Mr. Robert Richards is an extraordinary man and research mentor. I first met him in early December of 2009. I did not know at the time but he had come all the way from North Bend to meet with me. From the moment we met Mr. Richards has always challenged me in a way I have never been challenged before. [He] challenged me to rethink and refine my research, provided me with blunt constructive criticism, only because he believed in me. What Mr. Robert Richards has done was made me believe in myself.

Professor Kale is an outstanding instructor …[s]he has not only provided me with numerous sources and leads for my project, but consistently challenged me to push my arguments and thinking. What sets Sunila apart as a mentor is that she belongs to that special class of instructors who will take the time to really engage with students on their projects. Indeed, when I stop by her office to discuss my research she will frequently suggest new lines of thought or inquiry based on a recently published book or article she has just read. However, the thing I appreciate most about Professor Kale is the patience she has shown as my arguments and thinking have evolved – often somewhat clumsily – from one form to another. As I continue to refine my project and wade through court cases and literature reviews, her guidance has not only helped me develop my ideas, but also appreciate the shifts and changes that are inevitably part of the research process.

John Toews provides the space for students to find their own way with their projects, yet also ask keys questions that point to problems that a student may not see. Mr. Toews senses when a particular aspect of one's thesis or project is potentially rewarding or revealing, but he also spots the point in which one is spinning his or her wheels. The most valuable aspect of his mentoring for me is that at a number of key points in my thesis project, he has provided critical advise that allowed me to let go of certain aspects of my work that were neither productive or germane.

[Juliet McMains] is really a brilliant and tremendous asset to my project. She is not only knowledgeable about the work that I am doing she is truly one of a kind in the Dance department and her classes force students to think outside of the box. …She is always presenting me with opportunities and opening doors for me that I could not imagine on my own. …I am graduating soon and before I leave I want her to know that she has so positively impacted my life and helped me to realize a passion I did not know I had. There is no way to put into words the impact she has had on my personal and academic growth and I owe her many thanks for that.

Erika Harnett has been an invaluable mentor to me throughout my time at the University of Washington. …Her enthusiasm for research and investigation is one of the primary reasons why I am planning a career in research. … Under her influence, I feel I have improved my problem-solving skills, communication skills and, especially, my confidence. Even though I am an undergraduate, Erika actively involves me in research, publications, and professional conferences (I had the honor of presenting at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2009!) . Erika has always been a great advocate for me, and I am thankful for the opportunities that have resulted.

Janneke Hille Ris Lambers is an outstanding mentor because she has contributed a great deal to my education as a student, as a researcher, and as a person. She has helped me achieve my research goals by being available when I need guidance, but also by often stepping back and enabling me take on a great deal of independence. Janneke constantly pushes me to learn new skills and to work at higher levels. On several occasions, she has suggested a task or opportunity I thought was beyond me, and then when I attempted it, I found that it was in fact within my power. Those successes will be valuable to me throughout my life.

There are not many people aside from my parents I can point to and say definitively that they changed the direction of my life, but Dr. Charles Chavkin is one of them. Before joining the Chavkin laboratory, I was bent on attending law school. However, after having the opportunity to conduct research in Dr. Chavkin’s laboratory with help from the Mary Gates Research scholarship, I am changing course and planning on attending graduate school to obtain a PhD in either neuroscience or pharmacology.

Professor Hinds has been an exceptional mentor throughout the course of my research project. He helped guide my ideas to concrete form and substance in the initial phases of the project and has directed me to the resources and paths of thought that have taken my research to new levels in new directions. However, Professor Hinds also respects my academic abilities and has not only allowed me to take my project in the directions I chose, but has encouraged the developments I have made…he is enthusiastic about my project and progress, and has always been available and willing to help me whenever I needed it.

I have worked with three different research groups on campus, and Heidi Houston has stood out far above the rest, because she is not only interested in her work, but cares about my own progress. Her kindness has spoiled me for future mentors and set the bar exceedingly high. Her knowledge and experience has helped me to learn and grow faster than I expected. She has been the definition of Outstanding.

Dr. Torii has been incredibly influential in my education by providing me with the opportunity to participate in her research lab. This experience has not only solidified my wish to attend graduate school but also has been the most educational experience of my college career. She has enabled me to learn from a hands on perspective that reinforces much of the knowledge I gained through traditional classes, as well as challenging me to think at a more critical level that will be invaluable in graduate school.

Professor Ram Samudrala gave me some of the greatest opportunities of my life by letting me do research with him. First of all, he has allowed me to do any project that catches my interest, letting me explore my passions and work on what I love. Along with this freedom, he has given me an incredible amount of support so I could take full advantage of it. Out of all the people who have mentored me in my life, Ram Samudrala is one of the few who has changed my life for the better.

Professor Hinds has been an exceptional mentor throughout the course of my research project. He helped guide my ideas to concrete form and substance in the initial phases of the project and has directed me to the resources and paths of thought that have taken my research to new levels in new directions. However, Professor Hinds also respects my academic abilities and has not only allowed me to take my project in the directions I chose, but has encouraged the developments I have made, which is a significant and too often overlooked aspect of mentorship. He is not only highly professional and a respected expert in his field, he is enthusiastic about my project and progress, and has always been available and willing to help me whenever I needed it. In my opinion, there is no mentor more deserving of such an award.

For the three years that I have been working for Joachim Voss, he has never failed to continually offer his support and encouragement in my professional and academic life. He has taught me more than I could have ever imagined both in the field of HIV/AIDS and beyond. …[H]e makes it a priority to take time each week to meet with his employees to discuss everything from how our work is coming along, to how our classes are going. Thanks to him, I am now working to publish my research on the development of exercise recommendations for elderly HIV patients in a prominent nursing magazine. I cannot express enough how lucky I am to have him as a mentor, for he is truly not only a brilliant nurse, but also a wonderful person.

Sapna demonstrates fantastic patience and enthusiasm for her students’ learning, despite the incredible amount of other responsibilities she has. She contributes with lab meetings, statistics tutorials, one on one meetings, editing help, and treats at the end of the quarter. …What makes her a gem is her ability to throw off the inertia imposed by the incredible amount of work in being a top professor, and to prioritize us. [She] is rigorous when advising my research, and simultaneously is warm and ready to talk about anything.

Elizabeth Skovran has been an amazing mentor throughout my year and a half in the Lidstrom Lab. She has the patience to teach me confusing concepts, or to help me with new techniques when I am struggling. …on top of learning basic technique, Ms. Skovran encouraged me to help out with planning the project. Elizabeth Skovran has been an outstanding mentor that has motivated me not only to learn the techniques of a research scientist, but to learn to think like a research scientist.