Students Receive Honors at 2013 Commencement

Published: June 5, 2013

The President’s Medal recognizes the graduating senior with the most distinguished academic record and demonstrated achievements and success.

Eleanor Marsh is the recipient of the 2013 President’s Medal, which recognizes the graduating senior with the most distinguished academic record and demonstrated achievements and success.

Marsh is graduating with a bachelor of science in nursing with a 3.94 GPA. Marsh graduated from Shoreline Community College with an RN degree in 1986 and has worked as nurse in various capacities since then. She decided to return to school to pursue her BSN after years of watching patients in underserved communities struggle to gain access to effective, quality health care.

She is a member of the Washington State Nurses Association and National Association of Hispanic Nurses.

As a student, Marsh has traveled to Olympia to lobby for patient safety reform. She is a volunteer with the Washington Center for Nursing Diversity Initiative (WCNDI), and works to mentor, identify, and support youth of color who wish to become nurses. Her other volunteer roles include work with the Highline Community College Women’s Programs and ‘Expand Your Horizons’ Network, where she created and presented a hands-on workshop to socio-economically disadvantaged middle-school girls about perioperative nursing. She also volunteered as an adult ally for Powerful Voices, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young women of color to become leaders in their communities and beyond.

In the fall of 2013, Marsh will begin a master’s program in community health nursing track at the University of Washington with a focus on cross-cultural and global health. She plans to continue her work as a community advocate for delivering respectful health care for all, both locally and globally.

Emerging Leader Award: Tyrell Edwards

Tyrell Edwards has received 2013 Emerging Leader Award, which is awarded to a graduate student who has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, has an excellent academic record and shows clear indication of outstanding future leadership.Edwards will graduate with a master of arts degree from the cultural studies program in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. In April, Edwards received a Fulbright award from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. He is the University of Washington Bothell’s first Fulbright Student Scholar.

Beginning in September, Edwards will live on-campus at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada. He will conduct research on international student development and retention at UBC, which is considered to be a leader in the field.

At UW Bothell, Edwards founded an international student facilitators group that helps international students transition to life in the U.S. and to campus life. The group began with five people but has grown to 30 with four paid positions.

Edwards has also been active in student government and assorted campus committees. He started the Husky Pantry, which provides food staples to students who live in Husky Village, one of the campus residence halls. He was motivated to start Husky Pantry after his experience as a resident advisor and meeting students who were struggling financially.

Edwards is a native of Visalia, Calif. He also attended UW Bothell as an undergraduate student, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2011. He hopes to return to UW Bothell after studying in Canada to continue his work with international students.

2013 President's Medal recipient Eleanor Marsh

UW Bothell Graduate Student Ty Edwards