George F. Whitworth Honors Program

Honors Capstone Projects

Video made with the assistance of Samuel Ortega ’25

All George Whitworth Honors students complete an individual project as part of their Honors Curriculum, cultivating skills of problem-solving, project proposals, and project management.

 

Projects may be academic or applied but in some way reflect the Honors Program’s Mission:

 

“The Whitworth Honors Program challenges talented and motivated scholars to pursue excellence of mind and heart, to cultivate leadership qualities and skills, and to commit to lives of service. The Honors Program does more than guide scholars to navigate the world as it is; it equips them to solve problems and to develop the world as it should be.”

Click the links below to get a sense of what students have been doing!
Class of 2023
Class of 2024
Class of 2025

Claire Tolo

Students with disabilities (SWD) make up 17-19% of the student population in higher education institutions. However, research focused on them accounts for only 1% of papers published in education journals. Furthermore, disabled students are less likely to enroll in science, technology, mathematics and engineering (STEM) courses compared to their abled peers. Researchers have posited that this may be due to both physical barriers, such as inaccessible laboratories, and cultural ones, like negative experiences with peers and faculty. So what can universities do to improve the landscape of their STEM cohorts to make them more equitable and inclusive for students with disabilities? Existing research has suggested a variety of solutions, ranging from implementing Universal Design Learning (UDL) to purchasing specialized lab equipment. But there does not yet exist a compilation of the current recommendations for interventions and best practice for improving equity and accessibility in STEM departments. In this project, I will examine the specific challenges faced by SWD in the classroom and laboratory, interventions to improve challenges faced, and practical suggestions institutions can utilize to effectively implement the interventions in their STEM programs.

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April 29, 2026

Andrew Doughty

This project had two facets: one was working with the Books to Prisoners organization to put on a book drive. Through this drive we collected over 200 books which will be mailed to prisoners across the country as well as a grant for 500$ from the Sigma Tau Delta Honor society as a part of the Chapter service project to provide them with new shelving, postage, and specifically requested books. This meets a physical demand: access to the books prisoners want to read.
The other aspect of this project was volunteering in the Juvenile Detention Center in downtown Spokane where I was able to work with high school students in their English classes through creative writing workshops. I was able to connect with individual students who come from a variety of situations and use the tools I’ve learned about creative writing to help them to process and create though creative writing of their own.

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April 24, 2026

Shelbe Nelson

Growing up, I’ve always had an affinity towards creativity, art-hobbying, and music. They bring me joy and personal flourishing outside of my every-day life. I think that it is a large part of being human. What inspired my work is the recent conflict between social media platforms and artists. Over the recent years, the content of visual and musical artists have been subjugated to constant thieving of their work by AI and being buried due to biased media algorithms. In a time where many careers are put under threat by replacement via AI, I want to make a change, even if it is a small one. My career of studying marketing and economic tactics has taught me how to be a voice for those who need it. So I have decided to put my skills to the test and bring light to my peers even in these uncertain times.

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April 22, 2026

Mariia Yazepova

AI is changing more quickly than ethical norms can keep up, especially in the profession of journalism (Simon, 2024). Although AI tools increase productivity, professional journalism’s survival and credibility are at risk due to their unchecked use. The human-centered principles that support press integrity are being undermined by automated news writing, copyright violations, and algorithmic disinformation (Simon, 2024). This project will compare human-reported stories to AI-generated failures, look at the ethical consequences of generative AI in journalism, and offer solutions for responsible innovation. Raising awareness of these dangers and promoting AI integration that complements human journalists rather than replaces them are the main goals. I decided to focus on this topic because I want to work in journalism, where these developments will have a direct impact on my future writing. As someone just starting out in the industry, I’m worried about how a reliance on AI might change my field of communications, possibly decreasing chances for original writing and eroding accountability standards. However, I am aware of the advantages these tools provide when used appropriately. In order to make sure that future industry professionals like myself can have credibility and ethical storytelling in an increasingly automated media landscape, this project reflects my interest in helping find a balance where innovation supports integrity.

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April 28, 2026

Kyle Marquez

KYLE MARQUEZ Class of 2024. Political Science and Theology Majors.  How to Partner for Justice: Linking Whitworth with the world through education and activism

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April 29, 2024

Gwendolyn Brantner

My project investigates the third place problem, a topic which has recently gained traction online in gen z communities as we try to gain some adult social life once leaving school. Third places are defined as space outside of home (1st place) and work/school (2nd place) in which individuals spend a large portion of time socializing and connecting with their community. The traditional sense of the phrase requires that third place be free to access, easy to access, and full of opportunities for social connection with those both similar and opposite to you. This topic has always interested me and I am a strong advocate for people having fulfilling social lives outside of family and outside of obligation. Considering my future career path, I focused my project on third places and youth, specifically. My project begins by investigating the reasons for the decline in third spaces in the 21st century due to cultural shifts, technological developments, and even legal constraints. Then, I present why the lack of these spaces is detrimental, particularly to youth populations ages 12-17, when it is so easy to disappear into online spaces instead. My research concludes by offering up some examples of ideal solutions for youth populations and their guardians, considering accessibility and safety concerns that many guardians have about sending children to third places. With proper support and engagement the youth programs and non-profits which offer third space solutions could be the key to maintaining the social health of younger generations despite the many barriers to finding community.

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April 23, 2026

Hannah Cordero-Johnson

Immigration has long been a contentious issue in the U.S., but recent years have seen increasingly negative public attitudes shaped by race, religion, politics, and nationalism. Notably, research shows that white evangelical Christians often support restrictive immigration policies—despite professing compassion and a biblical call to welcome the stranger. This study explores how those contradictions play out locally in Spokane, Washington, by centering the voices of immigrants and refugees and examining how race, religion, and legal status shape their resettlement experiences.

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May 9, 2025

Jillian Whiting

Ultimately, my project seeks to foster a more informed healthcare environment. One in which researchers, healthcare professionals, and patients are better equipped to navigate the unique complexities of women’s health.

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May 1, 2025

Victoria Woo

This research project examines how institutions of higher education in the United States are responding to the rapid integration of artificial intelligence tools in academic environments, and where significant regulatory gaps remain. As generative AI systems become increasingly accessible to students and faculty, universities face growing challenges in maintaining academic integrity, supporting cognitive development, and addressing algorithmic bias.

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April 24, 2026

Casey Prociw

CASEY PROCIW Class of 2024.  Casey is a graduating senior with an English major and a Medieval/Early Modern Minor. He is a member of Sigma

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May 1, 2024

Zoe Montgomery

I have always had a passion for understanding learning styles and differentiating instruction based on those styles. Throughout my own education, I have been aware that I am a visual learner, which has helped me choose learning and study habits best suited for me. As a future elementary school teacher, I wanted to explore how teachers can better teach to various learning styles in their classrooms. I believe that we can increase the success of our students when we plan our classrooms and lessons with their learning styles in mind. Building differentiation for learning styles into lesson plans can allow students to engage in the content in the way that best suits them. When I came up with the idea for this project, I wanted to learn more about the improvements teachers can make and why they should make them. One conclusion that I have come upon is that this can be a time-consuming process, though a worthwhile one. When lessons are planned around learning styles, students are more engaged because the content feels more accessible to them. Students also become more able to grasp complex concepts because the information is presented in multiple ways. Among the many other benefits, learning style modifications are a great way to support diverse learners. My project aims to inform my future teaching and educate others on the importance of planning a classroom with learning styles in mind.

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April 23, 2026

Research on the River

Hannah Neuberger, a senior majoring in biology, is researching the level of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) in the Spokane River in her HN 400 class.

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April 13, 2023

Delaney Woods

DELANEY WOODS Class of 2024. Health Sciences Major.  Breaking the Cycle: Redefining healthcare through overprescription awareness In a healthcare system reliant on pharmacological interventions, patient

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May 1, 2024

Honors senior works to improve pool access

Hannah Stoddard, who is majoring in international studies, found that Honors has given her a way to connect her major, her personal experiences, and her passion. The intersection of these different parts of Hannah’s life has resulted in a pool project aimed to improve local communities.

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April 27, 2023