Information provided by Western Washington University

Western Washington University honored its Outstanding Graduates for the 2014-15 academic year at spring Commencement Saturday, June 13.

Faculty members from dozens of academic departments and programs 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.

Ballard resident, Hannah Newman, was honored at commencement ceremony for her exceptional academic achievement.

Hannah Newman: Outstanding Graduate in English – Creative Writing, graduated magna cum laude in June with a Bachelor of Arts in English – Creative Writing and a minor in Psychology. She served as student volunteer manager for Western’s Children’s Literature Conference, was editor-in-chief of Jeopardy Magazine and was a student employee in the English Department. She was a recipient of two Teaching and Learning Association awards and a Centrum Scholarship. She has co-founded a literary magazine, The Sweet Tree Review, which will open for submissions in September and release its first issue next winter. She also hopes to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing and become a professor. The daughter of Christy Newman and Anthony Rider, she is a graduate of Shoreline Community College.