2024 Top Ten Seniors
For more than 80 years, Washington State University has recognized ten of the top seniors in each graduating class. The WSU Alumni Association selects those students who represent the highest standards in specific aspects of the college experience: academics, athletics, campus involvement, community service, and visual and performing arts.
Felicia Adesope
Award Category: Academics
Carson College of Business
Accounting, Management Information Systems
WSU Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Involvement
McNair Research Scholar and Three-Minute Thesis winner; Boeing Scholar and instructor and classroom manager for Boeing Summer Programming Camp; WSU Top Scholar; Social media and creative design executive for the WSU Economics Club; peer mentor for the Carson College of Business EDGE Program; bookkeeper for Pullman Christian School Reader’s Theater; purchasing intern at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories; data entry assistant for WSU College of Education; former owner/founder of Felicia’s Bath & Body; Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants; WSU Nigerian Students and Scholars Organization; WSU Apostolic Faith Campus Christian Group; Schroeder Study Abroad Scholarship; WSU Foundation Scholar; Frank S. Sampson Scholarship; Henry & Myrtle Green Scholarship; Elvine Lindahl Smith Scholarship; Claude E. Hayfield Scholarship; WSU Alumni Palouse Chapter Leadership Award; Auvil Scholars Fellowship; KPMG Scholarship; Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Case Competition, second place; DP&C Black Scholarship; Cougs Helping Cougs Scholarship; Deloitte Scholarship; S. and J. Roy Memorial Scholarship; Distinguished University Achievement Award; DECA Scholarship; Corrine Simasko Scholarship; Stanford University Introduction to Diversity in Doctoral Education and Scholarship (IDDEAS) Scholar; J. Walter & Clara Davis Scholarship
Favorite WSU experience
This spring break, I studied abroad in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, via a WSU faculty-led program focusing on hospitality and tourism. We got to visit these really expensive hotels, like the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa skyscraper and the Burj Al Arab Hotel. We also went on a desert safari, rode camels, and went dune bashing. It was a lot of fun.
I also love the sports events at WSU, especially the basketball games.
Future plans
I’m going to grad school to study management information systems but haven’t decided where yet. I would say I have two routes I could go down. One path is to get my master’s and PhD and work in academia. The other route is working in the corporate world, like at a Fortune 500 company. My dream job is between these two paths.
Preston Bebich
Award Category: Athletics
College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
Economic Sciences
WSU Pullman
Gig Harbor, Washington
Involvement
WSU Men’s Golf, four-year letter winner, third all-time WSU scoring record, 28 events with six top 10 finishes, top scoring average for player who has played all four years at WSU; Pac-12 All-Academic, three years with a 3.92 GPA; President’s Honor Roll all semesters; Cleveland/Srixon All-America Scholar Award from the Golf Coaches Association of America; Pac-12 Player of the Week, third Coug men’s golfer to receive recognition; recipient of Peninsula Seahawks Scholarship, University Achievement Award, Shumway Undergrad Scholarship, Henry T. Beuchel Memorial Scholarship, Krautkraemer Scholarship, Home Economics Endowed Scholarship, Economics Department Scholarship; community service with the Whitman County Humane Society and the annual Butch’s Bash to engage with Pullman youth
Favorite WSU Experiences
The people you surround yourself with really make the experiences, especially in Pullman. It’s not the biggest town, so there’s not a lot of crazy stuff to do. For example, our first tournament of this academic year, in the fall, we visited Pawleys Island in South Carolina. And that was one of the most fun trips I’ve ever had in my life. We played some good golf at the invitational. We got to see the Atlantic Ocean. I just remember laughing and laughing.
Future plans
We’re hoping the golf team will qualify for post-season play, which starts in mid-May. Once the golf season is over, I’m going to be competing in qualifying school for the PGA Tour Americas which has 10 tournaments up in Canada this summer. So, I’m going to be competing for a chance to play nationally. That’s the route I’m hoping works out for me—the chance to play golf at the highest level. But if that doesn’t work out, I’ve graduated with a degree from Washington State University, and I’m interested in the world of finance.
Alexis Dunn
Award Category: Community Service
College of Arts and Sciences
Biology
WSU Vancouver
Washougal, Washington
Involvement
Top 50 Women Leaders of Portland; ARI Health Innovations founder and CEO; WSU Sinclair Scholar; NSF I-Corps recipient; Girls Who VC (Venture Capital) fellowship; Children’s Cancer Association/JoyRx board member; Nucleate Bio regional leader; Vancouver Clinic clinical preceptorship
Favorite Activity/Event at WSU
I think the labs were really fun. Dr. Gunjan Gakhar brought in students from one of the science high schools, and we worked with them to show them all the different things that we were doing in the lab. I think that was a great mentorship activity. So, I love that she did that, and then I also loved that she always wanted us to do more high-level stuff. She would bring in her graduate-level research, or some of the things that she’s done as a professor with breast cancer cells, and we would treat the cells and try to figure out which medicine was going to work best to kill them. Not a lot of small schools get to do that. So, my favorite was just the classroom environment, especially the labs.
Future plans
After taking the MCAT this summer, I hope to have the opportunity to attend the WSU School of Medicine. My goal is to contribute to advancements in predictive medicine by exploring innovative ways to utilize data, AI, and personal health technology to enhance patient care and outcomes. This passion for innovation ties into my long-term dream of establishing a facility dedicated to predictive medicine. I envision this facility as a place that not only embraces cutting-edge medical technology but also prioritizes patient-centered care, research, and education. By pursuing this path, I aim to collaborate with others in the health care community to improve health care delivery and make personalized and predictive medicine more widely available to those who need it most.
Stevie Fawcett
Award Category: Academics
College of Veterinary Medicine, Honors College
Microbiology, Spanish
WSU Pullman
Bend, Oregon
Involvement
Fossil Free WSU student leader and founder; ASWSU Environmental Sustainability Alliance Chair; WSU Sustainability Task Force Presidential Committee student representative; American Chemical Society Representative for United Nations Climate Conference COP28; STARS Research Program; Molecular Ecology of Zoonotic and Animal Pathogens Lab at WSU; Watts Lab at the University of Toronto; Goodman Lab at WSU; WSU Lab of Functional Viromics; Barry Goldwater Scholarship; Fulbright Canada Mitacs Award; SURCA Research Presentation Crimson Award; Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium Outstanding Research Presentation Award; Dean’s Travel Award, Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium, Rice University; Boeing Washington Research Foundation Award; “Los sueños en cien palabras” Spanish creative writing competition, 1st Place, Advanced Category; Kenneth H. Vanderford Endowed Scholarship; Foreign Languages Special Scholarship; Louise H. McAllister Endowed Scholarship 2023; President’s Award for Leadership; SURCA Research Presentation Gray Award; Dean’s Notable Achievement Fund Scholarship; Undergraduate Research Development Scholarship; Auvil Scholars Fellowship Research Award; Glenn Terrell Presidential Award; Honors facilitator and research peer mentor; College of Veterinary Medicine Promoter; Hearts in Motion Guatemala
Favorite WSU experience
A lot of my favorite memories have been with my friends, hanging out on the weekends. We watched the basketball game where Washington State knocked off No. 4 Arizona. That was awesome. Cougar football games are also always great. The Cougar community is really cool, and I like to think I found my niche. The folks I’ve met here have really contributed to creating these good memories.
Future plans
I’m going to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, to work with Dr. John T. Schiller in the Laboratory of Cellular Oncology. I want to be a physician scientist, so I’ll be working toward my MD/PhD while studying cancer therapy strategies. I’m also interested in climate policy, so I hope I can intertwine these interests together.
Charlisse Leger-Walker
Award Category: Athletics
Carson College of Business
Business Administration
WSU Pullman
Involvement
WSU Women’s Basketball team, shooting guard, team captain, led team to NCAA tournament for three consecutive seasons, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (2020-21), three-time All American and three-time All Pac-12; Student Athlete Advisory Committee (2020-2024); WSU Asian-American Pacific Islander Student Athlete Group, charter member and vice president; New Zealand women’s national basketball team, youngest player ever having joined the Tall Ferns at just 16 years old; played for New Zealand at the 2021 FIBA Women’s Basketball Asia Cup, with her sister and fellow Coug, Krystal; youngest player at the FIBA Women’s Basketball Asia Cup; 2018 Commonwealth bronze medalist; 2018 3×3 World Cup U18 silver medalist; Basketball Secrets Limited (company in New Zealand), director, operations manager, assistant head coach; youth basketball coach
Favorite Memories at WSU
Definitely number one is being on the basketball team. It’s an experience I can never take for granted. It’s my second family. Being an international student coming from New Zealand, it’s a very, very far move, and having that type of support system around me—my teammates and coaches—has just enhanced this experience for me. The Pac-12 tournament run in my junior year was also one of the most memorable weeks, just a rollercoaster of emotions.
This year I was part of the Asian Pacific Islander student athlete group. I’m the vice president and that’s been awesome. Just being able to meet different people outside of my basketball team, make new friends, and relate to them on a more cultural level has been awesome. It’s actually the first year that they’ve made an API group specifically for student athletes.
Future plans
I definitely want to play professional basketball after I finish college. The plan for me this year was to declare for the draft and the WNBA but obviously getting injured kind of changed my plans a little bit. That’s still the goal though; I want to play pro for as long as I can. Eventually, I would probably go back to New Zealand and my family. We founded a basketball business back home. It’s an academy for younger kids and coaching, so I would definitely go back and help with that. And I have a degree in business management.
Zachary “Zack” Martian
Award Category: Community Service
Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Construction Management
WSU Pullman
Arlington, Washington
Involvement
WSU Center for Civic Engagement, project leader overseeing over 400 hours of community service in the last three years, and three or more volunteer projects weekly; supported five or more individuals with disabilities weekly with household aid; work with seniors at Pullman Senior Center and Milestones in Moscow, Idaho; Skanska USA, construction management intern; Janicki Industries, construction management intern; Arlington Garden Club Scholarship; David M. and Louise M. Scott Scholarship
Favorite WSU Experience
As a project leader at the Center for Civic Engagement, we get to show students how their volunteer service can make a difference in the community. I spent time at the Pullman Senior Center—it’s really like a community center where a lot of older folks who may not be able to get out as much go. They play bridge and different card games. We help serve lunch, assist the cooks, and do clean up. The seniors are friendly, interesting, and always super nice. At the senior center, they took the time to get to know me. Like, “What are you doing in the future? What’s your degree? What are your plans after college?” Simple stuff like that.
Future plans
I have a full-time job lined up after graduation. I’m going to be a field engineer for a general contractor on the west side. I want to get settled into that job and learn as much as I can, and I want to be the best leader and coworker that I can be. My future goal is to become a construction superintendent, which will enhance my career.
Reem Osman
Award Category: Campus Involvement
Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Computer Science
WSU Tri-Cities
Richland, Washington
Involvement
Coding Cougs Club, president; Black Student Union Club, president; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, vice president/student branch; WSU Tri-Cities, TRIO Career Academy coordinator
Favorite Activity at WSU
Hackathons. Coding Cougs took about 30 students to DubHacks at the University of Washington. My fellow officers and I were in charge of making sure people got hotels, food and transportation. Before the trip we didn’t really know one another, but during the trip people started talking and I saw friendships come out of it. We had a team win and on the drive back everyone was so happy, laughing and talking. After the hackathon I could see it still happening on campus.
Future plans
I’m currently an intern at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and am going through the process of converting to full-time and staying with the lab after college. I’m a software engineer, I do a lot of front-end web development. In the future, I’d enjoy doing some sort of mentoring or leadership; I really value my mentors and leaders.
Sidney Serna
Award Category: Campus Involvement
College of Arts and Sciences
Digital Technology & Culture
WSU Pullman
Seattle, Washington
Involvement
Digital Media Club, president; Society of Latinx Engineers & Scientists, ambassador, member; Office of Academic Engagement Passport Program, peer advisor, project ambassador; Digital Technology & Culture program, teaching assistant; Division of Academic Engagement & Student Achievement, marketing and communication assistant
Favorite WSU experience
Passport, a program catering to foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth. I was a part of that program and also worked in it sophomore and junior year. I was able to help students get through what I had gone through, trying to get them to not be embarrassed about their situation, but to have that be motivation and empowerment. Hearing student stories and seeing them all around campus thriving, it’s so amazing.
Future plans
I’m going to walk at commencement in May but then finish out with a summer abroad in Berlin, as part of the DTC department. But I want to normalize not knowing what I want to do after college. I have had a lot of leadership roles, it would be cool to see myself in a management team. My eyes are wide open and so are my opportunities.
Logan Terry
Award Category: Visual/Performing Arts
College of Arts and Sciences
Music Education
WSU Pullman
Kennewick, Washington
Involvement
Cougar Marching Band; WSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble; WSU Jazz Big Band; WSU Basketball Band; WSU Volleyball Band; Butch’s Bones; WSU Symphonic Band; WSU Trombone Choir; WSU Trombone Quartet; Crimson City Brass Band; Washington-Idaho Symphony; Mid-Columbia Symphony; Palouse Jazz Society; and Cougar Marching Band office staff.
Favorite Activities at WSU
If I had to pick one thing, I would say Cougar Marching Band. That’s my thing. That’s what I want to go into. I have arranged some of the songs we’ve played at half-time shows such as “About Damn Time” by Lizzo and “Umbrella” by Rihanna. Honestly, the best feeling is in pregame when we start rolling out and the whole stadium is erupting in cheers and applause. It’s a really cool feeling. This year, I had the opportunity to be at the very front and center for pregame. That feeling is one I will never forget.
Future plans
I’ll do my student teaching in the fall at Colfax High School and help out with the Cougar Marching Band. After that, I will be trying to find my first teaching job. I would prefer high school or middle school since that’s more my speed and matches the strengths that I have. After that, I want to get my master’s and then a doctorate so that I can become a college marching band director. That is my end goal.
Thomas Wieland
Award Category: Visual/Performing Arts
College of Arts and Sciences, Carson College of Business, Honors College
Music, International Business, and Finance
WSU Pullman
Bainbridge Island, Washington
Involvement
Allegro, the Mu Beta Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon, president; WSU Jazz Society, president; President’s Honor Roll all eight semesters; Herbert T. Norris Music Scholarship; Jerry Bailey Memorial Scholarship; Gwendolyn Wild Music Scholarship; Schroder Scholarship; School of Music Scholarship; Undergraduate Presser Award; founder and artistic director of the Palouse Jazz Society Big Band; first tenor in WSU Jazz Big Band; saxophones in WSU 7 P.M. Septet; clarinet in the Washington-Idaho Symphony Wind Ensemble; clarinet and saxophone in WSU Symphonic Orchestra; and numerous other bands and ensembles, awards, certificates, and music competitions.
Favorite Activities at WSU
I would say all of the music activities we have on and off campus—the various community ensembles and student groups. Being a part of the premiere of On the Air, composed by Greg Yasinitsky, with the WSU Symphonic Orchestra, to celebrate the centennial of NWPB, was such a great experience. Another favorite would be the “End of an Era” concert, which celebrated the retirements of Greg Yasinitsky, Dave Jarvis, and Horace Alexander Young. It was great to send them off like that after all of their years at the WSU School of Music.
Future plans
I will be pursuing a master’s degree in jazz studies starting this fall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a teaching assistant. I’ve always wanted to do two full years of just music and see what happens; I’m following what makes me happy. Regardless of the career I end up pursuing, music will also be something that I will keep on doing throughout my life.