Biology Celebrates Student Achievements During Spring Commencement

June 13, 2023 

Western’s Biology Department celebrated on the front steps of the Biology building post commencement on Friday, June 9. Faculty and staff were excited to bring back the tradition of celebrating with graduates and their family and friends on the building's front steps. This once yearly tradition had been put on hold since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Biology department saw over 70 students graduate in the Spring quarter. Congratulations to all the graduates! 

Graduates and faculty in caps and gowns stand in rows on the front steps of the biology building
Graduate and faculty member in cap and gown stand in front of the Biology building sign. Graduate is holding diploma and flowers.

Payton Gablehouse and faculty Dr. Lina Dahlberg. 

Group of 8 students celebrate with excited faces. 6 are graduates in caps and gowns.

Group of Biology graduate and undergraduate students celebrate with one another. 

Graduate in cap and gown stands next to Biology faculty member

Recipient of both the Biology Outstanding Grad Student Award and the Grad Student Research Award, Jeremy Johnson with Biology faculty Dr. Brady Olson. 

Graduate and faculty member stand in Red Square in front of Bond Hall

Javareah Owens and Biology faculty Dr. Lina Dahlberg. 

Student and Professor in cap and gowns smile at camera. Student it holding diploma.

Recipient of Biology Outstanding Undergraduate Award, Olivia Dong, celebrates with Biology faculty member, Dr. Suzanne Lee.  

Biology Department Awards 

Biology awards both undergraduate and graduate students with Departmental Awards. These students are nominated and selected by faculty based on a combination of grades, research, future promise and service to the community.  

Biology Outstanding Grad Student Award: Jeremy Johnson (read more about Jeremy in WWU News) 

Grad TA Award: Benjamin Haagen (read more about Benjamin in WWU News) 

Grad Student Research Award: Jeremy Johnson  

Biology Outstanding Undergraduate Award: Olivia Dong (read more about Olivia in WWU News) 

We also wish to recognize nominees for the Graduate Student Awards. Though not selected for the award, their nomination letters highlighted their hard work, creativity, and dedication to their research and teaching. 

Grad Research Award Nominee: Megan Moma 

Grad TA Award Nominees: Angshita Dutta, Jeremy Johnson, Annie Jolliff 

Biology 2023-24 Scholarship Recipients 

The Biology Department awards scholarships to full-time Biology undergraduate majors and graduate students. Congratulations to our 2023-24 Academic Year recipients! 

Biology Alumni Student Research Fellowships: Bree Nelson, Kevin Nelson, Winter Yi 

Biology Department Tuition Waiver Scholars: Bree Nelson, Maribel Solano Alcantara, Winter Yi 

Declan Barron Memorial Scholarship: Andre Tang, Hannah Thorp, Winter Yi 

Hodgson Family Scholarship: Emmy Formiga, Kaia Swanson 

Student Athlete Scholarship: Delphine Maurer 

Biology Faculty Fellowship: Minh Phan 

Fraser Scholarship: Kaia Swanson