Eastern Magazine | Fall 2018 by Eastern Washington University

up front

Dear Alumni and Friends: It happened again: Last spring, we graduated 3,000 students at our 126th EWU Commencement ceremonies. Now fall term 2018 is almost upon us. We have so much to celebrate. And we have so much to be proud of. Throughout May and June, many of us attended award ceremonies and celebrations. We applauded McNair scholars, student-athletes, students in the CAMP (College Assistance Migrant Program), student musicians, students with outstanding research and creative projects and students who are going on to top graduate programs and exciting careers. We launched EWU graduates who will be talented and knowledgeable citizens, thoughtful and significant contributors to their communities. I’m so grateful to Eastern alumni and supporters, to EWU faculty and staff. Many dedicated people work collaboratively to educate and support our students. They create innovative curricula, develop grants and research projects, counsel and advise a multitude of students. They keep our surroundings beautiful and safe, and they work to ensure students’ success in Cheney and Spokane as well as on our West Side campuses. Many of you, alumni and friends of EWU, work hard for EWU and our students as well. You serve on task forces and committees. You help to support strategic planning, you provide input for campus projects, and you advise our deans and other administrators. I’m also tremendously proud of our work together to ensure that Eastern’s campuses are welcoming and inclusive. Our university remains committed to dialogue and communication, to respecting people from all backgrounds. You are all part of that ongoing effort. Our work, of course, never ends. However, these days of summer and early fall provide perfect opportunities to reflect on all we’ve achieved. We need to take a breath and remember again the huge importance of our mission and our combined endeavors. The upcoming academic year will be wonderful and amazing once again. Thank you for all you do for EWU and our students. Working together, we’re making a difference.

Mary Cullinan President, Eastern Washington University

Mission Statement:

EWU expands opportunities for personal transformation through excellence in learning.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

features

16 16

That One Adventure Couple

Tales from Trailerville

Alumna Katie Gensitskiy and her husband, Alex, travel the world on $82 a day A look back at post-WWII housing on campus

Brotherly Bonds and Family Traditions

Annual Phi Delta Theta members’ camping trip evolves over two decades

2018 Alumni Awards

Eastern graduates are honored for their contributions to the community

Remembering Patrick McManus

Storytelling that made a lasting impression on a generation

on the cover Katie Gensitskiy ‘14 and her husband, Alex, experience the world, one country at a time.

departments 2 up front 4 let’s get social! 6 on the road 8 eastern etc. 38 faces & places 40 class notes 50 in memoriam

6 E ASTERN: FALL 2018

let’s get social! FALL 2018

Check It Out:

EDITOR Kandi Carper ’05

Eastern magazine has a NEW, IMPROVED website that allows you to read the latest issue from your laptop, tablet, phone or desktop.

ART DIRECTOR/SENIOR DESIGNER Ryan Gaard ’02

WebExtra

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brian Lynn ’98 Brandon Hansen ’08 Kären McCormick ’18 Kandi Carper ’05 Charles Mutschler ’81, ’77 Cindy Hval

This issue is full of extra content. When you see the WebExtra icon, you can find bonus content online.

Go Green

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS Ginny Baxter ’05 Steve Bateman

Photo Caption Contest

This photo comes from the 1962 EWSC Kinnikinick.

PHOTOGRAPHY David Lane Pat Spanjer ’80 VICE PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Angela Jones, JD, ’06 INTERIM DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ADVANCEMENT Pat Spanjer ’80

And the winner is: “Put these glasses on – no one will notice you’re a Wookie.” Submitted by Gene Williams, MBA ’93, BA philosophy ‘72

MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD Cassie Devaney ’96 Karene Garlich-Loman ’03, ’98 Brian Lynn ’98 Kory Kelly ’98 Nick Lawhead ’07 Lisa Leinberger ’98 Kelly Naumann ’10 Robin Pickering ’03, ’97

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

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

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

@EasternMagazine @EWUalumni

ewualumni

EMAIL easternmagazine@ewu.edu PHONE 509.359.6422 WRITE Eastern Magazine, 102 Hargreaves Hall 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.

From Kandi Carper ’05

Hello readers, this is my 25th and final issue as editor of Eastern magazine. I’m retiring from Eastern at the end of this year, and I just wanted to thank you for your support during the past 11 years – nine as editor, two as a writer – and to say goodbye. As I look back on my time as editor, I think about how lucky I’ve been to be able to share my fellow Eagles’ stories – their successes, challenges, news of career changes, marriages, births, and finally, their passing. Ryan Gaard ’02 (our talented, creative, art director) and I have strived to enhance and improve each issue of the magazine. Most of the time we hit our mark, although admittedly, some issues stand out more than others. From my first issue as editor, fall 2009, when the printer made the “E” in Eastern orange instead of red, and Ryan and I had to make up three “On the Road” photos to this current issue with more On the Road submissions than we can fit – it’s been an exciting learning experience. My favorite issue of all time? It’s a tie between the winter 2011 issue, with J.C. Sherritt on the cover for the national football championship, and the spring 2018 issue, with Rob Jarvis of Philipsburg Brewing Company on the cover. I feel like we really took these magazines to the next level, with 12-page special sections in both issues. My favorite cover was the Colin Cowherd cover for the spring/summer 2010 issue. Favorite stories – it’s too hard to choose from so many great ones. Eastern alums

make the best subjects. Everyone has been so kind, generous and honest in sharing their stories. I couldn’t have done any of it without my sidekick and partner in crime, Ryan Gaard – award-winning designer extraordinaire. He makes everything look good, in partnership with our amazing photographer, David Lane. And thank you to Teresa Conway, our former director of Marketing and Communications, who passed the baton of magazine editor to me – and trusted me with this publication. Eastern magazine remains our number one means of communication with our alumni and friends of the university. Over the years, several contributing writers, designers and photographers – too numerous to list – have put their marks on the magazine helping to create pride in our great university. Thank you to Eastern magazine’s current advisory board – Lisa Leinberger ’98; Robin Pickering ’03, ’97; Brian Lynn ’98; Karene Garlich-Loman ’03, ’98; Kory Kelly ’98; Kelly Naumann ‘10, Cassie Devaney ’96 and Nick Lawhead ’07 for keeping us grounded and relevant. And thank you to those who have served on this board in the past. I will always cherish my time as this magazine’s editor, and I’ll remain an Eagle4Life!

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

1. Gary Allington ’68 and his wife, Karen, visited Point Lobos State Natural Reserve near Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, in April. 2. Becca Bandstra’s friends cheered as she completed the Santa Rosa, California, Ironman in May. L-R: Heidi Funston ’12, Gretchen Funston ’14, Kristin Zitterkopf ’17, ’10, Ironwoman Becca Bandstra ’12, Becca Hammond ’14 and Jenna Rerucha. 3. Fran Bierig ’76 visited Arizona and the Montezuma Well in May. 4. Greg Bogart ’88, Alana Quist ’14 and Jim Peterson ’88 completed the Spartan ULTRA race in Kimberley, B.C., in July.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

5. Jill ’01 and Shawn Cecil ’01 visited the Island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos.

10. Terra ’14, ’12 and Kyle Ferrier ’16, ’13 honeymooned in Aruba.

6. Marianne and Hans Mueller, and Tim ’77 and Karen Daniels ’77, celebrated wedding anniversaries in Maui – 62 years for the Muellers and 40 years for the Daniels.

11. Mary ’75 and Don Floyd ’75 visited Polignano a Mare, Italy, in July.

7. Rob Delafuente ’08 and Matt Tysor ’08 in the Mount Rainier summit crater in June. 8. Tom Diimmel ’04 and his wife, Nicole ’05, visited Stefanie Born ’04 in Maui, where she is the athletic trainer at Maui High School. 9. Gayle ’04, ’84 and Mike Ekins ’68 enjoyed “spring break” in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

12. Edward Foote ’01, ’96 and Teresa Whittall ’98 at the Bratislava Castle in Slovakia. 13. John Hausmann ’00, ’99 visited several locations on a cruise with his wife, Louanne, including the Lost City of Petra in Aqaba, Jordan. 14. Jessica (Marley) Hein ’10 and her husband, Colton, traveled to Germany in April, where they visited Germany’s famous beer hall, the Hofbrauhaus, in Munich.

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.

15. Melanie Hisaw ’88 and Kami Lee Malek ’89 at the Urquhart Castle at Loch Ness in Scotland in April. 16. Chad Houck ’90 visited Italy this summer with his family. He’s pictured at St. Mark’s Square, near Venice. 17. Cindy and Derek Hval ’87 visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in March. 18. Matt Johnson ’95 and his wife, Julie, visited Prague, Czech Republic, during their honeymoon in June. 19. Christina Jordan ’13 and Shelby Oas ’06 traveled to Malaysia and Thailand in July.

20. Diane Malmoe ’81, Eileen Mathews ’80, ’71 and Carol Measel ’73 at Camp Sweyolakan on Lake Coeur d’ Alene in a newly restored 1946 Old Town War Canoe. 21. Jessica Schmedding ’13 visited the Bukchon Observatory in Seoul, South Korea, 175 miles away from the Korean Demilitarized Zone. 22. John Manning, MBA ’88, at the Jigger Inn, The Old Course Hotel, St. Andrews, Scotland, in May. 23. Jeff Miller ’84, ’79 visited Amsterdam, Netherlands, with his wife, Paula ’94, after completing a river cruise from Budapest through Austria and Germany.

24. Richard Santa Ana (father of Alyssa Santa Ana ’10) with Felicia Lauritsen and their daughter, Emily in Las Vegas. 25. Patti West Sooy ’81 and her husband, Jim, visited Paris in May. 26. Gary Taller ’83 and Dan Yount ’77 took a golf excursion to Ireland/Northern Ireland. 27. Nancy Tsutakawa ’70 visited Elvis’ Graceland, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans. 28. EWU academic advisor Von Astudillo and his wife, Wilma, visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa during a trip to Italy and Greece.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

eastern etc. Hickey Named EWU Athletic Director The interim tag was removed from her title, as Lynn Hickey became the permanent associate vice president/director of Athletics at EWU.

EWU Provost Scott Gordon, Athletic Director Lynn Hickey and Head Football Coach Aaron Best

Hickey, an experienced administrator, had served as interim AD since February when she was chosen to oversee the department during a national search. That search produced 50 applicants from NCAA Division I institutions across the country, including Hickey. Before coming to Eastern, Hickey served as associate vice president and director of Athletics at the University of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA) for 18 years. During her tenure, UTSA experienced unprecedented growth by adding football and women’s soccer and golf. Prior to UTSA, Hickey served as senior athletic director and senior woman administrator at Texas A&M, College Station.

Scheherajazz Performed The Music Department presented an innovative concert collaboration between its Symphony Orchestra and its Jazz Band as they performed at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox in downtown Spokane. It was the U.S. premiere – and only the second performance worldwide – of a lost work known as Scheherajazz. Scheherajazz is a classical/jazz version of the famous orchestral masterpiece Scheherazade, composed by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov in 1888. Scheherajazz was created in the 1950s by American bandleader Skip Martin. While it was recorded for an LP, the piece was never

performed live, and the sheet music has since been lost. In 2016, Scheherajazz was transcribed from the original LP by Klaus Wagenleiter. It was later performed live by the orchestra and jazz band at the University of Bern, Switzerland, conducted by Wolfgang Pemberger. EWU reached out to Wagenleiter and Pemberger, and they agreed to share this new arrangement

Zombies Invade Campus

The Syfy network filmed the fifth season of its hit TV show, Z Nation, across the Eastern campus in June. Airing in late September, viewers can tune in and see many students, faculty and staff transform into a new breed of zombies in a society trying to survive the apocalypse and put itself back together. “The Eastern campus allowed us to have modern buildings like the CEB

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

SCHEHERA JAZZ of Scheherajazz with Eastern. In addition to the Scheherajazz concert, the audience experienced a unique performance with a rare violin made in Italy by Joseph Guarnerius, or “del Gesu,” in 1736. The del Gesu is owned by an EWU alumnus who restores violins and has been active with the music department.

building, which has a lot of glass and looks modern and fresh, but there are other parts of the campus that look a little more old school or give an ivy league feel,” said Marc Dahlstrom, production supervisor. “It was the diversity in the buildings and the grounds that allowed us to achieve the different looks we need. There are a lot of Eagles working on the show and we are happy to have them. They’re trained well. The film school is great here, and they provide us a good crop of workers each year.” Z Nation is currently available online and on-demand.

eastern etc. Manning Named National Teacher of the Year EWU alumna Mandy Manning ’98, featured in the spring issue of Eastern magazine, was named the 2018 National Teacher of the Year, announced April 20 on CBS. Manning teaches newly arrived refugees at Spokane Public Schools’ Newcomer Center at Ferris High School. In September 2017, Manning was recognized as Washington state’s 2018 Teacher of the Year. In January 2018, it was announced that she was one of four finalists selected from a pool of 56 to be considered for the top honor. Now, as the 2018 National

Teacher of the Year, she will spend the next year as an advocate for 3.2 million teachers and 50.7 million public school students. The award was presented by President Donald Trump in the East Room at the White House on May 2.

Grants Provide New Opportunities for Business Students Eastern’s College of Business and Public Administration received two grants from the Herbert B. Jones Foundation, an independent foundation that promotes small businesses and entrepreneurism through programs managed by higher education institutions. The first grant of $123,800 funds three years of a student fellowship program and a new Technology Commercialization Academy, launched this summer. The eight-week academy provides students with real-world experience in finding useful applications for

existing patented technologies. The academy involves students from several different fields of study. Students who complete the academy earn the designation of EWU Technology Commercialization Fellow and receive $1,500. These Fellows work with experts from

numerous backgrounds, developing a business plan they can use for competitions, such as the EWU Eagle’s Nest Pitch Contest, the Northwest Entrepreneur Competition and others. They also work at Startup Spokane, Spokane’s leading business incubator. The second grant of $91,560 will extend funding for faculty fellowships and will extend and increase the prize money for the Center of Entrepreneurship’s annual Eagle’s Nest Pitch Competition.

Students and Faculty Provide Speech Therapy for Parkinson’s Patients For nearly four years, EWU graduate students have worked side by side with faculty at the University Hearing and Speech Clinic, learning how to help restore the voices of those with Parkinson’s disease. Students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program and faculty work with patients in the LOUD Crowd group, a therapy group, to help increase the decibel level of the patient’s voice so they can be easily understood. EWU faculty received training for the program through the Parkinson Voice Project and now use it as a resource at the University Hearing

and Speech Clinic, an educational training facility on the EWU Spokane campus. Patients with Parkinson’s disease begin therapy called SPEAK OUT! where they receive individual therapy sessions for four weeks. Once they graduate from those sessions, they attend the LOUD Crowd group to help maintain their skills until their disease progresses to the point

where they can no longer participate. Graduate students also provide other services, for speech sound production errors, child language delay or stuttering and fluency disorders, at the University Hearing and Speech Clinic. The clinic serves children and adults of all ages.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

eastern etc. Eastern Promotes Para-Athletics EWU and the Spokane Hoopfest Association are teaming up to promote wheelchair basketball at all levels in the Spokane area. With EWU having recently launched a wheelchair basketball club team and Spokane Hoops’ iconic 3-on-3 basketball tournament, Hoopfest, the partnership will create a bright future for para-athletics in the community. The EWU wheelchair club team is the first to be formed at a university in the western United States and is moving toward developing an NCAA wheelchair basketball program this fall. The club team has already experienced success, taking second place in its division at the Best of the West Wheelchair Basketball Tournament in Seattle. Eastern received a $50,000 grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to establish the parasport program. Spokane Hoops is an avid supporter of the wheelchair basketball initiative at EWU and, over the years, has worked closely with ParaSport Spokane and Team St. Luke’s to provide venues to meet the competitive and accessibility needs of para-athletes. Opportunities for youth and adults with physical disabilities are substantially expanding in the Spokane region, and EWU and Hoopfest are proud to provide opportunities to these community athletes.

Eastern Wins Big Sky Presidents’ Cup For the third time in the past four seasons, EWU has won the Presidents’ Cup for the 2017-18 school year, the Big Sky Conference league office announced in July. Based on a point system that takes into account both academic and athletic success, Eastern finished ahead of runner-up Northern Colorado and thirdplace Weber State. The award was acknowledged July 15 at the Big Sky Conference summer football kickoff, which took place in Spokane. This is the fourth time in the last nine years Eastern has won the Presidents’ Cup, and only Weber State has won the award four times since it was first awarded in 2002-03. Besides winning in 2015-16 and 2014-15, the Eagles were also victorious in the 2009-10 school year. The Presidents’ Cup is unique in collegiate athletics in that it reinforces the Big Sky’s dedication to the academic side of the student-

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

athlete experience. The Eagles led all institutions in grade-point average with a school GPA of 3.42. Every Eagle squad recorded a 3.0 or higher – the only Big Sky school to do so. On the athletic side, the Eagles finished with 89 athletic points, including 13 from the school’s Big Sky soccer championship. EWU also had top-four finishes from football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s tennis, women’s indoor track and field, and men’s outdoor track and field.

eastern etc. New Science Center Groundbreaking The first dirt was turned for EWU’s long-awaited Interdisciplinary Science Center (ISC) on July 23, during the official groundbreaking ceremony. President Mary Cullinan, along with state Sens. Michael Baumgartner and David Frockt, state Rep. Mike Volz, and local dignitaries, made an appearance at the monumental event, speaking on the significance of the $67 million project – funded by the state Legislature’s James Murphy, Board of Trustees; David Bowman, dean College of Science, Technology, Engineering most recent capital budget. and Mathematics; David Buri, EWU director of government relations; Sen. Michael Baumgartner; Lydig Construction Inc. has been selected to complete Sen. David Frockt; Scott Gordon, provost; President Mary Cullinan; Dante Tyler, ASEWU president; Kim Pearman-Gillman, Board of Trustees; Rep. Mike Volz; Jason Pegg, manager of Information the 100,000-square-foot building. The building will be Technology Delivery, Avista; Mike Ekins, EWU Foundation Board of Directors and Jeff Stannard, located between Pence Union Building and the current president EWU Alumni Association. Science Building. It will be connected to the existing Science Building. The estimated completion date is May 2020. The university hopes to eventually renovate the 48-year-old building as well, transforming it into research labs, classrooms and extra space.

EWU Receives College Spark Washington Grant College Spark Washington has announced $1.5 million in community grants to help low-income students become college-ready and earn their degrees, and EWU will receive $149,573 of the funding. Eastern’s department of mathematics will utilize the funding to develop, pilot and scale corequisite remediation courses, placing students directly into college-level courses with

required extra support sessions, enabling them to take their first college-level course earlier in their college careers and be successful in that course and subsequent courses.

Since 2005, College Spark’s Community Grants Program has awarded more than 100 community grants totaling nearly $18 million.

New Website Launched Eastern’s Digital Communication Team launched the university’s new website in May. The new site delivers a modern, beautiful first impression of campus, focusing on prospective students.

ewu.edu

There’s a bit of something for everyone in this new design: a resource bar to direct you to your favorite areas, a new way to explore programs, stories featuring the amazing work happening on campus and a revitalized

search function to give you accurate results. Based on stakeholder and user feedback, the team focused on storytelling in the new design. Eastern Stories, found throughout the site, highlight students, faculty and staff.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

eastern etc. National Accreditation for EWU in the High School Program The EWU in the High School Program at Eastern is one of 19 college and university programs nationwide to be granted first-time accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP). There are just over 100 accredited concurrent enrollment programs in 22 states across the country. EWU in the High School currently serves approximately 4,000 students across the state of Washington. Concurrent enrollment allows colleges and universities to offer courses in high schools so students

(sophomore to senior) can be enrolled in collegelevel courses and earn college credit, all within the familiarity of their high school classrooms. The curriculum is taught by teachers who are approved by university departments and are considered the equivalent of adjunct faculty.

Accelerated Master of Education Offered Online Building on its legacy as a teaching institute, EWU is launching six accelerated online master of education (MEd) programs and one certificate program designed for the working professional. The affordable education offerings include MEd degrees in curriculum and instruction, literacy, early childhood education, adult education, educational leadership and the principal certification program. There are no GRE, essay or letters of recommendation requirements for admission into the programs. A teaching certificate is required only for the three educational leadership programs. The MEd

in early childhood education program has an option for teachers with or without a teaching certificate. These programs are taught by the same experienced faculty who teach on campus. Each program is taught completely online, via accelerated six-week courses is affordably priced at $12,900 and can be completed in as few as 12 months. Information: online.ewu.edu/programs/med-adult-education.aspx

Anderson Named CSS Dean Jonathan Anderson has been named the new dean of Eastern's College of Social Sciences. Anderson began at EWU in 2006 as an assistant professor and has served as chairman of the Department of Psychology, associate dean of the College of Social Sciences and, since April 2017, interim dean of the College of Social Sciences. A highly regarded teacher and an active scholar, Anderson has been the recipient of multiple outstanding faculty awards in research, teaching and service: Professor of the Year 2011-2012; the President’s Award 2011-2012; and the Dean’s Outstanding Service Award 2012-2013.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

GET TÜ CLASS SSALC ÜT TEG

GET TÜ SSALC

GET TÜ CLASS GET TÜ CLASS

EWÜBER EW Ü B E R EW Ü B E R

GET TÜ

GET TÜ CLASS EW Ü B S EU RB S C R I B E | S H A R E | LO V E

GET TÜ

IT’S NOT CASH CAB! But it will become the best three minutes of your week. Ride along with EWU students, faculty and staff on the world’s worst New episodes post every Tuesday at ewu.edu/GetTüClass.

So get in, hang on and Get Tü Class! Subscribe and binge at: ewu.edu/gettuclass Follow on Instagram: gettuclass

Season 2 premieres Sept. 18

EWÜB

EW Ü B

EW Ü B .

eastern etc. Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame

Five athletes, two volleyball teams and a recipient of the Service and Contribution Award will be honored as inductees in the 18th class of Eastern’s Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept. 22, 2018. Jeff Ogden ’98 Ogden, the former All-America wide receiver and record-setting five-year NFL veteran, will be among this year’s Hall of Fame inductees. A pole vaulter at Clackamas Community College, Ogden convinced the EWU football coaches to let him walk on. After three seasons, he became an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (then I-AA) All-America selection and first-team Academic All-American in 1997. The 1997 football team was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012. He played five years in the National Football League with the Dallas Cowboys, the Miami Dolphins and the Baltimore Ravens. He set five records for the Dolphins, and his 13.7 career average is still a franchise best. He was selected by the Eastern Athletic Department to the “100 for 100” All-Time Football Team, which commemorated Eastern’s 100th year of football in 2008. Alvin Snow Snow became EWU’s first basketball All-American after 22 years at the NCAA Division I level, when he received honorable mention All-America from Associated Press in 2004. He became the first Eagle in the first 41 years of the Big Sky Conference to earn first-team All-Big Sky Conference three times. He was the Big Sky MVP in the 2003-04 season and was the league’s inaugural Defensive Player of the Year in the 2001-02 season and helped EWU to its first-ever berths in the NCAA Tournament (2004) and the National Invitation Tournament (2003). Snow went on to a 10-year professional career with stops in the Continental Basketball Association and the early stages of the NBA Developmental League and played internationally in Poland, Turkey, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Israel, Cyprus, Slovenia, Ukraine and Kosovo. He now works for Worldwide Sports Management in Seattle and represents former Eagle Jacob Wiley. Kim Maxwell-Dempsey ’02 A leader on and off the volleyball court, Kim Maxwell was an All-Big Sky Conference selection in 1998 (second team) and 1999 (first team) while playing for EWU from 1996 to 1999. The setter was a Big Sky Conference All-Academic selection all four years she played for the Eagles and was EWU’s female recipient of the Big Sky Conference ScholarAthlete Award in the 1999-2000 school year. Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Maxwell was a member of Team Canada in 2001, and in the summer of 1997, she played for Team Alberta in the Canada Games and spent a week in Japan with her provincial team. She married former Eastern cross country/track and field competitor Greg Dempsey, and they now reside in Spokane with their family. Rick Worman A transfer from Fresno State, Worman quarterbacked the Eagles to a 16-5-1 record in two seasons, including the quarterfinals of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) Playoffs in 1985. He set 10 school records and led Eastern to one of its most thrilling victories in a 42-38 come-from-behind victory at Idaho in the first round of the 1985 FCS playoffs. Worman played six years in the Canadian Football League and has coached professionally and collegiately ever since. He now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 1985 football team he played on was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, Worman was selected by the Eastern Athletic Department to the “100 for 100” All-Time Football Team.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

Kurt Kraemer ’03 Kraemer became just the second Eastern men’s student-athlete to earn NCAA Division I All-America honors in track and field when he finished ninth in the triple jump with an effort of 52-1 3/4 at the 2001 NCAA Indoor Championships. He remains the all-time leading scorer for Eastern at the Big Sky Championships (indoors and outdoors combined) with 120 points. In his career from 1999 to 2003, he had 19 top-six finishes in Big Sky competitions with three triple jump titles and one long jump championship. He earned All-Big Sky honors by finishing in the top three on 11 occasions and was just the 10th athlete in league history to be honored in four straight seasons. He was honored seven times on Big Sky Conference All-Academic teams. He was EWU’s recipient of the Big Sky Conference ScholarAthlete Award following the completion of his collegiate eligibility in 2003. 1998 Volleyball Team (Coach Pamela Parks) Eastern earned the first of two straight at-large berths into the NCAA Tournament and finished the season 24-6. Led by the record-breaking exploits of two-time Big Sky Player of the Year Kim Exner, EWU was an impressive 10-1 in non-conference play and 13-3 in the Big Sky Conference standings to finish second. The Eagles then swept Montana State in the opening round of the league tournament. Eastern fell 3-1 to Sac State in the title match but still advanced to the NCAA Tournament where the Eagles lost 3-1 to Notre Dame. The Eagles started a streak of 29 straight home victories that ended during the 2001 season. The 1998 season was also the second of 10 straight seasons (1997-2006) in which EWU ranked in the top 30 in attendance. 1999 Volleyball Team (Coach Pamela Parks) A hot stretch of 16 victories in a 17-match span and two victories after the conference tournament helped Eastern secure a second straight at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. Eastern finished the season 24-8 after it was swept by UCLA in the NCAA tourney. The 1999 season marked the end of the illustrious career of head coach Pam Parks, who won 291 matches in 18 seasons at the helm. Nine Eagles were selected to the Big Sky All-Academic team, including Lacey Coover, Angie Hall, Kim Maxwell, Jennifer Dick, Jennifer Gabel, Whitney Lewis, Tarah Pond, Janelle Ruen and Lea Ruhl. As a team, Eastern earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award. Richard “Dick” Hannan ’69, ’63 (Service and Contribution Award) Hannan played basketball for Eastern in 1961 and 1962. He has spent nearly 50 years as a collegiate coach and administrator, much of it in the Inland Northwest. He was the commissioner of the Great Northwest Conference for more than 10 years, starting with the NCAA Division II league’s inception in 2001. During his tenure, GNAC teams earned 53 national Top-10 finishes in 13 different sports. The Spokane native played for the legendary William “Red” Reese at Eastern. Hannan has been inducted into the Columbia Basin College Hall of Fame (2017); the L-C State Hall of Fame (2013); the Northwest Athletic Conference (1994) and the NAIA Hall of Fame (1991). The induction breakfast, 8 a.m., Sept. 22, at Reese Court in Cheney. Everyone is invited to attend ($20 per person). Register at goeags.com/HOF. Inductees will also be honored at halftime of EWU’s football game against Cal Poly that day (kickoff at 1:05 p.m.).

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

By Cindy Hval

As Katie Gensitskiy, 25, sat down to reply to her emails, sweat poured from her head, and her clothing stuck to her skin. She and her husband, Alex, 28, were on the island of Malapascua (north of Cebu). The remote island has no roads. Chickens, goats and pigs roam freely.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

Chile, February 2018 Planning their adventure, October 2016 Laguna Chaxa, Atacama Desert, west of the Andes Mountains, January 2018

I’m more confident in my abilities and less afraid of new experiences. I trust people more, and I’ve gotten to know, love and appreciate different cultures around the world.

thatoneadventurecouple.com

“ There’s no AC,” she said. “And the temperature stayed at 85 degrees during the night. Every time we opened our door, tons of flying ants would fly in and attack us!” In true “Adventure Couple” style, she added, “It was definitely a unique experience.” Unique experiences are just what Katie and Alex hoped for when they set out to see the world on $82 per day for both of them. Since September 2017, they’ve been traveling and blogging about their experience at thatoneadventurecouple.com. Their Instagram page has more than 11,000 followers. Katie, a Cheney High School grad and 2011 Lilac princess, graduated from EWU in 2014 with a degree in recreation management. Taking Barb Brock’s Intro to Recreation and Leisure class proved pivotal for her. “I found my tribe,” said Katie. She pursued a minor in Spanish and experiential education and facilitation. “I feel like my degree prepared me for planning our world trip, budgeting and working with organizations and companies along the way.” After graduating, she became a certified teacher at a private school and taught fourth grade for three years. Alex, a journeyman electrician, grew up in Camas, Washington. The couple met at a retreat for Christian kids’ camp counselors. A photo of Alex proposing on Thanksgiving 2014 went viral on social media when a photographer happened to capture the moment at Munra Point in the Columbia River Gorge. Taking a year off to travel was something they'd always talked about, and a year after their 2015 wedding, they began to plan in earnest. On their honeymoon, they’d met some longterm travelers and asked about their budgets. “We learned that you can travel for a year on around $15,000 for two people. Our assumption was that we would need about twice as much

to actually have a deeper experience in each country,” Katie said. A website called BootsnAll helped them figure out how much they should expect to spend in each country. They made sure they had no debt and worked to save the $30,000 they estimated it would take for them to travel for a year. They also wrote a list of pillar experiences, like visiting the equator at Quito, Ecuador, and hiking to Machu Picchu, and built their itinerary around it. After purchasing the right gear, selling Alex’s car, downsizing their belongings, storing the rest with their parents and getting the vaccines they would need, they embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. Since their departure on Sept. 2, 2017, the couple has visited 12 countries, including Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, India, Thailand and Vietnam. They’ve ridden camels, visited the largest temple complex in the world (in Cambodia) and saw rice terraces in Vietnam. E ASTERN: FALL 2018

2017 Inductees: Sister Madonna Buder, Alli Nieman, Dennis Patchin, Pam Parks, Jay Rydell and Rueben Mayes; (not pictured are Steve Gleason and the late Denny Spurlock).

At this point, our list of experiences that we want to have just keeps growing rather than getting smaller. Some new things on our list — visit an active volcano, hike on a glacier, swim in Iceland between the two continents, go on a hotair balloon ride in Turkey and explore Patagonia (southern part of South America).

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

But first, a homecoming of sorts. From the Philippines, they’ll travel to Kyrgyzstan. “It’s my home country,” said Katie. “It will be my first time back after leaving as a toddler when my parents immigrated to the U.S. I’m really excited to see the home that I spent my first three years in, visit friends, and discover the food, culture and the beautiful country of Kyrgyzstan.” After a few weeks, they will go to Ukraine, which is Alex’s home country. His parents immigrated when he was six months old. They plan to visit relatives, learn more of the language and volunteer at a summer children’s camp. Giving back is important to both of them. “Our Christian faith impacts our worldview very strongly,” Katie explained. “Every culture is unique and beautiful. By being loving to others, we break down barriers.”

They spent 43 days in India (their longest stay in one country) and volunteered at a children’s home. Katie taught English, and Alex helped with maintenance. Every day they played and did crafts with the children. “It was a very special time, and we had a unique insight into life in India.” Their shortest stay was a 10-hour layover in Colombia, which they don’t count as a visit. They sipped coffee, walked the streets and listened as the local police gave an impromptu musical performance. London proved to be their most expensive visit. A burger that cost 8.5 pounds is almost $12. But a sale on the London Pass the week they were there enabled them to explore to their hearts’ content. Peru was their least expensive destination because they found lodging with a kitchen and were able to cook their meals.

It hasn’t been all excitement and thrills. They’ve missed their families, so they made a surprise trip home for the holidays. Aside from missing family and friends, Katie said, “The hardest thing has been packing and unpacking every few days, falling in love with a city and then moving on.” But the magic hasn’t dimmed – nor has their thirst for adventure. “When we started our trip, we kinda assumed that after one year we’d be ready to settle down,” said Katie. “But after traveling the way we have, we have really grown to enjoy this lifestyle. Our money has not run out quite yet, and we are looking into ways to make money as we travel. Perhaps teaching English online, tutoring or working short-term in different places.” They’ve launched a Patreon page patreon.com/thatoneadventurecouple

to curate community support, and they also seek collaborations with hotels and travel companies for sponsorships or free lodging in return for posts and social media mentions. “Our goal is to try to figure out how to keep doing this indefinitely,” she said. “After a few months of travel in Central America, we hope to come back to the U.S. and outfit a camper van. The U.S. has so many amazing things to see and do!” Stateside adventures they’re considering include visiting every national park or visiting every state and doing the activity each state is known for — think singing in Nashville, Tennessee, or eating potatoes in Boise, Idaho. Katie reflected on the ways travel has changed her. “I’m more confident in my abilities and less afraid of new experiences,”

she said. “I trust people more, and I’ve gotten to know, love and appreciate different cultures around the world.” And working together on their blog and planning their adventures has strengthened their marriage. Thailand, April 2018 Angkor Wat, Cambodia, May 2018 London Bridge, January 2018 Cusco, Peru, South America, November 2017 Desert oasis of Huacachina, Peru, South America, November 2017 Taj Mahal, Agra, India, February 2018; Laguna 69, Huaraz, Peru, October 2017 Hoi An, Vietnam, May 2018

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

Spending time with the children at the New Beginnings Home in India, February 2018 Colca Canyon, Peru, October 2017 Valparaiso, Chile, November 2017 Camel safari in Jaisalmer, India, February 2018

“We’ve discovered each other in a deeper more meaningful way.” She stressed that she and Alex come from modest backgrounds and are by no means wealthy, but they had a dream and decided to make it a goal.

Not everyone can or wants to travel the world for a year,” she said. “However, we all have dreams that we are hesitant to turn into goals. That’s something that we can choose to do.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

Katie’s tips for travelers Don’t get so focused on your budget that it takes you away from experiencing things. Do things that are very cheap if those are things you enjoy doing (like riding a motorbike around to explore the countryside), but if there’s something more expensive that you’d really like to do, just do it! Travel isn’t just about travel. You also get to focus on your habits, read good books and establish new routines. Everyone experiences things differently. You may dislike some famous places that others love, and you may really enjoy places you’ve heard negative things about. The world is not as dangerous as popular media would have you believe. If the Travel Channel is talking about it, it’s probably over-commercialized.

About the author: Cindy Hval is the author of War Bonds: Love Stories from the Greatest Generation, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and bookstores nationwide. Cindy and her husband, EWU alum Derek ’87, are pictured on page 6.

, T B U O D O N LEAVE

! T U O D ' G A E T GE bookstore.ewu.edu 509.359.2542

By Kandi Carper â&#x20AC;&#x2122;05

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

Many married students living on the Eastern Washington College of Education (EWCE) campus between 1946 and 1957 resided in Trailerville, a grouping of 75 war-surplus travel-type trailers. Most of the men were veterans. They had sacrificed much to be there, and they were excited to start the next chapter in their lives. Trailerville was a real community. It had its own mayor and council; there were streets and alleys, picket fences, flower gardens, and dogs and cats to make life normal for the families who lived there. Husbands and wives attended classes and participated in college activities, including student government, sports and honor clubs, and most had jobs as well. A day nursery, run by the college, took care of the children while the parents attended school or work. Thank you to these Trailerville residents who shared their stories.

Lois ’51 and Del Muse ’50 In the summer of 1949, Del Muse married his sweetheart, Lois Getz. They were students at EWCE, where they lived in Trailerville from September 1949 through August 1950. Del and Lois thought they knew what they were getting into because their good friends, Molly ’49 and Quentin Clark ‘50, and Doris ’50 and Chuck Randall ‘51, were already living in Trailerville. Del Muse remembers the exact location of their 20 by 6-ft. trailer – located on the southeast corner, 25 feet from Monroe Hall and about 100 feet behind Showalter Hall. Muse said the trailer came furnished with a half-width bed, a small drop-down table, a tiny oil-heated stove and a very small sink with cold running water. There was no bathroom. They walked a block to the Trailerville bathhouse for all their bathroom needs. Their bed doubled as their sofa. Del was a busy student with a part-time job helping one of his professors with research, and Lois was a student and a part-time librarian at Hargreaves Library. Lois represented Trailerville as its 1949 Homecoming princess, and in his spare time, Del played basketball for his hometown of Spangle, Washington. Things were going pretty well until winter hit with a fury. “On Jan. 1, the temperature dropped below zero and then stayed there for the entire month,” recalls Del. “In the daytime it would warm up to about -5 degrees, and then at night it would plunge to -10, -20 or lower. Our little trailer was hard to keep warm. We ran the oil stove night and day, and we supplemented that heat with a small electric heater. I had to fill the oil reservoir twice a day. The oil supply was a bunch of barrels with hand-operated pumps on top. “To compound our woes, we had heavy snowfalls the entire month.

Our trailer began to disappear as the snow piled up around it. We kept the snow scraped off the top so that the roof wouldn’t leak or collapse. Going to the bathhouse became increasingly unpleasant, especially for Lois. Each morning as she stepped out of the trailer to head for the community bathroom, athletes from Sutton Hall would walk by on their way to breakfast. She hated walking that short block in her robe and slippers, carrying her towel and toiletries.” The couple’s car, parked a block away, was eventually buried in the snow, and they couldn’t even get to it until mid-February. “That first year of our marriage in Trailerville was something we never forgot,” said Del. “Lois became an expert cook, using our hotplate and roaster oven, and after the snow left and the temperature rose, we again enjoyed our little home. Those of us who lived in Trailerville had some unpleasant situations, but we didn't really think of it as a difficult place to live. We were students and just did the things that students do. I have fond memories of Trailerville.” Del Muse, age 91, lives in Lynnwood, Washington. He began his career as a teacher at Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley in the 1950s. Later, he went on to a career with Science Research Associates as a math editor/writer and then as manager of the technical writing department for IBM in Silicon Valley. Lois Muse was a lifelong teacher whose career spanned five decades – from Spokane to the Chicago area to Silicon Valley. Later, she was a volunteer teacher with the Literacy Council of Kitsap, Washington, where she started a GED preparation program in Poulsbo. She finished teaching her last class about 12 hours before her death in 2005.

Upper left: Del Muse, Sandy Sinclair, Lois Getz Muse, Molly Clark and others in front of the Clark’s “good” trailer in the 1950s. Photo courtesy of Molly Clark. Above: Trailerville – a community within a communit

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

From Mike Van Matre ’76 Trailerville was my first home! The following is what my father told me about Trailerville. My parents, Lila ’67 and Jim Van Matre ’55, moved to Trailerville in September 1952 to attend school at Eastern. There were fewer than 1,000 students enrolled when they started there.

My parents lived in Trailerville from 1952 to 1955. Rent was $15 per month. I was born in October 1953 and lived there until my dad graduated with his BA in education. Trailerville married couples were a group of close friends in a tightknit community with many things in common… not much money, spouses and children to support, most everyone had to work various jobs to pay the bills, and everyone wanted an education and a college degree to better their lives. They had their own government system, and they had

Joanne and James Sturm ’53 Joanne Crow and Jim Sturm met while attending Whitman College. They married in November 1950, he transferred to Eastern, and Trailerville was their first home. Their daughter, Sandra, was born in November 1951 while they were living there. They started out in a small trailer and were lucky to get a larger one before she was born.

“We had a lot of wonderful memories from Trailerville,” said Joanne. “I remember cooking on a small hot plate. We had a small refrigerator with the motor on top. The winters were cold, and the snow practically covered our trailer.” She remembers that a friend was staying with them – sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag –when a rat came running across him. They had to report that, and afterward, everyone had to be careful about leaving food out and the college had to get rid of the rats.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

regular get-togethers with the families. Many of those friendships lasted throughout the years, and contacts were maintained long into their senior-citizen years. My parents had many great Trailerville friends, all of whom were very successful people due to their education at Eastern. Thanks to Eastern providing married students an inexpensive place to live while attending school, my parents, and many others, went on to excel in their careers. My father retired from Medical Lake School District as superintendent of schools and my mother retired as an elementary school teacher in the Cheney School District. My father received the EWU Distinguished Alumni Award in 1985 – an honor he cherished until his death in April 2018. Eastern Washington College of Education, Eastern Washington State College and Eastern Washington University were Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts learning institutions for three generations of our Van Matre family – my parents, my wife and me, and our oldest daughter and son-in-law!

Joanne remembers a lot of camaraderie. The residents had so much in common. “It was like an extended family. I remember one time the guys took my laundry basket and collected bottles to turn in and bought beer for a party.” After Jim graduated in 1953, they moved to Garfield, Washington, where he started his first teaching job. He went on to teach in Thornton, Washington and was elected as Whitman County superintendent of schools – the youngest county superintendent in the state. He got his master's in education administration from WSU and then moved to Oakville, Washington, as superintendent of schools. After four years, the family moved to Federal Way where he became an administrator in the Highline School District until he retired. The Strums’ daughter, Sandra Sturm Sheldon, now retired, followed in her dad’s footsteps and was the superintendent for the Warden School District. Joanne and Jim’s granddaughter, Kristin Sheldon, earned her BA in communication studies from Eastern in 2009. Jim and Joanne were married for more than 60 years, before Jim’s passing in 2011.

Molly (Wagner) ’49 and Quentin Clark ’50 When Molly and Quentin Clark were first married, they lived in Hudson Hall and had bunk beds. They felt like they were moving up in the world when they got a tiny trailer in Eastern’s Trailerville community. They lived there along with fellow students, Del and Lois Muse and Sandy and Marie Sinclair. “The Muses and Sinclairs remain dear friends,” said Molly Clark. “Sandy’s and Del’s wives are gone now and were my best friends.”

She remembers their “Wonder Bread-looking” trailer well. The first one was tiny. Later they moved to a larger – what she calls the “good trailer” located on prime real estate, two trailers away from the bathhouse. Their daughter, Paula, was born in

Spokane, and after a brief stay at Molly’s mother’s place, the young family returned to Trailerville. That winter, a blizzard closed the roads, and they couldn’t get into Spokane for the baby’s first doctor appointment. Luckily, the other mothers in Trailerville helped each other out and shared their knowledge of child-rearing. Prior to having her daughter and living in Trailerville, Molly was very active at Eastern. She was in the Golden Circle (the senior women’s honorary society for outstanding leadership, character, service and personality). “Living in Trailerville was difficult at times, but we were all in the same boat,” said Molly. “I remember us saying, ‘Someday we’ll look back at this and laugh.’” Molly, age 91, and Quentin, age 90, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in August. The couple lives in Sumner, Washington.

From Archie Hornfelt ’59, ’52, Professor of Technology Emeritus To today’s youth, Trailerville must seem like the stand up in there. There was no bathroom, so ultimate in roughing it, but my wife, Alma, and everyone used the communal washroom. It was I saw it as an adventure. We came to Eastern definitely a task to go to the washroom at night, from Northern Idaho College of Education in in the rain or in the snow. 1951, when that school closed. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree. My wife and I taught for one year at Wishram, Washington, until I was drafted into the Army. The washrooms were a meeting After returning from the service, I used the G.I. place for all of us living in Bill to pursue my master’s degree. This time it was different because we had a child. Many of Trailerville. Some of the people the residents had children, and we had a great had families that bathed their time. The kids played together outside. children in the tubs in the I later returned to Eastern as a professor washroom. Trailerville was and spent 32 years in the Technology and Engineering Department. a community, and we lived The experience at Eastern will never be and socialized together. forgotten. I have a warm spot in my heart for Eastern and always will. Professor Hornfelt, age 89, lives in Florence, The trailers were small but comfy. Because Oregon. His wife, Alma, passed away in 2012. the trailers were tear-dropped shape, we had only a three-quarter bed. I could just barely

Top Left: Jim Van Matre and son Mike, photos courtesy of Mike Van Matre. Bottom Left: Mike Van Matre Top Right: Molly Clark, photo courtesy of Molly Clark, second photo courtesy of Archie Hornfelt, third photo courtesy of Archie Hornfelt, fourth photo moving into Trailerville, photo courtesy of Archie Hornfelt

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

History of Trailerville By Charles Mutschler, PhD, Eastern Washington University Archivist

Trailerville, as it was affectionately known, was a cluster of aluminum-skinned trailers that provided student housing to returning World War II, and later Korean War, veterans and their families on the campus of Eastern Washington College of Education (EWCE). From the spring of 1946 through 1957, in the area north and west of Monroe Hall, this small community was home to hundreds of students.

The end of WWII was a period of significant change at EWCE. The trailers, like many temporary buildings erected at the time, were part of the beginning of an evolution from a college of education to a liberal arts regional university. Enrollment, which was fairly constant at around 600 between 1930 and 1935, grew to nearly 900 in 1940. That all changed with WWII when male students left college and entered the armed services. At the end of fall quarter 1945, enrollment was under 300. This shortage of students was followed by a massive influx of students in the late 1940s. Many of the post-war students were former servicemen and utilized the higher education benefits of the G.I. Bill. The new students were older than the typical undergraduates of 1939, who had entered EWCE after high school graduation. Most of the new Top three photos: from the 1948 Kinnikinick yearbook. Bottom photo: courtesy of the Cheney Historical Museum.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

students were men (506 out of 794). Student housing at the time consisted of two women’s dormitories and one men’s, making housing for men and for married couples a serious problem. EWCE President Walter Isle was up for the challenge. After initial efforts to secure surplus buildings from Spokane and then prefabricated housing units from Richland were unsuccessful, he was able to secure 50 trailers from Pasco, Washington. Soon, the number of trailers increased to 75. By spring of 1946, Trailerville had taken shape. By fall, it was a community within a community, filled with married veterans, and increasingly, their children. The college provided heat, water and lights; the residents supplied their own food. Rent for a trailer was $15 per month. Recognizing the need for additional housing, the college obtained a 386-bed dorm from the federal surplus list in Vancouver, Washington, and named it Hudson Hall. It was later rebuilt with 10 small apartments for married veterans. As the demographics of student life gradually changed, many married couples preferred to live off campus, and rents in Spokane were affordable at the time. The college needed the space occupied by the trailers and Hudson Hall for other purposes – a dining hall (Tawanka Commons) and classroom building (Patterson Hall). Completion of the Married Student Court in 1957 allowed the retirement of the house trailers and the end of Eastern’s campus within a campus.

STAY CONNECTED

TO YOUR EAGLE COMMUNITY

50-Year Reunion, Classes of ’68 and ’69

Pass Through the Pillars

Giving Joy Day

Date: Sept. 17, 2018 Place: Cheney Campus

Date: Oct. 26-27, 2018 Place: Cheney Campus

Date: Nov. 27, 2018 Place: Wherever you are!

Alumni are invited to welcome new students to Eastern at our annual Pass Through the Pillars ceremony.

Travel back to your student years when you join us for reunion weekend. All graduates, friends and other classmates are invited to join the celebration.

Join us as we share joy and raise money for EWU student scholarships and other areas of need.

By Brian Lynn ’98

Brotherly Bonds and Family Traditions During the course of two decades, an annual boys’ trip for members of Phi Delta Theta transforms into a family affair.

Eastern Washington University provided all of us with a foundation for the future. Our time in Cheney gave us an education, experiences and relationships that helped create our worldview and provided friendships that served as a support system as we discovered what it meant to become an adult.

to those founding alumni who were on the first camping trips.

But time changes all. Worldviews shift with changing circumstances and perspectives, while relationships morph or slowly fall by the wayside as we continue to move forward in life. For the men of EWU’s chapter of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, however, an annual Memorial

In the mid-to-late ’90s, founding fathers of Phi Delta Theta at EWU had recently graduated and wanted to reconnect over the long Memorial Day weekend. A camping trip was decided upon and a boys’ weekend was born. It was a typical affair for men in their early 20s. Hiking, mountain biking and fishing during the day.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

Day weekend camping trip has helped keep those relationships intact, despite the rigors and distractions of life throughout the rest of the year. And what was once a boys’ weekend for a few alumni has, as happens with all circumstances and relationships, transformed, into a family affair that is planned each year for everyone from toddlers

The Early Years (When we were young, single and poor)

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

Talk of new jobs, blossoming careers and impending relationships over beers around a campfire at night. College friendships renewed for another year over laughter as each alumnus began to find his way in the real world. And then it happened. A jolting change to the brotherly dynamic. Girlfriends began to tag along on the boys’ weekend. In the opinion of some, it was perfectly fine (coincidently, those holding this opinion often had a hard time securing a hall pass for the weekend). In the opinion of others, this was tantamount to treason, and banishment was the appropriate punishment (or at least unrelenting heckling). As is natural, women won out, and the traditional weekend set aside for manly adventure became known simply as the Memorial Day Camping Trip, and girlfriends were welcome. Harmony was restored, and all was well. And then those girlfriends became wives! And, as is natural, those wives began to birth offspring. As everyone knows, children present an entirely different set of circumstances. If the Boys’ Weekend wasn’t dead with the presence of girlfriends and wives, it surely perished with the arrival of diapers, formula and Baby Bjorn carriers.

But the men of Phi Delta Theta persevered. Girlfriends, wives and the ensuing broods they produced were dragged into the Cascade Mountains every Memorial Day weekend, tents were pitched on the cold, hard, wet ground, and coolers of food, beer and baby formula were set up. Balance was once again found.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

However, not all was harmonious. Camping has a way of bringing out different stresses than those found in the rat race of the city while climbing the corporate ladder. Friends, brothers even, don’t always see eye to eye. Spouses, especially those new to a group, don’t always appreciate a tradition – especially when it involves roughing it. More than once, the growing group of EWU alumni faced conflict head-on. There was the infamous Marshmallow Incident of ’98, when two brothers, who shall remain nameless, took the tossing of marshmallows too far and ended up wrestling in the mud one dark and stormy night while everyone else took shelter, watching from under tarps strung between trees. Nearly 20 years later, the two must maintain an equitable distance from each other during s’mores assemblage. A couple of wives, sick of the weather and sleeping on the hard ground, have taken advantage of the limited time the brothers did find to sneak away in an attempt to fit in manly adventure. While off shooting each other with paint balls, sliding face first down a mountain after being ejected from the seat of their bikes and other somewhat responsible activities, more than one brother has returned from battle to find his tent, food and all weekend survival gear packed and an angry wife waiting in a running car. But much like a family outgrows their first home, the small campground that housed the dozen or so campers in the early years didn’t work for all the new alumni that wanted to join the fun. A bigger place with warmer, drier weather was needed. The Mid-life Years (Married with children and aging) Those early camping years were enjoyable in the same way that college was – nobody knew any different. Now, more than 20 year later, what was once known as Boys’ Weekend, and then the Memorial Day Camping Trip, is now known as Phi Camp.

And like those who have been around since the inception, a certain stability and level of comfort has come with middle age. Like aging snowbirds, the camp has moved to a secret spot on the east side of the Cascade Mountains so as to increase the chance of sunny, warm weather. Where tents once littered campgrounds, now fewer do. An armada of trailers, RVs and fifth wheels the size of some of our college apartments now stand. And then there’s the children. So. Many. Children. Children now outnumber adults, and those babies holstered to their fathers’ chests during competitive games of beer pong in the early years are now readying to graduate from high school (with several attending Eastern). Phi Camp has taken on a middle-aged consistency. Brothers and wives from the 1990s to the 2010s congregate, laugh and share. Children from newborns to high schoolers do the same, each age group of kids finding their own way and entertainment for what’s become a four-day weekend. Trailers, grills and coolers are shared. If a stray child shows up at a picnic table, it gets fed. Annual traditions continue to evolve: games for young and old(er) alike; a potluck-dinner night; a bouncy castle, big-screen movie night and piñata for the kids; karaoke night at a brother’s trailer; a water fight instigated by children against unsuspecting parents; s’mores around the campfire (with proper supervision of children and adults); the yearly kickball game that the youngest to oldest camper plays in. There’s even Phi Camp apparel each year. One ritual, a throwback to chapter members’ active days at Eastern, takes place on Saturday night. A long walk by the brothers in which they take turns sharing with one another what’s going on in their lives – success or hardship, it matters not, as everyone listens quietly, offering support or congratulations later. It’s a bit of an ode to the boys weekend from which this family tradition has sprung. Those brotherly bonds have now connected families and different generations of Eastern alumni. What started with a few guys escaping for the weekend has turned into a camping clan of 100 or more brothers, wives and children gathering to celebrate the foundation and relationships they built at Eastern and continue to nurture today.

EWU Phi Delts Give Back

For the past five years, the active brothers and alumni of Phi Delta Theta have participated in and supported another type of tradition – giving back. The EWU Phi Delts have competed in the Iron Horse Challenge as part of their support of the fraternity’s Iron Phi philanthropic endeavors, which support research for a cure for Lou Gehrig’s disease, as well as funding scholarships for graduate and undergraduate members of the fraternity. The Iron Horse Challenge is a 150-mile relay run from Cheney to the iconic Wild Horse Monument overlooking the Columbia River at Vantage. To date, the chapter has racked up an impressive streak of accomplishments, including three straight years of raising more than $10,000, being named the Clack Jackson Award winners as the top fundraising chapter in the nation in 201617, having 31 Iron Phis (those members and alumni contributing more than $1,000 to the goal) and raising a cumulative total of more than $70,000!

About the author: Brian Lynn ’98 was an active member of EWU’s Phi Delts in the ’90s and now serves as chairman of the Chapter Advisory Board. He missed a decade of Phi Camps while living throughout the country but has introduced his son and nephew to the tradition since returning to Washington.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

Left to right: Rebecca Long, Don Nelson, Barbara Shields, Kathy Covey and Hailey Tangen

2018 EWU Alumni

By Kären McCormick ’18

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

Dressed to the nines in their finest black and red, armed with champagne glasses and surrounded by the sound of a two-step jazz band, more than 200 EWU alumni filled a ballroom on May 18 at the Spokane Convention Center in celebration of the 2018 alumni awards.

In March, a committee composed of previous winners, EWU Alumni Association board members and campus community partners selected the honorees. E ASTERN: FALL 2018

BARBARA SHIELDS ’92 Lifetime Achievement Award

REBECCA LONG ’13, ’06 Inspirational Young Alumni Award

KATHY COVEY ’78 Alumni of Service Award

Barbra Shields is a first-generation college graduate. In 1992, at age 62, she obtained her degree from EWU in general studies. Shields then retired from the telecommunications company, Pacific Northwest Bell, where she had been working for more than 34 years. The company had provided funding for her education at Eastern, offering a tuition reimbursement program.

Rebecca Long is a proud representation of women in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) in her community. Long graduated from Eastern in 2006 and 2013 with degrees in computer science and continues to utilize her degrees today while advocating for women and diversity in the STEAM fields.

Since graduating from EWU in 1978 with a degree in social work, Kathy Covey has been devoted to helping low-income residents in the Eastern Washington area.

Following retirement, Shields went on to volunteer for many organizations including Telephone Pioneers, Coats for Kids, Infant Hearing Assessment Program, Statue of Liberty restoration fundraising, Los Angeles Summer Olympics, Interlake School in Medical Lake, Spokane Guilds School and many more. Passionate about helping students achieve their academic goals, in 2008, Shields established two separate endowments for two undergraduate students and two graduate students. “I got motivated to help others because there is so much need, and there’s so many wonderful young people that just need a hand up,” said Shields. “If I could play a small part in that, where they could concentrate on their studies instead of worrying about the debt.” In recognition of her generous contributions to EWU, Dean Vickie Shields surprised Shields in 2014 with the dedication of a remodeled state-of-the-art classroom and media presentation practice lab named in her honor for communication students.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

“I don’t think I would’ve made it through the program if it wasn’t for the faculty here at Eastern in the computer science department,” said Long. Long is involved in several organizations, including “Write/Speak/Code” — a women and nonbinary coders technology conference in New York, the Inland Northwest Technologists Group, Spokane Geek Girls and SpoQuality. Long also serves as the vice president of Spokane Arena National Organization for Women and acts as vice chair of the Eastern computer science professional advisory board. In 2017, Long founded Future ADA, a nonprofit organization in Spokane specializing in securing space in STEAM fields for women and nonbinary individuals. “It’s really important for me to encourage more women to go into the STEAM fields because there isn’t enough of us, and for us to be able to solve diverse problems, we need diverse people in these fields to take the world forward,” said Long.

Covey actively serves as the CEO of Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) – a nonprofit dedicated to helping residents achieve self-sufficiency – and has worked for the organization for 40 years. “The vision of BMAC strives to have healthy, thriving communities,” said Covey. “One that has individuals and families that are free from hunger, poverty and homelessness. BMAC strives to fulfill that vision every day in all that we do.” BMAC is one of 30 community action partnership agencies in Washington. Founded under President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, BMAC serves approximately 5,000 people a year. Services vary from housing to food distribution to backpacks for children to helping people find jobs and more. In 2017, BMAC raised $2.2 million toward the development of the Walla Walla Teen Center, which offers counseling, child care, skill building and placement for jobs and recreation and emergency housing for youths. “I hope that for the future of BMAC, we continue to have the community support and the financial stability that we’ve been lucky to have from the individual donor base,” said Covey. “I hope that we are able to continue to do what we do, even better.”

DON NELSON ’66 Exceptional Military Service Award

HAILEY TANGEN ’11, ’08 Eagle4Life Spirit Award

Don Nelson’s interest for football and aviation brought him to Eastern. After graduating from EWSC in 1966 with a degree in history, he was commissioned to Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery Missile School branch that same year.

Hailey Tangen is the definition of Eagle pride. A former EWU cheerleader herself, Tangen became the assistant coach during her fifth year at Eastern when she returned to complete her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. This opened the door to her career as head coach.

Nelson’s career in the U.S. Army spanned more than 30 years. He was recognized for his service by the Vietnamese Army with two valor awards, including the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. “It was particularly meaningful to me because those were the people that we supported directly,” said Nelson. “The valor device is of importance to soldiers to know that they put their life on the line or did something above and beyond.” Upon completing his active duty in San Francisco in 1969, Nelson took a state job with the Ohio National Guard. “It offered tremendous opportunity to fly the same kind of aircraft I flew in Vietnam and put me back in camaraderie with veterans like myself,” said Nelson. As part of Eastern’s ROTC program, Nelson was required to participate for the first two years, but his next two years were voluntary. “I would like to see more kids that maybe wouldn’t get to Eastern have that opportunity through a scholarship fund and have that access that I had at one time,” said Nelson.

Originally planning to be a part of the team for two years, Tangen continues to hold the title of EWU head cheer coach today. “Ten years later, I tell everyone I have the best job on campus,” said Tangen. In addition to her dedication to the cheer team, Tangen works for Kindred at Home, a home health and hospice care facility. Tangen works in the sales and marketing department, advocating for seniors in the community and making sure they get the care they need. Tangen balances family, friends and a full-time job, all while finding time to coach her team. “The majority of my free time is taken up by Eastern Cheer, and the simple answer to ‘why’ is because you make time for the things that you love,” said Tangen. “I love them and I love my program, and I love Eastern.” Tangen aims to grow the EWU Cheer program by improving fundraising as well as on-and off-the-court techniques. “Coaches don’t coach for themselves,” said Tangen. “We do it for our athletes. Every moment is about them, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Photos from the event can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/ewuphoto/albums E ASTERN: FALL 2018

CENTRAL 01 WASHINGTON NORTHERN 08 ARIZONA WASHINGTON 15 STATE CAL 22 POLY SEPT

SEPT

MONTANA 29 STATE SOUTHERN 06 UTAH WEBER 13 STATE 27 IDAHO

NORTHERN 03 COLORADO UC 10 DAVIS PORTLAND 16 STATE

SEPT

NOV

OC T

NOV

OC T

NOV

HOME GAMES HIGHLIGHTED IN RED

#28 ANTOINE CUSTER JR. #1 JOSH LEWIS #6 NZUZI WEBSTER #8 GAGE GUBRUD #4 NSIMBA WEBSTER #4 MITCH FETTIG #75 SPENCER BLACKBURN #99 JAY-TEE TIULI

FACES &PLACES FOR MORE EWU PHOTOS, VISIT FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/EWUPHOTO.

BLESSINGS UNDER THE BRIDGE The EWU Alumni Association and Young Professionals Network co-sponsored the weekly Blessings Under the Bridge feed on April 11. Alumni volunteers served meals to more than 350 homeless and less fortunate in Spokane. Groceries, pet food, clothing, blankets and more were also provided.

COMMENCEMENT 2018 Easternâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2018 commencement was held June 16 at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Nearly 3,200 students (2,642 undergraduate and 534 graduate) were eligible to attend. Ceremonies were also held for semester students on May 4, at the Spokane Convention Center, and at Bellevue College on June 19. 38

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

SENIOR SEND-OFF EWU and the Alumni Association congratulated the Class of 2018 with the third annual Senior Send-Off celebration on June 7. The soon-to-be alumni took a symbolic walk down the Showalter Hall walkway, followed by a barbecue, music, games and a photo booth on Showalter lawn.

EWU ALUMNI DAY AT THE TACOMA RAINIERS Eagle alumni got together in Cheney (Cheney Stadium, that is!) for an evening of friends and baseball as the Tacoma Rainiers took on the Salt Lake Bees. A tailgate prior to the game made for family-friendly fun on July 21.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

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

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Privratsky ’69 Honored Inside the DLA distribution headquarters building in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania – the one that bears his name – Retired Maj. Gen. Ken Privratsky, first commander of Defense Distribution Center, was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame on May 11. Prior to unveiling the bronze bust officially marking Privratsky’s place in the Hall of Fame, DLA Distribution commanding general Army Brig. Gen. John Laskodi described Privratsky as “revolutionary” and said, “Total dedication to process improvement, insistence upon excellence, and commitment to customer service and fiscal responsibility are the hallmarks of (Gen. Privratsky’s] leadership. The significant business process improvements that occurred under his leadership, as well as the increased forward presence of the agency, make him truly deserving of a place in the Distribution Hall of Fame.” Photo by Dawn Bonsell. Privratsky spent 33 years in the U.S. Army before retiring in 2002 as a major general. He graduated from Eastern Washington State College in 1969 as an ROTC distinguished graduate and served as an infantry platoon leader in combat in Vietnam. He has been awarded the highest service decorations and received personal recognition from the vice president of the United States for his revolutionary changes to military distribution operations. After leaving the military, he entered the ocean shipping business with the largest domestic shipping company in the U.S. He became responsible for operations spanning the Pacific, including terminal operations in Alaska, Hawaii and Guam, and along the West Coast of the U.S. He retired from the industry in 2010. He has written several articles on military matters over the years. His interest in, and research, of the Falklands War culminated in British publication of his book Logistics in the Falklands War in 2014. ’18 Josh Best, BA visual communication design, has joined Etailz, an online marketplace retailer, as a senior graphic designer.

’17 Manuel Arroyo, BA accounting, has joined Universal Funding as an underwriter. Previously, he worked as a bookkeeper and commercial bank teller.

’18 Inna Dragnya, BA finance, has joined Etailz, an online marketplace retailer, as an accounting relationship coordinator.

’17 Courtney R. Davis, BA marketing, has joined Windermere Real Estate/Manito LLC.

’18 Delaney Hodgins, BS health informatics tech and management, former EWU women’s basketball standout, will play professionally with the Espoo Basket Team in Espoo, Finland. She ended her time at Eastern as the all-time leading scorer with 2,120 career points. ’18 Alex McCanna, BS computer science, has joined Etailz, an online marketplace retailer, as a software engineer 1. He previously worked at RESTful API. ’18 Conni Olson, BA accounting, has joined Etailz, an online marketplace retailer, as an accountant. Previously, she worked as an enterprise risk management specialist at Numerica Credit Union.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

’17 Parker Goolsbey, BA management, has joined Etailz, an online marketplace retailer, as a product analyst 1. ’17, ’98 Jennifer Heimbigner, MPA, BA communication disorders, is the new chief executive officer for Cancer Care Northwest. She has served as the interim CEO since September 2017. Heimbigner started in the front office in 1999 and was later promoted to leadership roles as clinic manager, and director of clinic operations prior to becoming interim CEO. ’17 Emily Hollenbeck, BA marketing, has joined Etailz, an online marketplace retailer, as a new account specialist. She previously worked at Free People. ’17 Mitch Riddle, MOT, has joined Spokane Occupational and Hand Therapy as an occupational therapist.

’16 Jamie Belknap, BA early childhood education, is a finalist for Extreme Huntress, a national hunting competition, for a second straight year. Contestants are judged on physical skill, judges’ scores and a public vote. Finalists were filmed this summer in Texas. Episodes will air online in October. Viewers can vote beginning Nov. 15. The winner will be announced in January 2019. To learn more, visit extremehuntress.com. When she’s not competing, Belknap is a third-grade teacher in Spokane Valley. ’16 Ruby A. Bynum, BSW, has joined Morning Star Boys’ Foster Care, a division of Morning Star Boys’ Ranch, as foster care program coordinator. She previously was a family support specialist at Frontier Behavioral Health. ’16, ’15 Vanessa Infante, MSW, BSW, was named an employee rising star by YWCA Spokane for her work as a domestic violence community service office advocate, at the YWCA Partners in Progress annual meeting held in March.

class notes Welcome New EWUAA Board Members! On July 1, Richard Arquette ’13, Nate Bryant ’15, Leah Horton ’12, Kelly Naumann ’10, Nate Peters ’16, Erik Puthoff ’05 and Stacey Rasumssen ’04 joined the Eastern Washington University Alumni Association Board, which is made up of alumni volunteers from across the state. Their term runs through June 30, 2020. They join the current board of passionate Eagles, who work to keep you engaged and connected to EWU: Marijke Albers ’84, ’78, ’75 (secretary); Jason Alvarado ’06; Alvaro Figueroa ’14, ’13 (treasurer); Rick Garretson ’91; Holly Johnson ’14; Lori Johnson ’05; Jerry King ’90, ’84, ’81, Brian Lynn ’98; Rusty Madsen ’07; Albert Pjosek ’06 (vice president); Mark Richard ’98 and Jeff Stannard ’91 (president). EWUAA is the official body representing EWU alumni. Its purpose is to build on the history and tradition of the university and to encourage lifelong involvement of alumni, in partnership with the university and the Office of Alumni, through advocacy, support, service and communication. EWUAA is a non-dues-paying, nonprofit organization. All EWU graduates are automatically enrolled in the Alumni Association upon graduation and are invited to participate in Alumni Association activities. ’16 Meghan Sorensen, BA marketing, has joined Etailz, an online marketplace retailer, as a marketing coordinator. She was previously at KAYU Fox 28. ’15 Jesse Brouwer, DPT, has joined Inspire Physical Therapy as a physical therapist. Brouwer, who will practice out of Inspire’s north Spokane location, recently worked in an outpatient setting in North Idaho. ’15 Caitlyn Euper, BS biology, and Sawyer Delp were married in May. She works at Memorial Physicians Laboratory as a phlebotomist. ’15 Cory Faulkner, BA accounting, launched a new fitness app, “perFIcT,” in February. The app allows people to buy training programs from trainers and download them to their phones.

EWUAA Board Retreat, March 2018 Pictured front l-r: Marijke Albers ’84, ’78, ’75, Lori Johnson ’05, Alvaro Figueroa ’14, ’13, Mark Richard ’98; back l-r: Jeff Stannard ’91, Vin Vu ’86, Bart Mihailovich ’06, Rusty Madsen ’07, Albert Pjosek ’06, Rick Garretson ’91, Jason Alvarado ’06 and Jerry King ’87, ’84, ’80

a master’s degree at Whitworth University, and he is employed at King Beverage in Spokane. ’14 Clarence Gundersen, BA psychology, has been named head coach of the Twin City Union women’s soccer team in the Northwest Premier League in Centralia, Washington. ’14 Cody Hanson, BA marketing, has joined Klündt | Hosmer as a digital marketing strategist. He has four years of experience managing digital marketing campaigns. ’14 Spencer Vaughn, BS mechanical engineering, has joined Etailz, an online marketplace retailer, as a first-to-market analyst I. He comes to Etailz from ASC Machine Tools Inc.

’15 Jennifer Polignoni, MSW, has been promoted to small-business unit manager at Alliant Insurance Services.

’13, ’11 Wylie Rhoads, MS and BA psychology, has joined Hutton Settlement Children’s Home as a mental health therapist. He previously worked with the Spokane Public School Mental Health Agency.

’14 Kayla N. Belote, BA children’s studies, and ’16 Colby Cravens, BA finance, were married May 19 in Las Vegas. She is pursuing

’13, ’11 Efrain J. Sanchez, MS physical education, BS exercise science, has been named the general manager of Thorbeckes

Fitness Center in Centralia, Chehalis and Rochester, Washington. Previously, he served as Total Athlete Performance (TAP) and personal training director. ’12 Degen A. Hill, BA Spanish, from Boise, Idaho, has been living in Beijing, China, for the past few years. He recently published his first novel, Contraception (Archer Publishing, May 25, 2018), about a policy in the year 2070 that addresses curbing an overpopulated planet. ’12 Jaymi Stuermer, BS exercise science, joined the Santa Barbara, California, Family YMCA in February as the new membership director. Previously, she served as an operations manager of a fitness facility in Seattle. She is an NSCA certified personal trainer and a Silver Sneakers trainer. ’12 Gabe Wood, BEd natural science, and business partner Alex King have opened Heritage Bar & Kitchen in downtown Spokane.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

THE CHARITABLE IRA ROLLOVER: USE YOUR IRA FOR GOOD If you are over 70½ or older, the IRS requires you to take an annual minimum distribution from your IRA retirement account. Along with that distribution comes tax on your previously untaxed assets. For some, this means taking unneeded income and paying more tax. But there is a way to take your required minimum distribution, skip the tax and make a meaningful gift to support EWU. The IRA Charitable Rollover is easy to do, has definite tax advantages and allows you to use your savings in a way that means the most to you.

“I instruct my retirement account custodian to send all, or a portion, of my RMD to EWU Foundation every year. Because EWU Foundation is a taxexempt charity, there is no tax paid on the transfer, and I lower my taxable income. The minimum distribution requirement is met, and my money goes straight to work for EWU ROTC students.” Jerry Mellick ’67

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT: EWU Office of Gift Planning Laura Thayer Director of Planned Giving 509.359.6901 lthayer3@ewu.edu www.ewulegacy.org

This information is not intended as tax, legal or financial advice. Gift results may vary. Consult your personal financial advisor for information specific to your situation.

’11, ’08 Nieves Gomez, MPA, BA Spanish, has been named president and chief executive officer of the Columbia Basin Health Association. Gomez served as vice president of operations since mid-2017. He worked his way up at CBHA, starting as a summer intern in 2007. He became clinic manager in Mattawa, then was appointed director of quality. He became director of operations in 2016. ’11 Brent Seidel, BS community health, has been hired by USA Hockey as manager for its Coaching Education Program. Seidel comes from the Seattle Thunderbirds, where he served as a hockey operations assistant. He holds a level 4 USA Hockey coaching certification and played ACHA club hockey while at Eastern. ’10, ’99 Vince Barthels, MPA, BS biology, has joined the Spokane office of T-O Engineers Inc. as environmental project manager. He is chairman of the Cheney Planning Commission. ’10 Nic Borden, BA management, has been hired by Alliant Americas as commercial account representative. He comes to Alliant from Travelers Insurance.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

’10, ’03 Jeremy S. Clark, MEd, BA natural science education, has been named principal at Virginia Grainger Elementary School in the Okanogan School District. Previously, he served as principal at Tonasket Elementary School. He had been at Tonasket since 2012 and served as that district’s federal programs director for migrant/bilingual programs. ’10 Alissa Muñoz, BA communication disorders, has been promoted to vice president of member services by the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce. ’10 Kelly Naumann, BS journalism, has joined Startup Spokane as the community manager. Previously, she worked as director of community relations and communication for the Hutton Settlement Children’s Home. ’08 Levi J. Floeter, BA interdisciplinary studies, is the author of New Army Officer’s Survival Guide (University of North Georgia Press, 2018). He was commissioned as an Army infantry officer from EWU in 2008. After graduating from Airborne and Infantry School at Fort Benning, he was deployed

as a platoon leader in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from October 2009 to July 2010. He has held various positions as a company XO, battalion operations assistant and company commander and serves as an ROTC instructor at the University of Washington Military Science Program. ’08 Mandy Iverson, MFA creative writing, has joined St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, as the director of alumni relations. ’08 Matthew Mensik, BA history, has been promoted to principal/shareholder of Witherspoon Kelley, where he practices litigation and labor employment law. He’s been with the firm since 2012. ‘06 Ruth Williams, MFA creative writing, has published her first poetry collection, Flatlands (Black Lawrence Press, 2018). She is an assistant professor of English at William Jewell College and the author of Conveyance (Dancing Girl Press, 2012).

Part social hour, part career booster, the EWU Young Professionals Network is the perfect place to meet fellow young alumni while getting inside career advice. Our speakers are pretty awesome too.

Join us at events throughout the year: alumni.ewu.edu/events

Become a member of our Facebook community: EWU Young Professionals Network

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

’05 Joseph “Joey” Castilleja, BA music education, has been chosen superintendent of the Mabton School District in Mabton, Washington. The Sunnyside resident previously was the administrator for White Swan Schools. ’05 Colin Haffner, BA English, has joined the Chewelah Independent as a reporter. While at EWU, he was the editor of the Easterner, the university’s student newspaper. ’05 Brian D. Maxwell, PhD, MFA creative writing, an assistant professor who teaches English at Eastern Florida State College, Melbourne Campus, has received the college’s inaugural Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award. ’04 Danielle Cannon, MSW, has joined Excelsior Youth Center as director of strategic initiatives and partnerships. Previously, she was manager of community education at Coordinated Care home health service. ’03 Brandon Rinta, MS physical education, has been named the head coach for Central Washington University’s men basketball

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

team. He spent the past seven years as the head coach for Lewis-Clark State College. ’03 Matthew J. Sarr, BA English, has been promoted to editor of The Porterville Recorder in Porterville, California. ’01 Stephanie K. Bonanzino, MSW, has joined Life Care Center in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, as the executive director. Previously, she served as the regional vice president of Life Center’s Cascades Region. ’01, ’96 Gina L. Naccarato-Keele, MEd, BA education, principal of Linwood Elementary in Spokane, was named the Washington State Elementary Principal of the Year by the Association of Washington School Principals. In fall 2017, she was named Spokane Public Schools' Distinguished Principal of the Year. ’01 Stu Steiner, MS computer science, senior lecturer for the computer science program at EWU, has joined the Eastern Washington University Foundation Board. ’00, ’98 Michael Basinger, MPA, BA urban and regional planning, has been named to

the Friends of the Centennial Trail’s board of directors. Basinger is a planner for the city of Spokane Valley. ’00 Dustin A. Masterson, BA human resource management, has joined Numerica Credit Union as an external home loan officer. ’99 Anne Robinson-Paul, MFA creative writing, has joined the board of directors of the Lake Region Arts Council, Fergus Falls, Minnesota. She currently works in university relations at North Dakota State University. ’98 Lisa M. Leinberger, BA journalism, has been hired as a local communications manager for the Washington Hospitality Association. Leinberger previously worked as a reporter for The Spokesman-Review, a research assistant for the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and a communications specialist for SCAFCO Co. ’97 Rob Butterfield, BA accounting, has been recognized by Banner Bank for one of its top employee awards, Banner’s Best. He is its chief accounting officer.

class notes Five Questions with Lisa Cargill, APR

Lisa Cargill ’03, BS journalism, is the new director of Alumni Relations at EWU. She began the new leadership role on Aug. 23. Q. Hello Lisa, welcome back to EWU! What have you been up to since you graduated in 2003? When I graduated, social media didn’t exist, and cell phones definitely weren’t smart. My career in communications and marketing has seen interesting changes. After Eastern, I joined a local marketing agency where I spent 15 years creating communication strategies and awareness campaigns for diverse clients, including universities. Along the way I also married my best friend and had two busy boys. Q. What is your fondest memory of your time at Eastern? The awesome friendships and professional network Eastern gave me are at the center of every fond memory. I came to Eastern as a Running Start student in my junior year of high school. Despite my baby face, everyone was so kind, helpful and encouraging that I immediately felt right at home. Q. For people who may not know what the director of Alumni Relations does, how would you describe your new job? The Alumni Relations team and I get the privilege of connecting alumni near and far to events, jobs, networking opportunities and other cool benefits of being an Eagle4Life. We have a lot of fun! Q. What excites you most about your new position, and what are some of your goals to grow and enhance alumni engagement? I’m eager to innovate ways for alumni to be part of the exciting transformation happening at Eastern. I plan to listen to alumni first to understand how they want to engage with their alma mater. We’ll keep what they love and try some new things along the way. Q. What do you love to do in your spare time? I live for summer boating, but during the other three seasons, you’ll find me with my family eating pizza, playing board games and watching HGTV. I also enjoy volunteering for the Women & Children’s Free Restaurant.

’97 Brian P. Hart, BEd social science, has been hired as superintendent for the Granger School District in Granger, Washington. Previously, he served as executive director of teaching and learning in the Sunnyside School District. ’97 Deanna L. Hildenbrand, BA communication studies, has been promoted to vice president of marketing and communications at Numerica Credit Union. Previously, she served as an assistant vice president. ’96 Nick Murto, BA graphic communications, has been named to the Friends of the Centennial Trail’s board of directors. Murto is principal and co-founder of Seven2. ’95 Kris Workman, BA communication studies, has been named senior director of technical operations for Comcast’s Washington region. Workman most recently led Comcast’s West Division shared service marketing and sales operations team in Denver. ’93 Simon Barr, BA sociology, of Ellensburg, Washington, has been recognized as the

Community Corrections Officer of the Year by the Washington State Department of Corrections. He has worked for the department for more than 20 years and is currently a correctional hearing officer and serves as an adjudicator at offender disciplinary hearings involving major infractions. ’92 Renee Sande, BS mass communications, has been appointed to the board of directors of Partnering for Progress, a Spokane nonprofit that sends teams to rural Kenya to help improve health, education, economic development, water and sanitation. Sande is a freelance writer and leasing professional for Greystar Management. ’91 Curtis W. Griffin, BA business, manager and owner of Zip’s Investments, has been named to the EWU Foundation board. ’91 Charlotte Nemec, BA economics, has been named president and CEO for Spokane Federal Credit Union. She served on the human resources team for 10 years before being promoted to vice president of administration

in 2004. She most recently served as executive vice president for the credit union. ’90 Suzanne Vick, BEd physical education, has been named athletic director at Curtis High School in University Place, Washington. An EWU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Vick played volleyball for four years under head coach Pam Parks. ’89 Gordon W. Hester, BA business, has been elected to the Providence Health Care Foundation’s board of directors. He is the vice president and director of commercial management for Kiemle Hagood. ’87, ’75 Mike Cantlon, MEd, BEd biology, is retiring after almost 40 years as a teacher. He is the patriarch of the Libby Center and started the Odyssey program for gifted students in Spokane Public Schools in 1997. He is also the founder of Satori Summer Camp at EWU and guest conductor for the Spokane Symphony’s annual Holiday Pops concert. ’85 Collette C. Leland, BA history, has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

class notes Magazine in recognizing its top list of attorneys in Washington. She is an attorney at Winston & Cashatt in Spokane. ’85 Jim McElwain, BA physical education, is the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for the University of Michigan. Previously, he was the head football coach at the University of Florida. ’85 Robin (Howard) Waller, BA English, is the development director for Lilac Services for the Blind. Previously, Waller served as the Spokane Lilac Festival Association Parade Coordinator and historian. ’83 Mark A. Hund, BA management information systems, has been promoted to vice president of commercial risk management at Numerica Credit Union. Previously, he was an assistant vice president. ’81 Lori K. Smith, BA criminal justice, has been appointed to the state of Washington Court of Appeals, Division 1. Smith has served as a judge in the King County Superior Court

since 2012. Prior to her judicial appointment to the superior court, she served as a King County Superior Court commissioner where her work involved domestic violence protection orders, child support and other family law issues. ’75 Edmond A. Bruneau, BA journalism, and his musical group Robot Raven released their fourth CD, Set to Soar, in February. ’75, ’71 Deena (Killgore) Heath, MA college instruction, BA English, is a retired arts director who held positions with ArtsEast in La Grande, Oregon; Stockton Arts Commission in California; Moscow Arts Commission; Pend Oreille Arts Council, Sandpoint; and Idaho Theater for Youth in Boise. Previous work experience included teaching speech communication at the college level at Eastern and Gonzaga University and in marketing, advertising and public relations in the private sector. She is a substitute instructional assistant for the Lewiston School District and a community volunteer who serves on the board of the Idaho Commission on the Arts.

’72 Don Freeman, BA physical education, has been accepted into the American Baseball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. He has coached for more than 30 years, locally in Clark County, nationally and internationally. This spring, he returned to where it all started – as head coach at Prairie High School in Vancouver, Washington. ’72 Thomas McLaughlin, MA psychology, was recognized by Gonzaga University at its annual Academic Honors convocation for his work in special education. ’71, ’64 Keith Vradenburg, MEd, BA education, has stepped down after 10-plus years as mayor of the city of Entiat due to medical reasons. He underwent open heart surgery in March and is now recovering. ’70 Michael Dahmen, BEd history, has been selected to Spokane Youth Sports Association’s board of trustees for 20182019.

Bikes Helmets

Sunglasses ! Eagle Pride

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

Eagle Pride. Got yours?

ewu.edu/plates

Helping Eagle spirit soar! Show your Eagle spirit with the new EWU Visa® debit card.

ICA NUMER IT UNION CRED

EWU EAGLE

Now available EXCLUSIVELY at Numerica. numericacu.com • 800.433.1837

Federally Insured by NCUA

REMEMBERING PATRICK BY BRANDON HANSEN ’08

Eastern Washington is known to have a few back roads. And on these back roads, you’ll find a few loggers in their crew cab crummies heading up to the job site. It was in this setting that I discovered the work of author Patrick McManus, who passed away in April at the age of 84. When I was a kid, going up “into the woods” with dad was a big deal. Going up “into the woods” is how every single logger references it, and it could mean going north up into Stevens County, Pend Oreille County and even over the bridge into Ferry County. It’s not the most location-friendly description. But what it usually meant was we were going to be in dad’s truck for a while – a white Ford 350 crew cab he laid a tree over the first month he had it and still owns for dump trips. On these trips we would put in audio tapes of Patrick McManus’ books. Born in Sandpoint, Idaho, in 1933, a lot of McManus’ stories and characters are loosely taken from his childhood growing up from talking about his older sister Patricia as “the Troll” to describing his woodsman friend Rancid Crabtree, his friends Crazy Eddie Muldoon and Retch Sweeney, and his pet dog Strange. They were semi-fictional characters, meaning that somebody McManus knew was the inspiration for them. Sitting in the passenger seat of my dad’s pickup, listening intently to stories McManus wrote, I could have sworn that these stories were written by somebody in my hometown of Chewelah. While I grew up on a steady diet of Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Star Trek – those settings were always completely different from what surrounds us on this side of the state. McManus’ writing, however, hit close to home and had the same rhymes and vibes that people around here use when they tell stories. I have never been a literature fan, per se, but McManus’ stories showed me the difference between reading a sci-fi book and reading something that is supposed to

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

convey the culture and the feeling of a time period or area. His stories are our region’s literature. Anyone growing up can relate to his hunting stories, his fishing stories and other oddities he experienced or characters he created. Let’s be honest, every small town in eastern Washington probably has about four Rancid Crabtrees, and they go down to the local bar on a regular basis. Crazy Eddie? There are probably five of them on local logging landings in the county. Since McManus is from this area, and stayed in this area, he has a special place in my heart. He graduated from Washington State University – a college I love rooting for – and became a professor at Eastern Washington University and was an advisor to the student newspaper, The Easterner. I went to EWU and went on to work for the paper all five years I was in school. (Sorry, school took me a little longer; blame it on playing World of Warcraft.) When he would write about a hunting or fishing trip, I could see that happening right in my backyard. The Night the Bear Ate Goombaw was one of my favorite stories, as it revolved around McManus taking a camping trip with his best friend Eddie Muldoon and his family along with Eddie’s grandma, Goombaw (not to be confused with Goomba, which is an enemy in Super Mario Bros.). Goombaw was afraid of bears, and since McManus’ family was not rich, he had to use a makeshift fur coat as a sleeping bag. Not to ruin the story, but I think you can see where this comedy of errors is going. I listened to this in my dad’s pickup on old

cassette tapes over and over. Flash forward over a decade later, my friend Casey and I were camping at Glacier National Park. There had been a recent spate of stories of bear attacks in the area, so we were (well Casey is an Eagle Scout, so I was the only one on edge) a little skittish. After some drinking, a few girls at a nearby campsite decided to yell at the top of their lungs at about 2 a.m., probably as a joke. Much like McManus in his fur-coat sleeping bag, I bolted from our tent thinking a bear attack was upon us and ended up tripping over myself three or four times before realizing it was a false alarm. All I could think about that night was that story. Somehow McManus’ storytelling applies to so many experiences and adventures in our area. If somebody new to the Inland Northwest is looking to see what it’s like here, perhaps we should just hand them a collection of McManus’ books. And they’re timeless stories. McManus was such a humorous writer and a wellnatured person that I think he could have easily spun in this era of social media and internet tomfoolery and had us all laughing on the floor. The best part about his writing was he had a lifelong love of hunting and fishing, but he freely admitted he was terrible at both activities. Amen, brother! Having fallen asleep while my dad flushed out some deer near me on a hunting trip, I can freely admit that I, too, fall into this category. I prided myself on fishing all summer but never catching anything so I didn’t have to gut it. McManus caught both my imagination and the life of people in our area in a perfectly distilled set of stories. With literature, you can cherish it through the years. McManus’ writing never got old, clichéd or repetitive. I’ve had several other writers who were at some point my “favorite.” But that would

K MCMANUS change year-to-year as their style became dated or didn’t relate to me as it once did. But McManus’ stories are timeless. This region was truly lucky to have someone like McManus convey how we live our lives here in the Pacific Northwest. About the author: Brandon Hansen ’08 graduated from EWU with a degree in journalism. He is the editor of The Independent, a weekly newspaper located in Chewelah, Washington.

Somehow McManus’s storytelling applies to so many experiences and adventures in our area. If somebody new to the Inland Northwest is looking to see what it’s like here, perhaps we should just hand them a collection of McManus’ books.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

in memoriam ’08 Karen E. McDonald, age 49, died March 27, 2018

’07 Daniel A. Kippes, age 33, died Feb. 4, 2018

’03 Robert B. Boltjes, age 37, died

’81 Brian J. Davison, age 60, died June 30, 2018

’81 Patricia A. Ellis, age 83, died Jan. 1, 2018

Feb. 13, 2018

’81 Pete J. Guglielmino, age 60, died June 7, 2018

’97 Francine M. Boxer, age 67, died

’79 Christine M. Gerke, age 69, died

Feb. 12, 2018

’97 Demi O. Mack II, age 53, died July 5, 2018

’95 Kim R. Hartman, age 50, died

June 10, 2018

’78 Michael P. McCaffree, age 62, died April 2, 2018

’71 Theodore M. Krauss, age 68, died Feb. 4, 2018 ’71 Ronald L. Moe, age 74, died June 6, 2018

’70 Michelle L. McDaniel, age 72, died April 19, 2017

’70 Gregory R. Young, age 70, died June 18, 2018

’68 Dale P. Eggers, age 72, died May 24, 2018

’68 Ronald E. Nicodemus, age 71, died April 13, 2018

Feb. 17, 2018

’78 Mary B. Sleeth, age 90, died May 8, 2018

’94 Patricia Chambers, age 68, died

’77 Ron F. Weston, age 64, died June

’93 Connie C. Horak, age 46, died

’76 James L. Curtis, age 70, died

’66 Carolyn M. Shumate, age 73,

’75 Jon L. Allan, age 65, died June 3,

’64 Ronald C. Dishno, age 79, died

April 5, 2018

March 19, 2018

’93 Paul M. Kinzel, age 48, died Jan. 17, 2018

’91 Patrick N. Robinson, age 70, died

6, 2018

April 15, 2018 2018

Jan. 31, 2018

’75 Madonna L. Richardson, age 72, died June 15, 2018

’90 Richelle J. Greenwood, age 50,

’74 Bobby R. Fricks, age 82, died May

died March 3, 2018

’89 Rosemary W. Cook, age 80, died

6, 2018

’68 Cammy S. Yeend, age 71, died Jan. 29, 2018 died April 17, 2018 Feb. 23, 2018

’63 Dennis W. Anthony, age 78, died July 1, 2018

’63 John M. Lubahn, age 84, died March 17, 2018 ’63 Kathy Seely, age 77, died Feb. 24, 2018

Feb. 10, 2018

’74 Judith E. Murray, age 80, died Jan. 23, 2018

’89 Jeffrey D. Davis, age 54, died April 2, 2018

’74 Kent A. Smith, age 74, died March 30, 2018

’88 Anna M. Plotnikoff, age 52, died

’73 Gary W. Cramer, age 67, died

’62 Robert Carl Johnson, PhD, age 78, died Dec. 16, 2017

’87 Nancy J. Echelbarger, age 69,

’72 Gary R. Reiter, age 71, died April

’62 Henry K. Kight, age 83, died Jan. 31, 2018

’85 Elizabethe B. Peterson, age 79,

’71 Michael J. Fitzpatrick, age 71,

May 30, 2018

died June 35, 2018 died Feb. 26, 2018

’84 Roy L. McLeish, age 63, died June 11, 2018

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

May 30, 2018 13, 2018

died May 30, 2018

’71 Ellen A. Hawley, age 68, died June 13, 2018

’62 Eugene D. Downing, age 83, died Feb. 7, 2018

’61 C. Jeannine Metz, age 78, died March 28, 2018

’61 Robert E. Wolz, age 87, died Jan. 25, 2018

’59 Charles R. Auvil, age 81, died April 20, 2018

’59 Roxana R. Borchers, age 81, died May 1, 2018

’54 Vi Medak, age 89, died March 21, 2018

’51 Bill Main Sr., age 90, died July 1, 2018

’58 Louise J. McKay, age 95, died

’50 William H. Lindsey, age 91, died

’57 Jean A. Frucci, age 83, died Feb.

’49 Patrick Shauvin, age 94, died

March 12, 2018 16, 2018

’57 Joyce L. Leit, age 83, died Feb. 27, 2018 ’57 Michael B. Trainer, age 90, died July 11, 2018

’55 James C. Van Matre, age 85, died April 24, 2018

’54 Raj N. Joshi, age 85, died Feb. 27, 2018

May 24, 2018

April 11, 2018

Bruce M. “Doc” Mitchell, PhD, age 88, died July 21. He retired from the Education Department in January 1994 after 26 years of service. Bart Whelton, PhD, age 76, died May 4. He retired from the university in January 2005 after 30 years of service in the Chemistry/Biochemistry Department.

Faculty & Staff William “Bill” Goetter, PhD, age 87, died March 26. He retired Sept. 1, 2000, as professor emeritus after 30 years of service in the Education Department. Bruce J. Kellam, age 80, died April 6. He was hired in 1969 as assistant professor in marketing and returned in 1982 as professor of marketing and director of the MBA program, retiring in 2003.

E ASTERN: FALL 2018

EASTERN Magazine

Nonprofit Org. U.S. POSTAGE

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

PAID

Eastern Washington University

LIGHTS, CAMERA ... HOMECOMING! OCT. 24-28 Homecoming & Parent and Family Weekend 2018

OCT. 24

Campus and Community Spirit Splash Contest Homecoming Kickoff & Field Day Movie

OCT. 25

Spirit Car Bash Campus Clue Game Challenge Women’s Volleyball vs. Weber St. Eastern’s Got Talent

OCT. 26

EWU Alumni Association 50-year Reunion for Classes of 1968 & 1969 PUB Grand Opening Homecoming Parade Bonfire & Pep Rally Street Party Women’s Volleyball vs. Idaho St.

OCT. 27

President's 5K Race Carnival Homecoming Football Game vs. University of Idaho VS.

OCT. 28

Family Brunch