The Washington award for vocational excellence program, also known as WAVE, recognizes the outstanding achievements of vocational or technical students graduating from high school, or attending a community college or technical college, while in the state of Washington.

To the extent that funds are appropriated by the legislature, the WAVE program provides a scholarship to help pay the costs of undergraduate level coursework at participating in-state public or private colleges and universities, or at in-state private career colleges and schools licensed by the workforce training and education coordinating board.