Leading in service

Ragenovich and McVay honored with service award

In June, Cassie Ragenovich and John McVay were recognized with the WWU Generosity in Service Medallion in honor of their durable and excellent service to the university. McVay, president of the university for 18 years, was honored alongside Ragenovich, former director of Student Financial Services with a nearly 50-year employee record. (Read more about Ragenovich on pg. 17.) They are only the second and third recipients of the medallion.

Ragenovich, herself a WWU alumna, spent decades working to identify resources to fund the education of the university’s students. Two firm convictions motivated her work: Her belief in the value of a faith-based, Walla Walla University education and her belief that every would-be student is created in the image of God as a being of inestimable value and worth. McVay joined then-Walla Walla College as president in 2006, supervising the institution’s name change from

Walla Walla College to Walla Walla University a year later. His strategic planning efforts—including establishing a long-range budget that ensured critical working capital during the pandemic—earned him a commendation from accrediting organizations. A champion of the university’s commitment to faith and discovery, McVay also established a robust spiritual master planning process to nurture faith and discipleship.

In further recognition of his personal and professional integrity, vision and leadership, McVay was bestowed the title of President Emeritus on May 6, 2024, by the Board of Trustees at WWU. He is the first to hold the title.