Washington Scholars Program

Giving honor and recognition to outstanding student leaders is central to the mission of both the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) and the Washington Association of Secondary School Principals (WASSP). Each year, both AWSP and WASSP team with the Higher Education Coordinating (HEC) Board to bestow scholarships to high school seniors statewide through the Washington Scholars Program.

Washington Scholars rank in the top one percent of their schools’ graduating senior classes and are selected by nominations from high school principals based on academic achievement, leadership and community service. A committee composed of high school principals and college admissions staff selects the top four students in each legislative district, naming three as scholars and one as a scholar alternate.

Selection as a Washington Scholar comes with much more than a paper certificate: recipients receive state scholarships for up to four years of public or private resident undergraduate tuition and fees at an accredited Washington State college or university. To honor this selection, students are invited to participate in a unique day-long celebration called “Washington Scholars Day.” This event, hosted by AWSP, WASSP, and the HEC Board, includes a full morning on the Capitol Campus, during which the students are formally recognized by the state legislature, and later celebrated with an afternoon reception for the students, their families, school principals and legislators. Morning sessions feature presenters who provide students with insight into the legislative process, careers related to the Legislature (e.g., lobbying, communications, caucus staff) and current political issues. Honorees, their families and principals all have a chance to tour the capitol campus while visiting Olympia that day.

The 2009-10 Washington Scholars will be announced in the spring of 2010.

Washington Principals' Scholars Program

This program is sponsored by the Washington Association of Secondary School Principals (WASSP) and provides principals the opportunity to recognize students from the top five percent of the seniors who have led their class in academic achievement, community service and student leadership.

How is it determined who gets these certificates? Since the Washington Principals' Scholars Program is handled within the building, the principal has the final say! Most principals review SAT or ACT and WASL scores, as wells as GPA, community service and leadership activities of their top students and select the most deserving for recognition.  Since this certificate holds no monetary benefit, it is not required for the school to provide the names to AWSP or the HEC Board.    

The Higher Education Coordinating Board will mail these out to all school principals the week of November 30, 2009. If you need replacement certificates or did not receive enough for the amount of top five percent students you have, you can download the certificates here. We recommend you print them on 8.5 x 11 white cardstock paper.

For questions about the Washington Scholars Program, please contact Ann Voyles at the Higher Education Coordinating Board at 360.753.7843.
For questions about the Washington Principals' Scholars Program, please contact Denise Johnson at the Association of Washington School Principals at 360.357.7951.