King Yabut, a PhD candidate in the Department of Pharmaceutics in his sixth year, has been named a recipient of the 2023 MLK Community Service Award. Yabut dedicates his personal and professional life to empowering underserved communities through mentorship and service to others.
As a kind and patient mentor, Yabut has created spaces for young scientists to learn and explore their professional potential, and as a community member, he volunteers his time as a basketball coach for middle school students.
An active and engaged member of the University of Washington community, Yabut serves as a graduate student advisory board member on the UW Office of Graduate Student Equity and Excellence (GSEE), participates in the Outreaching Grads Program, and contributes to student panels and recruitment events aimed at increasing the diversity of the student body.
Throughout his professional, academic and personal accomplishments, Yabut is highly regarded for his modesty, humility and unceasing values. He exemplifies the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., both in our community and far beyond.