Two named among WWU’s best grads
Western Washington University honored its Outstanding Graduates for 2011-12 at spring commencement June 9.
Faculty members from each academic department 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.
This year’s Outstanding Graduates included two South County residents.
Molly Chrisman, of Edmonds, was named Outstanding Elementary Education Graduate. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education. Chrisman also minored in anthropology. At Western, she was a recipient of the WWU Multicultural Achievement Scholarship, a resident adviser for three years and a volunteer conversation partner with Korean exchange students. She also interned at the Islandwood outdoor learning center on Bainbridge Island. Joanne Carney, associate professor and chair of Elementary Education, believes Chrisman will be a “wonderful asset to the teaching profession. She has the capacity to work with children in a warm and confident manner — calmly guiding and supporting their learning.” After graduating, Chrisman plans to work at Woodland Park Zoo, helping supervise and run their day camps. After that, she plans to work at the Evergreen School, a private school in Shoreline. In the future, she hopes to work in Washington’s public school system and attend a graduate program to study environmental education and integrating the arts into the elementary classroom. Chrisman is the daughter of Lori Chrisman, of Edmonds, and Andrew Chrisman, of Seattle; she is a graduate of Ballard High School.
Liza Serova, of Lynnwood, was named the Outstanding Music Graduate. She received a bachelor of music with a concentration in piano performance. An accomplished pianist, Serova is the recipient of the Post Presser Scholar award, and the William Sanford and the Ford Hill piano scholarships. She was a semi-finalist in the department’s 2011 piano area concerto competition and in 2011 was selected for a weeklong camp in Leavenworth to join other gifted piano students and senior faculty from top U.S. and American conservatories. After graduation, she will prepare for auditions to graduate schools while working as an accompanist and piano teacher. The daughter of Yelena Serova and Vasiliy Serov, of Lynnwood, Liza Serova is a graduate of Mariner High School in Everett and Shoreline Community College.
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