Islander is top graduate at WWU

Published 10:12 am Friday, July 10, 2015

Sara Crowell of Bainbridge Island has been named as one of Western Washington University’s Outstanding Graduates for the 2014-15 academic year.

Crowell was chosen as the Outstanding Graduate of the Department of Anthropology.

Western Washington University honored its Outstanding Graduates for the 2014-15 academic year at spring Commencement on 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.

Crowell graduated cum laude in June from the University Honors Program with a major in anthropology with a biocultural concentration.

University officials said Crowell got to combine her passion for nutrition, food security and health education when she studied abroad in India, where she designed and taught nutrition classes and conducted a nutrition assessment at a school there.

Later, for her Honors project, Crowell presented some of the work on the assessment and helped conduct a fundraising effort to raise money for the school, located in Arunachal Pradesh. She also interned at Centric Brand Anthropology in Seattle and conducted research on consumer culture for natural and organic foods and health products.

Crowell also rowed for Western’s womens crew team and was in the Varsity 4 boat that placed third at the NCAA Division II National Championship.

The outstanding grad plans to pursue a master’s degree in global health.

A graduate of Bainbridge High School, Crowell is the daughter of Gloria Satur and Mark Crowell.