Honors JA/SP 2027 Course Catalogue
Take a look at all the Honors Program has to offer this Jan term and Spring!
October 29, 2026
Take a look at all the Honors Program has to offer this Jan term and Spring!
On October 14th, Jon Meacham visited Whitworth at President McQuilken’s 2026 Presidential Leadership Forum, this year hosted at the Fox Theatre. I attended his evening talk at the Fox called, “American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union,” a nod to the title of his most recent book published earlier this year.
Some people go to the lake, some people pick up extra shifts, and some spend hours tanning in the sun. Me? I spend my summer Saturdays attending regional festivals and parades with the Spokane Lilac Festival.
The KSPS PBS micro-internship is focused on their online educational content. PBS has a learning platform called PBS LearningMedia where any station from across the country can upload lessons, videos, and teaching tools for free use by teachers and students. KSPS is one of the stations that contributes material, but they’ve become increasingly aware that the material currently up isn’t as robust as it could be.
On October 14th, Jon Meacham visited Whitworth at President McQuilken’s 2026 Presidential Leadership Forum, this year hosted at the Fox Theatre. I attended his evening talk at the Fox called, “American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union,” a nod to the title of his most recent book published earlier this year.
The KSPS PBS micro-internship is focused on their online educational content. PBS has a learning platform called PBS LearningMedia where any station from across the country can upload lessons, videos, and teaching tools for free use by teachers and students. KSPS is one of the stations that contributes material, but they’ve become increasingly aware that the material currently up isn’t as robust as it could be.
We are proud to announce that micro-internships, mentors, and upcoming professionalization events now have a home on the Whitworth Launch website. This site hosts the applications and internship postings, connecting you directly with the people who want to give you a job.
Fall 26 Speakers Jon Meacham Meghan Sullivan Dr. Robert George Dr. Cornel West October 14th: Jon Meacham “American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of
Kyle Marquez spent his summer interning with the Department of Agriculture, specifically the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Washington.
Whitworth’s Office of Church Engagement runs the Summer Fellowship Program, which places students with churches, camps, and nonprofits nationwide.
Honors Sophomore Completes Pre-Law Internship Abby Ruffcorn, political science major and Whitworth Class of 2027, shares about her internship at a local law firm:
I’ve always considered it a blessing to have been raised in an environment that exposed me to different types of peoples and cultures. I am
Hometown: Aberdeen, WA Majors: English Literature and Writing Minors: Editing & Publishing Fun fact: I saw Richard III at the Globe Theatre when I was in London this
Hometown: Spokane Valley, WA Major: Biology Minor: Psychology Fun fact: If I wasn’t pursing a career in medicine, I would want to go into sports
Hometown: Edgewood, WA Major: Accounting Minor: Music; English Fun fact: I’ve grown out my hair and donated it four times! Favorite honors class: My favorite honors class
Hometown: Tualatin, Oregon Major: French Minors: Development Studies; Theology Fun fact: One of my favorite snacks is pickles and peanut butter! Favorite Honors Class: Some of my
#DOA-LA19: Days 4 Wicked at the Pantages by Claire Buchheit, ’21 “She’s crispy. She’s like bacon.” – Annika Bjornson, 8 January 2019 On the evening
#DOA-LA19: The Broad Museum by Laurelle Watkins, ’22 Hi readers, my name is Laurelle Watkins and I am a freshman biochemistry major. I went on
#DOA-LA19: Days 1 and 2 Watts Towers, the Getty Museum, and LACMA by Daniel Roberts, ’20 “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?
#DOA-LA19: A History of Film Studios by Bryn Cavin, ’20 Nikki Hevesy is the VP of Media Strategies for Artists for Community Transformation, a nonprofit
The KSPS PBS micro-internship is focused on their online educational content. PBS has a learning platform called PBS LearningMedia where any station from across the country can upload lessons, videos, and teaching tools for free use by teachers and students. KSPS is one of the stations that contributes material, but they’ve become increasingly aware that the material currently up isn’t as robust as it could be.
In September of 2025, youth and Gen-Z individuals in Nepal overthrew their corrupt government through a series of protests and riots. They voted for their interim prime minister through Discord, and throughout the protests, the world saw Gen-Z laughing and joking their way through a major historical event. Gen-Z has been nicknamed the “unserious generation”, but in Nepal they also led the movement that led to a significant change in government. This begs the question of how this will inspire other Gen-Z protestors and activists across the world. How does Gen-Z view violence as an actor for change? Do they use humor as a tool, strategy, or a way to cope? How necessary is humor for Gen-Z’s activism? In my academic project, I explored these questions by looking at a variety of examples all over the world, with a focus on Nepal. As someone who is Gen Z, loves memes and humor, and is interested in political activism, I think that this project is important to see how young people are actively changing the world around them.
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.
Since going through the Education Department here at Whitworth, I have become increasingly interested in the academic achievement of our students here in Washinton. Education has changed so drastically over the years, and the hope is that we are still meeting the needs of our students in an ever-shifting society. Since Covid, state testing has dropped and has continued to do so which raises concern; how can our children get the best education when standards are so demanding? Is the education we are providing right now the education our students need? I wanted to study the effects that state standards have on primary children and whether or not an increase in academic performance is happening in our schools. The reason for this project is to study the impact of our state standards on the growth and development of our students.