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.

Please note: The state's 2010 supplemental budget reduced the Washington Scholars program by $562,000. This leaves sufficient funding for students who were named recipients prior to 2010, but provides funding for only one scholar named this year from each legislative district, rather than the usual three. In addition, the annual Washington Scholars recognition ceremony and luncheon, which is typically held in mid-May in Olympia, will not take place in 2010. Instead, recognition will take place at the local level, with each district determining how best to acknowledge its scholars.

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? Because the Washington Principals' Scholars Program is handled within the building, the principal has the final say! Most principals review SAT or ACT and state assessment scores, as well 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 mails these certificates to all school principals in the fall. If you need replacement certificates or did not receive enough for the top five percent of students, 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.