Scholars Week 2025 highlights Western’s record of academic excellence
Scholars Week, an annual celebration showcasing the best of Western Washington University students’ research and creative works, kicks off May 12 with presentations through May 16, 2025.
In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Scholars Week, Western invites the public and campus community to attend Scholars Showcase events highlighting student achievement and the significance of faculty mentorship. Western ranks first in the Pacific Northwest, and third nationally, among master’s degree granting institutions whose graduates go on to earn research doctorates. Scholars Week expresses the rigor, dedication and passion that has led to Western’s high rankings.
The annual academic Poster Session — the centerpiece Scholars Showcase event — will be held in Carver Gym on Wednesday, May 14. This event features outstanding scholarly research and creative works by approximately 250 graduate and undergraduate students across a wide range of disciplines, including midday musical performances from College of Fine and Performing Arts music students. An opportunity to participate in People’s Choice Award voting for undergraduate and graduate student presenters will be available by in-person ballot.
Faculty/Student Group Collaborations are a series of 30-minute presentations involving research, creative work or other academic projects stemming from work in the field, lab, studio or some other collaborative setting or arrangement. These presentations include faculty and student groups who’ve worked closely and collaboratively. Presentations topics range from award-winning theatre performance monologues to the sex ratio of harbor seals at Salish Sea haul-out sites will be held in the Carver Hall of Fame Room on Tuesday, May 13.
Three-Minute Thesis Talks by graduate student presenters from a wide range of master’s degree-granting departments at Western, will be held Thursday, May 15, in the Solarium, 590 Old Main. These presentations are designed to explain discipline-specific research to an unfamiliar audience in three minutes or less. Creative Writing Presentations, also held Thursday in the Solarium, feature readings of original creative works in poetry, fiction and nonfiction by English Department MFA and MA candidates.
WWU Provost Brad Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for the cumulative and collective efforts that have brought about the variety of Scholars Week presentations representing Western’s seven colleges. This includes more than 400 student participants in Scholars Showcase events in addition to nearly 100 students presenting in Western's Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies’ Scholars Day on Thursday, May 15. In addition, students will present throughout the week in smaller, department-hosted events across campus.
"Scholar’s Week is one of the most important — and fun — regular events held at WWU. It is the chance to showcase one of the things that puts us on the map regionally and nationally: the great work of our students, graduate and undergraduate as well, working with outstanding faculty mentors, on authentic research, scholarly and creative projects. It is impossible to attend and not feel inspired and incredibly proud," said Johnson.
Scholars Week events will be held May 12-16, including activities and events hosted by colleges, departments and programs throughout the university, many of which are listed on the Scholars Week website. A number of these presentations are open to the public. For more information about Scholars Week, contact scholars.week@wwu.edu.
Scholars Week events will be held May 12 through May 16, including activities and events hosted by colleges, departments and programs throughout the university, many of which are listed on the Scholars Week website. A number of these presentations are open to the public. For more information about Scholars Week, contact scholars.week@wwu.edu.
About Scholars Week
Scholars Week, an annual celebration of student research and creative activities at Western Washington University, was created by a unanimous resolution of the Faculty Senate in November 1999 as “Scholars Day.” The event soon transformed into “Scholars Week” to accommodate a diverse series of events highlighting the scholarship and creativity of Western students across a variety of disciplines. The Scholars Week Planning Committee works in coordination with the Office of the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Office of Research and Sponsored Program to hold Scholars Showcase events and activities.