UEPP Departmental Awards
Every spring the faculty in the Urban and Environmental Planning & Policy Department gets together to consider students for departmental awards. It is one of the most enjoyable parts of our job. It is a time we can celebrate the outstanding scholarship and service they engage in every day. Below are this year's award recipients, with prior award winners listed at the bottom. We offer a well-deserved congratulations to this year's winners and also a deep thank you. It has been an honor to work along side you and support your growth as scholars, as community members, and as future leaders in environmental problem solving. We so look forward to what you all will do next!
2024 Award Recipients
Outstanding Seniors
Faculty members from each academic department and program choose one student per major to honor as the year’s Outstanding Graduating Senior. Criteria include grades, research and writing, campus and community service, and future promise.
Outstanding Senior, Environmental Policy
Amanda grew up on the island of O'ahu in Hawaii. She chose the Environmental Policy major with a land use emphasis. Her work focuses on responsible management of natural resources and advocating for the communities who rely on them.
Amanda HogueB.A., Environmental Policy
Outstanding Senior, Urban Planning
Weston is passionate about sustainable urban development and multi-modal transportation and is committed to enhancing public transit and bicycling infrastructure, increasing active transportation and transit options, and fostering environments that are environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. Weston served as a co-president of the Western Urban Planners Club.
Weston SitterdingB.A., Urban Planning & Sustainable Development
Outstanding Senior, Urban Sustainability
Pierce just graduated with a B.A. in Urban Sustainability, a minor in Sustainability Studies, and a certificate in climate leadership. Pierce transferred to Western in the spring of 2021, served on the student senate where he worked to get the new bike lock program installed at the Outdoor Center, served as captain of Western’s climbing team, and was part of the 2023 Sustainability Pathways cohort in the Methow Valley.
Pierce BockB.A., Urban Sustainability
Washington American Planning Association (APA) Scholarship
The Washington American Planning Association (APA) Scholarship goes to a full-time student who is a member of APA and enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate Urban Planning degree program who shows overall academic excellence, experience in planning, future effectiveness in planning, financial need, and interest in specific planning issues.
Ciara is an Urban Planning and Sustainable Development major with plans to graduate Spring of 2025. “I’m very grateful to the American Planning Association, WA Chapter for being selected for this scholarship, specifically Kirk Rappe AICP of the APA Scholarship Committee,” said Ciara. “Huge thanks to Dr. Tammi Laninga, professors, and staff in the Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy (UEPP) department for continued support in my education. I’m very excited to begin my senior year and engage in more planning and justice work within the campus and community.”
Ciara Riordan
Community Service Award
The Community Service Award is a College of the Environment honor for one student in each department who has proven scholastic achievement and service to the College of the Environment, Western, and the community.
Adèle is a senior majoring in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development with a specialization in Indigenous Planning. She co-founded the Dining Dollars Project, which collected and donated WWU students’ unused dining dollars to fight food insecurity. Adèle partnered with Bellingham Occupied Protest to distribute care kits to our unhoused community. In addition to working off-campus at a severe weather shelter, Adèle has been active with several on-campus justice and equity initiatives. Adèle plans to graduate fall quarter 2024 and then will return to France to practice urban planning in her country of origin.
Adèle Delignette
Past Awardees
WWU Presidential Scholar Award: Gil Gepte
UPSD Award for Academic Excellence and Service: Emily Salcedo
UPSD Award for Academic Excellence and Service: James Detke
Outstanding Student: Vivien Coop