Chancellor's Medal

Each year, the Chancellor’s Medal is awarded to a graduating student for extraordinary achievement during their time at UW Bothell. The award recognizes an individual who has been a consistent source of inspiration for fellow students and faculty alike, and has overcome significant obstacles or endured major challenges in order to complete a degree or certificate program. The medal is presented during the Commencement ceremony in June.

Eligibility

To be considered, nominees must meet the eligibility requirements to graduate. Students who earned a graduate or post-baccalaureate degree, an undergraduate degree or certificate in autumn quarter or who have submitted an application to graduate for winter, spring or summer quarters of the current academic year are eligible.

The Office of the Registrar will verify that each nominee has either graduated in the current academic year or has a graduation application on file. Eligibility to receive the medal is contingent upon successful completion of all graduation requirements during the current academic year.

Nomination procedure

Faculty, staff, students and those affiliated with UW Bothell are eligible to submit nominations. Self-nominations will not be accepted. While it is possible that more than one nomination may be submitted for the same student, we ask that individuals refrain from organizing campaigns or coordinating multiple nominations for a single candidate.

Nomination guidelines:

  • Minimum length of one page and no longer than two pages, single spaced.
  • Clearly explain how the nominee embodies the spirit of the award. Challenges overcome can include academic, physical, personal, financial or social constraints.


To be considered for the 2026 medal, the nomination must be submitted by email to the Office of the Chancellor at uwbchlr@uw.edu by 5 p.m. PT on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Review committee

The Ceremonies and Honors Advisory Committee, appointed by the chancellor, reviews all nomination materials using a rubric and recommends three finalists. The chancellor selects one recipient and notifies the student. 

Past recipients

2025: Niveah Martinez
2024: Puneet Birk
2023: Amanda “Mandy” McCaslin 
2022: Noor Abdulhameed, Djelli Berisha and Ash Saucedo 
2021: Chris Hays 
2020: Midia De Souza, Yasmin Guzman and Shugla Kakar 
2019: Angelica Mendoza 
2018: Clinton Foriska 
2017: Kyra Laughlin and Erica Qiao 
2016: Benjamin Studley and Alejandra Pérez 
2015: Christian Arciniega and Jim Elliott 
2014: Katherine Seidemann
2013: No recipient
2012: R. Christopher McRae
2011: Sean Alley
2010: Jose Rodriguez
2009: Debbie Brown
2008: Ebou Cham
2007: Jayne Collins
2006: Rebecca Buscher
2005: George McNiel
2004: Kenneth VanGerpen and Marie VanGerpen
2003: Brian Bell, Yeshearg Dagne and Mabel Ezeonwu
2002: Cecelia Burke, James Dennison IV and Kieu Ho
2001: Marjan Sanayei and Camille Scott
2000: Michelle Ebbighausen and Cynthia Ernsdorff
1999: Eva Gordan and Janet Thorson-Madar
1998: Neil Foltz and John Smith
1997: Fred Holderith, Richard Huffman and Eric Stromme
1996: Nancy Gertlar and Susan Stark
1995: Danna Jepsen and Suzanne Washburn
1994: Sedonia Cochran, Cathy Lee, Martha Marcum and Wendy Yirka