In January, the University of Washington-Bothell started the new year off by welcoming the new winter residents to the dormitory halls. Events were hosted to provide a sense of community to campus residents, and it was a great chance to meet other residents in the building as well as connect with their RAs. Various UWB club events were also held during January, including general meetings for the Filipino American Student Association, Husky Hooks and Needles, Delta Sigma Pi, and Car Club, giving students various opportunities to connect with the Husky community.  

The University of Washington Seattle started the year off with a range of public lectures and arts-humanities events, including talks on social justice and global politics. The Jackson School started these lectures off with a Global Sport Lab: What Worlds Does Soccer Imagine?  Stice Feminist Lecture of Social Justice | “Unbuild Walls: Why Immigrant Justice Needs Abolition was a lecture featuring guest speaker, Silky Shah, an Executive Director for Border Watch, lecturing about the U.S immigration policies. Silky Shah shows how immigration reinforcements intertwin with systems of repression. The Chicano Grammy award-winning band, Quetzal, lectured about the inspiring works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. There were various performances held including: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Guest Pianist Recital: Gil Kalish , and Kodō One Earth Tour 2025: Warabe.  

During the cold brisk month of February, the University of Washington – Bothell was recognized by Carnegie Recognition for Research. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recognized the University of Washington Bothell as a “research college and university.” This prestigious Carnegie Recognition for Research shows the dedication to the growth in innovation and institution at UW Bothell. This reward is a direct reflection of the faculty here at UW Bothell, showing consistency in striving for innovation and fostering growth and knowledge in the students. Within the decade, over 80 million dollars donated to faculty for research and development. The recognition will not only open doors for students but also elevate our institution’s reputation and provide students with more hands-on experiences. This recognition brought a spark to campus, during a month that is notorious for gray skies and clouds.  

With the rain showers helping the spring flowers bloom, the UW campus’s energy also bloomed with the arrival of the Cherry Blossom Festival from late March to early April. Every year since the early 1960s, the UW Seattle campus has planted one of the most prominent features on the campus, the Yoshino Cherry Trees. These cherry trees attract thousands of tourists every year who want to see this rosy bloom in the heart of the Seattle campus, the quad, accompanied by the third annual U-District Cherry Blossom Festival with over 80 businesses participating. During the 2025 festival, U-District had special cherry-themed drinks, foods, and retail specials to promote these festivities. 

In April, the UW Tacoma campus hosted a campus clean-up event, which was the largest campus clean-up yet. This event was held on Earth Day, with live music, food, giveaways, and information on campus organizations related to sustainability. The Tacoma campus also held various events during the month of April relating to Earth Day such as: GetGreen Earth Month Competition, Seed Library Kick-off Event and Spring Day of Caring. The Bothell campus also held Earth Fair, which had very similar festivities as the Tacoma campus Earth Day Celebration. The event on the UWB campus held live music, a pop-up thrift shop, plant giveaways and was a prime opportunity to meet with local organizations or campus clubs! 

The month of May brought not only flowers, but also action regarding politics. During this month, there was a pro-Palestinian protest held by a group named “Super UW,” which included students who attended the university. This protest was against the ties between Boeing and UW. Boeing, which has military contracts that the students believe “are used by Israel in their US-funded genocide of Palestinian people,” according to The Guardian. Many dumpsters were set on fire, while the group of protesters was occupying the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building on campus. At the protest, police arrested 32 people; 21 of those people were students, according to UW News. According to AP News, the students arrested were not only suspended but also banned from all three campuses.  

While the sun started shining and the bees buzzed around all campuses, the 2025 graduates got to walk in the 150^th Commencement Ceremony in June. With all three campuses combined, President Cauce presented nearly 18,833 degrees to the class of 2025. According to UW News, the Seattle campuses had 15,412 degrees conferred. With the Commencement at the Tacoma Dome, UW Tacoma’s 2025 class conferred nearly 1,758 degrees, which was record-breaking as the graduates walked in a roaring, cheering stadium. Lastly, UW Bothell held their 34^th Commencement Ceremony. The Bothell campus conferred nearly 1,663 degrees. Overall, it was a very successful graduate season for all three campuses with prosperity and bright futures ahead for the 2025 graduation class. 

During June, Donna Kerr received the inaugural Catalyst Award for her leadership during UW Bothell’s founding. Donna Kerr received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, then proceeded to get her PHD in Philosophy from Columbia University in New York. Kerr played a vital role in the prospects of UW Bothell, before it was even an idea. Kerr created a report; a plan to expand upper-division and graduate programs in the Puget Sound Region. Kerr presented it to the State Legislature, and with that, the two campuses beside Seattle were born: Bothell and Tacoma. Kerr stated, “The branch campuses were born out of a need — not just for more opportunities at the upper-division level, but if you looked inside that, more opportunities for people who had been underserved,” according to UWB News. For Kerr, necessary involvement in producing funding for UW Bothell, she was named the recipient of UW Bothell’s Catalyst Award, which is an award to recognize people who played a vital role or transforming role at UWB. 

In July, UW Bothell selected Santhi Perumal as its new Vice Chancellor for Planning & Administration, effective Sept. 1, 2025.  Santhi Perumal is changing and influencing the education system with strong beliefs and experience in making financial systems more approachable and user-friendly. Perumal has experience in leading teams, innovation, research administration, financial sustainability, and more. On UWB News, “Perumal lauded the University’s focus on innovation, access and community. ‘UW Bothell’s spirit of collaboration reflects the kind of institution where I want to put down roots,’ she said. ‘This is why I am so energized to join a community that is thinking deeply about its future: how to grow sustainably, serve its diverse stakeholders, and remain grounded in its mission.  

With a new school year beginning with the leaves turning orange and yellow, all three campuses welcomed students back on campus. In September, UWB held various events and activities for new students and returners to participate in. This year, UWB hosted Club Fair, Job and Internship Fair, Campus Resource Scavenger Hunt, ice cream socials, officer orientation, and other events. The UW Seattle campus held Dawg Daze, which included Club Fair in the Red Square with vendors outside giving away complimentary prizes.   

With the leaves falling and the sun beginning its hibernation for the upcoming winter, the UW Women’s soccer team finished the fall quarter with a tremendous accomplishment of winning the Big Ten Conference. The Huskies won this tournament just after the passing of goalkeeper Mia Hamant, from stage 4 kidney cancer. The team won this conference against Michigan State with a score of 4-1, with the winning goals coming from penalty kicks. All players from both soccer teams wore orange ribbons in their hair, showing respect for the passing of their teammates since orange is the color representing kidney cancer awareness. With this win, the UW women’s soccer team honored Mia Hamant and celebrated this victory with love, the UW community, and commitment. 

During the crisp month of November, UW Bothell hosted its annual Heart UWB Luncheon. It was a fundraiser hosted on Nov. 19, to “advance our campus’s mission and create a lasting impact for our students and our region for many years to come,” according to UWB Give. The event raised more than $246,000 and counting. The luncheon had sponsors from various companies, including Pepsi, Starbucks, UW Medicine, Puget Sound Energy, WSECU, UBS, UWRA, Anderson Construction, and more. This year was the first time for The Husky Herald and Clamor tabling at the fundraiser. The event was successful overall, and the funds will impact many students’ lives and education here at UWB. 

Looking back at the 2025 school year, students, faculty, and supporters g new traditions and innovations that show how many milestones all three campuses have achieved. The year is coming to an end, but the UW’s momentum is not. All three campuses continue to strive for innovation, renowned breakthroughs, community, curiosity, and a commitment to shape a world for the better. With all of this in mind, The Husky Herald wishes everyone a happy holiday and a peaceful, safe winter break. We look forward to our continued commitment to sharing real stories about the uplifting student voices and celebrating the voices stories which allow the UW community to thrive.