It’s one of WSU’s longest-running traditions
For more than 80 years, WSU has recognized ten top seniors from each graduating class. These men and women across all WSU campuses represent the highest standards in five areas of college life: academics, athletics, campus involvement, community service, and visual and performing arts. And the WSU Alumni Association and Student Alumni Ambassadors oversee the award program. A committee of faculty, staff, and students chooses two winners in each category based on criteria such as leadership activities and academic achievements.
Meet this year’s Top Ten Seniors
Academics
Samantha King-Shaw (’21 Women’s Stu.) will be pursuing a doctorate in global gender studies. Patrick Robichaud (’21 Civ. Eng.) aims to help increase access to water as the climate changes.
Athletics
Dallas Hobbs (’21 Digi. Tech. & Cult.) was creative director, executive board member, and cofounder of the Black Student-Athlete Association. The WSU defensive lineman also served as a representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Charisma Taylor (’21 Hosp. Busi. Mgmt.) has her eyes on the Olympics. She was a board member and team representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and treasurer of the Black Student-Athlete Association. Taylor holds the WSU women’s record for triple jump and 60-meter hurdles.
Campus Involvement
Mikayla Beckley (’21 Biol.) served as vice president of the Disabled Students and Allies Club and represented the Access Center on WSU’s Transit Advisory Group. She plans to take a gap year before graduate school to work as a post-baccalaureate fellow at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Alicia Campos Macias (’21 Elec. Eng.) served as a senator and secretary for ASWSU Everett, where she was also involved with the WSU student branch of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, and more.
Community Service
Crystal Campbell (’21 Acc.) served as president of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Club, which she founded at WSU Vancouver, and coordinated a holiday card campaign for residents of a retirement home. As coordinator for the WSU Center for Civic Engagement Palouse Fresh Food project, Ariel Medeiros (’21 Ecol., Psych.) helped divert 15,769 pounds of food from the landfill so it could be shared with local families.
Visual and Performing Arts
Brandt Fisher (’21 Music) performed with WSU Jazz Big Band, SaxBand, Saxophone Quartet, and Latin Ensemble, and served as vice president of the WSU Jazz Society. Kyle Kopta (’21 Digi. Tech. & Cult.) helped organize the WSU Tri-Cities Undergraduate Research Symposium and Art Exhibition at the end of each semester.
Derivative staff illustration from photo courtesy WSU CAHNRS