Benedictine Scholars

Benedictine Scholars do not need to be Catholic. Our scholars represent a broad spectrum of different faith traditions as well as students who profess no faith tradition. Scholars are brought together by their willingness to engage with the Benedictine values. 

Scholars are able to participate in other activities on campus, including athletics.

Scholars must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in order to retain their scholarship.

There is no application for the Benedictine Scholarship. Candidates for this scholarship are nominated each year by the Office of Admissions.

Candidates are selected based on academic success, as well as demonstrated service and leadership. Applicants will receive an invitation if they are selected as a scholar candidate.

Candidates participate in an interview process, which includes a written component. On-campus interviews are held in March.

Candidates who live out of state or too far away from campus may attend alternate interviews. Please contact your counselor for details.

Interview panelists evaluate candidates based on their leadership skills, level of participation and commitment to positive community engagement.

For more information on what to expect:

Selection process infographic Application process Interview day timeline

Benedictine Scholars are selected not only for their academic excellence, but also for their commitment to leadership, service, and promoting the common good.

No. Benedictine Scholars represent a broad spectrum of faith traditions. This program is not Catholic per se; rather, the Scholars’ presence and leadership on campus helps to foster Benedictine values, which are universal and relevant to people from all faith traditions.

Candidates can make arrangements to interview by video conference if they live outside western Washington or have special circumstances that prevent them from interviewing on campus. All efforts are made to ensure that both on-campus and video conference candidates are considered equally in the selection process.

Candidates will be notified in April.

• Jayse Arcalas (Kapolei High School, Kapolei, HI)
• David Cano III (Rainier High School, Rainier, WA)
• Heather Hubbard (Tumwater High School, Tumwater, WA)
• Faith Linthicum (Shelton High School, Shelton, WA)
• Sierra Nees (Mountainside High School, Beaverton, OR) 
• Laurin Patterson (Billings Senior High School, Billings, MT)
• Lydia Smaciarz (Willapa Valley High School, Raymond, WA)
• Ariana Valera-Ruvalcaba (Auburn High School, Auburn, WA)
• Lily Villa (Mabton High School, Grandview, WA)
• Tatiana Watkins-Snow (West Anchorage High School, Anchorage, AK) 

• Anthony Alohi Arecchi (Damien Memorial School, Honolulu, HI)
• Marisol Bergstrom (South Kitsap High School, Port Orchard, WA)
• Jamari Foster (Federal Way High School, Federal Way, WA)
• Lara Jade Reyes Montefalcon (North Thurston High School, Lacey, WA)
• Esmeralda Moreno (Tri-Cities Preparatory, Pasco, WA)
• Aldrin Fagaragan Rafael (Waipahu High School, Waipahu, HI)
• Avril Andales Regis (Fa'asao Marist College Preparatory High School, American Samoa)
• Hunter Anela Jean Smith (James Campbell High School, Ewa Beach, HI)
• Dove Marie Cruz Tupper (James Campbell High School, Ewa Beach, HI)
• Trisha Mae Bugal Valenzuela (Waipahu High School, Waipahu, HI)

• Kip Angaiak (Monroe Catholic Junior-Senior High School, AK)
• Coton Corrales (Mountain View High School, WA)
• Chalise King (Chiawana High School, WA)
• Erin Luong (Borah Senior High School, ID)
• Jessica McNeil (Kapolei High School, HI)
• Erica Moody (Battle Ground High School, WA)
• Sarah Niemi (La Salle High School, WA)
• Riley Phelps (Yelm High School, WA)
• Malia Pinder (North Creek High School, WA)
• Mark Wood (Winston Churchill High School, OR)

• Francisca Ugochi Anunobi (Forest Ridge School Sacred Heart, Bellevue, WA)
• Byron Blas (Father Duenas Memorial High School, Hagåtña, GU)
• Tatiana Crichton (Bethel High School, Spanaway, WA)
• Max Kendall (Kentridge Senior High School, Renton, WA)
• Soukita Keopanapay (Pullman High School, Pullman, WA)
• Brooklyn LaPointe (Chemawa Indian School, Porcupine, SD)
• Kaiyle Okada (Maui High School, Kailua, HI)
• Javier Warrior Ramirez (Bainbridge High School, Bainbridge Island, WA)
• Cheyenne Yap (Kamehameha Schools Maui, Haiku, HI)
• Jake Yoshida (Maryknoll High School, Honolulu, HI)

• Dagny Ahrend (Ephrata Senior High School, Ephrata, WA) 
• Christopher Carlisle (Rochester High School, Rochester, WA)
• Lauren Chung (Sacred Hearts Academy High School, Honolulu, HI)
• Hannah Erwin (Aberdeen High School, Aberdeen, WA)
• Katelynn Gulley (Curtis Senior High School - Tacoma, WA)
• Zachary Hansen (Washington Virtual Academy School - Shelton, WA)
• Madelaine O’Neil (Woodland High School - Woodland, WA)
• Shannen Sakai (Pearl City High School - Pearl City, HI)
• Cesar Sandoval (Orting High School - Ortin, WA)
• Ian James Yadao (Waipahu High School - Waipahu, HI)

• Beryl Baon (Waipahu High School, Waipahu, HI)
• Rowan Carabba (Mount Baker Senior High School, Deming, WA)
• Jarek Dabrowski (Tumwater High School, Tumwater, WA)
• Miguel De La Melena (Union High School, Vancouver, WA)
• Marie Dhanens (Timberline High School, Olympia, WA)
• Jason Fairhurst (Snohomish Senior High School, Snohomish, WA)
• Dakota Hill (Yelm High School, Yelm, WA)
• Soleil Lewis (Thomas Jefferson High School, Auburn, WA)
• Ashley Taylor (Riverside Poly High School, Riverside, CA)
• Francis Yarofalyango (Yap Catholic High School, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia)

• Miriam Bautista-Rodriguez (Royal High School, Royal City, WA)
• Luis Camacho (Quincy High School, Quincy, WA)
• Keevan Forbes-Kashani (Capital High School, Olympia, WA)
• Alesha Garand (Newberg Senior High School, Newberg, OR)
• Cor Kruithof III (Woodrow Wilson High School, Tacoma, WA)
• Dylon Maertens (Tahoma Senior High School, Maple Valley, WA)
• Sheridan Menard (Mountain View High School, Kuna, ID)
• Michael Otter-Johnson (Timberline High School, Olympia, WA)
• Tracey Porter (Franklin Pierce High School, Tacoma, WA)
• Kaitlyn Slade (Waipahu High School, Waipahu, HI)

• Cohort 1 - Benedictine Tradition Film

  The first service project was the development of a film that highlights the Benedictine tradition of the university.

• Cohort 2 - Campus Stations of the Cross

  This cohort revitalized the Stations of the Cross throughout our campus.

• Cohort 3 - Mural of Saint Martin's - displayed in the Campus Ministry office

  The Campus Ministry office currently displays a community mural of the Abbey Church and other university features.

• Cohort 5 - Service Day at Pigman's Organic Farm & Our Common Home Farms

  Organized a Service Day at Pigman’s Organic Farm and Our Common Home Farms.

• Cohort 7 - Lantern Festival - in Celebration of Saint Martin

  Hosted a lantern festival in celebration of Saint Martin.

• Cohort 8 - Serving Homeless in Downtown Olympia

  This cohort ran a donation drive to give unused necessities to those in need.

• Cohort 9 - Campus Blood Drives

  This cohort chose to partner up with the Veterans Center and Campus Ministry to host a blood drive on campus as a way for students to give back to the Lacey community.

• Cohort 10 - Informing the Community about The Benedictine Scholars

  By gathering information and creating content about the Benedictine Scholars Program for the university website, this cohort hopes to bring more awareness to our community of who we are and provide insight to potential Benedictine Scholars.

• Cohort 11 - Hygiene Food Drive

  This cohort organized a Hygiene Supply Drive with all donations going to Capital C Christian Church.

In this interview, Fr. Kilian takes us inside the Abbey Church to review the Benedictine Value: Awareness of God. As the founder of the Benedictine Scholars Program, Father Kilian also shares some insight about what inspired him to create this program and how it has become what it is today.
The Abbey | Inside the Church

In this interview, Father Paul talks about his experience with becoming a priest & a Benedictine monk. The journey to becoming a priest or a monk takes a lot of discernment. Understanding that needed to be a sincere change of heart, Father Paul became a monk despite the doubts & fears he faced. Eventually, he overcame all of them & became a true part of this community. In the spirit of peace, he talks about the daily life of a monk & discusses how it relates to his role as a vocations director who also celebrates mass in the Abbey Church.
The Abbey | Interior of Monastery

In this interview, Max from Cohort 8 talks about the University’s community and the importance of hospitality. He talks about his own experiences with this value and gives a perspective of the impact of this mindset in a college student’s life.
Spangler Hall | Conference Room

In this interview, Avril talks about her experience with moderation as a student & Benedictine Scholar (Cohort 10). Balancing being a student worker and her personal life, Avril describes ways that she implements the value of moderation in her life and how it positively impacts her education.
Spangler Hall | Exterior

In this interview, Lydia from Cohort 11 talks about the ways she encounters stability & implements it into her life. As a college student having many responsibilities it is important to stay grounded in the person you are so that you can accomplish what you are aiming for. Lydia points out the importance of avoiding inconsistency and emphasizing stability to cultivate positive relationships, resulting in better mental health.
Spangler Hall | Prayer Room

In this interview, Dr. Newton gives his perspective on being an advisor to the Benedictine Scholars & how it translates into the Benedictine Value of Respect for Persons. He goes over where respect starts and how it becomes a fully developed relationship. Dr. Newton also goes over his experience with Benedictine Scholar’s Day as it’s been the most impactful event he’s seen along with the service events that Benedictine Scholars participate throughout the year.
Old Main | Lounge

In this interview, Jayse talks about the Benedictine Value of Community Living. As a Benedictine Scholar (Cohort 11), you experience a year living on a floor that primarily focuses on aspects of leadership as well as all other Benedictine Values. Jayse gives us insight about his experience & how it relates to where he comes from and where he wants to go.
Spangler Hall | Common Room