Eastern Magazine | Fall 2016 by Eastern Washington University

Cebula Makes a Splash throughout the Northwest. pg. 14 2016 EAGLE football poster inside pg. 24

up front

Dear Alumni and Friends: This past spring, we graduated 3,000 students. While many of them walked the stage at the Spokane Arena on June 11, our students on the semester calendar celebrated their academic achievements in Spokane’s Convention Center in May. We also recognized EWU’s west-side students at June graduation events in Bellevue and Longview. One of the joys of university life is experiencing the academic year: welcoming students each fall and applauding students’ success each spring. A key part of the academic experience, also, is constant change. Thousands of students come to EWU each year; thousands graduate. We see changes in our faculty and staff as well. In the fall, we will greet a cohort of new faculty. This summer, we welcomed our new provost, Dr. Scott Gordon. We have a new dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM), Dr. David Bowman. And, with the retirement of Laurie Connolly in my office, I am delighted to be working with a new chief of staff, Angela Jones. As we experience continuous change and growth at EWU, we pay careful attention to critical and profound changes in our environment. We can’t rest on past successes. Our students’ needs and interests are constantly evolving. We are impacted by economic, political and social changes. Technology brings new challenges and opportunities. Our physical campuses as well as our academic curriculum and student support services must be reviewed and renewed. University leadership and campus constituencies – faculty, staff, students, alumni, community partners – continue working together to ensure unwavering focus on our mission: transforming students’ lives through learning. As we look back over 130 years, it’s hard even to imagine the changes Eastern has experienced. Yet, through all the changes, we proudly maintained a powerful focus on our students’ success. As we begin academic year 2016-17, that focus remains steadfast. Thank you all for your support and love for this remarkable university.

Mary Cullinan President, Eastern Washington University

Mission Statement:

EWU expands opportunities for personal transformation through excellence in learning.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

features

14 14

Raising the Bar

Popup retailer, Renee Cebula, sells vintage barware with a shot of history.

The story behind America’s favorite mascot.

Petrie and Cunningham make a difference in the lives of others.

Premier national football couple remembers their EWU roots.

EWU graduates recognized for outstanding contributions.

Scoop on Swoop

Couple Connects With Global Community

Meet the McElwains

2016 Alumni Awards

on the cover

departments

2 up front 4 let's get social 6 on the road 8 eastern etc. 6 faces & places EWU Alumni Awards // 3Spokane 40 class notes May 20 in memoriam 44 recognized Distinguished graduates were for their outstanding achievements whilethoughts 46 final family and friends celebrated their success. 47 events calendar

Cocktail historian Renee Cebula makes a splash throughout the Northwest.

EAF Celebration Dinner and Golf // Tri-Cities May 26–27 Eagle fans joined EWU coaches for golf and fun!

34 Senior Send Off // Cheney June 2

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

Let’s get social! Check It Out:

FALL 2016

ewu.edu/easternmagazine

EDITOR Kandi Carper ’05

Eastern magazine’s website allows you to read the latest issue from your laptop, desktop, tablet or smartphone. And check out the Eastern magazine blog!

ART DIRECTOR/SENIOR DESIGNER Ryan Gaard ’02 ASSISTANT EDITOR Christine Roach

Go Green

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Christine Roach Kandi Carper ’05 Dave Cook Dave Meany

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS Ginny Baxter ’05 Steve Bateman Ashley Jhaveri '16

Web Extra When you see the WebExtra icon you can find bonus content online.

PHOTOGRAPHY Eric Galey ’84 David Lane Austen Frostad Larry Conboy Pat Spanjer ’80 VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Michael Westfall DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Teresa Conway DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ADVANCEMENT Lisa Poplawski ’01, ’94 EWU ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Kelleye Heydon ’95

Social Media Contest Show off your EWU pride with a Facebook cover photo that celebrates your alma mater! Send us an email letting us know about your cover photo (and a little about yourself), and the most creative entry will win some Eagle swag!

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

Like Us – Follow Us facebook.com/ EasternMagazine facebook.com/ EWUAlumni

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

EDITORIAL BOARD Cassie Devaney ’96 Kory Kelly ’98 Nick Lawhead ’07 Lisa Leinberger ’98 Kayla Northrop ’08 Robin Pickering ’03, ’97 Nancy Tsutakawa ’70

@EasternMagazine @EWUalumni easternmagazine ewualumni

EMAIL easternmagazine@ewu.edu PHONE 509.359.6422 WRITE Eastern Magazine, 102 Hargreaves Cheney, WA 99004-2413 Eastern magazine is published spring and fall by EWU Marketing & Communications and is mailed free to alumni of record in the United States. View this and previous issues online at ewu.edu/easternmagazine.

ewu.edu/hpfw Eagles vs. Northern Colorado

Photo: Ron Swords

Show your Eagle spirit

Wear red wherever you are, Oct. 7-8 Share your eagle pride and memories #Eagle4Life

A Carol Schuerman Kriegh ’88, ’72 with n C Bob Shoemaker ’81 visited Tent Rocks n

her husband, Chuck, at Moraine Lake in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

National Monument, New Mexico, in April. D Martin Hughes ’92 and his wife, Evan, at n

B Jim Martin ’71 and his wife took a cruise the MacArthur Landing Memorial in Leyte, n

in April. This photo was taken at the Freedom Monument in Riga, Latvia. The couple lives in Vancouver, Washington. He retired from the Battle Ground School District in 1997. 6

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

Philippines. E Chip Benvenutt ’03, ’00 at Guana Cay, n

Abaco, Bahamas. He was traveling to the Bahamas with Jerry Short Cabinets and Millwork of Hayden Lake, Idaho.

F John Costello ’97 in front of Jackson Square, n

a historic park located in the French Quarter of New Orleans, in April. G EWU Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers gathered n

in Cancún, Mexico, for the wedding of Kevin Proulx ’09 (black vest). Kevin’s twin brother, Mark Proulx ’09, is next to him in the front row. In the back are Brad Morgan, Christian Hergert ’10 and Zach Lust ’06.

on the road with eastern magazine Where will Eastern magazine be spotted next? You are invited to send photographs holding up the latest issue. Include some information about yourself with your submission. We may not be able to publish every submission. Extras will be posted on the Eastern magazine Facebook page and on the magazine’s website. Send to easternmagazine@ewu.edu or Eastern Magazine, 102 Hargreaves Hall, Cheney, WA 99004-2413.

H Chuck ’78 and Brenda ’85 Van Matre, n

nJ Jerry Selbo ’91 with his wife, Cindie, and

L Rebecka Warren ’94 at Dinosaur World n

Gayle ’74 and Mike ’76 Van Matre and Audrey Adams ’89 sailed on a 51.5’ sailboat in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands in April. This photo was taken at Pirate’s Bight, Norman Island, BVI.

former exchange student Birgir Haraldsson, at Gullfoss (Gold Falls) in the canyon of the river Hvítá in southwest Iceland. K Ryan Metcalf ’03 and Eric Johnson ’95, n

in Cave City, Kentucky, in June. She lives in Tennessee, where she is a licensed professional counselor. She is also the PR communications chair for the Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselors Association.

nI Bruce ’65 and Lynne Leibrecht ’65 traveled

’93 next to the Northwest MedStar Critical Care Transport Pilatus fixed wing.

the Galapagos Islands in April. E ASTERN: FALL 2016

eastern etc. Student Trustee Appointed

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Eastern Washington University senior Ariel McMillan as the student representative to the EWU Board of Trustees. McMillan’s term was effective July 1 and will continue through June 30, 2017. She succeeds Mariana Garcia as the student trustee. McMillan earned her BA in communication studies from EWU in June and will continue her education this fall in EWU’s Master of Science in Communications program. A graduate of East Valley High School in the Spokane Valley, McMillan says she has always had a passion for higher education and looks forward to serving underrepresented students while promoting diversity and inclusion on campus. EWU’s Board of Trustees is the university’s governing body appointed by the governor. The board works with EWU President Mary Cullinan to set the strategic direction of the university and helps to ensure that EWU is academically and financially accountable and successful.

Eastern Partners with Mobius Science Center

EWU and its College of Health Science and Public Health is a title sponsor of “Bodies Human – Anatomy in Motion,” a special exhibit featured in the new Mobius Science Center in Spokane. The fascinating Bodies Human display gives the public a once-in-alifetime chance to view the inner workings of real human bodies through authentic, preserved human body specimens. The display includes six bodies, more than 100 individual organs and transparent body slices that have been preserved through a process that replaces bodily fluids with reactive plastics. Visitors will better understand how their own bodies' function by getting a personal look at our skeletal, muscular, respiratory and circulatory systems. Bodies Human will be on display at Mobius through Dec. 31, and as a title sponsor, EWU will host educational programming the first Saturday of each month at the center. Programs will be designed to expose young people to all of Eastern’s in-demand health science offerings. The Area Health Education Center (AHEC), which is managed by EWU, will coordinate many of the Saturday programs. AHEC encourages youth to pursue health professions in rural and underserved communities.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

eastern etc. Roos Is Among Four Legends in 16th Hall of Fame Class Featuring a quartet of athletes with more than 40 years of championship success and groundbreaking achievements to their credit since attending college, the 16th induction of the Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame will take place Oct. 1, in Cheney.

Former EWU All-American and National Football League offensive tackle Michael Roos (2000-04) will be inducted after a 10-year All-Pro career with the Tennessee Titans. He retired in February 2015, after starting all 226 games he played from 2002-14 as a collegian or professional. Also to be inducted this year is Ed Waters, who was a record-breaking point guard on the 1976-77 men’s basketball team. Waters has since gone on to a coaching career at his alma mater, Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles. The 1976-77 men’s basketball team, led by Hall of Fame head coach Jerry Krause, finished 25-4, a record that is still the second-best winning percentage in school history. The team had only two seniors: Hall of Fame All-American forward Ron Cox and point guard Ed Waters. Other team members included Robert Gatlin, Eugene Glenn, Martin Harpole, Mike Heath, Paul Hungenberg, Jeff Miller, Ray Palmer, Terry Pepple, Terry Reed, Wayne Robinson, Jim Savage and Vic White. The coaching staff also included assistant coach Ron Raver. Becky Nelson Clark (1968-71) is one of two track and field standouts to be inducted, having won the 1971 national championship in the high jump during a major growth stage of collegiate sports competition for women. She has since gone on to a long career in sports medicine and physical therapy in the Spokane and Cheney area. Record-breaking 800-meter runner Steve Kiesel (1976-79) will also be inducted for his achievements on the track and his contributions as a coach, which includes a pair of state cross-country titles at nearby Mead High School. He finished fourth in the 1977 NAIA Championships in the 800 meters with a time of 1:48.51, which has stood as a school record for nearly 40 years. He was coached at Eastern by Hall of Famer Jerry Martin. The Hall of Fame induction breakfast ceremony will start at approximately 8 a.m., Oct. 1, in Reese Court. The public is invited to attend, and the cost is $20 per person. Guests must register at goeags.com/hof. aspx. Inductees will also be honored at halftime of EWU’s football game against UC Davis later that day and at Eastern’s volleyball game the previous evening against North Dakota at 6 p.m. E ASTERN: FALL 2016

eastern etc. Student Becomes an Eagle on National TV

Eastern Washington University Foundation Executive Director Michael Westfall appeared on the ABC television talk show The View May 6 to award a surprise scholarship to a Seattle-area student who has overcome incredible odds and will be attending EWU this fall. The student, 18-year-old Tabitha Nunley of Port Orchard, graduated from high school this spring and will be a pre-medicine student at Eastern. Tabitha was on The View with her mother Cynthia, who was highlighted by the show as part of a Mother’s Day special. Cynthia Nunley is a foster parent of four children and adopted Tabitha at age 3. During the live taping of the Mother’s Day segment in New York, Westfall surprised the family with an announcement that Tabitha will receive an EWU Foundation Scholarship that will help cover the cost of her college attendance. The award is worth up to $10,000 for the 2016-17 school year. The scholarship is renewable for three additional years of undergraduate study at EWU. EWU is proud to award scholarships like this as it continues its Inspire Awesome campaign to raise money for more student scholarships.

Presidents’ Cup Returns to Eastern

For the second consecutive year, and third in the past seven seasons, EWU has won the Big Sky Conference Presidents’ Cup, the league office announced July 18. The Cup for the 2015-16 school year was presented for the 14th time at the Big Sky Conference Summer Football Kickoff in Park City, Utah. Eastern finished ahead of runner-up Weber State and third-place Montana. Helping propel Eastern to the top of the Presidents’ Cup standings was a league-leading 35 All-Conference athletes finishing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. EWU finished fourth in the athletic portion, was third in the APR standings at 979.7 and tied for fourth with an average GPA of 3.31. Women’s basketball, men’s tennis and women’s soccer each had an average GPA of 3.49 or better, with soccer leading the way at 3.7. EWU had 13 of 14 programs with a 3.0 or higher. The Presidents’ Cup reinforces the Big Sky’s dedication to the academic side of the student-athlete experience. Overall athletic success is combined with team grade point averages, Academic Progress Rates (APR) and All-Conference performers with grade point averages of at least 3.0. 10

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

eastern etc. Commencement 2016

Eastern’s 2016 commencement ceremonies took place Saturday, June 11, at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. This year, 2,818 undergraduate and 489 graduate students were eligible to attend the commencement. Jess Walter, Spokane native and ’87 graduate of EWU, spoke at the 9 a.m. ceremony, which included students from the College of Social Sciences and the College of Business and Public Administration. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee spoke at the 2 p.m. ceremony to students from the College of Health Science and Public Health, the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and the College of Arts, Letters and Education. Eastern’s commencement returned to Spokane for the first time since 2004 in response to feedback from graduates and their families, higher enrollment and weather-related challenges.

EWU Dominates Bloomsday Race

EWU’s dominance in Spokane’s annual Bloomsday Corporate Cup continues, as EWU RED took the overall cup for the 20th consecutive year while President Mary Cullinan led EWUWOMEN to a victory as well.

Left to right: Laurie Morley, Rachel Toor, Mary Cullinan, Sally Winkle and Dawn Hawes.

EWU RED included Carl Combs, Jeff Corkill, Jeffrey Rahn, Grant Smith and Annika Vahk. In addition to Cullinan, EWU-WOMEN included Laurie Morley, Rachel Toor, Sally Winkle and Dawn Hawes. EWU RED raced to victory by scoring 3,000 points, while EWU-WOMEN captured the Corporate Cup Women’s Division with 2,877 points. President Cullinan, who along with her teammates is an avid runner, led her team with 984 points.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Celebrating Earth Day this year with a continued focus on environmental sustainability, EWU unveiled four new electric vehicle charging stations. “The installation of these charging stations is part of Eastern’s long-term plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions,” said EWU President Mary Cullinan. “We are serious about our commitment to sustainability and believe PowerPost EVSEs further our commitment to preserving the earth.” Two EV charging units are located in front of EWU’s Computing and Engineering Building, and the other two are located outside the campus Visitor Center. Each station costs $1.25 per hour for the cost of parking and electricity use.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

eastern etc. Alumni - A Hit at Get Lit!

The Get Lit! Festival has been entertaining literary lovers in the Spokane area for the past 17 years as a weeklong celebration of reading, writing and storytelling. The festival began in 1998 as a one-day marathon of literary readings sponsored by Eastern Washington University Press and EWU’s creative writing program. Now, the festival offers a mixture of about 40 events throughout a week in April, including writing workshops, panels, readings and poetry slams. New to the festival this year was an EWU Alumni Reading, which included poetry, fiction and nonfiction works from six alumni of EWU’s MFA program in creative writing — Jonathan Frey ’09, Sarah Hauge ’10, David Ratcliff ’15, Kristina Pfleegor ’12, Aileen Keown Vaux ’13 and Liz Rognes ’11. Aileen Keown Vaux ’13 “There are so many writers in Spokane who have come through this program, and all over the country, who have published books, won awards and done incredible things,” said Melissa Huggins ’11, director of Get Lit! “With this year’s reading, we are showcasing a mix of alumni, a mix of genres. It’s a fun way to showcase that little community.” A collection of poetry about motherhood, All We Can Hold, Poems of Motherhood, was launched at Get Lit! The collection was spearheaded and edited by EWU MFA creative writing alumnae, Elise Gregory ’05, Emily Gwinn ’05, Laura Walker ’06, Kaleen McCandless ’05 and Kate Maude. They took submissions from all kinds of writers from across the country.

Senior Send-Off Celebration

Freshmen have passed through the historic Herculean Pillars in front of Showalter Hall for nearly 10 years, signifying the beginning of their college careers. This year, an inaugural Senior Send-Off celebration, held June 2, sent graduating seniors back through the pillars, symbolizing the beginning of their journeys as EWU alumni. More than 150 people attended the event, which included a barbecue and music, hosted by the Office of Alumni Advancement, Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership (SAIL) and EWU Career Services. “The goal was to provide a celebration for our seniors where we can welcome them to the alumni family,” said Lisa Poplawski, director of Alumni Advancement. “We were happy to see so many alumni at the event, which provided an outlet for conversation and networking.” 12

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

eastern etc. Walter and Jones Inducted to Citizen Hall of Fame

An Eastern alumnus and a faculty member were inducted into the Spokane Citizen Hall of Fame April 14. Jess Walter ’87 received the award for arts and letters; Patrick Jones, PhD and executive director of EWU’s Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis, received the award for education. Walter is the author of eight books, has had a No. 1 New York Times best-seller and also won the Edgar Allen Poe Award. He grew up in Spokane Valley and graduated from EWU with a BA in journalism. Walter is one of the founders of INK Art Space, which provides arts education to underserved students in the city. Jones has been executive director since the institute’s inception in 2002 and is instrumental in the Community Indicators Initiative, which seeks to improve local, private and public sector decision-making by providing relevant data. He also strives to make the institute a model for how EWU makes connections to surrounding communities.

Eastern in the Community

EWU President Mary Cullinan recently visited Walla Walla as part of Eastern’s continued commitment to engaging with regional communities. Joining President Cullinan were staff from the offices of Alumni, Admissions, Government Relations and the Institute for Public Policy & Economic Analysis. In addition to hosting events for donors, alumni and recently admitted students, the team also met with local community leaders from Walla Walla Community College and the Walla Walla School District. A highlight of the trip was Cullinan’s keynote at a luncheon meeting of the Walla Walla Rotary, where the audience enjoyed hearing success stories about local students who are currently attending Eastern.

Patty Kajita ‘59 and her granddaughter Julia at the EWU Alumni and Admitted Student Reception, Walla Walla

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

Raising the Bar BY KANDI CARPER â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;05

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

When Renee Cebula was a little girl she would often sneak out of bed to get a glimpse of The Dean Martin Show. “My mother was funny about that,” laughs Cebula. “She didn’t think it was appropriate for me to watch the show.” The Dean Martin Show was the epitome of the ’60s era – suave men in tuxedos and beautiful, sophisticated women in little black dresses. They held a cigarette in one hand and a cocktail in the other. In today’s terms it was midcentury chic – the Mad Men era. “Think about the movies and variety shows – James Bond, the Rat Pack,” said Cebula. “There’s something about cocktail culture, a social class, an etiquette around it – social niceties of the day that came with these rituals. Everyone was giggling and laughing after they had a drink or two. “I grew up with parents who didn’t always have a cocktail hour, but they had some friends who were known for some great cocktail parties. I always had a fascination with the very cool

glassware. I still remember this wrought-iron stand, and it had a freeflowing wine decanter. I thought that was so elegant and beautiful.” Years later, Cebula discovered it was apple juice in Dean Martin’s glass, but the mystique remained. This time period made a lasting impression on her, and she’s managed to turn this fascination into a profitable business while also educating people on the history and norms of those times. Cebula and her businesses continue to evolve. Intertwined are Raising the Bar, her traveling popup shop where she sells “vintage and badass” barware; the public history education piece; and “Spokane Imbibes!” the cocktail history classes she offers. She is also considering an e-commerce business, a book club, vintage glassware rentals and private parties.

Cocktail Culture in a Glass Cebula has her bachelor’s (1992) and master’s degrees (2016) in history from Eastern. As a history student, she began researching cocktail culture in America around the times of the world wars. Her interest was piqued while reading about the country’s culinary history. “The mixed drink is actually America’s first culinary tradition,” said Cebula. “There’s not really an American food scene until quite late.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

However, when it comes to alcohol, America, very early on, during the colonial era, came up with different mixed-drink concoctions. People think that the British and others have long drink histories, and they did, but not with mixed spirits. That is really an American invention.” Cebula also became interested in the glassware, tools, shakers, ice crushers and more. She started collecting a few sets here and there. While vacationing with her husband, Larry, in 2010, she discovered a tourist town on Cape Cod with an “all-things” barware store. “There were a couple gals who had this amazing shop,” said Cebula. “They had new barware, but they also had a section of vintage barware, and it just took my breath away. They had it all – fine liquors. My idea was to do what they had done.” But there were a few problems with that idea. As her husband pointed out, this store was close to Boston, with lots of money and people coming through. They were able to offer mixology classes, with little samples, but liquor laws vary from state to state. “It became clear, there was no way I could have a brick-and-mortar store,” said Cebula. “It was just too much of a commitment. I kind of put it on hold, although I did keep collecting.” In her travels, Cebula began seeing more and more popup retail, typically for women’s clothing. She took note of that and let the seed of that idea germinate. “The popup mobile retail model did several things that I needed,” said Cebula. “It provided a shop to sell my barware and, compared to a brick-and-mortar store, it was much less capital. It offers a lot of flexibility to test the market and do weekend festivals while I was still doing other work.”

E ASTERN: FALL 2015

In July 2013, Cebula began selling her vintage barware from her popup shop, a 1959 Aljo travel trailer she bought on Craigslist. She and her husband gutted the trailer and put in shelves to display the glassware, bar tools and memorabilia, most of it from the ’40s through ’60s. This year, she and her popup shop will travel to around 16 events, many in the Spokane-Coeur d’ Alene area, but during festival season, from May through October, she will also travel throughout the Northwest, visiting Portland, Seattle, Fremont, Kirkland, Issaquah and Chelan. During the offseason, she continues to sell her barware in specialty consignment shops. In the upcoming years, she’ll most likely move to an e-commerce model.

A Shot of History Even though she’s part of the popup shop revolution, Cebula is still a historian at heart. She believes that having her master’s degree and a scholarly history component adds credibility. “There are a lot of cocktail historians out there, but they aren’t all equal in their scholarship and their historical accuracy,” said Cebula. “Having that traditional academic history training, knowing how to do research and following the trail of sources – it’s important to me because it adds a solid foundation.” Cebula grew up in Spokane and met her husband, Larry ’92, in Professor Ennis’ Columbia Latin American history class at EWU. They would go to the PUB for coffee after class. “That’s the history of our history,” Cebula said. After they graduated, Larry continued his education at the College of William & Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia, and she remained in Cheney until they eventually married and moved to Joplin, Missouri, where he taught at Southern State University, and she taught high school history.

During the 11 years they lived in Missouri and afterward, the Cebulas were able to collaborate, to develop curricula, write grant proposals and conduct history education workshops. When they returned to the Northwest in 2008, Professor Larry Cebula became a public historian with a joint appointment at the Washington State Digital Archives and EWU. Today, he coordinates the graduate program in public history at the university. Like Renee, there are genuine, scholarly organizations, such as the National Archives, the National Constitution Center and the Smithsonian Institute, which have been involved in researching and studying the history of drink, utilizing that history to tell the larger, deeper story. In March, at the National Council on Public History’s annual meeting in Baltimore, Cebula engaged in discussions with public historians and museum professionals about incorporating the history of drink in the study of public history. She did a poster presentation: History for Hipsters: Cocktail Stories Served Straight Up. Public history entities, including museums, have been good at connecting with the K-12 age group, but the demographic that all the museums and art galleries are trying to reach is millennials – the 20-to-40-year-olds.

Everyone is trying to figure out how to tap into that group,” said Cebula. “I think this is the perfect avenue to try to serve a shot of history right alongside that craft cocktail. Why not make history enticing, multisensory and interactive?

And conversely, without an interesting backstory, a cocktail is no more than a glass of liquor and mixer. Or more accurately, as Cebula would point out, a cocktail is any drink made from spirits, sugar, water and bitters. Cebula is looking at ways to use cocktail history and the craft cocktail movement to really tell early histories of where we live because those drinking stories are part of the social fabric of our town. Drinking history is inclusive, cutting across lines of class, race and gender. “Spokane was a working man’s town, which meant it was a drinking man’s town,” said Cebula. “In the 1900s there were more than 130 bars in Spokane. After Prohibition, women entered the bar scene as well.” Through “Spokane Imbibes!” Cebula offers monthly, themed classes, planned into 2017 and held at some of the best up-andcoming local craft cocktail bars in the area. The interactive classes explore the stories behind the cocktails, the ingredients, the mixologist’s secrets to mixing, muddling, shaking and pouring a proper craft cocktail, and of course, the tastings. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of cocktails in America, Cebula recommends these books among others: How to Mix Drinks (1862) by Jerry Thomas; Imbibe! (2007) and Punch: The Delights and Dangers (2010) both by David Wondrich. Thinking of throwing a cocktail party? Check out Craft Cocktail Party by Julie Reiner or The Cocktail Club by Maureen Christian-Petrosky. Cebula says that while proper barware and knowledge can certainly add to the experience, anyone (over 21) can do this for fun. “You don’t need to become a bartender or read a lot of books,” said Cebula. “You don’t need a big bar. You can have a nice tray and a set of glasses and a couple of spirits and a mixer and start playing, practicing and experimenting, and it grows from there. We can all raise the bar.” E E ASTERN: FALL 2016

The Scoop on

Swoop Swoop, the mascot for Eastern Washington University, is an ambassador and spirit leader for the university. His charming, high-spirited personality, entertaining dance moves and crazy antics have made him America’s favorite mascot. He’s immensely popular among children, EWU fans, alumni and students. Swoop may be found at almost every EWU Athletic home game/match, along with appearances at EWU campus events, school assemblies, community engagements, etc. – totaling more than 100 appearances each year. Swoop’s identity is a carefully guarded secret, but here’s some info Swoop fans will love to know.

Swoop Stats Name: Swoop Position: Mascot, No. 0 Height: 6' 3" Weight: 210 lbs. Birthday: Sept. 29, 1973 Hometown: Cheney, Washington Favorite team: EWU Eagles (all sports) Favorite moment: The 2010 Football National Championship

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

Did You Know? In 1973, Eastern’s mascot became the Eagles. Shortly before that, the university’s board of trustees declared the “Savages” (the school’s mascot since 1923) unacceptable. Eagles are native to eastern Washington so it was a logical choice for a replacement. The new mascot was originally known as Victor E. Eagle. In the fall of 1999, the caricature of Swoop was given a single official look as opposed to the 25 versions seen during the 1990s. Standards were developed with input from alumni, students, faculty and staff to establish an official design for the mascot. In 2005, the eagle design was once again updated. Throughout the years, Swoop has had some work done. He looks more eagle-like and less chicken hawk-like. He appears much friendlier too. Wherever he goes, Swoop now has a smile on his beak. The suit weighs about 15 pounds. and the temperature inside is about 20 degrees warmer than outside the suit. At the 2010 National Championship Football game in Frisco, Texas, Swoop’s rendition of the Dougie squashed Delaware’s Blue Hen in the pregame dance competition. The YouTube video, Swoop versus Youdee (final dance off, January ’11), has more than 25,600 views! The performers who play Swoop are EWU students who audition for the position and receive partial scholarships.

Like any celebrity, you can actually book Swoop for a guest appearance. Some exceptions apply, of course. Check it out: http://bit.ly/1UycY5a

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

COUPLE CONNECTS WITH GLOBAL COMMUNITY By Greg Cunningham â&#x20AC;&#x2122;01

Greg Cunningham, Gina Mikel Petrie

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

Gina Mikel Petrie assists students in Nicaragua; right: adult students learn English.

Nicaragua is a tropical paradise – unspoiled, safe and inexpensive – that is becoming a travel destination for savvy, sun-seeking North Americans. Being the second poorest country in Latin America, the leaders of Nicaragua think teaching English to its residents will help lift the country out of poverty. With her expanding influence in the English as a second language (ESL) community, Gina Mikel Petrie, an associate professor at Eastern Washington University, is becoming a highly recognized force behind teaching the people of Nicaragua how to speak English at Escuela San Miguel, a vocational school in the town of Cárdenas. Petrie was approached by Dean White, founder of Escuela San Miguel, in fall 2006, when he had received a donation of ESL textbooks. Having no idea if the books were worthwhile, White asked Petrie for her help. “When he came to ask for assistance in evaluating the textbooks, I recognized it as a question that my students could answer, and whenever someone comes to me with a question that I feel my students could answer, I direct it toward them,” Petrie said. Petrie then went to students in her upper-division course to answer White’s question – given what they had learned, were these textbooks high quality? “They were adequate but not great,” she said. “They were written for a U.S. classroom context and assumed students had lives that looked like mainstream U.S. lives, with homes that have more than one room and kitchens with running water. And they didn’t offer enough opportunities for interaction between students, which my students knew was a necessary element of language teaching.” Assessing the textbooks was not enough for Petrie’s EWU students. They then asked her to teach them how to write a grant so they could seek funding to purchase the additional materials they suggested to White. In 2007, Petrie’s students were awarded $350 from the EWU Alumni Association, which they collaboratively used to choose the best possible materials for Escuela San Miguel. It was a good deed done, a teachable moment and a real-life application of classroom teaching. That, it seemed at the time, was that for Petrie, until, in 2012, White requested she provide a workshop to the school’s English teachers in Nicaragua based on the latest research in ESL instruction. “I remember oxen pulling carts, men walking along the road to work in the

fields with big machetes, the tooting of bus horns at 5 a.m., common meals with infinite variations of rice and beans, and a heat I’ve never before experienced,” Petrie said.

At first my attention was drawn to dirt-floored houses and classrooms with very few materials, but by the end of the visit what I noticed was strong communities and the way families took care of each other, and an overwhelmingly positive enthusiasm for any type of education. Her initial trip turned into another – she presented at a conference in Managua, Nicaragua, on how to include interactive activities in the teaching of English. Since then, she has traveled to Nicaragua at least twice per year. At first simply drawn to the place and its people, both warm and inviting, Petrie began to make connections in the country’s Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) community. It soon became clear that her background could be a valuable resource, not only at Escuela San Miguel but at other institutions that taught English in Nicaragua. Connecting with Centro Cultural Nicaragüense Norteamericano, a bicultural center that connects U.S. culture with the host country, in January 2014, Petrie soon found herself named as the organization’s curriculum advisor. In that role, she traveled around Nicaragua, working with English programs in schools, hotels and restaurants. Petrie spent time on sabbatical in Nicaragua doing research in the field of English for tourism, exploring questions related to how best to teach English to those in Nicaragua’s tourism industry, attitudes toward English, and its teaching and learning in the country. She has presented some of her findings recently in Hong Kong and Italy. In spite of her ever-expanding influence in the ESL community in Nicaragua, Petrie’s heart remains primarily in the community of Cárdenas, particularly at the little school she first got to know – Escuela San Miguel. In the future, Petrie hopes to facilitate the creation of a network of connections between English teachers and professors, students in Nicaragua, and students learning to teach English in the U.S. so that university students can apply what they are learning to Nicaragua’s needs for access to resources, activities and authentic communication.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

About Gina Mikel Petrie Gina Mikel Petrie is the associate professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at EWU and is also the local authority on materials and methods for teaching English to non-native English speakers. Petrie originally came to EWU in 1996 to work at the English Language Institute, and after receiving her doctorate from WSU, she returned in September 2005. Serving as the coordinator for EWU’s ESL program, Petrie is also the board vice president for Projects for People, which helps to fund Escuela San Miguel. In addition to teaching workshops at Escuela San Miguel, Petrie helped with the creation of the children’s English program in Nicaragua after school and community input. She was able to show the teachers how to create a curriculum from scratch, and it has been one of the most popular programs at the school. “Education has historically been about bare necessities. So when adults and high school students learn English, it is to get a better job,” Petrie said. “The children’s English program is the first enrichment program in the village. Whenever anyone identifies a need, and I can help meet that need, that is so satisfying.”

About Escuela San Miguel

Escuela San Miguel is a vocational school located in the town of Cárdenas, in the Rivas Department of southwestern Nicaragua. The school teaches a variety of trades, including sewing, computer repair as well as English. Escuela San Miguel receives funding through Projects for People, a U.S.-based nonprofit set up for its support, which helps to pay for teacher salaries, maintenance and repair. Founded by Dean White and his family, Escuela San Miguel was named in tribute to White’s brother, Michael, who had recently died from a rare blood disorder.

Escuela San Miguel

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

About the Author – Greg Cunningham ’01 Nearly eight years into Greg Cunningham’s career as the director for refugee and immigration services at the Catholic Charities of Spokane, an undocumented mother and her four children came to him for help after a devastating incident. The family had arrived in the United States needing a better life – they worked hard; they made ends meet. But that stopped when the mother received a call that her daughter was in the hospital. She was told by caseworkers her daughter had been sexually assaulted by her husband. “When I met her for the first time, there was no life in her eyes,” Cunningham said. “There was nothing.” This was Cunningham’s first special U visa case, which provides visas for immigrants who are victims of a crime. He worked with the family for four years and helped to transform a shocking moment into a positive outcome – the family received visas, Social Security numbers and green cards as their next step toward citizenship. “I ran into her in Okanogan County years later, and she looked amazing. Her eyes were bright, she had a cute haircut, she was dressed well and had an easy smile,” he said. “And I thought, ‘That’s why I do this.’ It’s a life-changing thing to take someone from that pit of despair and get them to a place where they’re on their way.” There was no aha moment for Cunningham when he became interested in refugees and immigration law – he fell into the profession. While earning his master’s degree at Eastern in English as a second or foreign language (ESL) in 2001, Cunningham began interning at Catholic Charities, which later led to his position as the program director. Fifteen years later, Cunningham is still offering his guidance on immigrant issues, such as domestic violence, employment, residency and citizenship. He now works as a paralegal at Quiroga Law Office in Spokane Valley. “At this point, I’ve become passionate about it,” he said. “It’s interesting for starters. For me, it’s a real justice issue. I see that hardworking, good, honest people have been put in impossible situations, and they’re doing their best to survive.” The Quiroga Law Office seeks to be a first-class immigration law firm, and although Cunningham enjoys the work, it doesn’t come easy. “These are people’s lives at risk,” Cunningham said. “I make an error, and a family gets split up. That’s what keeps me up at night the most.” Cunningham hopes to conduct more Citizenship Days in the future, where he has previously partnered with Eastern students, faculty and staff, including his wife, Gina Mikel Petrie, to provide the legal applications for citizenship to immigrants, as well as test strategies for passing the citizen exams. Cunningham and Petrie had a mutual connection through EWU and ESL, which eventually led them to 14 years of marriage and raising five children, ages 10-29. Petrie and Cunningham have made an enormous difference in the lives they have touched in the past, and through their dedication, they will continue to influence countless more in the future.

WHERE EAGLES NEST. Even more to love:

Anthropologie and &Kloth Now Open

Urban Outfitters and Tortilla Union Opening Fall 2016

River Park Square, in the heart of downtown Spokane. Where stunning escalators rise through three levels of shopping, dining and entertainment. Where Nordstrom, Anthropologie, The Apple Store, Sephora, The North Face, Urban Outfitters and other brands mix with local boutiques and flavor. Where AMC 20 Theatres with IMAX and Mobius Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum offer diversions from the ordinary. Where the wonders of Riverfront Park and downtown Spokane are just steps away from convenient covered parking. And most of all, where the looks, the styles, and the fashion make you the center of attention.

DOWNTOWN SPOK ANE AT M AIN & POST

riverparksquare.com

NG I H S WA N R TE S A E 2016

M O C . S G A E O G

| S C I T E L H T A U W E |@

3.16 ST. | 09.0 N O T G IN @ WASH 0.16 A ST. | 9.1 T O K A D H @ NORT

.16 ! RED OUT A | 09.17 W IO N R E NORTH

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

.16 A | 09.24 N O IZ R A ERN @ NORTH

AY BELIEVOEFDFAME DAY HALL

| UC DAVIS

10.01.16

N DAY PRECIATIO MING HOMECROY/ VETERANS AP .16 8 .0 A 0 MILIT LO. | 1

N CO NORTHER

0.22.1 NA ST. | 1 A T N O M @

UT! BLACKUOLTURE DAY AGRIC 0.29.16

|1 MONTANA

ll a b t oo F Y T SI R E V NI U N GTO

Kupp Cooper R W 0 1 #

| S G A E #GO

5.16 LY | 11.0 @ CAL PO AY SENIOR D

. | 11 IDAHO ST

.12.16

.18.1 D ST. | 11 N A L T R O @P

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

Taking Eagle Pride to a new level. Thank you, EWU, for an amazing partnership!

Touchdowns for a Cause.

Freethrows for a Cause.

$150,000 Scholarship Endowment to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inspire Awesome!â&#x20AC;?

800.433.1837 numericacu.com

this moment of

wa s bro u gh t t o yo u by yo u r gen ero us scho l ar sh i p do n at i o n s! Tabi t h a Nu nley rec ei ved an E WU sch o l ar sh i p o n AB C 's Th e V i ew. To read m o re abo u t Tabi tha's big su r pr i se, t u r n t o page 1 0. Yo u can h el p spread t h e j oy an d I NS P I RE AW E S O M E . Give t o day: ewu. ed u/insp i rea wes ome

Meet the McElwains BY SCOTT CARTER

We take a lot of pride in being Eastern Eagles and what that place meant to us. - Jim McElwain

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

Jim and Karen McElwain with Elizabeth, Jerrett and Hanna Photos: Tim Casey, photographer, University Athletic Association, University of Florida

University of Florida Head Football Coach Jim McElwain is onstage at a theater in Orlando, speaking to another group of orange-and-blue faithful on his annual spring tour around the Sunshine State. Seated in a row up front near the corner of the stage, Jim's wife, Karen, and their youngest daughter, Elizabeth, watch and listen as Coach Mac entertains the crowd with a mixture of one-liners, insider info about the team and lessons he has learned during a coaching career that spans four decades. Karen has heard most of the stories many times, but the tall, blonde Washington native is as enthusiastic as anyone among the crowd of approximately 400. Jim, as she refers to the man she married in 1988, is on top of his game this night, much like that evening in 1984 when she first realized she was falling for the quarterback-turned-coach. As they would often do, Jim, Karen and a group of their friends

were out for a night of dancing near the Eastern Washington University campus. They moved among the same circle of friends, many of them EWU baseball players. Jim was a roommate with a baseball player, and Karen had served as one of the team’s batgirls. At the time, Karen was still an undergrad on the Cheney campus, and Jim, a recent graduate, was in the early stages of his coaching career as a graduate assistant under former Eagles head coach Dick Zornes. Karen recalls that Jim was a great Western swing dancer. On this particular night out, another young woman thought so, too. She wrote her phone number on a napkin and dropped it down the back of Jim’s shirt. Karen immediately took notice. “That’s when I realized, ‘Oh, my gosh, I don’t want her calling Jim.’ I realized I was in love with the guy,” Karen said. “My protective mode came on. She must not have met my approval.” A friendship soon blossomed into more, helped along by Jim’s talent in the kitchen. He made Karen a spaghetti and stuffed

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

Jim McElwain, 1982, photo: EWU Athletics

mushroom dish on their first date. They dated for four years and then married, remaining close to their alma mater as Jim’s coaching career took off. In his spacious office at University of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, far removed from Woodward Field where Jim was a quarterback and two-time letter winner for the Eagles in 1981-82, he looks back fondly on where his and Karen’s journey began.

When you reach back and really look at the impact of your life, the city of Cheney and Eastern Washington University probably are as thick a fabric as we have. I obviously grew up in Montana, but really spent 1980 to 1995 in Cheney. That’s where I started my life with my family. That’s pretty much home for all three of our kids.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

Photo: Tim Casey

The McElwains remain close to many of the friends and family they met at EWU. Marc Hughes, deputy athletic director for development at EWU, has arranged many trips over the years to visit the McElwains wherever they are. The door is always open for EWU pals at the MacFam Inn, which has called eight states home over the years. “It’s a rotating door,” Karen said. “It’s a lot of fun for us, and we’re thankful we can share the experience with so many people we have met over the years from all the different places we’ve lived.” The McElwains last visited EWU in 2010 when Woodward Field, now known as Roos Field, celebrated the installation of a red turf with financial contributions from many alumni, including former NFL AllPro Michael Roos, national media personality Colin Cowherd and the McElwains. Instead of building an outdoor kitchen at their home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, during Jim’s four seasons as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator, Hughes convinced the couple to donate money to the renovation of the EWU football stadium. “We take a lot of pride in being Eastern Eagles and what that place meant to us,’’ Jim said. As the McElwains prepared for their second season at the University of Florida, they returned home over the summer to their place on

Jim McElwain, 1985, photo: EWU Athletics

Photo: Tim Casey

Flathead Lake in Montana for a special occasion – the wedding of their oldest daughter, Hanna. Those who have known the McElwains since they were at EWU swear they are the same couple who met in college. Down to earth. Approachable. Fun to be around. “He grew up pretty humble. Most of us did,” said Mark Bray, a childhood friend of Jim’s who once lived with the McElwains in Cheney. “We know our roots. He’s made it big time, and it doesn’t change him.” The McElwains now call a 16-acre plot of land in Florida home. Hanna lives in Phoenix. Elizabeth lives in Orlando. Son Jerrett is finishing college in Alabama. Life has moved fast for the couple since their nights dancing in Cheney. These days, they are focused on creating special memories as Gators, including nights like the one in Orlando where they mingled with Florida boosters and fans. “We’re the newbies,” Karen said. “Being captain of the ship, Jim needs to know who his mates are. It’s all about relationship building and being genuine about it. It’s their baby. They have always been Gators. We hope this is our last stop.” But the McElwains will always remember their first stop – Woodward Field, at the intersection of Elm and Washington Streets at EWU. E

Coach Mac’s Career 1985-86 EWU – graduate assistant 1987-1994 EWU – quarterbacks, receivers 1995-1999 Montana State – offensive coordinator, receivers, special teams 2000-2002 Louisville – receivers, special teams 2003-2005 Michigan State – assistant head coach 2006 Oakland Raiders – quarterbacks 2007 Fresno State – offensive coordinator, quarterbacks 2008-2011 Alabama – offensive coordinator, quarterbacks 2012-2014 Colorado State – head coach 2015-present Florida – head coach

Accomplishments: Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year, 2015 American Football Coaches Association, Regional Coach of the Year, 2015 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year, 2014 American Football Coaches Association, Regional Coach of the Year, 2014 E ASTERN: FALL 2016

By Christine Roach

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

The sound of old friends reuniting, champagne glasses clinking and beautiful piano music filled the air at the 2016 Alumni Awards Gala May 20 at the Spokane Convention Center. More than 175 people attended the event to honor Eastern’s inspiring alumni. “Tonight, we are thrilled to be here recognizing some incredible individuals and one great organization,” Kelleye Heydon ’95, president-elect of the EWU Alumni Association, said. “You will quickly learn that they are completely deserving of these awards.” Alumni were nominated for the awards in December, and a committee selected winners in March. The committee is composed of past winners, EWU Alumni Association board members and campus and community partners. Honorees were chosen (pictured left to right) for the following categories: Fred Wong ’64, Exceptional Military Service Susan Ashe ’12, Alumna of Service Amanda Swan-Roadruck ’16, ’09, Inspirational Young Alumna Matt Minton ’93, Eagle4Life Spirit Marilee Roloff ’73, Lifetime Achievement Jean Kay Swartz received the Presidential Philanthropy Award, and Numerica Credit Union was named Organization of the Year.

Watch videos of the 2016 Alumni Awards recipients by visiting our online story at ewu.edu/easternmagazine

JEAN KAYE SWARTZ Presidential Philanthropy Award Jean Kaye Swartz and her late husband, J. Herman Swartz, established endowed scholarships to support EWU students and have successfully supported students for more than 10 years. Neither Jean nor Herman graduated from Eastern, but they funded six EWU scholarships in various fields, including medical technology, nursing and biology. The Swartz family also established the first graduate fellowship for biotechnology students. “The parents come to some of the events and will say, ‘Oh you’re so wonderful, so generous.’ I say, ‘Look, these are not handed out to kids. Your child, who has a scholarship, has earned it,’” Jean once said. Herman wanted to establish scholarships so students could have the opportunity to go to college and have the advantage of higher education. “It was a benefactor who provided the money for my scholarship, and now I’m in a position to be a benefactor,” Herman once said. To ensure their legacy of supporting education lives on, the Swartz family has also established a planned gift to continue funding the scholarships.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

NUMERICA CREDIT UNION Organization of the Year Numerica Credit Union has been serving the Spokane region for more than 75 years, giving back to the community through donations, events and partnerships. Numerica truly values education and service, and proudly announced a $150,000 contribution to EWU’s Inspire Awesome scholarship campaign, which helps students afford the rising costs of education. “When I brought the $150,000 idea back to the organization, they said, ‘Can we do it? Can we do it? Yeah! Let’s do it,’” Carla Altepeter, CEO of Numerica Credit Union, said. “I have a whole team of people behind me that support Eastern, support our communities.” In 2013, Numerica partnered with the Alumni Association as the original sponsor of the Alumni Awards Gala. In 2014, it expanded its support by becoming a sponsor of EWU’s Young Professionals Network. Numerica has continuously supported EWU events, while also supporting the community. Numerica partnered with EWU to bring Touchdowns for a Cause to university football games, donating $100 per touchdown to local nonprofits. In total Numerica has contributed $2,400 to area charities through that program.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

AMANDA SWAN-ROADRUCK ’16, ’09 Inspirational Young Alumna Amanda Swan-Roadruck's passion for and dedication to service in the Spokane and EWU community have positively impacted the place she calls home. As the community relations coordinator for Numerica Credit Union, she develops community partnerships and coordinates charitable campaigns across the region. In 2015, Swan-Roadruck’s work influenced community giving of more than $1 million. Also serving as Numerica’s United Way campaign coordinator since 2013, she has raised more than $125,000 for the organization and has more than doubled Numerica’s community outreach throughout eastern Washington. Graduating with an MS in communications in 2016, Swan-Roadruck continues to stay active in the EWU community by serving on the board of directors for EWU’s Young Professionals Network. She also established a partnership with EWU Athletics called Touchdowns for a Cause, providing local nonprofit organizations exposure and funding at each EWU home football game. In her personal time, Swan-Roadruck has actively supported Blessings Under the Bridge, which feeds more than 300 homeless men, women and children in the Spokane area. She has also volunteered with numerous organizations, including Women Helping Women, Planned Parenthood and Idaho Youth Ranch, among many others.

MATT MINTON ’93 Eagle4Life Spirit Attending EWU the same time as his mother and two sisters, Matt Minton embodies his family’s love for EWU by promoting alumni events and avidly supporting the university’s athletics. Minton was instrumental in the creation, development and implementation of numerous activities as part of the Westside Alumni Advisory Committee. He helped to establish the westside student send-off event, held annually in September, which connects EWU students and their parents before heading off to Cheney. He also worked to create the Westside Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to four students from the west side of Washington. “I’ve been so thankful for the opportunities that Eastern has provided me in my career and education, so this was a good way for me to give back,” Minton once said. Although Minton works near Seattle as a senior content publishing manager for Microsoft, he encourages his family to root for EWU during football and basketball games, both in Seattle and in Cheney. Minton has held multiple viewing parties for EWU football games, generating attendance for his event through social media. Minton’s love, loyalty and pride for EWU makes him the first Eagle4Life recipient, as it has been described that promoting and encouraging Eastern is one of his greatest joys.

SUSAN ASHE ’12 Alumna of Service Beginning her career at Kaiser Aluminum as a secretary, Susan Ashe worked while raising her son as a single, low-income mother after fleeing an abusive relationship. She now actively devotes her personal and professional life to balancing equity and justice for all. Ashe serves as the current board chair for the YWCA and, in 2015, served as the chair of the YWCA’s Women of Achievement luncheon, which raised a record $303,000 under her efforts. Ashe’s leadership also helped her to climb the corporate ladder to later become Kaiser’s Northwest public affairs manager. After working at Kaiser for nearly 25 years, she then served as the director of legislative and public affairs for four mayors of the city of Spokane. One of her greatest successes was raising more than $22 million in direct state and federal appropriations for city projects. Now, Ashe serves as the executive director for the Health Sciences and Services Authority of Spokane County, which was created to promote economic development through bio and health sciences research. She is also an accredited business communicator with the International Association of Business Communicators. “Susan Ashe has left, and continues to leave, a positive, forward-thinking impact on our community,” Kim Pearman-Gilman, director of strategic market development at McKinstry, once said. “Spokane is simply much better for having her in it.”

BRIG. GEN. (RETIRED) FRED WONG ’64 Exceptional Military Service Fred Wong graduated from Eastern Washington State College in 1964 as a Distinguished Military Graduate from ROTC, launching him into an outstanding 31-year career in the U.S. Army. Wong served two tours in Vietnam and later enrolled in the Infantry Officer Advance Course, preparing for command and staff assignments at a higher level. He landed back at EWU as an ROTC instructor, where he found time to complete his master’s in guidance and counseling. Wong continued his career with assignments in Germany, Kansas, Georgia and Pennsylvania, and upon returning to Washington, D.C., he served as the chief of Assignments Branch, Colonels Division, U.S. Army Personnel Center. Following that job, Wong found his way back to his home state of Hawaii, and during his time at the United States Pacific Command, he was promoted to brigadier general. His last assignment was as director, Office of Personnel Management Directorate, in Alexandria, Virginia. Wong retired in August 1995, having received the Silver Star, Bronze Star with two Valor devices, two Purple Hearts and two awards of Air Medal. Wong and his wife, Vicky, have been married for 52 years and reside in Tennessee. He continues to enjoy gardening, something he picked up during his time in Kansas.

MARILEE ROLOFF ’73 Lifetime Achievement Since graduating from EWU in 1973, Marilee Roloff has been brightening lives in the Spokane area for more than 30 years at Volunteers of America. As a strong community leader, Roloff has helped countless individuals in the community – hundreds of thousands of bellies fed, backs clothed and runaways reunited with their families. Roloff served as the president and CEO of Volunteers for America for nearly 20 years and extended her role across the community by serving on various organizations, such as the Havermale High School advisory committee and the Medical Respite committee, among many more. As the founding director of Crosswalk, a teen shelter, Roloff broadened the nonprofit's programs to include a women’s shelter, as well as housing for veterans, low-income individuals, people who are disabled and the chronically homeless. Roloff has contributed to the Eastern community by recruiting, training and supporting hundreds of interns, practicum students and volunteers from EWU – exemplifying her commitment to the university and its students. “As far as I’m concerned, Marilee Roloff should have her number retired, her jersey hung from the rafters, a wing of offices named after her and a statue of her on campus,” Robert McCann, PhD, and executive director of Catholic Charities of Spokane, once said. “She is the best of the best.”

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

Get Lit! EWU Alumni Reading // Spokane April 16 New this year – EWU MFA creative writing alums shared their works as part of Get Lit!, a literary festival in Spokane.

Young Professionals Network (YPN) // Spokane February 11 Topic: Speed Networking – Like speed-dating, only participants mixed it up, expanded their networks, pitched business ideas and looked for employment.

CBPA Golf & Wine // Walla Walla April 29–30 Attendees had the opportunity to network, golf and visit Walla Walla vineyards.

Bloomsday Trade Show // Spokane April 30

Young Professionals Network (YPN) // Spokane April 14 Topic: Achieving Work-Life Balance – participants learned strategies for staying healthy and balancing the demands of work and personal life. 36

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

The EWU Bookstore offers all things Eastern at the nation’s largest 12K race.

EAF Celebration Dinner and Golf // Tri-Cities May 26â&#x20AC;&#x201C;27 Eagle fans joined EWU coaches for golf and fun!

EWU Alumni Awards // Spokane May 20 Distinguished alums were recognized for their outstanding achievements while family and friends celebrated their success.

Senior Send-Off // Cheney June 2 A new Eastern tradition began this year! The senior class took its final, symbolic walk down the Showalter Hall walkway, through the Herculean Pillars and were greeted on the other side by EWU alumni, staff and faculty.

Social Work Alumni Network (SWAN) // Cheney

Drive for Excellence Golf Classic // Liberty Lake

May 21

June 3

The third annual alumni social allowed alums to connect and reconnect in historic Hargreaves Hall.

The College of Business and Public Administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual scholarship fundraiser. E ASTERN: FALL 2016

LOOK

INCREDIBLE.

EVERY DAY.

bookstore.ewu.edu | 509.359.2542

class notes EMAIL YOUR NOTES TO EASTERNMAGAZINE@EWU.EDU.

’15 Vernon Adams Jr., BA interdisciplinary studies, former EWU quarterback, has signed a three-year contract to play for the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes.

’13 Lee McIntyre, BA international affairs, has joined Windermere Real Estate/City Group LLC’s Kendall Yards office as an agent. He has worked the past two years as a sales representative for Mondelez International Inc.

’15 Liudmila V. Bakhtina, BA accounting, has been hired as tax staff at Moss Adams LLP in Spokane.

’13, ’93 Patrick Pace, master’s certification – school counselor, BA education – social science, has been inducted into the Washington State Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was also honored as the state 1A coach of the year. He is in his 20th year as the head fastpitch softball coach at Montesano High School, Montesano, Washington.

’15 Sagynysh Little, BA accounting, has joined Dingus, Zarecor & Associates PLLC as a staff accountant. ’15 Jamie Mulligan, BA communication studies, has been hired by etailz Inc. as a purchasing order management partner. Previously, she worked for Itron Inc. ’15 Jared O’Connor, MS interdisciplinary studies, master’s certificate health service administration, has been hired as a health educator by the Washington Poison Center. He also has a background in emergency preparedness. ’15 Brent Powers, BA management, has been hired by etailz Inc. as a purchase order management partner.

’14 Rachael Carlisle, BA accounting, has been promoted to a staff B accountant at Nicholas Knapton PS. She previously worked as a staff accountant. ’14 Dakota Felland, BA accounting, has been promoted to staff A accountant at Nicholas Knapton PS. ’14 Seth J. Weber, BA visual communication design, has been hired as an art director by advertising agency Hanna & Associates Inc.

’13 Brian Doty, BA management, has joined etailz Inc. as an international financial analyst II. ’13 Peter Franz, BA interdisciplinary studies, has been hired by etailz Inc. as an international onboarding coordinator. ’13 Shane Kostka, BS environmental science and geology, has been promoted to staff geologist-in-training at Landau Associates.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

’13 Michael Shriver, BA finance, has joined etailz Inc. as lead inventory analyst. He previously worked for Wells Fargo & Company.

’12 David Ittner, MBA, has been promoted to chief operating officer at Fairmount Memorial Association in Spokane. He has been the vice president of operations for two years. ’12 Miyeko Takeshita, BA visual communication design, has joined etailz Inc. as a senior graphic designer. She previously worked for the Better Business Bureau.

’11 Nick Crooks, BA accounting, has been promoted to supervisor at Nicholas Knapton PS. He previously worked as a senior accountant. ’11 Sarah A. Wallin, BA psychology, has been hired as the branch manager for STCU’s Downtown (Spokane) Branch. Previously, she was the executive director at Wishing Star Foundation.

’10, ’04 Lance Kissler, MS communications, BA graphic communications, has been honored with Leadership Spokane’s 2016 Spirit of the Red Cross award. ’10 Jack Schneider, BS electrical engineering, has joined NAC Architecture as an electrical engineer. He is working on projects for the Quincy School District and the Providence St. Mary Neuroscience Medical Office Building in Walla Walla.

’09, ’96 Megan Demand, MBA, BS biology, has joined Positive Changes Hypnosis Center as director of corporate business development. Her past experience includes pharmaceutical sales and operations management. ’09 Eric Denney, MS physical education, has joined the YMCA of the Inland Northwest as the associate branch executive for the central location in Spokane.

08 07

’08 Tyler Jaquish, BS computer engineering tech, has joined etailz Inc. as a developer. ’07 Sam Buzby, BA visual communication design, has been promoted to manager of digital communications for EWU Marketing & Communications, where he previously worked as the web communications consultant. ’07, ’05 Dawn Kinder, MSW, BA human development, has been named director of the Community, Housing and Human Services Department for the city of Spokane. She was previously the director of Workforce Education in the Opportunity Center for Employment and Education at North Seattle College. ’07 Rusty Madsen, BA management, has been promoted to vice president, commercial banking officer for Columbia Bank, Spokane. ’07 Mollie Mraz, BA electronic media and filmic arts, has joined etailz Inc. as a customer service associate. ’07 Matt Richards, BA marketing, has earned the Chartered Property Casualty underwriter designation. Richard is a senior commercial insurance underwriter.

’05 Erik Chaffins, BA management information systems, has joined the Potlatch Corp. as a senior information systems analyst. Previously, he was the data warehouse administrator at STCU.

OCT. 7-8 ClassES of 1966 and 1967 50-YEAR Reunion AND HOMECOMING CELEBRATION Register at alumni.ewu.edu/reunion2016 ’05 Angela Grunte, MBA, has been promoted from executive vice president to chief operating officer for Vizant. She joined Vizant in 2006 and has extensive experience in the payments and treasury industry. ’05 Latisha Hill, MURP, has been named senior vice president for Avista Development by Avista Corp. She joined Avista in 2005 and previously served as the manager of consulting and analytics in the human resources department.

’04 Dan Curley, BA recreation management, has joined the Wishing Star Foundation as executive director. ’04 Dena Darrow, BA accounting, has been named the finance director for Kootenai County, Idaho. Previously, she was with Itron. ’04 Jason E. Delp, BA government, has joined Inland Capital LLC as chief operating officer. Previously, he was with Umpqua Bank, formerly Sterling Bank, for 17 years, most recently as vice president, commercial real estate serving manager.

03 02

’03 Georgia Merz, MEd, instructional media and technology, and her husband, Ed, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June. ’02 Beth Crossman, BA communication studies, has joined Dingus, Zarecor & Associates PLLC, of Spokane Valley, as a marketing communication specialist. She previously worked for Berg Cos. ’02, ’96 Sherry Wallis, MS communication studies, BA liberal studies, has joined STCU as a community development officer based at the University District (Spokane) and Post Falls, Idaho, branch locations. She previously worked as the executive director of the Post Falls Food Bank.

’98 Tracy Ballard, BA human resource management/BA business administration, has been named human resources director for STCU. She was previously the employee-relations and benefits and compensation manager there. She joined the credit union in 2012.

’98 Kim Pilkinton, BA English, has been promoted to personal lines account executive at Moloney O’Neill. ’98 Fawn Schott, BA English, has been named president and chief executive officer of Volunteers of America of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Schott was previously the director of programs for the Family Impact Network of Spokane. ’98, ’95 Josh Waldo, MPA, BA sociology, vice president of partner strategy and programs for Nintex, has been named to its prestigious list of 2016 Channel Chiefs. The executives on this annual list represent top leaders in the IT channel who excel at driving growth and revenue in their organizations through channel partners. Before Nintex, Waldo spent nine years at Microsoft, where he served as senior director of cloud partner strategy within the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

class notes

’97 Scott Simmons, BA liberal studies, has been appointed assistant secretary at the Main Street America Group. He is responsible for leading Main Street America’s Austin Mutual Insurance Company agribusiness operations, where he oversees premium growth and profitability initiatives in 11 Midwest and Western states. He has extensive experience in agribusiness underwriting and management.

’96 Chris Chiacchierini, MFA creative writing, is the new executive director for Incight, a Portland group that works with persons with disabilities. ’96 James Trefry, BA government, labor program manager and lead negotiator for the city of Bellevue, Washington, has been elected to the Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union board of directors.

’94 Jodie Brierley, BA business administration, has joined Telect as an account manager. She has 25 years of experience in supply chain management and was previously with Esterline. ’94 Nancy Voise, MEd, has been appointed as the assistant superintendent of secondary education for the Naperville Community Unit School District 203 in Plainfield, Illinois.

’93 Troy Clute, BA English, has joined Numerica Credit Union’s Home Loan Center as vice president. He previously worked for Mountain West Bank as a real estate manager. ’93, ’81, Diane Griffin, MEd, BA early childhood education, retired in June after several decades teaching in Spokane Public Schools.

’92 Kim Morin Reasoner, BA earth science, has been hired as the director of community outreach for Inland Northwest Land Conservancy. She was previously with Bozzi Media.

’91, ’84, ’78 Jim Fisk, MEd, BA physical education, BA recreation management, is retiring after 13 years as the football coach for the Chewelah (Washington) Cougars. He has a 32-year career in the classroom and on the field, including West Valley High School in Spokane Valley and Lakeside High School, Nine Mile Falls, Washington. His retirement plans include a lot of fishing.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

’90 Todd Mielke, BA business administration, has been selected as the new CEO of Greater Spokane Incorporated. He served as a Spokane County Commissioner for the past 11 years.

’86 Keller Allen, BA general studies, an attorney with Keller W. Allen PC, has been recognized as a 2016 Super Lawyer for employment and labor law by Super Lawyers Magazine. ’86 Sandra J. LaScuola, BS nursing, has been named chief nurse executive for Sutter Tracy Community Hospital in Tracy, California. She has more than 30 years’ experience as a nurse and most recently served as the director of critical care, medical-surgical telemetry, and director of clinical education at Sutter Novato Community Hospital.

’85 Collette C. Leland, BA history, was recognized as a Rising Star in the state of Washington by Super Lawyers Magazine. Her law practice focuses on commercial and business litigation, appeals and criminal defense for Winston & Cashatt, Lawyers, in Spokane. ’85, ’80 Jack R. Smith, MEd, BA English, has been appointed as the new superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland’s largest school system. Smith served as the Calvert County superintendent of schools from 20062013, before being appointed the deputy state superintendent for teaching and learning, and chief academic officer. In 2015, he assumed the role of Interim state superintendent of schools.

’80 Jeff Verble, BA industrial technology, has joined BECU (formerly Boeing Employees Credit Union) as senior relationship manager for commercial banking for the Spokane branches.

79 78

’79 Jeff Berglund, BA marketing, has joined Numerica Credit Union’s Home Loan Center as external sales manager. He has more than 22 years of experience in the lending field. ’78 David R. Armstrong, BA marketing, director of finance at Spokane International Airport, has been named the 2016 Small Hub Airport “Finance Professional of the Year” by the Airports Council InternationalNorth America. He joined Spokane International Airport in August 2008.

’76 Steven Storey, BA urban and regional planning, senior vice president of HomeStreet Bank, is the new team leader for commercial lending in Spokane. He has been in the financial services industry for more than 35 years and has held executive positions in private banking and wealth management for three other financial institutions.

’75 Kent Schultz, BA management information systems, has joined BECU (formerly Boeing Employees Credit Union) as senior relationship manager for commercial banking for the Spokane branches.

’74 Kim Cooper, BA radio/TV, has received the Circle of Excellence award from the Coeur d’ Alene Association of Realtors based on his production of sales volume, commitment to community service and professional excellence. He is a broker with Select Brokers Real Estate.

’71 Paula Nordgaarden, BA Spanish, has joined Hennessey Funeral Homes & Crematories as a certified life celebrant. She previously served as executive director of Wishing Star Foundation.

’69 Kenneth Leisher, BA psychology, and wife Pat, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June. The couple married in Spokane. Ken spent 28 years in the U.S. Army. Following retirement from the military, he was CEO of two civilian hospitals before the couple moved to Salida, Colorado, where he was CEO of Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center from 2006 to 2013.

’68 Kirk Suess, BA elementary education, Col. U.S. Army, retired, followed by 15 years as a general contractor to include 10 years of substitute teaching in Indio, California, and at seven schools in Whitman County. He resides in Steptoe, Washington.

’54 Jim Simanton, BA education, and ’51 Marjorie (Brinkman) Simanton, BA education, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in June.

Part social hour and part career booster, the EWU Young Professionals Network is the perfect place to meet fellow alumni while getting insider career advice.

Join us from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Locations vary. Building Real Relationships Through Networking Holiday Social Speed Networking

Oct. 6, 2016 Nov. 17, 2016 Feb. 9, 2017

Know Your Worth: Negotiate Your Value

March 9, 2017

YPN Volunteer Day

April 13, 2017

More information and registration for YPN programs is available online at alumni.ewu.edu/events.

in memoriam

08 02 00 99 92 89 87 85 83 82 81 80 79

’08 Jonathan Van Keulen, age 31, died April 4, Spokane, Washington ’02 Timothy L. Goehner, age 68, died March 26, Spokane, Washington ’00 Christy A. Dougherty, age 60, died May 24, Pasco, Washington

’00 Dennis E. Dunham, age 63, died March 29, Spokane, Washington ’99 David A. Wilson, age 49, died March 20, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

’92 Della Davis, age 53, died April 7, in Hamilton, Montana

’89 Cynthia S. Angelo, age 64, died May 13, Hospice House of North Idaho

’89 Robin A. Good, age 53, died Feb. 29, Everett, Washington ’87 Donald G. Frerichs, age 51, died March 2, Roseburg, Oregon

’87 Donna J. Phinney, age 64, died March 30, Spokane, Washington ’85 Cheryl D. DeBoer, age 53, died Feb. 8, Mountlake Terrace, Washington ’83 Suzanne L. Lefevre, age 53, died May 14, Spokane, Washington ’82 William F. Fortune, age 82, died May 4, Edmonds, Washington

’81 Gladys J. Baldwin, age 92, died May 11, Bremerton, Washington ’80, ’78 Dorothy L. Jones, age 94, died May 31, Seattle, Washington

’80 Fred Oberdorfer, age 60, died May 6, Colbert, Washington ’79 William C. Dean, age 66, died March 28, Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho

’79 Karen L. Knoshaug, age 59, died Feb. 13, Mount Vernon, Washington ’79 Steven M. Miller, age 59, died May 28, Spokane Valley, Washington

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

’79 Douglas M. Shields, age 59, died May 14, Federal Way, Washington

78 77 76 75 72 71 70 67 66 65 61 60 59

’78 Dorothy L. Jones, age 94, died May 31, Seattle, Washington ’77 Joe N. Penry, age 78, died May 14, Tacoma, Washington ’76 Howard A. Bursch, age 80, died April 17, Medical Lake, Washington

’76 Mary P. McGough, age 63, died May 14, Springfield, Oregon ’75 Lisa Gordon, age 62, died June 16, Anacortes, Washington

’75 Eileen K. Osmundson, age 63, died Feb. 17, Woodland, Washington ’72 Charles M. Dodson, age 67, died May 31, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

’72 Ronald G. Harter, age 66, died May 31, Vancouver, Washington ’71 Jan V. Barrett, age 66, died March 8, Spokane, Washington

’71 Frank Delaney, age 70, died Feb. 7, Spokane, Washington ’70 Warren F. Heinemann, age 69, died April 2, Livermore, California

’70 Robert E. Lingow, age 79, died May 19, Greenacres, Washington ’67 James T. Casey, age 74, died April 5, Mesa, Arizona

’67 Russell L. Creaser, age 83, died in April, Mesa, Arizona ’66 Bill R. Watson, age 77, died Feb. 22, Spokane, Washington ’65 Sharon L. Akins, age 73, died June 20, Spokane, Washington

’61 Janet E. Rowse, age 76, died April 5, Rochester, Minnesota ’60 Inez G. Miller, age 101, died April 14, Whitefish, Montana ’59 Elaine Burton, age 79, died Feb. 11, Clarkston, Washington

’57 Louie Marrazzo, age 84, died April 11, Spokane, Washington

’57 Lorraine (King) Schloss, age 81, died June 14, Lynnwood, Washington ’57 Stanley T. Williams, age 88, died April 6, Bradenton, Florida

56 55 53 51 50 47 43

’56 Col. Roy B. Bernd, age 81, died Jan. 26, Lake Stevens, Washington

’56 Dr. William M. Fortune, age 82, died May 4, Edmonds, Washington ’55 Duncan E. Hallett, age 84, died May 16, Spokane, Washington ’53 James D. Cox, age 85, died Feb. 27, Washougal, Washington

’51 Charles R. Randall Jr., age 89, died March 9, Bellingham, Washington ’50 Irene R. Bennett, age 88, died March 26, Ritzville, Washington ’47 Irvin T. Leifer, age 93, died Feb. 26, Renton, Washington ’43 Helen Wirth, age 100, died May 18, Kennewick, Washington

’43 Inez Augusta Edlich, age 96, died March 13, Eugene, Oregon

Faculty & Staff Lorraine Cummings died Feb. 18, 2016. She retired from EWU July 1993, after 18 years of service in the Communications Studies department.

Charles Keys Sr. died Feb. 19, 2016. He retired from Eastern November 2005, after 21 years of service in the Fabrication Shop. Ray Schults died March 9, 2016, in Lewiston, Idaho. He was professor emeritus of history and was the scorekeeper for Eastern’s basketball team for many years, when Ed Chissus was coaching. Stan Troyer died April 25. He retired February 1996, after 19 years in custodial services.

A Legacy of Beautiful Music

Wendell “Pete” Exline Aug. 15, 1922 – April 7, 2016

Music was Wendell “Pete” Exline’s life. He loved it all. “I can tap my foot to most anything,”he once said. And Exline ensured that others would have the opportunity to do so, too. The beloved retired professor died April 7 in Spokane, leaving his entire estate to the EWU Foundation. “I can’t think of a better place for my assets to go,” Exline once said when asked about his decision. In 1996, Exline established the Wendell Exline Music Scholarship endowment to benefit music students at Eastern, with half earmarked for scholarships and half for music acquisitions for the library. Born in Enid, Oklahoma, Exline studied at Oklahoma State University, Northwestern University and the University of California in Los Angeles. He served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946. After graduating from Northwestern with a master’s degree, he accepted a faculty position at Eastern in 1949, teaching brass instruments and music history for 31 years before retiring in 1979. He was director of bands and created Eastern’s swing band, which evolved into the university’s highly successful jazz program. From 1949 to 1960, he was principal French horn in the Spokane

Philharmonic. At EWU, he conducted bands and other ensembles. Beginning with a sabbatical leave from EWU in 1964, Exline traveled throughout Europe to interview French horn performing and teaching professionals to document playing and teaching techniques. The results were digitized into the MP3 format and are a part of the archive of the International Horn Society. Exline was a lifetime member of the International Horn Society and regularly attended the society’s meetings until the year of his death. His horn-playing colleagues the world over and his colleagues and students at EWU and in Spokane valued Exline’s knowledge, his unfailing humor and his willingness to share a good story. Exline’s legacy gift will continue to make beautiful music for generations to come. Share your favorite story about Pete Exline by sending it to easternmagazine@ewu.edu. For information about establishing your own legacy gift with the EWU Foundation, contact Dennis Reed, College Advancement Director Planned Giving, 509.359.6901, dreed8@ewu.edu.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

final thoughts

From Lisa Poplawski, Director of Alumni Advancement Here they come! Please help me welcome the latest EWU graduates to our alumni family! I want to introduce you to my new alumnus friend, Aaron Parr, who earned a BA in interdisciplinary studies. Currently, he works with youth programs in economically disadvantaged areas and wants to be a role model for inner-city kids. His next adventure – graduate school! What makes Aaron and 148 other alumni distinct? They completed their entire degrees at EWU at Bellevue! Despite their distance from, what I refer to as, the mother ship (or nest) in Cheney, they, too, are full-fledged Eagles. Being a full-fledged Eagle is serious business! It is a commitment to what it means to be an Eagle 4 Life. Eagles 4 Life are not only resilient and hardworking – they are committed to furthering the success of Eastern and, more importantly, its students. Think about the complexities of being a student. Beyond the obvious difficulties, such as money, let’s also give respect to the struggles that come with balancing a job, staying up late and being blessed with the loveliness of

group projects, where most of the “group” was MIA until the presentation. If you could do it all again, would you? I just took my son to two days of college orientation. He was enjoying his independence – learning about his new home and making new friends. Meanwhile, parents were engaged in conversations, wondering “How will we ever pay for this dream?” College is expensive, and as a state institution, we partner with our peers to meet regularly with legislators, sharing the importance of higher education in our state. But we can’t do this alone. We need our alumni! And Eastern needs you, our Eagle 4 Lifers, to help share our relevance in higher education by sharing your success and stories with state representatives. As an Eagle Advocate, you demonstrate the impact that more than 70,000 alumni have in our communities and professions throughout the state of Washington. Many of you may be uneasy about advocacy, but the Alumni Association’s partnership with a group of computer science students has made it easy! If you’re up for a full-fledged Eagle commitment, I encourage you to celebrate with them in the unveiling of their new Eagle Advocate website, ewuadvocates.org. This website is the headquarters for staying updated on EWU’s funding priorities at the state level and advocating for the future strength and vitality of our home away from home. And who better to tell that story than YOU, our alumni family – seasoned and newly graduated!

TAKE ACTION Become an Eagle Advocate! Show your support for EWU and public higher education – visit ewuadvocates.org to learn about EWU-relevant legislation and to stay updated on EWU’s funding priorities. Use the tools on our website to engage with your legislators and help us advance higher education issues.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

events calendar 1

21-22

West-Side Student Send-Off

Red Zone on the Road Pregame EWU Football at Washington State

Pass through the Pillars Showalter Hall

Entrepreneur Panelist Alumni Event

(Pullman)

(Cheney)

(TriCities)

(Bellevue)

Red Zone to Go Watch Party EWU vs WSU Football (Levitate Gastropub, Issaquah)

3-8

7-8

Red Zone to Go Watch Party EWU vs. UC Davis Football

Homecoming Week & Parent and Family Weekend

Young Professionals Network – Building Relationships through Networking

50-Year Reunion Classes of

(Cheney)

(Spokane)

(Levitate Gastropub, Issaquah)

1966 & 1967 (Cheney)

Northern Colorado vs. EWU Football

Red Zone To Go Watch Party EWU vs Montana State Football

(Cheney)

(Levitate Gastropub, Issaquah)

NOVEMBER

OCTOBER

September

Join your fellow alumni and friends at these exciting events. For ongoing events and information, visit alumni.ewu.edu, follow Alumni on Facebook and Twitter, or send your email to ewualum@ewu.edu.

17 Young Professionals Network – Holiday Social (Spokane)

Red Zone on the Road Pregame EWU Football at Portland State

Encanto Holiday Scholarship Concert

Giving Tuesday Scholarship Celebration

(Portland)

(Seattle)

Red Zone to Go Watch Party EWU vs Portland State Football (Levitate Gastropub, Issaquah)

For a calendar of all athletic events, visit goeags.com. For more information and to register for events, visit alumni.ewu.edu or call 888.EWU.ALUM.

For ongoing updates of all alumni events, visit alumni.ewu.edu. For a calendar of all athletic events, including the women’s and men’s athletic schedule, visit goeags.com.

E ASTERN: FALL 2016

EASTERN Magazine

Non Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE

University Advancement Eastern Washington University 102 Hargreaves Hall Cheney, WA 99004-2413

PAID

Eastern Washington University

Get Your Plates Today!

SWOOP VISIT EWU.EDU/PLATES $28 from each specialized-plate fee is directed to

EWU SCHOLARSHIPS. In 2016, 32 students received $1,000 scholarships from the specialized plates. Personalized and motorcycle plates are available. The $28 plate fee is tax deductible.