Bitaniya Giday, a double-major in Political Science and American Ethnic Studies, was recently selected for the prestigious Truman Scholarship! This is a national award recognizing past accomplishments in and future commitment to public service and leadership. Giday's future plans involve earning a Ph.D. in African American Studies and a law degree and then work with and in communities toward restorative justice.
University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce, Provost Tricia Serio and Vice Provost and Dean Ed Taylor appeared in the Zoom room of Bitaniya Giday’s African American Studies class and made the announcement. “This is an honor for the entire University,” said President Cauce. “Bitaniya was awarded this scholarship not only for her academic excellence but because she has a future shaping national policy. The work Bitaniya has done on campus and on behalf of incarcerated people to make sure they have a chance to contribute to society is making this world a better place.”
At the UW, Bitaniya is researching incarceration, prisoner-led publications and restorative justice; is a Mary Gates Scholar and Katz Scholar; co-president of the Black Student Union; a member of the student group Huskies for Opportunities in Prison Education; and documenting oral histories as part of Wa Na Wari’s Black Spatial Histories project. In between coursework she is working on an independent study project with Professor Bianca Dang and launching a book group with the Black Student Union and incarcerated individuals who are part of the Black Prisoners Caucus. The first book they plan to read is “all about love” by bell hooks.
Read the full article here.