Global Honors, NextGen Students participate in Huskies on the Hill and Western Regional Honors Conference

The Global Honors Program is celebrating major student accomplishments, including the selection of two scholars to the 2025 Husky 100. Additionally, 11 Global Honors students were chosen to present at the 2026 Western Regional Honors Conference (WRHC). These achievements highlight the program’s commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and community‑engaged scholarship.

Mia Escobar (Major: Applied Math; Minor: Global Engagement; Global Honors) and Cameron Cyprain (Pre-major; Minor: Global Engagement; NextGen Civic Leader Corps, Global Honors) have been selected for the prestigious Husky 100 award. This award recognizes 100 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across all three campuses who make the most of their Husky Experience by applying what they learn and by making a difference on campus and in their communities.

This year, 11 UWT Global Honors students were chosen to present their research at the 2026 Western Regional Honors Conference (WRHC) under the theme, "Battle Born: Crossroads and Opportunities" hosted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Presentations include:

• Cameron Cyprain: “Streamlined Solutions to Housing Insecurity” (Major: Pre-Major, Minor: Global Engagement)
• David Alfonso Esguerra: “The Purity Problem: Fascism and Secondary Cultural Shifts” (Major: Communications, Minor: Global Engagement)
• Frederick Leonard Langley: “The Shifting Role of Monetary Policy in the Global Economy” (Major: Economics And Policy Analysis, Minor: Global Engagement)
• Kai Lee, Jordan Muir & LeMy Pham: “The Economic Impact of Casinos on Native American Land in Washington State” (Major: Communications, Minor: Global Engagement)
• Jannat Musawi: “The Portrayal of Generational Trauma in Iraqi Films” (Majors: Psychology, Social Welfare, Minor: Global Engagement)
• Emma Russell: “Feminist Reclamations of Misremembered Women” (Major: Politics, Philosophy, & Economics)
• Hailey Jae Yuki Sato: “The Balancing Act: Politics, Community, and Vector‑Borne Disease” (Major: Biomedical Sciences, Minor: Global Engagement)
• Quinn Sukys: “Dead Internet Theory and the Current Social Media Paradigm” (Major: Politics, Philosophy, & Economics – Internation Studies, Minor: Global Engagement)
• Karalea Zuber: “Endurance Was the Final Outcome” (Major: Psychology, Minor: American Indian Studies)

Four presenters received the IIGE Travel and Conference Award to support their participation. All will present their papers at the IIGE's May 20 Global Engagement Conference.

Last but not least, congratulations to Global Honors student Ruben Mann whose photography was accepted for publication in Scribendi. Scribendi, a nonprofit annual print publication, is produced mainly by honors students at the University of New Mexico. Since 2017, Scribendi has published creative work from honors students across more than 900 institutions in the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). The publication solicits photography, visual art, literary and open media works. Mann's work will be published in the upcoming Fall 2026 edition.

As UW Tacoma’s interdisciplinary honors program, Global Honors offers an experientially rich curriculum that blends academic rigor with community engagement. This year’s achievements underscore the program’s mission to cultivate globally minded, community‑engaged scholars prepared to lead with purpose and integrity. Both Global Honors and the NextGen Civic Leader Corps are signature academic programs of the Institute for Innovation and Global Engagement at the University of Washington Tacoma.

Huskies on the Hill: Future Civic Leaders Step Up
 

Olympia, WA, February 10, 2026 — More than 150 students from across the University of Washington’s Tri-Campus community gathered at the Washington State Capitol for the annual Huskies on the Hill event. Nearly 50 UW Tacoma students participated, many of them members of the NextGen Civic Leader Corps, a program coordinated by the Institute for Innovation and Global Engagement (IIGE), that prepares students for public service and community leadership. UW Tacoma students can also earn a NextGen micro credential, adding extra value to their bachelor’s degree by formally recognizing their civic engagement and leadership development.

The NextGen Civic Leader Corps helps students build public service values, strengthen collaborative leadership skills, and expand professional networks through workshops, mentorship, and civic experiences. For many UW Tacoma participants, Huskies on the Hill offers a meaningful opportunity to put those skills into practice.

A highlight of the day was a conversation with Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, a UW alumnus from the Class of 1989. Ferguson spoke with students about his own background in student government and encouraged them to remain engaged in shaping Washington’s policy future. His willingness to meet with students underscored the event’s focus on accessible public service and the importance of student voices in state decision making.

Throughout the day, students met directly with legislators, staffers, and committee aides to advocate around issues affecting their lives. Topics included student homelessness, higher education funding, and improving access to financial aid and support services. NextGen students used the event to share personal stories and highlight how policy decisions impact their academic and personal lives.

The day concluded with a rally on the Capitol steps featuring Representative Osman Salahuddin (Class of 2018) and UW President Robert Jones, both of whom emphasized the power of student engagement and the importance of sustained advocacy.

The Huskies on the Hill event reinforces the power of student engagement in helping to shape Washington’s future.