered English language development. Tara built meaningful relationships and created a welcoming, empowering environment. Her continued involvement in RICS events\u2014including soccer camps, cooking classes, and community fairs\u2014further reflects her dedication.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her volunteering with the Asia University America Program also highlights her thoughtful leadership and cultural sensitivity. By supporting Japanese exchange students as they adjusted to a new environment, Tara helped build confidence and encouraged active participation. Her consistent contributions across multiple cohorts from 2024 to 2025 left a lasting positive impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Overall, Tara demonstrates a strong ability to make the most of every opportunity to learn. She transforms service experiences into funded, implemented projects, consistently seeking opportunities for growth. Her initiative,\u00a0<\/span>Creating Sustainability Activities for Newly-Arrived Refugees and Immigrants<\/span><\/i>, exemplifies this strength\u2014secured the Clawson-Youngs Award funding, was presented at the EWU 2025 Symposium, and was later featured at the 2026 ESL Spokane Regional Conference.<\/span><\/p>\n

While studying abroad in Spain, she sought opportunities to build her language and cultural competency to enrich her future classroom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gina Petrie","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false}],"component_options_toggle":true,"component_options":{"disable_component":false,"nickname":"Frances B. Huston Medallion Awards","identifier":"francisbhustonmedallionawards","navigable":true}},{"acf_fc_layout":"contact-cards","layout_type":"","module_background_color":"white","title_alignment":"centered","title":"Jeffers W. Chertok Dean\u2019s Excellence Awards and Faculty Mentors","sub-heading":"The Jeffers W. Chertok Dean\u2019s Honor Student Award is named in remembrance of Dean Jeffers Chertok. we recognize and honor students and their chosen influential faculty from Departments and Programs within the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences who have distinguished academic records as well as accomplishments in service, leadership, and scholarship. Faculty Mentors are selected by the student award recipients and are celebrated for their excellence in teaching and mentorship.","sections":[{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90767,"id":90767,"title":"Ryan Finner","filename":"Ryan-Finner.jpeg","filesize":154536,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Ryan-Finner.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/ryan-finner\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"ryan-finner","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-18 18:02:51","modified":"2026-08-18 18:02:51","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1024,"height":683,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Ryan-Finner-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Ryan-Finner-300x200.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Ryan-Finner-768x512.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Ryan-Finner.jpeg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Ryan-Finner.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":683,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Ryan-Finner.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":683,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Ryan-Finner.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":200,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Ryan-Finner.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":267,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Ryan-Finner.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":400}},"name":"Ryan Finner","title":"","department":"Interdisciplinary Studies - Africana Studies","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ryan Finner has been a standout among his peers since beginning his academic career here at EWU. For the last four quarters, he has maintained straight A\u2019s in spite of his ongoing commitment to research projects, attending national conferences and providing exceptional campus service to the greater EWU community by means of becoming the founder of the Research to Pathways club which provides undergraduates with research opportunities along with connections and valuable resources for post-graduation success. In addition, Ryan also serves as an office assistant in the Africana Studies Program and as an academic coach for Eastern\u2019s Program Leading to University Success (PLUS) which helps high school students learn academic success strategies. His PLUS tutoring, in his own words, \u201chas deeply influenced his interest in fostering inclusive environments for students. As a TRIO McNair Sholar and member of the Black Student Union, Ryan has big plans for the future on inclusivity and accessibility in higher education. His most recent presentation was entitled \u201cPuropose-Driven Leadership in Urban Policy: Community Resistance and Grassroots Organizing Amid Gentrification.\u201d Having been recently accepted into the University of Oregon\u2019s Graduate School, Ryan will continue to leave a lasting impression both academically, personally and socially as he eventually acquires a Ph.D. to officially fulfill his calling as a servant leader for an inclusive society of diverse communities.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Okera Nsombi","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90750,"id":90750,"title":"Mia Blomgren","filename":"Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","filesize":141828,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/screenshot-2\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"CAHSS Excellence Awards 2026","name":"screenshot-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-18 15:20:18","modified":"2026-08-18 15:20:42","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":604,"height":664,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1-273x300.jpeg","medium-width":273,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","medium_large-width":604,"medium_large-height":664,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","large-width":604,"large-height":664,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","1536x1536-width":604,"1536x1536-height":664,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","2048x2048-width":604,"2048x2048-height":664,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":273,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":364,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Mia-Blomgren-1.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":546,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Mia Blomgren","title":"","department":"Communication Studies - PR Emphasis","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mia Blomgren is a driven communications student, student leader and philanthropist. She has made significant contributions to the campus community and the local community thru her exceptional leadership and service activities. As President of EWU PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) and as a board member for the past three years, Mia helped lead the team, plan events, and support students\u2019 professional development.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mia has organized and led several professional development and community service activities including organizing a supply drive families staying at The Ronald McDonald House of the Inland Northwest, a health communications “Pro-Tour” to local healthcare organizations in Spokane and several workshops devoted to helping students learn how to find jobs and internships with industry professionals.\u00a0As a member of the Cheney Lions Club (the world’s largest community service organization), Mia has utilized her background in communications and public relations to help promote and organize community service events in her local Cheney community and lead partnerships between EWU students and the nonprofit including helping organize Christmas card and Valentine’s Day card drives for the seniors at the Cheney Care Center. Mia helped lead two tables at the Cheney Public Library during Cheney Holiday Hoopla to help kids make cards for the Cheney Care Center seniors and helped organize a table at the URC Fitness Center to encourage college students to create Valentines for the Cheney Care Center seniors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mia is also an exceptional student with a straight \u201cA\u201d average who cares deeply about her education and professional development. This spring, Mia will be representing EWU PRSSA as one of only two students at the Regional PRSSA Conference in New York and last year Mia represented the chapter at the International PRSSA ICON Conference in Anaheim, California. Mia is also a great human who cares deeply about other people and making a difference on campus and in her community.<\/span><\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Jessica Boyer ","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90751,"id":90751,"title":"Azaria Purdy","filename":"Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","filesize":273826,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/azaria-purdy\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"azaria-purdy","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-18 15:23:47","modified":"2026-08-18 15:23:47","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1331,"height":1246,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy-300x281.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":281,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy-768x719.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":719,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy-1024x959.jpeg","large-width":1024,"large-height":959,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1331,"1536x1536-height":1246,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1331,"2048x2048-height":1246,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":281,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":374,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Azaria-Purdy.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":562}},"name":"Azaria Purdy","title":"","department":"Communication Studies - PR Emphasis","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

Azaria Purdy is an exceptional student, student athlete and servant leader who is deeply committed to giving back to her community. Azaria has maintained a straight \u201cA\u201d average while also serving as a student athlete on the EWU Track Team, completing an internship with the Spokane chapter of the NAACP, being involved as a member of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) and working a part-time job.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Azaria cares deeply about the community and has utilized the skills she\u2019s learned in her communications and public relations courses to help make a positive impact in several meaningful ways. For example, through her public relations internship with the local Spokane chapter of the NAACP Azaria utilized her background in communications and social media to help promote public awareness initiatives aimed at dismantling racial barriers and promote civil rights. Azaria played a key role in thoughtfully guiding the NAACP\u2019s community engagement efforts, helping the organization respond to community needs, organize and promote events and strengthen its social media presence to maximize the reach and impact of its initiatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, during her internship with the 90+ Project (a Spokane-based youth soccer organization focused on mentoring, character development and increasing access to soccer for low-income families), Azaria analyzed barriers, evaluated national initiatives and assessed market saturation by examining how local organizations can support and promote young women in sports through funding events, projects and programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Azaria has demonstrated exceptional dedication across all her courses. She is a critical thinker who often leads the class in thoughtful discussion. Azaria encouraged me to think more deeply about my curriculum and the ethical relevance of public relations in contributing to social and cultural change. She is an inspiring student and leader!<\/span><\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Jessica Boyer","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90763,"id":90763,"title":"Malina Weigel","filename":"Malina-Weigel.png","filesize":5054263,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Malina-Weigel.png","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/malina-weigel\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"malina-weigel","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-18 17:32:51","modified":"2026-08-18 17:32:51","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1600,"height":2000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Malina-Weigel-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Malina-Weigel-240x300.png","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Malina-Weigel-768x960.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":960,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Malina-Weigel-819x1024.png","large-width":819,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Malina-Weigel-1229x1536.png","1536x1536-width":1229,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Malina-Weigel.png","2048x2048-width":1600,"2048x2048-height":2000,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Malina-Weigel.png","gform-image-choice-sm-width":240,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Malina-Weigel.png","gform-image-choice-md-width":320,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Malina-Weigel.png","gform-image-choice-lg-width":480,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Malina P. Weigel","title":"","department":"Economics","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

(Unfortunately, Malina couldn\u2019t be present at the awards ceremony, so Dr. Nicholas Larsen accepted Malina’s award on her behalf.)<\/p>\n

Ms. Weigel will graduate with an overall 3.98 GPA, a 3.97 in the Economics B.S. and 4.00 in the Business Administration minor. She was consistently on the Dean\u2019s List and will graduate Summa Cum Laude.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2025, she started working as a Data Analyst Intern for the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis (IPPEA) at EWU. Ms. Weigel has worked closely with her supervisors Dr. Patrick Jones and Dr. Kelley Cullen to update and refine indicators across nine regional trend websites using timely economic and demographic data. These indicators are frequently cited by newspapers locally and across the state. Ms. Weigel has also contributed to projects used to inform decision-makers in our communities. These include aiding in the data collection and analysis for an economic impact analysis of the Spokane School District at the local, state, and federal levels, an enrollment forecast report for the Pasco School District, and preparing a short presentation analyzing recent earnings outcomes of Eastern Washington graduates compared to peer institutions. She analyzed large data sets including the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM), Washington Department of Revenues (DOR) and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). This experience has given Ms. Weigel the unique opportunity to take what she has learned in the classroom and apply it to real world projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

She was the lead analyst in collecting and analyzing county and metropolitan-level data in Washington State to inform both policymakers and the general public. The reports she created were published on the Association of Washington Business\u2019 Vitals dashboard, among other projects. As the most senior intern with the IPPEA team, she has also taken on a leadership role by training and mentoring new interns.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ms. Weigel exemplifies this award’s intent as an exceptionally capable individual in academic and extracurricular activities.<\/span><\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Larsen","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90766,"id":90766,"title":"F6A8A05F-0759-4768-A7F0-92E73B84C699 - Avaree Nicodemus","filename":"F6A8A05F-0759-4768-A7F0-92E73B84C699-Avaree-Nicodemus.jpeg","filesize":242970,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/F6A8A05F-0759-4768-A7F0-92E73B84C699-Avaree-Nicodemus.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/f6a8a05f-0759-4768-a7f0-92e73b84c699-avaree-nicodemus\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"f6a8a05f-0759-4768-a7f0-92e73b84c699-avaree-nicodemus","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-18 17:42:12","modified":"2026-08-18 17:42:12","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1440,"height":1800,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/F6A8A05F-0759-4768-A7F0-92E73B84C699-Avaree-Nicodemus-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/F6A8A05F-0759-4768-A7F0-92E73B84C699-Avaree-Nicodemus-240x300.jpeg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/F6A8A05F-0759-4768-A7F0-92E73B84C699-Avaree-Nicodemus-768x960.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":960,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/F6A8A05F-0759-4768-A7F0-92E73B84C699-Avaree-Nicodemus-819x1024.jpeg","large-width":819,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/F6A8A05F-0759-4768-A7F0-92E73B84C699-Avaree-Nicodemus-1229x1536.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1229,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/F6A8A05F-0759-4768-A7F0-92E73B84C699-Avaree-Nicodemus.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1440,"2048x2048-height":1800,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/F6A8A05F-0759-4768-A7F0-92E73B84C699-Avaree-Nicodemus.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":240,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/F6A8A05F-0759-4768-A7F0-92E73B84C699-Avaree-Nicodemus.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":320,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/F6A8A05F-0759-4768-A7F0-92E73B84C699-Avaree-Nicodemus.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":480,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Avaree Nicodemus","title":"","department":"Secondary English Education","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

(Unfortunately, Avaree couldn\u2019t be present at the awards ceremony, so faculty accepted Avaree’s award on her behalf.)<\/p>\n

Avaree is a hardworking, polite, and enjoyable student in class. She was engaging and thoughtful in her linguistics and grammar classes with me, and I hear from her literature professors that she works hard on her independent papers and is a supportive and fun group member. Her ability to support her classmates even as a learner herself is one thing that sets Avaree apart.\u00a0 Even with hardships facing her, she kept her chin up and maintained her hardworking and joyful love of learning.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sean Agris","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90770,"id":90770,"title":"Jacob Riggs","filename":"Jacob-Riggs.jpg","filesize":1314827,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Jacob-Riggs.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/jacob-riggs\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"ClAKTlNuYXBjaGF0LzEzLjkzLjAuNTEgKFNNLVM5MTFVMTsgQW5kcm9pZCAxNiNTOTExVTFVRVM3RVpDSSMzNjsgZ3ppcCkgVi9NVVNIUk9PTQ==","name":"jacob-riggs","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-18 18:24:56","modified":"2026-08-18 18:24:56","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1080,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Jacob-Riggs-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Jacob-Riggs-169x300.jpg","medium-width":169,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Jacob-Riggs-768x1365.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1365,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Jacob-Riggs-576x1024.jpg","large-width":576,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Jacob-Riggs-864x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":864,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Jacob-Riggs.jpg","2048x2048-width":1080,"2048x2048-height":1920,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Jacob-Riggs.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":169,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Jacob-Riggs.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":225,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Jacob-Riggs.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":338,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Jacob Riggs","title":"","department":"Philosophy","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jacob excels at expressing complex ideas in both written and oral contexts, and his work reflects the kind of academic distinction, intellectual leadership, and commitment to others that the Jeffers W. Chertok Dean\u2019s Honor Student Award is meant to recognize. In his philosophy courses, he is both a confident contributor and a charitable listener, unthreatened by alternative perspectives. His written work is consistently well researched, rigorous, and philosophically imaginative. These strengths extend beyond the classroom, most notably in his presentation of original research on Descartes at the EWU Student Research and Creative Works Symposium last spring.<\/p>\n

In Fall term, Jacob was selected to serve as our Philosophy Program\u2019s tutor in Formal Logic. Students repeatedly expressed appreciation for his patience, clarity, and effectiveness in this role. His success reflects not only mastery of technical material but also a genuine commitment to the intellectual growth of others, and his uncommon combination of expertise and generosity has had a measurable impact on his peers. Together, these qualities demonstrate a maturity and even-handedness that shape his interactions across academic and social contexts.<\/p>\n

As a two-time officer in the Philosophy Club, Jacob has demonstrated a steady and effective form of leadership. His quick wit, friendly demeanor, and quiet confidence put others at ease, while his sincerity and dependability make him someone others trust and naturally follow. Taken together, these qualities exemplify the rare combination of intellectual rigor, generosity, and leadership that this award is designed to honor. The faculty of the Philosophy Program recommend him without reservation and with the highest confidence.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kirby","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90773,"id":90773,"title":"IMG_20250602_212554~2 - Melanie Jones","filename":"IMG_20250602_2125542-Melanie-Jones.jpg","filesize":725813,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/IMG_20250602_2125542-Melanie-Jones.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/img_20250602_2125542-melanie-jones\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"img_20250602_2125542-melanie-jones","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-19 21:30:47","modified":"2026-08-19 21:30:47","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1819,"height":1913,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/IMG_20250602_2125542-Melanie-Jones-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/IMG_20250602_2125542-Melanie-Jones-285x300.jpg","medium-width":285,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/IMG_20250602_2125542-Melanie-Jones-768x808.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":808,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/IMG_20250602_2125542-Melanie-Jones-974x1024.jpg","large-width":974,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/IMG_20250602_2125542-Melanie-Jones-1461x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":1461,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/IMG_20250602_2125542-Melanie-Jones.jpg","2048x2048-width":1819,"2048x2048-height":1913,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/IMG_20250602_2125542-Melanie-Jones.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":285,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/IMG_20250602_2125542-Melanie-Jones.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":380,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/IMG_20250602_2125542-Melanie-Jones.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":571,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Melanie Jones","title":"","department":"Creative Writing","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Melanie Jones is both a remarkable fiction writer and a strong leader among students. She has taken the undergraduate literary magazine, Northwest Blvd, under her wing and drummed up a very engaged staff of undergrads. She and her co-editor hold events for student engagement, both readings of the material in the magazine and creative fundraisers, like a black out poetry night with an opportunity to have the black out poems published in the journal. In class, Melanie\u2019s feedback to other students is encouraging but not circuitous \u2013 she is frank and clear. She engages in discussion on all texts and often gets other more reticent students in on the conversation. Finally, Melanie is one of the most talented and hard working fiction writers among the undergrads. Her work is subtle and brave, and her attention to craft is clear. Her stories have emotional and intellectual integrity: they are playful and subtle, and they are painful, tender, and healing. They exist on the edge of fantastical but remain firmly grounded in a reality familiar to all of us. Her characters are your friends. They struggle through this dark world together.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Professor Polly Buckingham","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":2256,"id":2256,"title":"AISEaglebeads","filename":"AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","filesize":361980,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/?attachment_id=2256","alt":"Beaded medallion with the EWU logo","author":"425","description":"","caption":"","name":"ais-eaglebeads","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1248,"date":"2019-05-17 15:24:15","modified":"2021-07-07 22:27:35","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1600,"height":1067,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","2048x2048-width":1600,"2048x2048-height":1067,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":200,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":267,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":400}},"name":"Sophia Neve","title":"","department":"English Education","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

I have the pleasure of working with Ms. Neve as her major academic advisor and instructor of the teaching methods courses in the secondary English education program. From the beginning of our work together, it was clear that Ms. Neve was one of the exceptional students in our program. She exhibits an admirable work ethic that shows her commitment to her academic career and to the profession of teaching English. She possesses the qualities instructors hope to see in all of our students and teacher candidates. She is a respected leader among her peers and serves both EWU and her community as daily practice.
\nMs. Neve is a consistent leader in her classes at EWU, and I have witnessed her continual support of her fellow teacher candidates as they have struggled through the pressures of transitioning into the teaching profession. Ms. Neve navigates these processes with insight and grace, assisting her colleagues in making sense of the challenges in front of them. Ms. Neve\u2019s consistent high grades in her coursework show leadership in her ability to juggle community commitments while maintaining academic integrity.
\nWhile fulfilling her academic requirements with distinction, Ms. Neve has worked as a caregiver for a special needs 14-year-old girl by providing companionship, administering medications, and assisting her with regular personal hygiene. Additionally, Ms. Neve worked as a caregiver for the elderly, volunteered at the Post Falls Equestrian Center, cleaned up gardens for the community, and fed unhoused neighbors at community kitchens.
\nI am continually impressed with Ms. Neve\u2019s leadership and service to EWU and to her community. To find this collection of academic mastery, leadership skill, and commitment to service, at this early career stage, is uncommon and very welcome. I am proud to support her nomination for the Jeffers Chertok Dean\u2019s Honor Award.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sean Agris","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90776,"id":90776,"title":"Maija Angell","filename":"Maija-Angell-scaled.jpeg","filesize":502019,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Maija-Angell-scaled.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/maija-angell\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"maija-angell","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-08-19 21:42:23","modified":"2026-08-19 21:42:23","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1920,"height":2560,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Maija-Angell-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Maija-Angell-225x300.jpeg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Maija-Angell-768x1024.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Maija-Angell-768x1024.jpeg","large-width":768,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Maija-Angell-1152x1536.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1152,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Maija-Angell-1536x2048.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1536,"2048x2048-height":2048,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Maija-Angell-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":225,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Maija-Angell-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":300,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/Maija-Angell-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":450,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Maija Angell","title":"","department":"Film","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

EWU Film nominates Maija Angell for the Frances B Huston Award. Ms. Angell has been a dedicated student and an exceptional contributor to our community. During her time in the Film Program at EWU, Maija has demonstrated assured leadership through community engagement and an exemplary class presence. A 3.96 overall GPA indicates that Maija has achieved the truly rare feat of excelling in criticism, production, and screenwriting. She has also participated in the Honors program at EWU. What is not captured by the GPA but is well-known to the faculty in Film and Digital Media is how Maija elevates the focus and dedication of those around her.
\nPerhaps Maija\u2019s most notable contributions have been in service to the community. For two years, Maija has been a member of Collegians, Eastern\u2019s jazz choir. She has also edited several videos and sung for Cheney United Methodist Church. These are long-standing services to our community. But Maija has also sought out exceptional opportunities to serve the global community. In the summer of 2025, Maija attended the special program Actuality Abroad in San Miguel de Allende, in Guanajato, Mexico. Maija served as Producer in a team of 4, working with the non-profit Patronato Pro Ni\u00f1os (PPN) to create the 10-minute documentary Fuerza En Una Sonriza. The team also made a micro-documentary about the person who leads tours to raise money for PPN.
\nExceptional academic achievements and service to the community make Maija Angell a worthy recipient of the Frances B Huston Award.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Pete Porter","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90820,"id":90820,"title":"Matthew Norman","filename":"Matthew-Norman.jpeg","filesize":347973,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Matthew-Norman.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/matthew-norman\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"matthew-norman","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:05:28","modified":"2026-09-11 16:05:28","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Matthew-Norman-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Matthew-Norman-300x225.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Matthew-Norman-768x576.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Matthew-Norman-1024x768.jpeg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Matthew-Norman-1536x1152.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Matthew-Norman-2048x1536.jpeg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1536,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Matthew-Norman.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":225,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Matthew-Norman.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":300,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Matthew-Norman.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":450}},"name":"Matthew Norman","title":"","department":"Music Technology","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

As a dual-major in Music Technology &amp; Mechanical Engineering, Matthew is the perfect
\nrepresentative for having achieved an interdisciplinary education at EWU. He has successfully
\ncompleted two degrees and has found creative ways to integrate both fields for what clearly looks
\nto be a promising professional career. He has also served as a swimming instructor and lifeguard
\nduring his residency. He has shown tremendous leadership in many ways, including coordinating
\nfun music fundraisers at the pool, arranging students to play music together for various functions,
\nand he has become known for being the leader of the EWU Boomwhacker music group!
\nMatthew\u2019s research in the development of accessible technologies for music-making represents
\nboth academic rigor and service to the disabled community. Moreover, Matthew has actively
\nengaged with all facets of Music Technology\u2014showing exceptional aptitude in the areas of
\nexperimental instrument design, interactive media, &amp; creative coding. Alongside these intensive
\nactivities he has cemented himself as a student leader in various performing ensembles such as
\nWind Ensemble, Marching Band and Code Red. Matthew also approaches every activity, rehearsal
\nand project with a positive attitude, and a welcoming demeanor. He has great energy, curiosity,
\nand an innovative mindset. Matthew has been a consistent contributor beyond the classroom
\nduring his time at EWU, and we are confident that Matthew will be highly successful in his
\nprofessional life!<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Ben Luca Robertson","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90821,"id":90821,"title":"Skylar Miller","filename":"Skylar-Miller-scaled.jpg","filesize":582276,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Skylar-Miller-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/skylar-miller\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"skylar-miller","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:05:55","modified":"2026-09-11 16:05:55","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1707,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Skylar-Miller-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Skylar-Miller-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Skylar-Miller-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Skylar-Miller-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Skylar-Miller-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Skylar-Miller-2048x1365.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Skylar-Miller-scaled.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":200,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Skylar-Miller-scaled.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":267,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Skylar-Miller-scaled.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":400}},"name":"Skylar Miller","title":"","department":"Art","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Art nominates Skylar Miller for the Jeffers Chertok Dean\u2019s Honor Award, recognizing her distinguished
\nacademic record and excellence in service, leadership, and scholarship within the arts.
\nSkylar\u2019s commitment to service is evident in her community volunteer work as an assistant in an after-
\nschool art workshop for grades 3-5 at Hutton Elementary in Spokane. She demonstrated leadership by
\nmanaging social media for the Art program, significantly increasing its visibility and engagement among
\nstudents and followers. Her curious nature and generous spirit have made her a reliable source of
\nsupport and inspiration for her peers. She continues to develop professional growth through a gallery
\ninternship this spring.
\nAcademically, Skylar embraces challenges, consistently pushing boundaries in her artwork. She takes
\nrisks, explores challenging methods, and boldly pursues her ideas while accepting and learning from the
\noutcomes. Skylar\u2019s scholarship is reflected in her multidisciplinary practice, involving painting, fiber arts,
\nand sculpture. Her work explores representation and confronts the viewer, connecting deeply with
\nthemes of human yearning, failure, and hope. She is a remarkable student whose dedication and
\ncreativity will certainly enrich our artistic community.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Professor Marc LaPointe","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90823,"id":90823,"title":"Yunju Cho","filename":"Yunju-Cho-scaled.jpg","filesize":722590,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Yunju-Cho-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/yunju-cho\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"yunju-cho","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:09:27","modified":"2026-09-11 16:09:27","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1707,"height":2560,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Yunju-Cho-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Yunju-Cho-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Yunju-Cho-768x1152.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1152,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Yunju-Cho-683x1024.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Yunju-Cho-1024x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Yunju-Cho-1365x2048.jpg","2048x2048-width":1365,"2048x2048-height":2048,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Yunju-Cho-scaled.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":200,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Yunju-Cho-scaled.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":267,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Yunju-Cho-scaled.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":400,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Yunju Cho","title":"","department":"Music","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

As the EWU orchestra concertmaster, and as a gifted and passionate violinist, Yunju shows her
\ncommitment to collaboration and consistently engages in every rehearsal, concert, class and
\nperformance event with a great sense of joy and possibility! She truly exudes pure enthusiasm in every
\nperformance and in how she interacts with the public representing herself and EWU with grace, and
\nauthentic kindness. She has served in leadership roles in orchestra throughout her entire residency at
\nEWU, and won the annual concerto competition twice \u2013 a very rare accolade! She listens and works with
\nthose around her, setting a tone of professionalism and mutual respect. In addition to maintaining her
\nhigh GPA, Yunju has been a strong leader within the program, across the campus and throughout the
\nSpokane region. She is a stunning performer and has shared her talents with fellow students generously
\ngiving of her time as a coach and musical mentor. She has performed prolifically every season, and says
\nyes to every invitation! She also supports our student composers by performing their new works. Yunju
\nhas been very active in outreach and engagement activities performing at area retirement centers, the
\nFeed Cheney program, the annual Fox concert, PUB events, pre-concert events for the Spokane
\nSymphony and numerous others. An example of her stunning impact was demonstrated when an older
\ncouple listening to her play, reached for each others\u2019 hands and wept as they listened to her passionate
\nperformance. She is also notably respectful and collegial in all her interactions. She exemplifies
\nexcellence not only as a musician, but as a leader, collaborator, and member of the EWU community. In
\nperformance, leadership, collaboration, and service, Yunju represents the very best of what an EWU
\nmusic student can achieve, and we can\u2019t wait to see what the future holds for her!<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jody Graves","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90825,"id":90825,"title":"Charlie Prater","filename":"Charlie-Prater.jpeg","filesize":539079,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Charlie-Prater.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/charlie-prater\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"charlie-prater","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:14:19","modified":"2026-09-11 16:14:19","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1556,"height":1409,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Charlie-Prater-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Charlie-Prater-300x272.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":272,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Charlie-Prater-768x695.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":695,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Charlie-Prater-1024x927.jpeg","large-width":1024,"large-height":927,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Charlie-Prater-1536x1391.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1391,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Charlie-Prater.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1556,"2048x2048-height":1409,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Charlie-Prater.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":272,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Charlie-Prater.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":362,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Charlie-Prater.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":543}},"name":"Charlie Prater","title":"","department":"Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Charlie Prater is an exceptional graduating senior at Eastern Washington University, earning a 3.83 GPA and graduating Magna Cum Laude as a double major in Anthropology and Gender, Women\u2019s, and Sexuality Studies. Charlie exemplifies the intellectual rigor and curiosity that define the Jeffer\u2019s Chertok Dean\u2019s Honor Award. A deeply critical feminist thinker, Charlie brings a fearless, intersectional lens to their academic work and classroom engagement.
\nAs a non-binary student, Charlie has made invaluable contributions to interdisciplinary discussions, enriching conversations with insight, nuance, and a commitment to equity and inclusion. Their coursework\u2014including Anthropology of Gender, Bodies Socialization and Culture, Gender, Health and Marginalization, and Intercultural Communication\u2014reflects both breadth and depth in examining complex social issues.
\nCharlie stands out for their remarkable ability to pair critical inquiry with active listening, fostering collaborative and innovative approaches to social transformation. Their global curiosity and dedication to justice, equity, and belonging make them not only an outstanding student but also a community builder within the classroom. Faculty and peers alike benefit from Charlie\u2019s thoughtful engagement and openness to diverse perspectives.
\nThe Gender, Women\u2019s, and Sexuality Studies program is proud to nominate Charlie Prater for this prestigious honor, recognizing their academic excellence, leadership, and transformative impact.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jessi Willis","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90826,"id":90826,"title":"Anna Reed","filename":"Anna-Reed.jpg","filesize":719631,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anna-Reed.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/anna-reed-2\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"anna-reed-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:14:40","modified":"2026-09-11 16:14:40","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1605,"height":1703,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anna-Reed-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anna-Reed-283x300.jpg","medium-width":283,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anna-Reed-768x815.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":815,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anna-Reed-965x1024.jpg","large-width":965,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anna-Reed-1448x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":1448,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anna-Reed.jpg","2048x2048-width":1605,"2048x2048-height":1703,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anna-Reed.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":283,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anna-Reed.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":377,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anna-Reed.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":565,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Anna Reed","title":"","department":"Anthropology","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Anna Reed is hardworking and impressive. When we needed a grader to work with our new faculty member, there was no question; it would be Anna. Anna has superbly balanced employment here and outside with her studies, maintaining near perfect grades since she came to EWU last year. It\u2019s not because she hasn\u2019t taken chances; for biological anthropology, she took chemistry, calculus, and anatomy and physiology. She just takes the time to get it right. She\u2019s quiet, but thoughtful; she always has something important to say. She really is an incredible person: caring, thoughtful, incisive. We can\u2019t wait to see what she does next.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Andrew Mitchel","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90828,"id":90828,"title":"Preston Dyess","filename":"Preston-Dyess-scaled.jpeg","filesize":806457,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Preston-Dyess-scaled.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/preston-dyess\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"preston-dyess","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:17:17","modified":"2026-09-11 16:17:17","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":2434,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Preston-Dyess-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Preston-Dyess-300x285.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":285,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Preston-Dyess-768x730.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":730,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Preston-Dyess-1024x973.jpeg","large-width":1024,"large-height":973,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Preston-Dyess-1536x1460.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1460,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Preston-Dyess-2048x1947.jpeg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1947,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Preston-Dyess-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":285,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Preston-Dyess-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":380,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Preston-Dyess-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":570}},"name":"Preston Dyess","title":"","department":"History","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Preston Dyess is among the most serious, ambitious, and talented scholars many of us on the History faculty have encountered during our careers at EWU. Preston changed majors fairly late in his trajectory, but once a History major, he quickly revealed a talent for analysis, research, and writing second to none in his cohort. His grades have been stellar, of course, but it is his ability to extract historical arguments from primary and secondary sources – and then express them in group discussion — that is the most impressive piece of his academic portfolio.<\/p>\n

Moreover, Preston is masterful writer, and a research paper he presented on the ill-fated San Patricio Battalion in the Mexican War of 1846 was awarded Best Overall Paper (undergrad or graduate) at the Phi Alpha Theta Northwest Regional Conference in 2025. It was the first time (to our knowledge) that this particular prize was won by an EWU student. Preston is now shopping that paper around for publication in a history journal, and, eager to “defend his crown,” he just presented a new paper on war captives in the Peloponnesian War at the PAT Northwest Regional Conference 2026, which convened at Gonzaga University.<\/p>\n

Given Preston’s gifts as a researcher, thinker, and writer, Professor Joseph Lenti invited him to contribute to an edited volume Lenti is compiling on the impacts of deindustrialization in a Massachusetts town. Preston is the only undergraduate involved in the project, and his ongoing research on the contamination of the Quinebaug River and ancillary health problems in the community promises to be a major part of the book.<\/p>\n

Preston plans on pursuing an MA and PhD degree in History, and I am very excited to watch him further advance along his path to academia.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Joseph Lenti","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90831,"id":90831,"title":"Tyler Walker","filename":"Tyler-Walker-scaled.jpeg","filesize":397239,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Tyler-Walker-scaled.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/tyler-walker\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"tyler-walker","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:21:17","modified":"2026-09-11 16:21:17","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1707,"height":2560,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Tyler-Walker-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Tyler-Walker-200x300.jpeg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Tyler-Walker-768x1152.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1152,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Tyler-Walker-683x1024.jpeg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Tyler-Walker-1024x1536.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Tyler-Walker-1365x2048.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1365,"2048x2048-height":2048,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Tyler-Walker-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":200,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Tyler-Walker-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":267,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Tyler-Walker-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":400,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Tyler J. Walker","title":"","department":"Social Studies Education","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Tyler Walker will graduate this Spring as a Social Studies Education major, with minors in both Applied Developmental Psychology and Psychology, as well as two classes shy of another endorsement in Middle Level Math and an overall 3.99 GPA. To say Tyler pushes himself to be as informed and prepared as possible for his future career as a teacher in an understatement. He\u2019s received the highest praise from course instructors and was awarded (by faculty vote) the 2025 Joseph Seipp Social Studies Scholarship. Tyler\u2019s constant drive for improvement is only overshadowed by his commitment to and passion for helping his communities.<\/p>\n

Tyler has worked multiple jobs as a student, including a student employee with the EWU Eagle Store and Mobile Order Runner for the Spokane Indians Baseball Stadium, but also volunteered for a year at the EWU Climbing Wall to help introduce students to sport (before subsequently being hired as an instructor). Service is second nature to Tyler as he consistently mentored education majors early in their coursework, volunteers as a high school wrestling coach and boxing coach, served as a volunteer judge for Eastern Washington History Day, and volunteers as a youth director for his church.<\/p>\n

During his teaching practicums, Tyler excelled in building relationships with his students at Freeman High School and goes beyond requirements to help students connect with content and actively work toward real-world civics engagement. Mentor Teacher John Bruno, expressed that \u201cTyler Walker is an exceptional student teacher that drives the curriculum in innovative ways that keeps the students engaged and motivated to learn.\u201d According to Tyler, as a teacher he would like to \u201cleave an impact on the next generations to be curious, learn, and discover themselves through education. In this time, I’m excited for the opportunity to grow and learn from my students.\u201d<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jacki Hedlund Tyler","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":2256,"id":2256,"title":"AISEaglebeads","filename":"AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","filesize":361980,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/?attachment_id=2256","alt":"Beaded medallion with the EWU logo","author":"425","description":"","caption":"","name":"ais-eaglebeads","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1248,"date":"2019-05-17 15:24:15","modified":"2021-07-07 22:27:35","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1600,"height":1067,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","2048x2048-width":1600,"2048x2048-height":1067,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":200,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":267,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":400}},"name":"Yareli Paz","title":"","department":"Bilingual Education","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

(Unfortunately, Yareli couldn\u2019t be present at the awards ceremony, so Dr. Miguel Novella accepted Yareli’s award on her behalf.)<\/p>\n

Yareli Paz\u2014a double major in Bilingual Education and Spanish, with a minor in English as a Second Language (ESL)\u2014is a highly motivated student who has dedicated herself to academic excellence at Eastern Washington University. With an outstanding 3.97 GPA and a profound commitment to the profession, she represents the very best of EWU.<\/p>\n

During her time at EWU, Yareli developed a strong theoretical and practical foundation in multilingual instruction. Her classroom contributions were consistently insightful, often enriching group discussions by encouraging her peers to consider new perspectives.<\/p>\n

Her preparation was further strengthened by significant hands-on experience in multilingual settings. During her practicum at Rub\u00e9n Trejo Elementary, a dual-language program in the Spokane School District, she gained vital local classroom experience. Expanding on this, Yareli took on solo-teaching responsibilities in Fall 2024 for KidsConnect, an afterschool program for newly arrived immigrants and refugees. There, she designed engaging, hands-on lessons that led to measurable gains in student English proficiency. Furthermore, in Winter 2025, she applied her bilingual skills to help redesign a literacy curriculum for a village in the Dominican Republic, offering critical insights on supporting literacy in both first and second languages.<\/p>\n

As a bilingual and bicultural speaker, Ms. Paz exemplifies Spanish as an integral part of the American cultural landscape. Her pedagogical expertise, maturity, and dedication make her a model for multilingual educators in Washington State. There is no doubt that Yareli Paz is a valuable asset to any school community, representing the educators that Washington State needs.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Miguel Novella","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90834,"id":90834,"title":"Anait Arutiunian","filename":"Anait-Arutiunian.jpg","filesize":24603,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anait-Arutiunian.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/anait-arutiunian\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"anait-arutiunian","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:27:06","modified":"2026-09-11 16:27:06","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":300,"height":450,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anait-Arutiunian-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anait-Arutiunian-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anait-Arutiunian.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":450,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anait-Arutiunian.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":450,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anait-Arutiunian.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":450,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anait-Arutiunian.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":450,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anait-Arutiunian.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":200,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anait-Arutiunian.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":267,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Anait-Arutiunian.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":300,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":450}},"name":"Anait Arutiunian","title":"","department":"International Affairs","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

It is my pleasure to nominate Anait Arutiunian. I have interacted with Anait extensively both inside and outside the classroom, and she consistently demonstrates the highest standards of academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, and personal integrity. She is mature, self-motivated, and able to excel under pressure.<\/p>\n

Anait\u2019s outstanding GPA reflects a disciplined work ethic and a genuine commitment to learning. She is multilingual\u2014fluent in Russian, Armenian, Spanish, and English\u2014which enhances her ability to engage with diverse ideas and collaborate effectively with peers from varied backgrounds. Beyond language proficiency, Anait pursues a broad and deep understanding of social, historical, and cultural contexts through rigorous academic readings. Experientially, she has travelled extensively and strive to learn more about other cultures.<\/p>\n

In the three upper-division courses I taught in which she enrolled, Anait regularly enriched classroom discussion by contributing well-informed comparative perspectives on cultural and political issues. Her insights frequently broadened her classmates\u2019 viewpoints and elevated the overall learning environment.<\/p>\n

Athletically, Anait has demonstrated equal dedication and excellence. As a professional tennis player with a top international ranking, she was awarded a full athletic scholarship at Eastern. She has used this opportunity not only to advance her athletic career, which serve the institution, but also to strengthen her academic preparation for a bright future.<\/p>\n

As an ambitious young lady, she aspires to be accepted to Rafa Nadal, which is a world-famous tennis academy. I believe her disciplined approach and ability to balance the demands of elite sport and rigorous study are instrumental in her future success.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kristin Edquist","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90836,"id":90836,"title":"Mia Pozernick","filename":"Mia-Pozernick-scaled.jpeg","filesize":778836,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Mia-Pozernick-scaled.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/mia-pozernick\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"mia-pozernick","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:35:21","modified":"2026-09-11 16:35:21","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1920,"height":2560,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Mia-Pozernick-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Mia-Pozernick-225x300.jpeg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Mia-Pozernick-768x1024.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Mia-Pozernick-768x1024.jpeg","large-width":768,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Mia-Pozernick-1152x1536.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1152,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Mia-Pozernick-1536x2048.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1536,"2048x2048-height":2048,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Mia-Pozernick-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":225,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Mia-Pozernick-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":300,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Mia-Pozernick-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":450,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Amelia Pozernick","title":"","department":"Political Science Pre-Law","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Political Science program nominates Amelia Pozernick for the Jeffers Chertok Dean\u2019s Honor award for 2026. Mia has been an exceptional student during her time at Eastern and as a political science major. While her 4.0 grade point average testifies to this, it is Mia the person who really stands out. Her presence in the classroom is warm and friendly and her contributions to class discussions are sophisticated and astute. As a result, there can be no doubt that other students learn from her as well as her instructors. Her coursework is always of the highest quality, and she makes the extra effort to learn and understand. We will all miss her presence in the department, and we wish her all the best in her studies at Gonzaga Law School and her future professional endeavors.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Thomas Hawley","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":2256,"id":2256,"title":"AISEaglebeads","filename":"AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","filesize":361980,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/?attachment_id=2256","alt":"Beaded medallion with the EWU logo","author":"425","description":"","caption":"","name":"ais-eaglebeads","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1248,"date":"2019-05-17 15:24:15","modified":"2021-07-07 22:27:35","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1600,"height":1067,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","2048x2048-width":1600,"2048x2048-height":1067,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":200,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":267,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":400}},"name":"Abigail Valentine","title":"","department":"Urban & Regional Planning","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Abigail Valentine is not afraid of hard work or getting her hands dirty. She is a full-time student, a single mother, an employee at a pediatric clinic, and a small business owner-operator. Since 2018, she has worked with animals\u2014first in animal shelters, and currently as a pet sitter and house sitter. This work ethic translates into stellar academic performance. She has a 4.0 GPA and has impressed the Urban & Regional Planning faculty. Despite being pulled in many directions with multiple responsibilities, she shows up in the classroom on time having completed readings and homework. She both asks, and answers, tough questions in classroom discussions. She brings with her passion for whatever she is learning along with a desire to see justice served, and the needy taken care of. The work that she turns in demonstrates someone who is actively figuring out the best way to apply what she\u2019s learned in the classroom those around her. Abigail has demonstrated her potential to be successful in the professional world, and we can\u2019t wait to see what form her success will take.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jason Scully","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90839,"id":90839,"title":"Savannah Dunn","filename":"Savannah-Dunn-scaled.jpeg","filesize":287550,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Savannah-Dunn-scaled.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/savannah-dunn\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"savannah-dunn","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:40:50","modified":"2026-09-11 16:40:50","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1040,"height":2560,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Savannah-Dunn-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Savannah-Dunn-122x300.jpeg","medium-width":122,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Savannah-Dunn-768x1890.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1890,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Savannah-Dunn-416x1024.jpeg","large-width":416,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Savannah-Dunn-624x1536.jpeg","1536x1536-width":624,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Savannah-Dunn-832x2048.jpeg","2048x2048-width":832,"2048x2048-height":2048,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Savannah-Dunn-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":122,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Savannah-Dunn-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":163,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Savannah-Dunn-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":244,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Savannah R. Dunn","title":"","department":"Military Science","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Cadet Savannah Dunn has excelled in the three qualities we expect in the Military Science Department and Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program: Scholar, Athlete, Leader.<\/p>\n

Savannah is an exceptional example of academic excellence, leadership, and service. As a Scholar, she has maintained a strong 3.76 GPA in her last four quarters while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, alongside an outstanding 4.0 GPA in her Minor in Military Science. Her academic record reflects not only intelligence and discipline, but also a sincere commitment to learning and professional development.<\/p>\n

As a Leader, Cadet Dunn has been entrusted with two of the most demanding roles in our program\u2014Battalion Operations Officer (COO) and Battalion Logistics Officer\u2014positions she has fulfilled with integrity, confidence, and strategic insight. Her calm presence under pressure, empathetic leadership style, and ability to inspire her peers have made a lasting impact on our organization. She consistently advocates for her fellow Cadets and promotes a culture of mutual respect, accountability, and excellence.<\/p>\n

Beyond her official duties, Savannah generously volunteers her time to coach, teach, and mentor both peers and junior Cadets. She leads by example, cultivating a positive learning environment and empowering others to reach their full potential.<\/p>\n

Her achievements also extend to the physical domain, where she ranks in the top 10% on the Army Combat Fitness Test, has competed on the ROTC competition teams, and earned the Expert Fighting Eagles Badge\u2014testaments to her resilience, determination, and leadership.<\/p>\n

Cadet Dunns\u2019s well-rounded excellence, leadership character, and commitment to service make her an outstanding candidate for this academic leadership award. She truly represents the highest ideals of the Jeffers Chertok Dean\u2019s Honor Award, the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Eastern Washington University and is poised to serve with distinction as an Air Defense Artillery Officer in the United States Army.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Hammerle","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90841,"id":90841,"title":"Jennifer Dawson","filename":"Jennifer-Dawson.jpg","filesize":170536,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Jennifer-Dawson.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/jennifer-dawson\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"jennifer-dawson","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:43:50","modified":"2026-09-11 16:43:50","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1242,"height":1242,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Jennifer-Dawson-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Jennifer-Dawson-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Jennifer-Dawson-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Jennifer-Dawson-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Jennifer-Dawson.jpg","1536x1536-width":1242,"1536x1536-height":1242,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Jennifer-Dawson.jpg","2048x2048-width":1242,"2048x2048-height":1242,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Jennifer-Dawson.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Jennifer-Dawson.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Jennifer-Dawson.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Jennifer Dawson","title":"","department":"Criminal Justice","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ms. Dawson is a first generation, college student from a low income background and lacked family guidance in her aspirations. She’s had to find a way to success in college on her own. As a non-traditional student in her 30’s, Ms. Dawson found a way to fit into the campus community through volunteer work and student employment. She volunteers as a peer mentor and her student employment positions include currently working as a student assistant in the Department of Sociology and Justice Studies where she is performing extremely well.<\/p>\n

In order to become a top student, Ms. Dawson has worked very hard while utilizing student resources and refining her skills though academic coaching. Her success is exemplified by having recently being accepted into the McNair Scholars Program. She is a true EWU academic success story.
\nMs. Dawson exemplifies the kind of student that our former colleague and mentor to our senior faculty, Jeffers Chertok, would be proud to have earn an award in his name.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Todd Hechtman","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":2256,"id":2256,"title":"AISEaglebeads","filename":"AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","filesize":361980,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/?attachment_id=2256","alt":"Beaded medallion with the EWU logo","author":"425","description":"","caption":"","name":"ais-eaglebeads","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1248,"date":"2019-05-17 15:24:15","modified":"2021-07-07 22:27:35","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1600,"height":1067,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","2048x2048-width":1600,"2048x2048-height":1067,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":200,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":267,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2019\/05\/AIS-eaglebeads.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":400}},"name":"Sarai Barahona","title":"","department":"Criminal Justice","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

I have the pleasure of recommending Sarai Barahona for the 2025\/2026 Chertok Dean Honor Award. Ms. Barahona has taken several of my courses during her time at Eastern Washington University and academically, has been at the top of every class. Her specific field of interest was forensic examination. During her time in classes, I noted that she was relatively quiet but exceptionally perceptive when discussing criminal justice concepts and theory. Ms. Barahona was accurately able to integrate complicated class themes and notions to answer questions both discussion and exam questions using her critical thinking skills.
\nBecause of her critical thinking ability, and despite being quiet, Ms. Barahona became an integral leader in various class activities and discussions. She has worked exceptionally hard, and it showed. She has had an impact on many instructors in our program and is recommended by more than one. My only regret in writing this letter of recommendation for the award is that I will no longer have her in classes because she is graduating. I have no doubts that she will have a very bright future, and I can\u2019t wait to see how it unfolds.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dale Lindekugel","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90844,"id":90844,"title":"Adrianna Wood 46","filename":"Adrianna-Wood-46.jpeg","filesize":208711,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Adrianna-Wood-46.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/adrianna-wood-46\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"adrianna-wood-46","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:48:57","modified":"2026-09-11 16:48:57","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":700,"height":1049,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Adrianna-Wood-46-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Adrianna-Wood-46-200x300.jpeg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Adrianna-Wood-46.jpeg","medium_large-width":700,"medium_large-height":1049,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Adrianna-Wood-46-683x1024.jpeg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Adrianna-Wood-46.jpeg","1536x1536-width":700,"1536x1536-height":1049,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Adrianna-Wood-46.jpeg","2048x2048-width":700,"2048x2048-height":1049,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Adrianna-Wood-46.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":200,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Adrianna-Wood-46.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":267,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Adrianna-Wood-46.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":400,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Adrianna Wood","title":"","department":"Sociology","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

(Unfortunately, Adrianna couldn\u2019t be present at the awards ceremony, so Dr. Kerryn Bell accepted Adrianna’s award on her behalf.)<\/p>\n

Adrianna is a rare student who is triple majoring in Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Spanish. On top of that, she maintains a 3.88 cumulative GPA. This is absolutely extraordinary. The Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice fully believes in engaged learning. To that end, we make field trips and internships readily available to our majors. This past Fall 2026, Adrianna went to the Airways Heights Corrections Center as part of Dr. Bell\u2019s CRIM 460 \u2013 Penology class. Further, in that class she was exposed to volunteer opportunities with Lutheran Community Services as victimization is hugely correlated with incarceration. Adrianna was so engaged; despite her heavy school schedule she went through training and became a Victim Advocate Volunteer with Lutheran Community Services. In this role, she works with victims of sexual assault including hospital support visits which often occur at unusual times of the day or night.<\/p>\n

In conversations outside class with Adrianna, she said this experience has been life changing and made her realize that her path forward is through Social Work. To that end, she was accepted to and will be starting her Master\u2019s in Social Work at EWU this Fall. She is dedicated, hardworking, and already immersing herself in helping survivors in the local community. I strongly believe that Adrianna will be a difference maker to many people in the years to come.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kerryn Bell","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false}],"component_options_toggle":true,"component_options":{"disable_component":false,"nickname":"Dean\u2019s Excellence Awards and Faculty Mentors","identifier":"deans-excellence-awards","navigable":true}},{"acf_fc_layout":"contact-cards","layout_type":"","module_background_color":"white","title_alignment":"text-left","title":"Jeffers Chertok Memorial Scholarship","sub-heading":"The Jeffers W. Chertok Memorial Scholarship was established in 2005 by Daniel & Margie Carper and the Chertok Family. Dean Jeffers Chertok held a 34-year career at Eastern Washington University. Dean Chertok\u2019s legacy lives on through the students he taught, the faculty he mentored, and the quiet charm he brought to them all. He will always be remembered as a strong voice for Eastern, a statesman, and a scholar of quiet brilliance, beloved by students and admired by colleagues.","sections":[{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90846,"id":90846,"title":"Andrea Caiceros","filename":"Andrea-Caiceros.jpeg","filesize":451695,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Andrea-Caiceros.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/andrea-caiceros\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"andrea-caiceros","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:53:29","modified":"2026-09-11 16:53:29","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":997,"height":1246,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Andrea-Caiceros-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Andrea-Caiceros-240x300.jpeg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Andrea-Caiceros-768x960.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":960,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Andrea-Caiceros-819x1024.jpeg","large-width":819,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Andrea-Caiceros.jpeg","1536x1536-width":997,"1536x1536-height":1246,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Andrea-Caiceros.jpeg","2048x2048-width":997,"2048x2048-height":1246,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Andrea-Caiceros.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":240,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Andrea-Caiceros.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":320,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Andrea-Caiceros.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":480,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Andrea Caiceros","title":"","department":"Sociology","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

It is with great enthusiasm and without reservation that I recommend Andrea Caiceros for the Chertok
\nScholarship. Andrea took several upper-level courses with me. She excelled in her courses works. She
\ncurrently works with me as a teaching fellow. Andrea is one of the most dedicated, compassionate, and
\ndriven students I have had the privilege of working with over the past ten years. I am confident that she
\nembodies the qualities this scholarship seeks to recognize and support.<\/p>\n

What distinguishes Andrea beyond her professional commitments is her deep engagement with her
\ncommunity. She is a founding member of Mi Gente: Latinos Unidos of EWU, where she serves as
\nCommunity Outreach and Event Coordinator, actively building spaces of belonging for Latino students
\non campus. This is the kind of leadership our university need to cultivate and encourage. She also
\nserves on the Dean\u2019s Student Advisory Group as the Sociology program representative, demonstrating
\nthat her peers and faculty alike trust her to be a voice for her department. Importantly, her bilingual
\nabilities recognized with a Seal of Biliteracy and an estimated CEFR C1 level in Spanish have allowed
\nher to serve as a bridge in every environment she has worked in, from a Baskin Robbins crew to a
\nuniversity residential hall.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Nomination: Dr. Kassahun Kebede","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90847,"id":90847,"title":"Dean Gomm","filename":"Dean-Gomm.jpg","filesize":337732,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Dean-Gomm.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/dean-gomm\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"dean-gomm","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 16:57:51","modified":"2026-09-11 16:57:51","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1440,"height":1442,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Dean-Gomm-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Dean-Gomm-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Dean-Gomm-768x769.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":769,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Dean-Gomm-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Dean-Gomm.jpg","1536x1536-width":1440,"1536x1536-height":1442,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Dean-Gomm.jpg","2048x2048-width":1440,"2048x2048-height":1442,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Dean-Gomm.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Dean-Gomm.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Dean-Gomm.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Dean Gomm","title":"","department":"International Affairs","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

A major in the International Affairs Program at EWU, Dean has proven to be an exceptional student since his arrival. I first met him in Fall 2025 in my POLI 203 (Comparative Politics) and POLI 425 (Politics of the Middle East) courses, in which he earned As. Beyond a strong GPA (3.8) and a record of high grades, Dean has impressed me with his intellectual curiosity, positive attitude, and exemplary work ethic. philosophy. Since arriving at EWU, he has received two study-abroad scholarships to Armenia and Thailand and will travel to
\nTajikistan this summer. His intellectual interests extend beyond international affairs to philosophy, history, and culture, and in my one-on-one conversations, he often displays a maturity beyond his 20 years. Overall, he is an outstanding candidate who, in my view, most deserves this scholarship; I therefore recommend him with the utmost confidence for his intellect, work ethic, and respectful demeanor.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Nomination: Dr. Majid Sharifi","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90849,"id":90849,"title":"Kara Pulsifer","filename":"Kara-Pulsifer.jpg","filesize":656371,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Kara-Pulsifer.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/kara-pulsifer\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"kara-pulsifer","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 17:00:54","modified":"2026-09-11 17:00:54","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1536,"height":1547,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Kara-Pulsifer-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Kara-Pulsifer-298x300.jpg","medium-width":298,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Kara-Pulsifer-768x774.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":774,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Kara-Pulsifer-1017x1024.jpg","large-width":1017,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Kara-Pulsifer-1525x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":1525,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Kara-Pulsifer.jpg","2048x2048-width":1536,"2048x2048-height":1547,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Kara-Pulsifer.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":298,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Kara-Pulsifer.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":397,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Kara-Pulsifer.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":596,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Kara Pulsifer","title":"","department":"Social Studies Education","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ms. Pulsifer, an Honor\u2019s Program student who is pursuing a major in Social Studies Education, exemplifies the best qualities of an outstanding student and demonstrates a commitment to EWU and the growth of fellow students unmatched by her peers. Ms. Pulsifer came to EWU with a plan to become an educator and has never strayed from that goal. Inspired by teachers in her own life, Kara has expressed a deep appreciation for \u201cthe immense impact that a teacher can make on a student who needs support.\u201d Ms. Pulsifer has also noted her desire \u201cto become the kind of person that students who are struggling can find support in and become strong, confident, and successful members of society.\u201d Ms. Pulsifer has received
\naccolades from professors in the Social Studies Program that speak not only to Kara\u2019s impressive academic career but also the numerous ways in which she demonstrates leadership skills within the classroom and beyond.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Nomination: Dr. Jacki Hedlund Tyler","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90851,"id":90851,"title":"Nancy Benson","filename":"Nancy-Benson-scaled.jpeg","filesize":905335,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nancy-Benson-scaled.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/nancy-benson\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"nancy-benson","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 17:03:55","modified":"2026-09-11 17:03:55","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1920,"height":2560,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nancy-Benson-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nancy-Benson-225x300.jpeg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nancy-Benson-768x1024.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nancy-Benson-768x1024.jpeg","large-width":768,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nancy-Benson-1152x1536.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1152,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nancy-Benson-1536x2048.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1536,"2048x2048-height":2048,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nancy-Benson-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":225,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nancy-Benson-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":300,"gform-image-choice-md-height":400,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nancy-Benson-scaled.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":450,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":600}},"name":"Nancy Benson","title":"","department":"Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nancy Benson is a non-traditional academic scholar. As a parent and a person with worldly experience, Nancy brings a keen approach to inquiry in classroom learning that connects socially lived theorizing with academic excellence. Her interests and abilities are succinctly rooted in nuanced critical thinking that addresses solution focused practices. When I first met Nancy in winter 2025, she was already deeply versed in interdisciplinary learning and scholarship. She stood out immediately as a student who consistently contributes to community learning by deepening classroom dialogue via real world knowledge and examples.<\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Nomination: Dr. Jessi Willis","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false},{"contact_source":"custom","contact":null,"portrait":{"ID":90853,"id":90853,"title":"Nicholas Spence","filename":"Nicholas-Spence.png","filesize":261306,"url":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nicholas-Spence.png","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/cahss-awards-2026\/nicholas-spence\/","alt":"","author":"1609","description":"","caption":"","name":"nicholas-spence","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":90749,"date":"2026-09-11 17:06:51","modified":"2026-09-11 17:06:51","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":240,"height":359,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nicholas-Spence-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nicholas-Spence-201x300.png","medium-width":201,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nicholas-Spence.png","medium_large-width":240,"medium_large-height":359,"large":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nicholas-Spence.png","large-width":240,"large-height":359,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nicholas-Spence.png","1536x1536-width":240,"1536x1536-height":359,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nicholas-Spence.png","2048x2048-width":240,"2048x2048-height":359,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nicholas-Spence.png","gform-image-choice-sm-width":201,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":300,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nicholas-Spence.png","gform-image-choice-md-width":240,"gform-image-choice-md-height":359,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/cahss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/09\/Nicholas-Spence.png","gform-image-choice-lg-width":240,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":359}},"name":"Nicholas Spence","title":"","department":"Political Science & Military Science","pronouns":"","office_hours":false,"description":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

As a scholar, Cadet Spence has distinguished himself through exceptional academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, and unwavering discipline. He has earned an impressive 3.84 cumulative GPA while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, complemented by a perfect 4.0 GPA in his Military Science minor. His academic performance reflects not only outstanding aptitude, but also a deep commitment to personal growth, professional excellence, and lifelong learning.<\/span><\/p>\n","email":"","location":"Faculty Nomination: Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Hammerle","phone":"","cell":"","text":"","fax":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","linkedin":"","buttons":false}],"component_options_toggle":true,"component_options":{"disable_component":false,"nickname":"Chertok Scholarship","identifier":"chertok-scholarship","navigable":true}},{"acf_fc_layout":"contact-cards","layout_type":"","module_background_color":"off-white","title_alignment":"text-left","title":"Faculty & Staff Excellence Awards","sub-heading":"These individuals embody the college\u2019s mission and values. 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