Meet the 2025 Presidential Scholars

Each year, WWU honors seven graduates with the Presidential Scholar Award, honoring the high achievements of students for exceptional scholarship, success in furthering multicultural programs and activities, and other service to the university and community. 

Presidential Scholars are nominated by faculty members, recommended by deans and formally selected by the president. Presidential Scholars will also wear their award medallions during their commencement ceremonies.

The 2025 Presidential Scholars are: 

CBE faculty say Accounting graduate Isabelle Garten is a “fiercely curious” student devoted to attentive service to her community and the pursuit of excellence in her academic and professional life. 

“She pushes her peers and her instructors until she is confident in her knowledge, and she ensures that others understand as well,” writes Professor Dawna Drum. 

Garten completed two accounting internships focused on helping clients file their taxes. She leveraged this experience as the volunteer manager of the free tax return assistance service VITA, recruiting and mentoring dozens of volunteers. She also organized new processes to serve Spanish-speaking clientele, including a “bilingual cheat sheet” created by Spanish-speaking volunteers with translations of key tax preparation terminology to help both volunteers and clients feel more comfortable. 

For her Honors College capstone project, Garten developed a high school financial education proposal intended to give more low-income high school graduates knowledge about basic tax concepts. She’s presenting the proposal to Washington’s Financial Education Public Private Partnership in hopes it will be adopted. 

Outside of class, Garten is an active volunteer in her church, working to build a sense of belonging among her congregation. She’s also quick to help people in need – she taught at least three people to drive a car, and introduced five people to smart credit card use in order to build their credit scores. 

“She does not wait on the sidelines,” writes Accounting Professor Audrey Taylor. “She makes it her mission to help wherever she notices a need.” 

Garten says her experiences at Western strengthened her faith, particularly through the “highs and lows of student life.” 

“The most rewarding aspect of my time at WWU was deepening my relationship with God and learning what He has in store for my life,” she writes. 

Environmental Science major Grace Landaverde is an enthusiastic scientist, a tenacious researcher, and a patient mentor with what Associate Professor Manuel Montaño calls “a passion for teaching and helping others achieve academic success.” 

Landaverde’s Honors thesis project involved sampling and analyzing water samples from WWU’s south campus to understand how the watershed mitigates metal pollution from stormwater runoff. Not only did Landaverde design this project, but they also found multiple funding sources that allowed them to take the research to a regional conference. 

Their scholastic excellence, attention to detail, and deep understanding during water quality and environmental toxicology classes caught the attention of Montaño, who writes, “They are, and will continue to be, an exciting scientist to watch as they move into their next career field.”

Landaverde said they thoroughly enjoyed their time at Western: “I've met so many amazing friends, scientists, and mentors who've all helped me grow my research and who I am today. I want to especially thank Dr. Manuel Montaño for his support and mentorship, and Katie Allen for her wonderful help with my project. I wouldn't have been able to pursue my research this year if it wasn't for them."

While interning with the King County Department of Natural Resources, Landaverde used their biostatistics and R programming skills to analyze two of the agency’s monitoring programs. 

When they came to Western, Landaverde was chosen for the Multicultural Achievement Program and received the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship for students from underrepresented communities in STEM. Landaverde is also dedicated to making Western a more welcoming and inviting place for others through HOPPS (Honors Outreach to Present and Prospective Students), Admitted Students Day, and Honors Prologue Day.

Amara Farah is a talented musician, composer, conductor and musicologist, earning a Bachelor of Music in both composition and musicology. 

Faculty are impressed by her rare combination of curiosity, humility, drive and intellect, not to mention her passion and zest for performing. Her work and classroom contributions stand out in even the most challenging of classes. 

“Amara is the kind of student that goes beyond what is required of her because she values more than academic achievements,” writes Associate Professor Felicia Youngblood. “She values the work itself, cherishes and respects the people involved, and aims to understand her contribution to broader webs of knowledge.”

Adept at the clarinet and piano, Farah recently won the Music Department’s annual concerto competition as a pianist. She combined her senior musicology thesis and her Honors capstone project into a lecture recital that also explores her own heritage: “21^st Century Syrian Composer Identity: Representation and Sustainability.” 

She has received regional and national commissions for her musical compositions, and she won the Music Department’s Orchestra Composition Commission and will write an orchestral piece to be premiered by the WWU Symphony. 

While relatively new to conducting, Farah is “proving to be a conductor of intimidating potential,” writes Ryan Dudenbostel, director of Orchestral Studies, and she was accepted into one of the nation’s most competitive graduate programs in conducting. 

Farah said the community in the Music Department made her experience at Western more meaningful than she could have imagined.

“These experiences mainly include insightful discussions in advanced theory and musicology courses, as well as moving performances with the Western Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony,” she wrote. “I am truly grateful to my faculty for their support, generosity, and dedication, as well as to my friends for their company.” 

Political Science major Jaida Barrows is a passionate and skilled disability rights advocate, with a special interest in policymaking. 

A creative leader in the classroom, Barrows often steps outside her comfort zone and helps steer class discussions in important and interesting directions. 

“Jaida has demonstrated a unique ability to connect class concepts to the ‘real world’ of politics and public policy,” writes Associate Professor of Political Science Cathy Wineinger.

Outside the classroom, Barrows served as an intern with the Washington State Legislature. She’s also a member of Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment, and works at the Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking and Technology (DO-IT) Center at the University of Washington. 

For her Honors College thesis, Barrows shared her knowledge and experience by creating an innovative high school civics class to give students a deeper understanding of the Washington State Legislature, and tools to engage with lawmakers. 

The year-long thesis project was the most rewarding part of her experience at Western, Barrows says, because she was able to work closely with Wineinger. “And I’ve combined my passions for advocacy and education into one.” 

Barrows has been accepted into the Master’s in Public Administration Program at UW; whatever her future holds, faculty expect Barrows will be driven by a passion for disability justice and service to others. 

Valentina Del Risco Sanchez is completing two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in Education in Spanish with a Secondary Education teaching endorsement, and Bachelor of Arts in Art Education. She’s also finishing up her certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. 

Del Risco shines in her language pedagogy courses and research, and she impressed faculty with her co-presentation at the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Conference last summer. 

She just completed her teaching internship in a Spanish language classroom at Mount Vernon High School. “She is especially passionate about helping heritage speakers gain confidence and pride in their background and Spanish skills, ensuring they see the value of their bilingualism and cultural identity in the classroom,” writes Associate Professor Shannon Dubenion-Smith

At Western, Del Risco also built community through her leadership at La Plaza Latine Student Center, the Latine Student Union and as co-founder of the Educators of Color Club. 

Del Risco is deeply grateful to the Latine community: “They gave me the strength and purpose to keep going, and I feel deeply honored to have had the opportunity to serve, support, and uplift them during my time at Western,” she writes.

She also worked with Admissions to provide Spanish language tours of campus and served as an instructor in the Western’s Employee Language Program. 

“Throughout her time at Western, Valentina has worked to create an inclusive community that acknowledges that being Latine can mean many things – it is a diverse, multifaceted identity with countless cultures, histories and experiences,” Dubenion-Smith writes. “She strives to challenge monolithic views of Latine identity and emphasize the richness and diversity within our community in everything she does, from teaching to student advocacy.” 

Dori Harcharik’s time in the Engineering and Design department is hallmarked by academic excellence, community service, and a strong commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment.

A Polymer Materials Engineering student, Harcharik excels in her work with biobased aerospace materials, winning first- and second-place awards at industry conferences that include graduate students. Her research quality, technical insights and communication skills are consistently praised by industry partners.

“What stands out about Dori is her willingness to struggle through difficult problems,” writes Assistant Professor of Engineering Jill Davishahl. “Many undergrads want quick answers, but Dori embraces the challenge of really learning the material and methods.”

Harcharik was also praised for her departmental service and commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all students. During her student tenure, Harcharik led her research team, served as a teaching assistant, peer mentor, student engagement liaison and CSE student ambassador, and founded the Pink Moon Society, a program that supports gender minorities in STEM. The Pink Moon Society held several student-focused events throughout the year, including “Through Our Lens,” a partnership with the Counseling and Wellness Center to exhibit film photography and storytelling from Western students exploring the questions, “Why not me?” and “How do we build our own spaces at WWU?”

“Dori Harcharik is one of the top students I've ever worked with in my 20-year teaching career,” Davishahl writes.

Harcharik says the most rewarding part of her time at Western was being able to grow into the woman in STEM she always wanted to be.

“Seeing myself grow, challenge myself, and gain confidence and competence has been worth all of the hard work and challenges that have been a part of my journey,” she wrote. “This growth has been facilitated, in help, by the amazing mentors I've gained at WWU, who I love so much—Jill Davishahl, Sura Alqudah, Lisa Ochs, Liz Stuart, John Misasi, Nikki Larson, Peng Gao and Mark Peyron.”

Silvia Avila Ramos is an Early Childhood Education major who is deeply committed to addressing the needs of migrant and farm-working communities. 

An Indigenous Mexicana from Oaxaca, Avila speaks three languages — English, Spanish and Mixteco — which she utilizes to bridge cultural gaps in schools, including teaching kindergarteners in a dual-language school. 

“From the first day of class, Silvia delved into the material unlike any other student with whom I’ve worked,” writes Associate Professor of Education Jessica Ferreras-Stone. “I have been deeply impressed by her capacity to unpack complex subjects and conceive of new ideas.”

Avila is deeply committed to addressing the needs of migrant and farm-working communities in the Skagit Valley. A former farm worker herself, Avila supported others by assisting with employment paperwork, helping families navigate school registration, and standing against instances of mistreatment. She coordinated listening sessions with local utility providers to help her neighbors understand their rights as tenants and demystify the billing system. These efforts were especially critical during a period of severe cold weather when community members were unfairly taken advantage of by their landlords.

“Just as she contributes meaningfully to classroom discussions, Silvia continuously seeks opportunities to uplift others and advocate for equitable treatment,” writes Ferreras-Stone. “What makes her stand out is her dedication to critically studying the underlying conditions that result in vulnerability, her ability to grapple with complex social theory, and her daily effort to sharpen her academic, conceptual and practical skills toward justice.”

When asked about the most significant part of her time at Western, Avila spoke of “unwavering support” from her mentors Ferreras-Stone, Director of Accessibility, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Daisy Padilla, and Professor Veronica Valdez.  

“They were not just mentors; they were guiding lights, empowering me to chase my dreams and equipping me with invaluable resources,” Avila wrote. “I am genuinely grateful for their kindness, as they continually inspired me to reach for my objectives.”