Each year we celebrate two outstanding graduating students, one undergraduate and one graduate, with the Archbishop G. Raymond Hunthausen Award. The award celebrates students for their leadership, academic excellence, and faith.
Each recipient is invited to deliver the valedictory address at their respective Commencement Ceremony. This is a unique opportunity to share your experience and insights, inspire your fellow graduates, and leave a legacy at Seattle University.
For information about the ceremonies, other graduation events, apparel, etc., please visit the Commencement Site.
Thank you for your interest. The application process takes via an online form submission. The application deadline for 2023 has passed.
Nomination is not required to be considered, but it provides meaningful encouragement to students who may not put themselves forward. The nomination deadline for 2023 has passed.
Congratulations! The next step is to complete an application. We ask candidates to do this for two reasons. First, you will have greater detail on your academic pursuits and involvement. We want you to have the opportunity to tell the selection committee about yourself. Secondly, selection as a Hunthausen Award recipient includes delivery of the valedictory address as Commencement. We want to make sure you are prepared for the next step should you be chosen as finalist.
The deadline by which to accept a nomination for 2023 has passed.
Please return to this site in January 2024 for an updated timeline. Generally, the process includes the following steps:
All applicants are reviewed using the following:
Finalists will prepare a four-minute speech using the prompt - How Seattle U has prepared me for my future
Speeches are evaluated based on:
Recipients will be presented at Red Night Out in May. In preparation to speak in June, recipients will work with an assigned a faculty/staff coach to refine the speech with notes from the Selection Committee and polish delivery.
Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen served as the Seattle Archdiocese from 1972 to 1991. He was an outspoken critic of nuclear weapons, an advocate of rights for women and LGBTQ people, and supported the poor and marginalized. He was recognized in 1982 with the Thomas Merton Award in honor of his work for nuclear disarmament. Hunthausen was supportive of Seattle University during his tenure as archbishop, supporting the founding of the Institute for Theological Studies, later the School of Theology and Ministry, in 1996. Following his retirement in 1991, Seattle University named our most prestigious student award in his honor.
1992: Stephen Hitch (UG)
1993: Molly Harnish (UG)
1994: Laura Henning (UG)
1995: Megan Lemieux, Jenny Farrell, Brian Huntington (UG - Finalists)
1996: Anastasia Pharris-Ciurej; Jimmy McCurdy, Brian Deakins, Grant Erickson (UG - Finalists)
1997: Lynn Herink and Catherine LePiane (UG)
1999: Jason Oliver and Robert Rivers (UG)
2000: Matthew Nowlin and Karen Wilcynski
2001: Dan Fischer (UG), Catherine Collins (GR)
2002: Holly Kirschke (UG)
2003: Antonio Freitas (UG) and Todd Keough (GR)
2004: Mariah Hill (UG) and Monica Jolly (GR)
2005: Ben Murane (UG) and Heather Draglund (GR)
2006: Laura Oliva (UG) and Susan McPhee (GR)
2007: Devin Seman (UG) and Kathleen Pinard (GR)
2008: Nazir Harb (UG) and Tuseef Chaudhry (GR)
2009: Matt Lyons (UG) and Ryan Hamachek (GR)
2010: Ydalia Yado (UG) and Margaret “Peggy” Kuehn (GR)
2011: Hajer Al-Faham (UG) and Jessica McPherson (GR)
2012: Osbaldo Hernandez-Sahagun and Joseph Cotton (GR)
2013: Bradley Jackson (UG) and Lorenzo Herman (GR)
2014: Shandra Benito (UG) and Victoria Benavides (GR)
2015: Ames Fowler (UG) and Daniel Hsieh (GR)
2016: Nick Chock (UG) and Leezel Ramos (GR)
2017: Koji Clark (UG) and Rose Ann Gutierrez (GR)
2018: Gabriel Narvaez (UG) and Someireh Amirfaiz (GR)
2019: Anab Nur (UG) and Amber Larkin (GR)
2020: Allison Alderman (UG) and Kauser Gwaduri (GR)
2021: Adilia Watson (UG) and Nicole Parker (GR)
2022: Abem Fekade-Tesseman (UG) and Renata Elias-Loyola (Graduate)