Each year the University of Washington recognizes 100 students from all three campuses who are making the most of their Husky experience. This year, 13 of the Husky 100 are from UW Bothell — the most yet. That’s three more in the elite group than last year and up from five in 2016, the inaugural year. There were seven each in 2017 and 2018.
UW Provost Mark A. Richards said there is one thing all Husky 100 share: They are leaders and innovators.
“Through their coursework, research, volunteer and leadership efforts, internships and jobs,” he said in announcing the 2020 honorees, “they have created their own Husky experience.”
Below, we briefly introduce the 13 students selected from UW Bothell. You can read more of their comments on the UW Bothell Husky 100 webpage and see all 100 on the main Husky 100 webpage.
Najma Adan
Senior from Bellevue, Washington, majoring in Biology in the School of STEM: “As a Husky, I have been able to conduct interdisciplinary biomedical research.”
Midia De Souza
Junior from Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and Marietta, Georgia, majoring in Law, Economics & Public Policy and in Media & Communications Studies with a minor in Human Rights in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences: “My Husky experience has been filled with opportunities in research, internship, leadership and community building.”
Nicholas Degrasse
Senior from Snohomish, Wash., majoring in Mechanical Engineering in the School of STEM: “Design, create and reiterate is a three-step process I’ve come to fall in love with in my time as an engineer at UW.”
Bee Elliott
Junior from Fullerton, California, majoring in Environmental Studies in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences: “I’m an ‘artful activist’ exploring and experiencing the interwoven powers that community and the arts hold for collective transformation and healing towards climate justice.”
Sharona Horton
Senior from Lynnwood, Washington, majoring in Educational Studies with the elementary education option in the School of Educational Studies: “My goal is to become a truly inclusive teacher.”
Nathan June
Fifth-year student from Kansas City, Missouri, majoring in Physics in the School of STEM: “I believe that leaders create leadership opportunities in others. I carry this philosophy with me in every aspect of life.”
Shugla Kakar
Senior from Lynnwood, Washington, majoring in Health Studies in the School of Nursing & Health Studies and in Gender Women & Sexuality Studies in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences: “During my time at UW Bothell, I have been able to find my voice and empower myself along with others around me to fight for their rights and their communities.”
Garima Maheshwari
Senior from Sammamish, Washington, majoring in Computer Science & Software Engineering with a minor in Mathematics in the School of STEM: “Being a part of the UW community and Engineers Without Borders, I saw the ability for technology to empower anyone, and the impact of underlying studies like ethics and math to develop it.“
Datyous Mahmoudian
Junior from Shiraz, Iran, majoring in Business Administration and in Management Information Systems in the School of Business: “As a leader for change, I work daily to reinvent my community and to empower future generations in achieving their potential.”
Van Nguyen
Senior from Renton, Washington, majoring in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience in the School of STEM: “Throughout my time at UW, perhaps the most significant lesson I learned was how my cultural and social aspects of identity would be my ultimate source of strength.“
Madison Nikfard
Senior from Bellevue, Washington, majoring in Media & Communication Studies with a minor in Creative Writing in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences: “I’ve been inspired to work incredibly hard these past three years to give back to the community that has made me feel so supported.”
Prathyusha Pillari
Senior from Redmond, Washington, majoring in Computer Science & Software Engineering in the School of STEM: “From my freshman year, when I launched a club called Her Campus to provide a community for women, to my final year, when I co-led the largest hackathon on our campus through ACM (Association for Computing Machinery), UW gave me opportunities to mold myself as an all-rounder inside and outside the campus.”
Hesbeyda Villafana
Senior from Sunnyside, Washington, majoring in American & Ethnic Studies in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences and in Educational Studies in the School of Educational Studies: “My UW experience lies at the intersection of ethnic studies, social justice and equity in education.”
