Western Washington University ranks 33rd nationally among the 100 “Best Buy Colleges and Universities” in a list compiled by Forbes Magazine.

Forbes Magazine, which has a circulation of over 900,000, ranks colleges and universities across the nation that provide the best education at the lowest possible cost to students.

Western Washington University has been selected by G.I. Jobs magazine as a “Military Friendly School” for 2011, placing Western in the top 15 percent of all higher education institutions nationwide.

“Your steadfast commitment to educating our great nation’s military veterans will enable the United States to prosper for generations to come,” read the award presented to the university.

The purpose of the Professional Staff Organization Award for Excellence is to recognize one professional staff employee annually for an assortment of exceptional efforts and contributions to Western Washington University. The award is presented annually at Fall Convocation.

This award honors professional staff employees who demonstrate one or more of the following criteria:

Nominations are being accepted through Friday, Aug. 6, for the 2010 Outstanding Classified Staff Award at Western Washington University. The award recognizes an individual who exemplifies a positive and creative approach to problem solving and innovation that significantly advances departmental goals and/or university mission.

Western Washington University honored its Outstanding Graduates for the 2009-2010 academic year at spring Commencement June 12.

Faculty Members from each academic department select one graduate to honor as the Outstanding Graduate of the year. Selection is a high honor based on grades, research and writing, service to the campus and community and promise for the future.

This year’s Outstanding Graduates include:

ANACORTES

Western Washington University’s student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has been awarded the Superior Merit Award for 2009-10 academic year.

The award is based on outstanding achievements in chapter operations and commitment to providing meaningful programs and services to its members, and this is the 38th consecutive year that WWU’s student chapter has received the award.

Sheila Webb (Journalism) has been given the Mary Ann Yodelis Smith Award for her project "Women as Readers, Women as Contributors – Creation of Community in Magazines."

The award, which funds feminist scholarship that judges feel could significantly impact the literature of gender and media, is given by the Commission on the Status of Women in the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

The Ethnic Student Center at Western Washington University recently received an award from the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force for creating “a safe and supportive environment for historically underrepresented groups and allies while providing cultural and educational programs.”

Congratulations to Ashley Hollender, Quinn Wilson and Jeff Emtman, photographers whose images were selected to represent "The Student Perspective" as part of the recent Essence of Bellingham photo competition. These three photos were awarded first, second and third place, respectively, by a jury of WWU students and staff members from among the 139 entries submitted in the College, University, Vocational/Technical Schools category of the city's annual competition.

Kathleen Saunders, an instructor in the Department of Anthropology at Western Washington University, has been named the recipient of the 2009-2010 Ronald Kleinknecht Excellence in Teaching Award for Non-Tenure-Track faculty from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

From the award announcement: