The Gonfalonieres

Each year the various schools and colleges select a student or students to lead their degree candidates into Husky Stadium at the University of Washington's Commencement Ceremony. These students are called the gonfalonieres because they carry the school's gonfalon, a banner that hangs down from a crosspiece and bears that school's name and symbol. The gonfaloniere was a prestigious post in Italian medieval and Renaissance communities. Each of our gonfalonieres has compiled a record of outstanding achievement at the University and is worthy of special recognition. We think when you hear their stories you'll understand why their schools selected them for this distinct honor.

The Graduate School

Jeffrey Bigham - Bigham is receiving a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science and Engineering. The son of Richard and Peggy Bigham, Jeffrey came to the UW after receiving his bachelor's degree in computer science from Princeton. His work focuses on , especially those used by blind web users. He started the WebInSight project (with his advisor Richard E. Ladner) to enable end users (particularly the blind) to improve the interfaces they use to access web content. His WebAnywhere web application, which he invented to provide blind web users non-visual access to the web from any computer, won the Microsoft Imagine Cup Accessible Technology Award, the W4A Accessibility Challenge Delegate's Award and the Andrew Mellon Award for Technology Collaboration. In 2008, he became an Osberg Presidential Fellow.

Kathrine (Meggie) von Haartman - Ms. von Haartman will be receiving a Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Engineering. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Washington and plans to continue working at Clearsight Systems, Inc., a computer software company in Bellevue, WA, where she uses hybrid mathematics.

Emily Marie Yette - Ms. Yette will receive a Master of Public Health degree this year. She graduated from North Thurston High School in Lacey, WA, and earned a bachelor's degree in human biology at Stanford University. She worked with at-risk youth in San Diego before entering graduate school. Ms. Yette looks forward to using her Master's degree to contribute to social justice.

Adriana Gil Miner - Ms. Minor Adriana received her B.A. in Mass Communication from Universidad del Zulia in her native Venezuela and is graduating from the Master of Communication in Digital Media program focusing on digital storytelling and social media. As a student Adriana worked at The Center for Communication and Civic Engagement managing a project to develop a multimedia youth website for the City of Seattle . She also developed and managed the MCDM program's blog and managed the development of the program's website. Adriana comes from nearly a decade of professional experience in interactive marketing and web development in New York , working for American Express and Digitas and now is the Director for Digital Media at Weber Shandwick, one of the top Global PR firms.

The College of Arts and Sciences

Michael Liam MacRae Murphy - A native of Seattle, majored in Psychology and minored in Quantitative Science.  He became involved with the teaching of statistics and research on stress and coping during his third year at the UW, and immediately knew that he wanted to pursue a future in academe.  He will be leaving Seattle this fall to attend graduate school at the University of British Columbia, where he will continue studying stress and coping while working on a Ph.D. in Health Psychology. 

Rachel Peter - Ms. Peter is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Psychology. She is the daughter of Mike and Sheri Peter and is from Kent , WA . Specializing in public relations and marketing, she intends to establish a career in the field, incorporating her passion for digital media and social responsibility.

Ada Dea Sherman Albuquerque da Silva - Mrs. da Silva is graduating with a BA in French Literature and expecting a child in August.  Planning to enter the Master of Social Work program to focus on immigrant rights and advocacy, her goal is to work within disadvantaged communities to promote economic equity and social justice on both the local and international level.  She believes that by working with and for the underprivileged of our society we can strengthen the multicultural bonds of our country and enable everyone to contribute in a fulfilling and sustainable way.

Joseph Thomas Darda - Joseph is graduating magna cum laude with degrees in English and Psychology.  During his time at UW, he wrote extensively for The Daily , the Seattle Post-Intelligencer , and Northwest Runner Magazine . An avid runner, Joseph competed for the university in both track and cross country, recently winning his first marathon.  After graduation, he plans to pursue graduate work in English.

Luis Escamilla - Mr. Escamilla is receiving a Bachelor of Arts in American Ethnic Studies and History. He was born and raised by Esperanza Cedillo and Luis Santana Escamilla, surrounded by a working Mexican-American heritage in the Greater Los Angeles area. As a child, he was influenced by their altruistic work of helping recent Central American immigrants settle in the United States and learned the value and impact of giving back to the community. Mr. Escamilla will be entering the Master's in Teaching program at Seattle University, with the goal of becoming a secondary school teacher in a low-income, underserved population, while advocating social justice and equity.

Devon Midori Hale - Ms. Hale is graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting. She is especially interested in the historical impact of painting and is earning a minor in Art History. She was born and raised in Seattle , and is the third generation in her family to graduate from the University of Washington . In the upcoming year she plans to develop her paintings and apply to graduate school.

College of Built Environments

Keegan Petty - Mr. Petty, the son of UW alumni Kenneth Petty and Margaret Shanahan, grew up in Edmonds, WA. He'll be graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Construction Management and a Minor in Architectural Studies. After graduation, Keegan will work for Bayley Construction as a project engineer. He would like to dedicate all of his success and accomplishments to his parents. “Thanks for being there through thick and thin. I told you I'd make you proud!”

Foster School of Business

Xayachuck "Toan" Viradet - Mr. Viradet came to the U.S. from Vientiane, Laos, at the age of fifteen. A Roosevelt High Schoo graduate, he attended Seattle Central Community College before transferring to the UW. He participated in the Undergraduate Business Council, Foster Case Competition Teams, UW Leaders, and Sterlings and Munro Fellows and a Mary Gates Scholar. Toan plans to enter the field of consulting, and later pursue his graduate education in Austrian economics.

Olivia Miasik - A Seattle native, Ms. Miasik is graduating with a degree in Accounting and a Certificate of International Studies in Business. At the UW Olivia participated in the Business and Economic Development Center Leadership Team, helped manage the Global Business Case Competition, and this year was part of the UW's winning team at the Business Strategy Challenge at Georgetown University. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and after graduation will begin her career at KPMG in the audit division and obtain her CPA.

School of Dentistry

Theresa Mae Marks - Ms. Marks is receiving a Master of Science in Oral Biology. For many years she has worked as a dental hygienist and she aspires to educate future dental hygienists. For the past year she has been active in supervised teaching within the DECOD Clinic at the School of Dentistry. She also works with the University of Washington Oral Health Collaborative in Dental Public Health as a member, hygienist and public activist promoting prevention of dental disease. She says that gaining her master's degree has been a life challenge as she maintains a balance of student, motherhood, Girl Scout Leader, and educator.

Ashwini Khante, MSD, DDS

College of Education

Hui-Ting (Tina) Wang - Hui-Ting (Tina) Wang is an international student from Taiwan in the area of Special Education, College of Education . She obtained her Master's in Early Childhood Special Education also at the University of Washington . She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has devoted herself to serving people with special needs for 10 years. Tina wishes to promote quality of life for everyone. She loves to travel and meeting world diversity with heart makes her strong and complete.

College of Engineering

Brian Pepin - Mr. Pepin is graduating summa cum laude with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. In July, he will begin pursuing a PhD in Electrical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, under a Distinguished Graduate Student Research Assistantship Award. As a member of the University of Washington Industrial Assessment Center (IAC), Brian was the first student in Washington State to be certified by the US Department of Energy as an IAC energy efficiency expert. The industrial efficiency consulting company he started, Energizing Solutions, won the “Best Service Idea” prize at 2008 UW Foster Business School Business Plan Competition.

Kathy Wei - Ms. Wei immigrated to the United States from Shanghai China when she was four-years-old. She is completing a double degree in Bioengineering (with College Honors) and Computer Science. Kathy has conducted research in non-viral gene delivery with Dr. Suzie Pun and high intensity focused ultrasound with Dr. Shahram Vaezy, both in the Department of Bioengineering. She has won the Goldwater Scholarship, the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, and the NDSEG Fellowship. Kathy is pursuing a PhD in Bioengineering at Stanford University this fall.

College of Forest Resources

Rachel Miller - Rachel Miller is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Resource Management from the College of Forest Resources. She decided to major in environmental science when she came across a scientific journal on phytoremediation. She came to the UW because she wanted to be part of the research that was being pursued here into utilizing the natural biological processes of plants to clean up toxic sites. After a year of research, she is excited and honored to say that she will be furthering her studies here at the University of Washington Graduate School in the College of Forest Resources for a Master of Science in Restoration Ecology. Rachel is pleased to be a part of researching a way to repair a human caused problem by utilizing the natural processes of plants.

Information School

Wendy Lee - Ms. Lee will be receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science in Informatics. Born and raised in Yangon, Myanmar, Ms. Lee chose the Information School because of her passion for studying relationships between information, technology, and people. After graduation, she plans to apply the skills she has learned by working as technical consultant.

School of Law

Denise Sherry - A native of Puyallup , Washington, Ms/ Sherry graduated cum laude from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelors of Arts in History and English and served a year in AmeriCorps, where she helped run the reading program at Chief Leschi Elementary, before being accepted into the University of Washington School of Law. She has participated in the Immigrant Family Advocacy Project, completed an externship at the Washington Court of Appeals, Division II and interned in the Civil Division at the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office.  She is receiving a Juris Doctor degree.

School of Medicine

Chris Acab - Mr. Acab, born and raised in Kent, is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. He choose this major because of his desire to be the person someone could rely on when they needed help and also wanted to work in a laboratory. Christopher transferred from Western Washington University to UW. He is thankful for having a good supporting group throughout his endeavors and wants to thank his mom and family for always believing in and encouraging him to better himself.

Amrita Kaur - Born in Ludhiana, India, Ms. Kaur grew up Kent, Washington. She is receiving a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology and plans to continue her studies at the UW toward a master's degree in nursing. She wants to work in healthcare, helping with an early diagnosis for patients. She would like to acknowledge her parents and husband, Jake Singh (my biggest supporter), and the Medical Technology program for molding her into the person that she is today.

School of Nursing

Jessica Dorr - Ms. Dorr is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She plans to work in pediatrics or with neonates as a Registered Nurse. Jessica has volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and at Children's Hospital for over 6 years. She is also a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, holding multiple positions including Director of Social Enrichment, Class Coordinator, and Chaplin. Jessica attributes her educational success to her family, and would like to thank them for all their support over the years.

College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences

Britta Voss - A native of Seattle, Ms. Voss attended Concordia Lutheran School, where she learned math in her mother's classroom, and Blanchet High School. At the UW, she discovered her calling to study the mysteries of the deep blue sea, a decision which has since taken her to the Baltic Sea, the North Atlantic, the Atlantic coast of the Southeast, Vancouver Island, and Hawaii. In the fall, her quest for knowledge will take her to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts.

School of P harmacy

Sam Tsang Tsang Ngan - Mr. Ngan is receiving a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. He graduated from Oregon State University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and is currently practicing as a consultant pharmacist at several rehabilitation facilities. He has obtained professional credentials of Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) and Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (CGP).

Evans School of Public Affairs

Lisa Devine - Ms Devine is receiving a Master of Public Administration.  Before coming to the UW, she spent six years in China, including a year studying intensive Mandarin Chinese at Nanjing University in Nanjing, China.  After earning a B.A. with honors and distinction in Anthropology and Chinese Language and Literature at the University of Iowa in 2002, Devine received a Fulbright grant to research Chinese archaeological theory and methods in Xi'an, China.  Returning to Nanjing from 2004 to 2007, she worked as Special Projects Coordinator for the Johns Hopkins University—Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies.  She has also studied Arabic and Spanish (in Cairo, Egypt and Madrid, Spain) through a U.S. State Department Critical Languages Fellowship and a Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowship.  Devine is now pursuing a career in international development and non-profit management.

School of Public Health

Cindy Serrano - Cindy Serrano was born and raised in SeaTac , Washington and graduated from Tyee High School . The most influential activity during her college career was UHELP, a peer health educator program on campus that she served as a volunteer and committee team leader. Through that program she was able to find her passion for Public Health by sharing health information and resources with other college students.

School of Social Work

Alicia Martinez - Ms. Martinez is graduating with a Master of Social Work degree. She was born in Mexico City and received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare from the UW. She is committed to promoting social justice and empowering disadvantaged and under-represented populations. She has a special interest in working with the Latino community in the greater Seattle area.