Honors College

Campaign Goal: $5 Million

Today’s college students must be equipped with superior problem-solving and communication skills to compete effectively in the international economy. Fresh ideas, creativity, and leadership initiatives will continue to drive the global workforce of the future.

For over 50 years, Washington State University’s Honors College has provided an enriched four-year curriculum for high-achieving undergraduates. More than 5,000 Honors alumni have gone on to be diplomats, astronauts, businesspersons, scientists, entrepreneurs, health-care professionals, writers, professors, and successes in countless other professions. Their impact is felt in the United States and throughout the world.

With its emphasis on global awareness and international impact, WSU’s Honors College continues to encourage students to develop their full potential to lead and serve their local communities and beyond. The College is characterized by small classes led by faculty who are committed to academic excellence and the success of every student in their classroom. Year after year, student note that one of the most significant aspects of their Honors courses is “professors who care about me.”

To ensure that we continue to attract, retain, and educate the most culturally competent and globally competitive students—many of whom are often recruited by other universities—we must continue to make the Honors College the most inviting and rewarding experience for students and world-class faculty. It is essential that we offer competitive scholarships to top young scholars, and assist our innovative professors. The opportunity for such support has never been more critical.

Through The Campaign for WSU: Because the World Needs Big Ideas, the Honors College seeks to build funding to support and secure opportunities for our students and faculty, and to solidify our position as a premier destination for student scholars and outstanding educators.

The Honors College is grateful for the generous alumni and friends who invest in our important mission. Many exceptional learning experiences for our students, and opportunities to help faculty become more effective educators, are possible only through your private support. Your dollars make all the difference in helping us guide every student along their academic journey to an undergraduate degree and help them to have learning experiences that are high impact, and to achieve the career of their dreams.

Throughout The Campaign for WSU, funding for scholarships for every student is our top priority, and support for faculty enrichment is our second. In these challenging economic times, more of our students and their families need assistance in paying for a college education. Because our current resources allow just 25 percent of applicants to receive funding from our college, there remains a need that is far greater than we can meet.

We have identified five scholarship categories that will help every Honors student:

• SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN will help offset rising college costs and attract top students to the WSU Honors College.
• MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS will recognize students for their high achievements.
• FINANCIAL NEED AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MORE DIVERSE STUDENTS will help Honors scholars to move beyond financial and cultural barriers.
• STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS (including FOREIGN-LANGUAGE IMMERSION) will develop cultural awareness and competencies that are demanded in the contemporary workplace.
• UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AND TRAVEL SUPPORT will provide opportunities to create new knowledge, disseminate findings, and build networks with mentors and peers.