Western Washington University recognized Anna Boenish, of Sequim, as American Cultural Studies Outstanding Graduate for the 2009-2010 academic year.

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.

Boenish earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American cultural studies at spring commencement on June 12. She served as a peer mentor in WWU's Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies and taught a workshop about the narrative evaluation process in a required class for all new Fairhaven College students. During her junior and senior years, she worked as a coordinator of WWU's Social Issues Resource Center. During this time, Boenish worked with other students and community members to plan conferences, performances and other events highlighting social issues.

She plans to move to the Seattle region to be an Ameri-Corps volunteer for a few years before entering graduate school to become a high school history and social studies teacher. Boenish is a graduate of Sequim High School and the daughter of Bonnie Bless-Boenish and Hans Boenish of Sequim.