awards
November 24, 2023
Two good
MacArthur Foundation Fellowships that were awarded to two University of Washington graduates recognize their work in disparate fields.
September 2, 2023
Quiet philanthropists
Dan and Pam Baty, recipients of the 2023 Gates Volunteer Service Award, have spent nearly five decades supporting UW programs.
September 4, 2022
Nursing advocate
Joanne Montgomery, recipient of the 2022 Gates Volunteer Service Award, spent two decades as a nurse—and two more ensuring that the UW is at the forefront of the field.
May 25, 2022
Commemorating Ken Sirotnik
Ken Sirotnik's legacy remains strong nearly two decades after his death. The UWAA honors him with the 2022 Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award.
Community champion
For his dedication to the UW and Chicano/a/Latino/a communities, Erasmo Gamboa receives the 2022 Retiree Excellence in Community Service Award.
October 30, 2021
A life in service
Dave Stone, ’68, is recognized for his lifetime of service—military, public and volunteer—with the Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award.
September 4, 2021
Anderson honored
James G. Anderson, '66, will receive the 2021 Dreyfus Prize in the Chemical Sciences.
August 31, 2021
Global vision
Stan Barer, recipient of the 2021 Gates Volunteer Service Award, used his UW Law degree to help make the world a better place.
June 10, 2021
Going the distance
Junior Haley Herberg was named the Pac-12 women’s cross-country athlete of the year.
June 7, 2021
Retiree honored
One of the Foster School’s most prolific researchers in organizational behavior, Terence Mitchell has not slowed down since retiring.
June 4, 2021
Passion for the UW
Colleen Fukui-Sketchley’s commitment to serving the UW Alumni Association, the University of Washington and higher education has been nothing short of amazing.
April 17, 2021
Frontline photographer
Photographer David Ryder, ’06, ’11, was recently recognized as UW Bothell's Alumni of the Year recipient.
March 11, 2021
Helen Chu honored
University of Washington Medicine professor Dr. Helen Chu, ’12, “Washingtonian of the Year” by the Washington State Leadership Board.
September 16, 2020
Book takes honors
A book by UW Tacoma Assistant Professor Emily Thuma won the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Studies.
June 11, 2020
Screen gems
Sheltering in place against the novel coronavirus prevented us from photographing our Teachers of the Year as we always do—in person. So we captured them the way students saw them during spring quarter.
June 4, 2020
Her work spans oceans
Jacqueline Padilla-Gamiño studies issues such as global environmental change, ocean acidification and microplastics in the ocean.
March 5, 2020
Wonder of Warashina
The Smithsonian honors Patti Warashina, ’62, ’64, whose humor and innovative perspectives on the human condition put a new face on ceramics.
June 3, 2019
House Party
We partied like students with the winners of the 2019 Distinguished Teaching Awards.
James LoGerfo Sr. named 2019 UW Distinguished Retiree
LoGerfo Sr., ’72, has used his time in retirement to expand his training of health-care workers around the world.
A joyful privilege
Connie Kravas, who retires from the UW this summer, is one of the most vocal and successful advocates for higher education for all of Washington.
October 26, 2018
A life in service
For her legacy of service that continues to this day in a volunteer capacity, the University of Washington presented Patti Taylor the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award.
August 29, 2018
Career puppeteer
If these puppets could talk, they would describe Aurora Valentinetti as the UW's beloved puppeteer.
December 1, 2017
A veteran’s quest
Ray Emory, the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award recipient, has worked for decades to identify the remains of those lost at Pearl Harbor.
September 1, 2012
Highest honors
Two alumni were among 13 people receiving the highest honor given to an American civilian—the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
March 1, 2012
Slick job
Two UW alums who helped devise a better way to ameliorate oil spills were part of a team that won a $1 million prize for its ingenuity.
At the apex
Architect Steven Holl, ’71, was awarded the highest honor in his field—the American Institute of Architects 2012 Gold Medal.
December 1, 2011
Futuristic fellow
Shwetak Patel, a UW assistant professor in computer science & engineering and electrical engineering for the past three years, has been honored as one of this year’s MacArthur Fellows.
June 1, 2008
UW honors
The University will honor 25 individuals this year as part of the annual UW awards program.
December 1, 2007
Pulitzer winner
David Anderson, ’86, never expected to win a Pulitzer Prize for journalism—especially as a history major with every intention of getting a law degree.
3 ‘Geniuses’
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation named three members of the UW community recipients of its famous "genius" awards Sept. 24.
Buerk honored
For his tireless volunteer efforts, Artie Buerk received the Gates Volunteer Service Award at the Sixth Annual Recognition Gala on Sept. 7.
September 1, 2007
Genetics prize winner
According to the Gruber Foundation, the human genome would have been “an impossible jigsaw puzzle” without the work of UW Medicine and Genome Sciences Professor Maynard Olson.
June 1, 2007
Extra credit
A great university has great teachers. This year, the UW honors seven instructors from three campuses who have touched the lives of thousands.
March 1, 2007
Top teacher
The state Teacher of the Year award is a landmark in a short but illustrious career. Andrea Peterson, 33, has been teaching for 10 years, most of those at Monte Cristo Elementary School in Granite Falls.
December 1, 2006
Legacy of giving
Moments after Ellsworth C. “Buster” and Nancy D. Alvord received the Gates Volunteer Service Award at the Fifth Annual Recognition Gala Sept. 8, the couple made a surprise announcement. They will help create a Center of Excellence for Neuro-oncology at the University by establishing with their family six new endowed faculty chairs.
June 1, 2006
Magnificent 7
A great university has great teachers. This year, the UW honors seven instructors from three campuses who have touched the lives of thousands.
March 1, 2006
Peabody winner
On May 17, 2004, Mathew Shaw and his wife, Juleen, were wide-awake at 5 a.m., and they were nervous. The Peabody Awards would be announced that morning.
December 1, 2005
'Quiet leaders'
Two of the University’s “quiet leaders”—Anne Gittinger, ’55, and Wayne Gittinger, ’55, ’57—took an unaccustomed moment in the spotlight Sept. 9 when they were honored with the 2005 Gates Volunteer Service Award.
September 1, 2005
Trophies pile up
We call our awards section “Milestones,” but there is always a problem with that page, even though readers don’t know it. There isn’t enough room to list all the awards—or even to give many details on the achievements listed.
June 1, 2005
Top Dawgs
More than 175 faculty have been given a UW Distinguished Teaching Award since 1970, and this year seven more from Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma join their ranks. In addition, the UW salutes 12 other professors, graduate students and staff members for their public service and teaching excellence.
Departments honored
Established in 1998, the Brotman awards go not to individuals but to programs, departments and groups that excel in the promotion of undergraduate learning.
Awards roll in
This spring, while the UW men’s basketball team was doing its part for national recognition, UW students were winning U.S. and international awards and competitions on an unprecedented scale.
June 1, 2004
Class of distinction
Since 1970, the University of Washington has honored its best teachers for striving to bring knowledge to the next generation.
Cleary honored
Beverly Cleary, who has been honored many times for her work, received the honor of a lifetime when she was presented with the National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush.
December 1, 2003
Sarkowskys honored
Family and friends paid tribute to the contributions of two alumni at the UW's Second Annual Recognition Gala Sept. 5 at Suzzallo Library.
September 1, 2003
President's Medalist
Brooks Miner is the 2003 President’s Medalist, the UW’s highest honor for graduating seniors.
Brotman winners
A networking group for Pacific Islander students and a graduate-level center for multicultural education received the 2003 Brotman Diversity Award June 12.
Honors for Columns
Columns won seven awards-including three First Place honors-in a 2003 journalism competition sponsored by the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the society announced May 17.
MAP honorees
A founder of the Multicultural Alumni Partnership, a member of the Washington State Legislature, and a community leader who serves on the National Council on Humanities are among this year’s alumni and friends who will receive awards at the Multicultural Alumni Partnership’s “Bridging the Gap” Breakfast.
June 1, 2003
Setting the standard
In recognition of their excellence in undergraduate education, the UW School of Drama and the UW Transition School/Early Entrance Program share the 2003 Brotman Awards for Instructional Excellence, the UW announced April 3.
December 1, 2002
Simpsons honored
Hunter and Dottie’s three children, Brooks, Anne, and Chris, were on hand when Regent Daniel J. Evans presented the Simpsons with the first Gates Volunteer Service Award.
September 1, 2002
Diversity awards
Two UW units, the Business Educational Opportunity Program and the Student Outreach Ambassador Program, received the 2002 Brotman Diversity Award.
Top grad
Roy Chan, ‘02, a comparative literature/Russian language and literature major earned a 3.98 GPA in his four years at the UW. For his academic achievements, he was named the 2002 President’s Medalist.
June 1, 2002
Award for ARCS
In honor of its generous support, the Seattle ARCS chapter will be presented the 2002 University of Washington Recognition Award.
Award winners
The UW Dance Program and the Friday Harbor Labs Apprenticeship Program share the 2002 Brotman Award for Instructional Excellence for their efforts to improve the quality of undergraduate education at the UW.
March 1, 2002
Teacher of the year
In October, the Aberdeen High School English teacher was named the 2001 Teacher of the Year in Washington state.
September 1, 2001
Bragging rights
With four Nobel Prize winners on our faculty, the No. 1 ranking among public universities receiving federal research dollars, and one of the top 15 undergraduate programs among public universities, there is a lot to be proud of.
Brotman Awards
Two UW units were recognized for their contributions to education and to diversity as the Office of Minority Affairs Instructional Center and the Interdisciplinary Writing Program collectively won three 2001 Brotman Awards.
Philanthropist honored
For his unwavering commitment and service to the University and to the community, Neal Dempsey will receive the 2001 University of Washington Recognition Award.
September 1, 2000
2 programs honored
The Department of Technical Communication and the Comparative History of Ideas Program won 2000 Brotman Instructional Excellence Awards.
September 1, 1999
Columns honored
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education recognized Columns Magazine for its 1998 redesign.
New UW awards
Three UW units have won a new award that recognizes collaboration across department lines to improve undergraduate education.
June 1, 1999
Top teachers of ‘99
The University of Washington is honoring its best teachers, staff members and volunteers in an expanded awards program for 1999.
June 1, 1998
Best of 1998
The UW is honoring the best teachers, staff members and volunteers in an expanded awards program for 1998.
March 1, 1998
After the prize
Six UW Nobel laureates talk about the day they won, and what happened after.
June 1, 1997
Columns wins 13 awards in writing, editing, design, photography
Columns Magazine won 10 of the awards in the 1996 Washington Press Association's Communicator of Excellence Competition.
September 1, 1996
UW computer scientist awarded National Medal of Science
Computer Science and Engineering Professor Richard M. Karp, known for tackling seemingly insoluble problems, received a 1996 National Medal of Science.
Zoologist Thomas Daniel wins MacArthur ‘genius’ award
UW Zoology Professor Thomas Daniel was one of 21 people namedas 1996 fellows of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
June 1, 1996
Ray Clough, ’42, wins renown as earthquake expert
A 1942 graduate of the UW civil engineering program, Ray Clough was presented with a National Medal of Science by President Clinton.
UW honors the best of 1996
Every year faculty, students and alumni meet to decide who are the top UW teachers, public servants and volunteers, and this year they came up with a remarkable list.
December 1, 1995
UW physicist Hans Dehmelt awarded National Medal of Science
Physics Professor Hans Dehmelt, the University's first Nobel Prize-winning professor, received the nation's highest scientific honor.
June 1, 1995
Awards for Columns
The Washington Press Association (WPA) gave Columns its top award for general, color magazines in Washington state.
Best of 1995
Faculty, students and alumni met to decide whom to add to the list of top UW teachers, public servants and volunteers.
December 1, 1994
Nobel laureate
Martin Rodbell was honored for research on G proteins, a key component of the communication system that regulates cellular activity.
September 1, 1994
Awards for Columns
Columns won two First Place Awards and two Second Place Awards in the 1993 Excellence in Journalism Competition.
June 1, 1994
The best of 1994
Faculty, students and alumni met to decide who are the best teachers, public servants and volunteers of the year.
June 1, 1993
The best of 1993
Each year, the University searches for top teachers and public servants to honor for their exceptional efforts.
June 1, 1992
9 for 1992
Faculty and students have come up with a list of nine exceptional people who have dedicated themselves to the University's teaching and public service missions.
June 1, 1991
The best of 1991
Traditionally, June is the month when the UW and its alumni association announce the winners of the annual teaching and public service awards.
Literary fame
UW English Professor Charles Johnson, is holding steady through the months of accolades that have followed winning the 1990 National Book Award in fiction.
March 1, 1991
Johnson wins award
Charles Johnson, UW professor of English, received the 1990 National Book Award for Middle Passage.
June 1, 1990
Accolades all around
On campus we have a different set of "Oscars." They honor the day-to-day achievements of teachers, public servants and distinguished alumni.
Best of 1990
Awards honor 10 people who have contributed greatly to the UW’'s teaching and public service missions.
Unlocking beauty
Renowned furniture artist and designer George Nakashima is the UW’s 1990 Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus.