Eastern Magazine | Spring/Summer 2012

up front

EDITORKANDI CARPER ‘05

ART DIRECTORRYAN GAARD ‘02

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSBRIAN LYNN ’98, KANDI CARPER ‘05, DAVE COOK, DAVE MEANY

GRAPHIC DESIGNRYAN GAARD ‘02, SAM BUZBY ‘07, STEVE BATEMAN, HEIDI JANTZ, COURTNEY HAMMOND ‘13

COPY EDITORSBRIAN LYNN ’98, GERMAINE LEJEUNE ’12, JUDY CRABB

EASTERN: SPRING 2012

PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN DEMKE ’98, BRIAN LYNN ’98, ERIC GALEY ‘84, PAT SPANJER ’80, LESLIE MOWATT ‘84

EDITORIAL BOARDDOUG KELLEY ’83, JACK LUCAS ’77, PIA HALLENBERG ’98, KORY KELLY ’98, GINA MAURO CAMPBELL ‘90

VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT MICHAEL WESTFALL

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ADVANCEMENTLISA POPLAWSKI ’01, ‘94

EWU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTGINA MAURO CAMPBELL ‘90

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONSTERESA CONWAY

CONTACT USEMAIL: [email protected]: 509.359.6422WRITE: EASTERN MAGAZINE, 300 SHOWALTER HALL, CHENEY, WA 99004-2445

EASTERN MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED FALL, WINTER AND SPRING BY EWU MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS AND IS MAILED FREE TO ALUMNI OF RECORD IN THE UNITED STATES. VIEW THIS AND PREVIOUS ISSUES, ONLINE AT WWW.EWU.EDU/EASTERNMAGAZINE.

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Dear Alumni and Friends, The Eastern Washington University Alumni Association recently recognized five alumni who have made outstanding community contributions throughout their lifetime. I was excited to be a part of the 2012 EWU Alumni Awards because I think it’s important to highlight our alumni who lead and inspire others to great heights.

You will read more about the award winners in this issue of Eastern magazine, but for me one of the highlights of the night was seeing Gordon Budke ’63, receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for his longstanding commitment to EWU. This is the highest honor bestowed by the Alumni Association. Gordon has served on many boards in Spokane and at Eastern, and his unwavering support of the university during these challenging budget years has been invaluable. Additionally, he has been a role model and mentor for so many people, and I feel privileged to have worked with him on the Board of Trustees and to call him a friend.

This kind of commitment from our alumni is what makes Eastern so strong. And with 32,000 of them right in our own backyard, it is important we cultivate strong relationships with our alumni, and recognize them for their outstanding accomplishments.

With record enrollment, respected programs and active alumni, EWU is truly a special place. I want to thank all of you for your continued support of the university.

Rodolfo Arévalo, PhDPresidentEastern Washington University

SP

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012EASTERN

THE MAGAZINE for Eastern Washington University Alumni and Friends

EWU President Rodolfo Arévalo and Gordon Budke ‘63

EASTERN: SPRING 2012 3

12 2012 Alumni Awards Gala event debuts

17 Rewarding Service Gilbert family gives back

18 Picture Perfect EWU photo contest

24 Monster Success Ken Hudgens drives Feld Motor Sports

features

departments 2 up front 4 letters to the editor 5 on the road 6 eastern etc.27 on the shelf 28 faces & places30 class notes36 in memoriam38 final thoughts 39 events calendar

on the coverTodd Mortensen’s grand-prize- winning photo of Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park, Wash.

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24

6

10

Andrew Borck ‘06Sun Bloom, Newman Lake, Wash.

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We want to hear from you! Send us your letters. Letters may be edited for length or clarity and civility.

It’s a Small WorldAt the end of March, I took 35 students on a trip to Paris and Provence in France and Barcelona in Spain. I had the pleasant surprise to meet a fellow EWU graduate while in Barcelona. We happened to be in the same hotel and met while having breakfast. Fortunately, I was proudly wearing my EWU T-shirt! Matt Crowley ’79, BA, Spanish, was traveling in Spain and France on an educational tour with some of his students and adults from Rogue River and Grants Pass, Ore., during spring break. He is a Spanish teacher at Rogue River Junior/Senior High School in Rogue River, Ore. He taught Spanish in Winnemucca, Nev., from 1982-1992, and has been teaching Spanish in southern Oregon since 1994. Just like Matt, I am a language teacher. I graduated in 1998 with a BA in French and in 1999 with a MEd in French. I have been teaching Upper School French at Sanford School in Hockessin, Del., since 2008, and absolutely love it. It was nice for the two of us to reminisce. We both had the most wonderful experience at EWU and, as you can see, wear our EWU T-shirts with pride even miles away from our Cheney campus.

Nathalie Cecil ‘99, ’98, Hockessin, Del.

Two alumni, who graduated 12 years apart, are enjoying a new friendship sparked by their shared experiences at Eastern after a chance meeting while traveling in the Middle East. My husband, Merlin (“Merk”) Cannell and I recently returned from traveling in Israel and Egypt. Imagine our amazement when, at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, we learned that one of the gentlemen we met there was, like Merk, an Eastern graduate. Merk Cannell graduated in 1960 with an education degree; Charles (“Tom”) Thompson graduated in 1972 with a business degree. After graduating from high school in Chowchilla, Calif., Tom played football and baseball for Eastern. Some years after graduation from college, Tom was recognized by Eastern as the Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year. Over the years, he has been active in supporting the university and the new turf on Eastern’s football field. Tom and his wife, Stella, are Carl Jr.’s franchisees and live in the Bay Area of California. Merk, a native of Burley, Idaho, played lead guitar and sang in a rock n’ roll band – The Stompers – that started on the Eastern Washington State College campus in 1956. After graduation, Merk taught school in Tekoa, Wash., Reedsport, Ore., and Woodland, Calif., before retiring and moving to Orofino, Idaho. I began my college education in 1957 at Eastern and am the author of a book on Northwest history, The Intermediary: William Craig among the Nez Perces. Thank you and keep up the good work.

Lin Tull Cannell, Orofino, Idaho

letters to the editor

Matt Crowley and Nathalie Cecil


Tom Thompson, Lin and Merk Cannell

Jim Jansma ’89, and wife Madelyn ’95, ’92, traveled to Turkey, where they are pictured in Ephesus, Istanbul. They live in Sammamish, Wash., where Jim is in information technology with Citrix Systems and Madelyn teaches parenting and nutrition education classes.

Patrick Moore ‘95, Shane Skipworth ‘99, Darin Neiwert ‘96 and Grant Elsworth ‘99 are pictured at the Columbia Tower in Seattle, March 2012. They climbed 69 stories in full gear to raise money for blood cancer research along with 1,550 firefighters from the U.S., Canada and Germany. Moore, Skipworth and Neiwert work with the Spokane Fire Department and Elsworth is a Marysville (Wash.) firefighter.

Sisters Lori (Nelson) Van Houten ‘03 and Lisa (Nelson) Krigbaum ‘06, volunteered with World Vets in Roátan, Honduras, in March 2012. They provided free veterinary care for the island’s small animal population.

Alan G. Smith ’78, an EWSC men’s gymnast under coach Jack Benson, wanted to join the U.S. Navy after Sept. 11, but was told he was too old. He still wanted to serve his country so he joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Sector San Diego, Calif.

Dave D. Turner ’94, ’92, a research scientist

working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is pictured

at the top of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Research is

being done there to study atmospheric structures and cloud properties to improve

weather prediction and climate models

over the ice sheet.

Where will Eastern magazine next be spotted? You are invited to send photographs holding up the current 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. Send to [email protected] or Eastern Magazine, 300 Showalter Hall, Cheney, WA 99004-2445.

on the road with eastern magazine



EWU Creates Historical AppLooking for a little history on the Spokane area? There’s an app for that.

Thanks to the Spokane Historical application, a collaborative project with interpretive stories developed by students and faculty in the Public History Program and Department of

History at Eastern, smartphone users operating on the Android platform can access GPS-enabled points of interest on tours of Spokane and surrounding areas.

The app has approximately 10 themed tours with a grand total of 50 stops, each detailing the rich history of the site via text, photos, audio and even video.

The app was the brainchild of Larry Cebula ’92 (MA history), who serves dual roles as associate professor and director of EWU’s Public History Program,

and as an assistant digital archivist for the Washington State Archives. In a subject that brings to mind images of dusty tomes stacked high in

a dark library, Cebula has merged his two employment roles and teaches a digital history class. Content for the app was created by students in the

class last spring. “We have everything from sites related to Bing Crosby to tours of Peaceful Valley and the EWU campus,” said Cebula, noting that

content will continue to grow as future students add to it.

eastern etc.

2012 Olympics: Home Court AdvantageThis summer, some of the biggest basketball stars in the world will compete for gold medals at the Olympic Games in London. One of them is former Eagle Julie Page, a 2006 Eastern graduate who grew up in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. Page, 29, was named the British Basketball Player of the Year in December 2011, and is captain of Great Britain’s Women’s Olympic team. She began playing basketball at age 16 at a local community center as something fun to do with her mother. While at Eastern, Page was selected Big Sky Conference Newcomer in 2004, earned All-Big Sky honorable mention accolades in 2005 and first-team honors in 2006. Since then, she’s played with the British National team and for a number of top clubs in Europe, most recently for the Polish Energa Torun. The Women’s Olympic Basketball tournament will feature 12 teams, with Great Britain in Group B competing with Australia, Brazil, Russia and two remaining qualifiers. The U.S. team is in group A. Games begin July 28, with the Women’s Gold Medal game on Aug. 11. Follow Julie’s Olympic journey on Twitter – @Juliepage10.

Julie Page in white


Building NetworksYoung Professionals Network events, presented by Alumni Relations and sponsored by Spokane Teachers Credit Union, are part happy-hour mixer, part career booster. More than three dozen young alumni attended both the April and May events, held in Spokane, at trendy new lounges - fun places to gather and interact. “We’ve had wonderful feedback and we’ve even had an alum who networked at the first event employed by the second event due to that connection,” said Lisa Poplawski, director of Alumni Advancement. “We want to understand the needs of this group, so we will poll alumni with regards to specific ideas,” said Poplawski. “Finding speakers who connect with the audience, entertain and provide relevant advice will be the key to its success.” Poplawski said they will take the summer off, perhaps offering a few informal mixers without speakers. But mark your calendar for Sept. 6, 2012. The topic for that event is “Becoming an Entrepreneur,” with guest speakers who will share their insights into starting and growing a business from the ground up. For upcoming events go to alumni.ewu.edu or call 888.EWU.ALUM.

By the Numbers: From Robots to Jazz For the first time ever, EWU hosted more than 1,000 students competing in one of 55 national FIRST Robotics Competitions in April. For many of the middle and high school students competing in the two-day event, it was their first exposure to a college campus. As part of the university’s commitment to increase visibility and community engagement, EWU routinely hosts large-scale events that introduce the campus to potential students and their families – more than 15,000 people yearly!

Pacific Northwest Qualifier 900 high-school players vying to advance in USA Volleyball play

FIRST Robotics Competitors 1,000+ Science, Technology, Engineering and Math gurus

Science Olympiad300 brains that will make tomorrow’s breakthroughs

11th Annual EWU Spring Shootout300 players battling in the largest indoor 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the country

Special Olympics Spring Games500 athletes competing for gold, silver and bronze medals

WIAA 1B, 2B, 1A State Track Meet4,000 of Washington’s fastest and strongest high school athletes

Jazz Dialogue Festival1,500 riffing young musicians

Jason Crawford Memorial Wrestling Tournament 1,400 grapplers going to the mat

Summer Camps4,200+ high school and younger kids participating in everything from music to athletics

eastern etc.

eastern etc.


Team to be Inducted into Hall of FameEWU’s 1997 football team will be inducted into the Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame this fall to celebrate the team’s 12-2 finish and appearance in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision’s “Final Four.” The team will be honored at a breakfast and ceremony in conjunction with Eastern’s home football game versus North Dakota on Oct. 6, 2012. The ‘97 team had an incredible 16 players who at one time in their careers would win All-America honors for the Eagles and would go on to be selected to EWU’s “100-for-100” All-Time team in 2008, commemorating the first 100 years of football at Eastern. The ’97 team also won the Big Sky Conference title outright, and remain the only Big Sky Conference team other than national powerhouse Montana to win an outright title from 1995-2011. After winning the Big Sky Conference title, the ’97 squad advanced in the FCS Playoffs by defeating Northwestern State (40-10) and Western Kentucky (38-21), before falling to Youngstown State 25-14 in the semifinals. All three playoff games were played at Albi Stadium in Spokane, as the Eagles captivated Eastern fans and alumni throughout the Northwest. Eastern also expects to induct three individuals in this year’s class, as well as one recipient of the Eastern Athletics Service and Contribution Award. Announcements of those individuals, as well as more information on the induction ceremony, will be made in June at www.goeags.com.

eastern etc.


Middle School Students Think Eastern College readiness is a huge focus this year at Sacajawea Middle School in Spokane. Each wing of the school represents an area college or major university from locations across the nation. The wing where computer applications instructor Sue Eggart ’90, teaches was designated as the Eastern Washington University wing. “We were thrilled to be honored with our wing being the ‘Eastern Wing,’ so we gathered donated items from the athletic department and the alumni association, as well as purchasing many items from the EWU Bookstore to decorate our wing,” said Eggart, noting she works with two other Eastern grads, Debra Vaudrin ’94 (English/social studies instructor) and Steve Vaughn ’78, (pre-engineering instructor). “When we put up our Eastern gear in the hallway, kids were quite interested, so we asked our students who might be considering attending EWU,” said Eggart. “Each period, several kids told us Eastern was their college of choice. For us Eastern grads...we couldn’t be prouder!”

Discover E Wins AwardEWU’s Marketing & Communications and University Graphics captured a 2012 Spark Award for Discover E- the Research Magazine of Eastern Washington University. The annual awards are presented by the Spokane Regional MarCom Association. Award winners must meet the highest standards of performance in the profession and are critiqued and judged by professional communications practitioners in various markets throughout the country.

DUET OF

DISCIPLINES » p 4

THE NEW

VISUALISM » p 8

THE FUTURE

IS SOON » p 2

WATER FOR

THE WORLD » p 14

TheCrystallinePath

» p10

2010

Making aConneCtion » p 14

Seeing red, feeling red » p 8

Standout reSearCh » p 18

reStoring the paSt » p 10

2011

energygeneration» p4

Steve Vaughn ’78, Debra Vaudrin ’94 and Sue Eggart ‘90

Take a SeatThe Reese Court bleacher project replaced the old wooden bleachers on the north end of the court behind the basketball teams. The modernized bleachers hold 360 deluxe chair-back seats and were paid for without using state tax dollars. Congrats to head basketball coach Jim Hayford and his 6th Man Club, for raising the funds for the project. The 6th Man Club is the official booster club of the EWU Men’s Basketball Program. Learn more about the benefits of the 6th Man Club at goeags.com.


eastern etc.

Pipeline to the ProsFormer EWU safety Matt Johnson was selected in the fourth round of the National Football League’s draft by the Dallas Cowboys in April. He had 17 career interceptions and finished his EWU career with 341 tackles to rank fifth in school history and eighth all-time in the Big Sky Conference.

He is the third EWU player to be drafted in the NFL’s fourth round or higher. Michael Roos was taken in the second round by the Tennessee Titans in 2005, and Taiwan Jones was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round in 2011. Both currently play for those teams.

Former EWU quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has signed a contract with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders. Mitchell led the Eagles to the national title after transferring his junior year from Southern Methodist University. He was selected “Most Valuable Player” in EWU’s 20-19 come-from-behind victory

over Delaware in the title game.

In 2011, Mitchell, winner of the Walter Payton Award for best offensive player in the FCS, led the conference in four categories, including passing yards (4,009) and touchdown passes (33) on his way to breaking four

school records. Former EWU defensive tackle Renard Williams is also heading for

the CFL, joining Mitchell in Calgary to play for the Stampeders.The CFL has been a favorite landing spot for other top

Big Sky players, including former EWU linebacker J.C. Sherritt, who won the Buck Buchanan Award in 2010 and

now plays for the Edmonton Eskimos, and EWU defensive end Greg Peach, a Buchanan winner in 2008 who’s now with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Bo Levi Mitchell

Matt JohnsonRenard Williams

t h a n k y o ut o e v e r y o n e o n o u r 2 0 1 1 h o n o r r o l l o f d o n o r s

hillary ‘14 kadeem ‘15Recipient, EWU General

University Scholarship

Thank you to all those who support and inspire EWU students. For a

complete listing of honor roll donors, please visit our website at:

www.ewu.edu/honorrollofdonors

Recipient, Cheney Real

Estate Management Scholarship

Recipient, WFSE

Local 931 Scholarship

skyler ‘12

EASTERN: SPRING 2012 11Bo Levi Mitchell

By Brian Lynn ‘98


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2012 Alumni Award Recipients, left to right: STCU President Tom Johnson, Libby Hein (‘00, ‘98), Travis Denton, PhD, Gordon Budke (‘63), Brig. Gen. Gary Volesky (‘83) and Lance Kissler (‘10, ‘04).

By Brian Lynn ‘98


Honoring EWU graduates who reflect the qualities and commitment of the university

As a university exists to serve and enrich its students, so those pupils go on to serve and enrich society. They might run businesses that help drive local economies or they might inspire greatness in others.

On Saturday, May 12, a new tradition was started at Eastern Washington University. One that recognizes the esteemed and inspiring alumni the university has helped produce. The inaugural EWU Alumni Awards Gala was held in historic Hargreaves Hall on the Cheney campus and was attended by more than 200 alumni and family, students and university supporters. A social and cocktail reception kicked off the event and was followed by dinner and the awards ceremony.

Once simply part of the Benefactors’ Appreciation Dinner, it was determined that the work and dedication of outstanding alumni and supporters of the university warranted special recognition.

From teachers and mentors to volunteers and businessmen, Eastern has produced a wide variety of alumni who are making a difference in communities around the world. The gala event acknowledged their commitment with awards in categories that include: Lifetime Achievement, Exceptional Military Service, Inspirational Young Alumnus and Alumnus of Service, as well as Distinguished Faculty and an Organization of Excellence.

The following graduates, instructor and organization are among those changing lives, contributing to their community and enhancing the reputation and prestige of Eastern Washington University.

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Gordon Budke ‘63Lifetime AchievementAward Winner

libby hein ‘00, ‘98Alumnus of ServiceAward winner

lance kissler ‘10, ‘04inspirational young alumnus award winner

Successful businessman, community leader, mentor, volunteer, supporter of EWU – Gordon Budke is all of these things and more. Individuals, businesses, organizations and politicians throughout the region have looked to Budke for guidance, leadership, help and support for decades. As an accountant for 34 years, he served a myriad of businesses from start-up endeavors to large enterprises in a range of industries.

His service record includes stints with Kiwanis, Spokane Arts Commission, Goodwill, Leadership Spokane, Heart Institute of Spokane, YMCA, United Way, Junior Achievement, Spokane Jazz Society, Spokane Club, Spokane Jaycees, American Red Cross, Cheney Cowles Museum, Yokes Foods and Banner Bank. With EWU, he has served as a member of the Board of Trustees (as appointed by the governor to serve in October 1997, and reappointed to service until 2009), College of Business and Public Administration Dean’s Advisory Council and member of the EWU Foundation and its Executive Committee. In the words of President Arévalo, “Gordon has helped to shape the direction and values of EWU.”While his impact upon regional business and Eastern cannot be understated – his fingerprints touch the entire spectrum of Spokane society - the real measure of Budke, however, comes in the words used to describe his actions. To a person, he’s portrayed as a committed, caring and honest man who leads family and friends with compassion and by example.

As a licensed mental health counselor and the program director of Catholic Charities Childbirth and Parenting Assistance Program (CAPA), Hein has touched thousands of underprivileged lives throughout the Spokane community. In 2011, CAPA supported more than 6,000 families with services that ranged from providing clothing and diapers to counseling, support groups, play groups and mentors for young mothers and fathers. And leading that life and, indeed, community-changing collaboration was Hein.

Nominated by three individuals for her selfless work, 25 others wrote letters supporting Hein’s recommendation and detailing her tireless service. From a former instructor to co-workers and supervisors to multi-denominational religious leaders, the list of praises heaped upon Hein’s altruistic deeds include: compassionate, empowering, committed, visionary and loving.

Nominator Gregory Cunningham wrote,

“Libby’s goal is to make sure that young mothers and fathers develop the skills to write a story for their children that is different from their own, thus breaking an intergenerational cycle of individuals who never learn how to live well, love well and achieve their fullest potential.”

In eight short years since earning his undergraduate degree from EWU, with university and departmental honors, and as a National Dean’s List recipient, Kissler has racked up an impressive list of awards, including Portland Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40.” He went on to earn his Master’s of Science degree in communications studies from Eastern in 2010.

A communications, marketing, design, public relations and social media guru, Kissler volunteers whenever asked (more than two dozen committees, boards and councils have sought his inclusion) and liberally passes that knowledge along, as evidenced by the number of presentations and lectures he’s given throughout the Pacific Northwest at colleges and professional conferences.

“Lance Kissler is the type of person who can bring a diverse group of individuals together to work towards a common goal, and have fun through any challenge. His kind and direct leadership style, as well as teamwork skills, are contagious,” said Barb Richey ‘99, ’92, who nominated him. “It’s impossible to believe that any individual (who is not yet 30) is so accomplished, intelligent, professional and just plain well liked.”


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Travis Denton, phdDistinguished FacultyAward winner

brigadier generalGary Volesky ‘83Exceptional Military Service award winner

spokane teacherscredit union (stcu)Organization of Excellence award winner

Ernie McElvain, a Lewis & Clark High School English teacher, started Spokane Teachers Credit Union with nothing more than $4,000, a bell and shoebox to hold the money for savings accounts and loans. “The bank” was housed in one of the high school’s second-story classrooms. From those humble beginnings serving teachers, STCU has grown to more than 450 employees and 103,000 members at 15 branch locations.

As a supporter of EWU for more than 15 years, STCU has played a substantial role in the growth

of the university. So immersed in the campus life and the general EWU community is STCU that it’s very difficult for faculty, staff, area alumni and students not to be touched by their generosity. Just a few of the STCU programs on campus include the large reader board on Washington Street, the placement and restoration of a historic one-room schoolhouse across from Martin Hall, First Step registration, back-to-school benefits fair, Thanksgiving faculty and staff recognition banquet, support for the annual Student Research and Creative Works Symposium and the Alumni Relation’s new Young Professional Networking series, as well as Homecoming events like the bed races, bonfire, community food drive and tailgating fun. STCU exudes Eagle pride, as 17 percent of its employees are EWU graduates and five of 11 board members have degrees or other credentials from the university.

A Spokane native, Volesky is a product of EWU’s celebrated ROTC program – joining five other alumni to attain the rank of general. His significant service to our country includes deployment to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. Beyond leading men in battle, Volesky’s dedication to education makes him an invaluable asset to our Armed Forces.

In addition to his BA from EWU, he has a master’s in strategic studies from the Air War College, a master’s in Near Eastern studies from Princeton University, as well as being a graduate of the Arabic Studies Program at the Defense Language Institute.

His awards and decorations speak to his merit: the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

Perhaps the greatest recognition of his military service, however, are the years he’s spent overseas, away from his wife and son, all in the name of freedom.

The epitome of a teacher, Denton both educates and inspires students. His challenging organic chemistry curriculum is taught with passion and a genuine interest in student success – many pupils point to his influence as their reason for pursuing advanced schooling, including PhDs and attending medical school, as well as their attainment of critical thinking and lifelong learning skills.

According to those who nominated him, Denton is able to determine what is engaging to each student and tailors his instruction, and feedback, to the individual while making the research personally rewarding and engaging for each.

“Breast cancer is a very prevalent issue in my family and he gave me the chance to research that in the laboratory.” said former student Alicia Caldejon ’09. “Dr. Denton made me feel like I was helping the breast cancer research field, like I was making a difference for my family. He provided a more out-of-the-box experience.” Denton embodies what Eastern hopes to cultivate among faculty: an instructor who leads by example and encourages students to go above and beyond what is asked of them, while ensuring that students succeed to the best of their ability, not just in the classroom but also in life.

WEB CONTENT BONUSView videos about the award winners at alumni.ewu.edu.


Spokane’s premiershopping, dining and entertainment center.

riverparksquare.com


“He just drew the curtain open on the world,” said Gilbert, a 1971 graduate. “Economics is how the world works and the cause and effect of everything.” Gilbert’s education and strong work ethic led to a successful 30-year career in banking in Latah, Wash.

Now retired, he and his family are giving back to the university through the John Gilbert

Family Veterans Scholarship. “We’ve been very blessed and Eastern was a part of that, so I wanted to do something to help other students like me.”

To qualify for the scholarship, recipients need to serve two years of active military duty or be awarded the Purple Heart. He explains, “I was a veteran, and my sons were veterans who came back from the service and attended college. These veterans have sacrificed for us and if they have the opportunity to go to school, then that’s where I want to help.”

When Gilbert attended Eastern he had already served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam and was married to his high school sweetheart, Sherry. Their sons, Sean and Brad, also served in the Marine Corps before coming to Eastern. Sean graduated in 2002, and has followed in his father’s footsteps with a career in banking in Spokane. Brad attended Eastern for a year before completing his mechanical engineering degree at another university.

The Gilberts are passionate about giving veterans the opportunity to compete in today’s job market. “I grew up thinking that college could make a difference,” said Gilbert. “You’ve got to be able to offer something extra to a prospective employer. You’ve got to have an education.”

FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING A SCHOLARSHIP OF YOUR OWN, CONTACT:

Tim Szymanowski, Director of DevelopmentEWU Foundation, 102 Hargreaves Hall, Cheney, WA 99004

509.359.6132 | [email protected]

John Gilbert’s life changed forever when he studied economics with Eastern professor Paul Helsing.

SERVICErewarding

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Kuhl Ridge (First place landscape) Tom Peacock ’05, BA interdisciplinary studies, Spokane Shot in northeastern Garfield County, Wash., August 2010, with a Canon EOS 7D. Asian Man (First place people)

Doug Kelley ’83, BA recreation administration, SpokaneShot in Yangzhou, China, June 2007, with a Canon 20 D.


Manito Rose Garden (First place general interest) Brenda Hall-Howe ’99, BA recreation management, Spokane

Shot at Manito Park, Spokane, April 2012, with a Nikon 3000. Asian Man (First place people) Doug Kelley ’83, BA recreation administration, SpokaneShot in Yangzhou, China, June 2007, with a Canon 20 D.


Frosted Fence Post (Second place landscape) Rick Diffley ’74, MA counseling psychology, Spokane

Shot near Four Lakes, Wash., December 2011, with a Nikon D300.

Bri and son Kyler (Second place people) Emily Fisher ’08, BA journalism, SpokaneShot in Spokane Valley, November 2011, with a Canon 5D Mark II.

Napoleon’s Castle (Third place landscape) Adam Prenguber ’04, BA business, Vancouver, Wash. Shot at Versailles, France, October 2011, with a Canon VOS Rebel XT.


Frosted Fence Post (Second place landscape) Rick Diffley ’74, MA counseling psychology, Spokane

Shot near Four Lakes, Wash., December 2011, with a Nikon D300.

Daughter Sissy (Third place people) Jessica McAllister ’03, BS dental hygiene, Spokane

Shot in Spokane, July 2011, with a Nikon D90.

Mukilteo Lighthouse (Third place general interest) Adam Lee McKnight ’08, BA business, Otis Orchards, Wash.Shot at Whidbey Island, Wash., April 2012, with a Canon 40 D.

Haley (Second place general interest)Eric Dickson, ’81, BS geology, Otis Orchards, Wash.

Shot at the Spokane Dog Training Club, Sontag Park, Nine Mile Falls, Wash., May 2010, with a Canon EOS Rebel XT.


DENNIS ANDERSON, Driver and Creator of Grave Digger // KEN HUDGENS

As Chief Operating Officer of Feld Motor Sports, a multi-million dollar entertainment conglomerate which includes arena-spectator franchises such as Monster Jam and Supercross, Ken Hudgens oversees the fulfillment of 600 live events that amuse millions of families around the world. Many of the principles that have made Hudgens successful in the corporate sector were learned on the Cheney campus of EWU.

A native of Elgin, Ill., Hudgens made his way unexpectedly to EWU via the basketball court – “I wouldn’t have ventured out to the northwest without that for a reason.” An injury in high school left him un-recruited, so he decided to walk-on to a team – Wyoming’s Sheridan College Generals, the #1-ranked junior college team in the country during 1985.

After finding success at the junior-college level, bigger schools started recruiting the shooting guard: Montana, Montana State and Weber State among them. But it was Eastern that won Hudgens’ services.

After a year of living in Streeter Hall, Hudgens moved into a house with six other men, all were athletes and represented the big three of sports – football, basketball and baseball. “The people I met and lived with and my time playing basketball are the fondest memories of the place,” said Hudgens. “I wasn’t all that good of a player, but playing ball there was as impactful as any class I took.”

Hudgens graduated in 1987 with a major in communications studies and a minor in business administration, but that combination was a fallback choice. “I really wanted to be a radio and television major, but that took too much of a time commitment with basketball so communications studies was the next closest step,” he said. “Honestly, at that point in my life I wasn’t thinking it out too clearly; I’ve always been a good communicator and it probably had the least amount of homework of any major at the time so I thought it would be easy.”

While he didn’t take studies as seriously as he now thinks he should have, Hudgens completed his coursework with about a 3.8 GPA and says that he uses those skills every day in written directives, speeches or presentations. Still, it was the people and challenges he faced in basketball that shaped his character and work ethic.

“I learned that when you get to a level where your talent isn’t special and you’re just a guy, you have to learn how to compete, to outwork people, just like you have to do in life,” said Hudgens. “Eastern was humbling for me in that respect. At some point, talent just isn’t enough and you just have to work

harder than everyone else, and that’s what I’ve tried to do in my business career.”

Helping to shape that work ethic were two Eastern coaches who figured prominently in Hudgens’ mind. “Without a doubt coach (Joe) Folda was an important figure in my time there,” he said of the men’s basketball coach who is now the athletic director at Colorado State-Pueblo. “When I went to Eastern I was focused on becoming a coach, and at some point in time I became more interested in the business aspect of it all. Coach (Ron) Raver talked to me a lot about my future and what my plans were.”

Graduating in 1987, Hudgens moved back home and completed his master’s degree in sports management at Western Illinois in 1989. During that time he met his wife, Kristy, and the couple moved to Colorado Springs when he took an internship at the Olympic Training Center with USA Basketball – “I did everything from wash uniforms to sit in on high-level meetings; it was a pretty neat experience.”

Hudgens accepted his first job in 1990, working at the University of Nevada Las Vegas in pursuit of the business-side of sports. His career path of leading UNLV as athletic director took a sharp turn in 1992 with the birth of his daughter, Kylie. “When you start having kids, you have to decide where you want to live and what you want to do– you can’t have it all. My wife and I decided that we wanted to raise our children back home,” he said. “I knew I still wanted to be involved with sports and entertainment and Feld allowed me to do so.”

In 1992 he started with the entertainment entity – whose brands include not only big-time motorsports, but also Ringling Brothers circus and Disney on Ice. Hudgens has methodically climbed the ranks, including stints as director of booking and director and vice-president of marketing, before attaining the chief operating officer title in 2009.

With hundreds of live events around the globe, the man who never would have visited the Pacific Northwest without the impetus of basketball now logs more than 150,000 air miles yearly. The life lessons and competitive drive acquired on the basketball court in Cheney so many years ago continues to contribute to Hudgens’ business success and personal life. When he’s not overseeing the business of oversized monster trucks or high-flying dirt bikes, Hudgens spends time with his wife and children – Kylie, now a University of Iowa sophomore, son Tyler, a high school senior headed to Butler University and youngest son Joshua, a fourth grader.

WRITTEN BY BRIAN LYNN ‘98

BIG CAREERS START AT EASTERN



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on the shelf

Lonesome AnimalsBruce Holbert ’83, BA English Counterpoint PressLonesome Animals is a western novel reinvented - a detective story for the West- taking place in Washington state during the 1930s. It tells the story of a former lawman who is called out of retirement to hunt a serial killer – one with a sense of the macabre who has left elaborately carved bodies of Native Americans throughout three counties. As the pursuit ensues, the lawman’s own dark and violent history weaves itself into the hunt, shedding light on the remains of his broken family: one wife taken by the river, one by his own hand; an adopted Native American son who fancies himself a Catholic prophet; and a daughter, whose temerity and stoicism contrast against the romantic notions of how the West was won. Holbert has taught school in Spokane for more than 25 years. His work has appeared in the Iowa Review, Hotel Amerika, Other Voices, The Antioch Review, Crab Creek Review, The West Wind Review and Cairn.www.counterpointpress.com

Beautiful Ruins Jess Walter ’87, BA journalism HarperThe acclaimed, award-winning author of the national bestseller The Financial Lives of the Poets (2009) returns with his funniest, most romantic and most purely enjoyable novel yet: the story of an almost-love affair that begins on the Italian coast in 1962 and is rekindled in Hollywood 50 years later. Beautiful Ruins is set for release June 12, 2012. Walter is also the author of The Zero, a finalist for the 2006 National Book Award, and Citizen Vince, winner of the 2005 Edgar Allan Poe Award for best novel. He has been a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize and the PEN USA Literary Prize, in both fiction and nonfiction. His books have been New York Times, Washington Post and NPR’s “best books of the year,” and have been translated into 20 languages. Walter lives in Spokane with his wife Anne and family. www.harpercollins.com

The Virgin JournalsTravis Laurence Naught ’06, BA psychology ASD PublishingA collection of poetry and prose, The Virgin Journals chronicles the life of the 28-year-old writer who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy as an infant and has viewed life from the seat of his wheelchair. Naught has never taken a free step, but that hasn’t stopped his mind from making its own wanderings, nor has it kept him from putting those thoughts on the page. While his writing shares his frustrations of everything from being a quadriplegic to his status as a virgin who has only been kissed twice, he expects readers to forget his physical disability and instead view the world through a new lens – one created by his writing. Naught attended graduate classes in sports psychology at EWU, where he spent 10 years working with the men’s basketball team. In 2011, he received second-place finishes in the 49 Alaska Writing Center’s Ode to a Dead Salmon Contest and the Raven’s Brew Coffee poetry contest. He lives in Cheney.www.asdpublishing.com

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1. Alumni Appreciation Night, EWU Men’s Basketball game, Reese Court, Jan. 282. Men’s Basketball Pregame at Portland State, Feb. 25 3. Wine tasting event, Scottsdale, Ariz., March 3 4. Family Day at the Mariners Spring Training Camp, Peoria, Ariz., March 45. Ales & Art, Annual Beer Tasting, Northern Quest Resort & Casino, March 176. Tawanka Service Organization Reunion, Hargreaves Hall, Cheney campus, April 217. 25th Annual Coaches Golf Tournament, Fairways Golf Course, April 278. Annual Killin Dinner, Dance and Auction, Reese Court, April 28

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EWU alumnus Colin Cowherd showing off his favorite issue of Eastern magazine on the set of his show, ESPN’s SportsNation.


2011’11 Whitney A. Clark, BA children’s

studies, married ’10 Casey J. Lynds, BS

biology, June 11, 2011, in Spokane.

’11 Chelsey LaRue, BS biology, married

Spencer Shoemaker, Sept. 3, 2011, in

Richland, Wash.

’11 Talia Mensik, BA accounting, has been

hired as a Staff B accountant at McDirmid,

Mikkelsen & Secrest, P.S., Spokane.

2010’10, ’07 Chase Buffington, MS sports

administration, BA outdoor recreation,

married Camille Blubaugh, Jan. 15, 2012,

in Chehalis, Wash. He manages the Brown

County Canopy Zipline adventure facility

in Nashville, Ind., where the couple lives.

’10 Allison K. Morgan, BA psychology, and husband ’02 Patrick Morgan, BA music composition, welcomed the birth of their son Eli Eric Morgan on Dec. 12, 2011.

’10, ’08 Hillary Shannahan, MSW, BA

humanities, married ’06 Randy Robbins,

BS biology, Oct. 7, 2011, in Spokane.

Hillary is a domestic violence advocate

at the Spokane YWCA and Randy is

on active duty with 1-161 IN of the

Washington Army National Guard.

’10 Hailey M. Poole, BA Spanish and BA

natural science, married ’09 Nathaniel W.

Conrad, BA sociology and criminal justice,

Feb. 11, 2012, in Leavenworth, Wash.

2009’09 Timothy M. Brady, BA geology,

is an environmental scientist at Kyron

Environmental Inc. of Spokane. He and

his wife Rachel celebrated the birth of

their second son in July 2009 and third

son in August 2011.

’09 Russ A. Cuajunco, BA interdisciplinary

studies, married ’08 Janelle M. Hara, BA

mathematics education, June 14, 2011.

Their daughter Nanea Mei Cuajunco

was born on Jan. 23, 2012. They live in

Monterey, Calif.

’09 Ivy DeSpain, communication

studies, married ’08 Curtis D. Lindaas,

BA human resource management, Feb. 4,

2012, in Spokane.

’09 Adam C. Ellis, BS exercise science,

married Emily Dunlap, Aug. 27, 2011 in

East Wenatchee, Wash. He is a graduate

student in coaching and athletic

administration at Concordia University

in Irvine, Calif., and is a basketball coach

at Marina High School in Huntington

Beach, Calif.

’09 Elizabeth Forhan, BA psychology,

married Jason Williams, Oct. 1, 2011, in

Wenatchee, Wash. She works at Central

Washington Hospital in Wenatchee.

Are You In Here?Tell us what’s new with you. Did you get a promotion, start a new career, get married, retire, move or have a baby? We can update your records and share your good news in an upcoming issue of Eastern magazine.

It’s simple. Visit EWU’s Alumni Association website:alumni.ewu.edu or call 888.EWU Alum or 509.359.4550.

class notes


’09 Kellen Russoniello, BA interdisciplinary

studies, is a Thurgood Marshall Scholar

and Health Policy Chair’s Policy Scholar,

at George Washington University in

Washington D.C., where he pursued his JD

and MPH. He has been a legal intern with

the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation and

the National Organization for the Reform of

Marijuana Laws. His first will be published

in the summer 2012 issue of the Yale Journal

of Health Policy, Law and Ethics.

2008’08 Samuel A. Benscoter, BA business

finance, has been promoted to senior

accountant for the city of Tacoma, Wash.

’08 Janelle L. Hanni, BS exercise science, graduated in May 2012, from the University of Puget Sound with a doctor of physical therapy degree. She and husband ’08 Rocky J. Hanni, BA criminal justice, plan to move to Oregon where he has been hired by the Sweet Home Police Department and she’ll begin her career as a physical therapist.

’08 Brian Mair, BA business, operations management, married Katie Agee, Oct. 13, 2011, in Maui, Hawaii. He works for Mission Support Alliance in Richland, Wash.

2007’07 Ashlee D. Trevino, BA business, human resources, married Sean M. Fahey, Sept. 10, 2011, at McKinley Springs Winery in Prosser, Wash. She is employed in HR at the Costco corporate offices in Issaquah, Wash. The couple lives in Redmond, Wash.

2006

Wedded Bliss Eastern Style’ 1 1 T i f f a ny Yo d e r , B S a p p l i e d psychology, and ‘08 Kyle Woelber, BA social science education, show their Eagle pride on their special day. The couple married July 31, 2011, in Sutton Park in Cheney. Kyle works for the Cheney School District and Tiffany is pursuing her master’s in school counseling from Eastern.

class notes

Help Pave the WayMake your mark by adding a personalized brick set in the pathway between historic Showalter Hall and the Gates of Knowledge. The tax-deductible 4 x 8-inch bricks display personal messages and are a great way to congratulate a recent graduate, remember a loved one or celebrate an accomplishment.

Proceeds benefit the Eastern Fund and are used for the area of greatest need, including student scholarships and academic projects.

Go to www.ewu.edu/brick to purchase your brick, see photos of existing bricks and learn more about the “Pass Through the Pillars” tradition.

For information call the Alumni Advancement Office at 888.EWU.ALUM.


’06 Jeffrey M. Cain, BA geography, received his JD from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., in May 2011. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

’06 Ryan Miles, BA business, general management, was appointed retail manager for the Duluth market at Beacon Bank in Duluth, Minn.

2005’05 Raymond J. Kenney, BS chemistry, graduated with a doctorate in medicine from Boston University School of Medicine in May 2012. In July 2012, he’ll begin the residency program at the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program at the University of Rochester/Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y.

’05 Stacy A. Mills, BA interdisciplinary studies, has been promoted to Family Assistance Program manager for Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, Children and Family Services. Her husband ’04 Joshua

J. Mills, BA international affairs, has been promoted to sales operations manager at Watson Furniture Group. They live in Suquamish, Wash.

’05 Susan Nielsen, MS interdisciplinary studies, has joined Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho as vice president of communications. She is accredited in public relations through the Public Relations Society of America and is a member of the Leadership Spokane class of 2012.

’05 Kristin L. State, BS communications studies, married Christopher Hutchinson, Aug. 27, 2011, in Portland, Ore. She is a producer at Swift Collective in Portland, where the couple lives.

2004’04 Randi M. Aud, BS communication

studies, married Billy Holm, Sept. 10, 2011,

in Sisters, Ore. They live in Bend, Ore.

’04 Randi Kooyman, BA finance, has

been promoted to branch manager of

Banner Bank in Cheney.

2003’03 Landon J. Luiten, BS technology,

has joined the sales team of Futureguard

Building Products Inc., in Auburn, Maine.

’03 Joseph P. Monzingo, BS applied

developmental psychology, graduated

from City University of Seattle with an

MEd in guidance and counseling in June

2011. He and his fiancée Janay Schutz

plan to marry in September 2012. They

currently reside in Selah, Wash.

2001’01 Adrienne “Addy” Ressa, BA

communication studies, has been hired

at Hanna and Associates Inc., in Coeur

d’Alene, Idaho. She has spent the past

nine years as a designer for various

advertising agencies in Spokane.

Music to our Ears ’82 Linda (Bye) Honn, BA music education, was inducted into the Washington Music Educators Association’s Hall of Fame in February. Only 10 educators are honored every two years. “Most recipients are, or were, high school music educators, so it was especially meaningful that I received this as an elementary music teacher,” said Honn, who began her own “music career” with piano lessons in her hometown of Ephrata, Wash., at age 5.

Honn has taught music in the Central Valley School District in Spokane Valley for 29 years and has been instrumental in the development of the elementary music program in the district. She currently splits her time between University and Sunrise elementary schools.

As an adjunct professor at Eastern, she also teaches music methods, a course for non-music education majors who want to teach in the K-8 regular classroom. Her class gives them the skills to teach music if they don’t have a music teacher in their school.

Honn and Dan, her husband of 30 years, live in Spokane Valley. They have two children, Nicholas, 23 and Renee, 20.

class notes


1991’91 Kurt E. Schulz, BA business, and

former Buffalo Bills saftey, has been

appointed a vice president at Merrill

Lynch in Buffalo, N.Y.

’91 Patrick Woodbury, BA history, has

been named chief information officer

for the regional law firm Schwabe,

Williamson & Wyatt, Vancouver, Wash.

1990’90 Keith Humphrey, BA business, has

been hired by Spokane Teachers Credit

Union as a business loan officer. He

previously worked for Sterling Savings

Bank as a commercial banking officer/

financial analyst and has 20 years of

banking and lending experience.

1988’88 Jeffrey R. Bunch, BA journalism, has

been hired as a digital account director

for LANE PR in Portland, Ore. Previously

he has led digital strategies for the

Columbian Publishing Company, U.S.

Digital and Northwest Natural Products.

1986’86 Curt A. Fuller, BA personnel

management, has been hired as a

business services relationship officer

at Numerica Credit Union. Previously,

he was a vice president/relationship

manager for Banner Bank.

class notes2000

’00, ‘98 Rich Rasmussen, MS, BS physical

education, has joined the Boise State

football staff as director of player personnel.

1999’99 Stacy F. Martin, BA business,

marketing, married Justin Wood, Sept.

17, 2011, in Seattle, where they live with

their dog Lena.

1998’98 Pedro L. Pineda, BA theatre and

film, is the publisher for Black Card Mag, a

quarterly luxury lifestyle publication

exclusive to Visa Black Card members.

1997’97 Jesen Fagerness, BS chemistry,

is the senior vice president of

clinical operations and strategy for

Genomind, a company specializing in

neuropsychiatric personalized medicine.

He has a decade of experience with

large-scale genetic research projects at

leading institutions worldwide.

1996’96 Sandra L. (Hall) Chambreau, BS

physical education, and ’95 Noah

Chambreau, BS biology, welcomed their

daughter Amanda Noelle, born Nov. 18,

2011, in Las Vegas, Nev.

’96 Gerald R. Ealy, BA radio/TV, is

working on his third book, Essence of Love.

He lives in Spokane.

’96 Nick Murto, BA graphic

communications, of Seven2, 14Four, was

named Ad Pro of the Year at the 2012 Addy

Awards. His company led the awards with

13 honors, including Best of Show Print

and the Designers Chair Award.

1995’95 Charlotte Eaton, BA music

composition, married ’81 Loyal Baker,

BA journalism, Dec. 23, 2011,

in Waitsburg, Wash.

1994’94 Tim Rettmann, BA education, BS

biology, has been named varsity girls tennis

coach at Meadowdale High School in

Lynnwood, Wash. He played tennis at EWU

from 1986-91. He lives in Edmonds, Wash.

1993’93 Greg Gfeller, BA liberal studies, has

been named operations manager for

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, by Avista Utilities. He

has been with the company since 1978.

’93 Christine J. Soule, MS counseling psychology, is this year’s recipient of the Soroptimist Ruby Award, an award given to women who help women, and which recognizes and honors Ruby Lee Minar, the first federation president of the Soroptimist International of the Americas. Christine works as a counselor at Lutheran Social Services in Spokane and is an ordained Episcopal minister.

1992’92 Bret C. Bowers, BA radio/TV, a U.S.A.F.

broadcasting veteran, was hired as the

public affairs officer at the Spokane VA

Medical Center in December 2011. He has

worked a variety of positions in both the

public and private sector, including 18

years with the KXLY Broadcast Group.

’92 Gregg Calvert, BA health services administration, has been hired by Wipfli LLP, as a consulting manager for the company’s senior living group. He has more than 17 years of related experience and previously served as director of finance for a regional medical center.

Save the DateMark your calendar. Homecoming 2012

Oct. 20


Garden of OpportunityJessica L. Allen, BS biology, headed east after graduating from EWU in 2011. Originally from West Richland, Wash., she is currently working on a National Science Foundation-funded project to database lichen and bryophyte collections at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) in Bronx, N.Y.

Allen has been awarded a five-year fellowship from the NYBG, in conjunction with the City University of New York, where she’ll study for a PhD in the field of lichen evolution and taxonomy beginning fall 2012.

“The Biology and Honors Departments at EWU gave me a great foundation to start my career,” said Allen. “Dr. Robin O’Quinn, in the Biology Department, was my mentor through my undergraduate work. I can say without a doubt that I would not be here without her guidance. Dr. Dana Elder and Mary Benham in the Honors Department were also really wonderful teachers and resources throughout my undergraduate work.”

NYBG’s graduate student program is the largest of any botanical garden in the world and one of the best for plant science research. “The NYBG is a really wonderful place to work and I feel so lucky to be here,” said Allen.

class notes

’86 Anne M. Hanenburg, BA theatre,

recently passed the Washington

Landscape Architect Registration

Examination. She is employed by SPVV

Landscape Architects of Spokane. Her

projects include the Washington State

University Riverpoint Biomedical &

Health Sciences Building, Whitworth

University Robinson Science Hall,

Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena Phase

II, Walla Walla Veterans Affairs Skilled

Nursing Facility and Coeur d’Alene

Homes Serenity Garden.

1985’85 Carol L. Vegar, BA psychology,

and husband ’82 Gary M. Vegar, BA

industrial technology, own and operate

Horse Heaven Hills Brewery in Prosser,

Wash. Gary is the brewer and Carol is

the bookkeeper and tap room manager.

The brewery will celebrate its third

anniversary on July 4, 2012.

skate other sport-inspired clothing

and accessories. He’s responsible for

all areas of the company’s finance and

accounting on a global basis. Shields

previously served as the CFO for

Oakley Inc. He lives in Mission Viejo, Calif.

’82 Marcy (Morrison George) Yates,

BA accounting, received an honorable

mention in the annual Anza Borrego

Desert photo contest for her photo of

a bighorn sheep, A Joyful Leap. Marcy

lives in Borrego Springs, Calif.

1981’81 Bruce A. Anderson, BA accounting, has been appointed as Lawyer Representative of the United States District & Bankruptcy Court, District of Idaho. He will serve a three-year term. He has practiced law for 25 years, 17 of them in Idaho, currently as a partner in the law firm of Elsaesser, Jarzabek, Anderson, Elliott & Macdonald, Chtd., in Coeur d’Alene.

1984’84 Ed Tabish, BA finance, has been hired

by Moloney, O’Neill, Corkery and Jones,

Inc. as a sales executive for the company’s

commercial insurance division. He

previously worked for Premera Blue

Cross/LifeWise Assurance Company.

1983’83 Charles “Paul” Brown, BA sociology,

was promoted from general manager

to publisher of the Marysville Globe and

Arlington Times on Jan. 3, 2012. He has

been employed with Sound Publishing

since May 2000. He and his wife of 37

years, Joyce, reside in Everett, Wash.

They have one daughter and three

grandchildren.

1982’82 Richard J. Shields, BA accounting,

was appointed CFO of Quiksilver

Inc., in May 2012. Quiksilver, based in

Huntington Beach, Calif., makes surf,


Kulaas Named to Prestigious College of FellowsMark D. Kulaas, FAICP, was inducted into the American Institute of Certified Planners’ (AICP) College of Fellows, an elite membership, in April 2012.

Now living in East Wenatchee, Wash., Kulaas earned his BA in urban and regional planning from Eastern in 1977. He has a 31-year career in land use planning and currently serves as the Land Services director for Douglas County.

His leadership has brought success to first-time planning processes for communities and updates of plans long neglected. Kulaas’ work, particularly in north central Washington, has advanced planning to help citizens create futures that truly reflect long-term community values.

Currently, there are about 15,000 practicing urban and rural planners in North America and elsewhere with AICP certification. Of those, approximately 450 belong to the AICP College of Fellows (FAICP).

Kulaas is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Wenatchee and serves on its Board of Directors. He and his wife, Kathleen, enjoy their two grown children and grandson.

class notes

Wong, currently the president of

Northern Michigan University, will begin

his new job on Aug. 1, 2012.

Corrections:’09 Joel Antonio Sanchez, BS

mechanical engineering tech, married

Sarina Marie Walla, July 30, 2011, in

Sequim, Wash.

’04 Torrance “Torry” Brouillard-Bruce,

BA education, is the new executive

director for Housing, Residential and

Greek Life at the University of the Pacific

in Stockton, Calif. Torry was Mr. Eastern

in 2002. He and Melany Crews are

planning to marry in Cancun, Mexico,

summer of 2012.

’81 Lori Kay Smith, BA criminal justice,

has been appointed as a King County

Superior Court judge. Smith, a deputy

prosecutor for 20 years in King County,

served as a court commissioner since

2006, presiding over family-law matters.

’81 Carol Summers, MBA, has been

hired by Edmonds Community College

as its vice president of College Relations

and Advancement. She was most

recently director of marketing and public

relations at North Seattle Community

College and previously worked as the

executive director of marketing and

communications at Bastyr University, in

Kenmore, Wash.

1980’80 William “Bill” Kemp, BA education,

BA biology, was recently inducted into

the Washington Cross Country Coaches

Association Hall of Fame. He recently

retired after 31 years of teaching and

coaching at Riverside High School,

Riverside, Wash. He is married to ’79, ’75 Janet (Janson) Kemp, BA education, MEd,

who is an administrator at the Riverside

School District. They live in Newport, Wash.

1976’76 James Waggoner, BA journalism,

was inducted into the 25-year club of

the Staten Island Advance. He has been a

sports writer, columnist and copy editor

for Staten Island’s local newspaper, the

Advance since 1987. He and his wife Judy

reside in Dongan Hills, Staten Island, N.Y.

1974’74 Leslie D. Wong, PhD, MA

experimental psychology, has been

named the 13th president of San

Francisco State University. In May, the

California State University Board of

Trustees made the announcement.


Former Roommates Pass Away Pat Whitehill and Bud Kirkwood ran track and roomed together at Eastern Washington College of Education in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s.

’51 Pat Whitehill, age 82, died Feb. 25, 2012, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was a standout in men’s basketball and track and spent 30 years as a member of EWU’s Physical Education Department.

In 2001, he was selected as an individual member of the Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame.

In 2011, the 1949-50 Eastern basketball team he played on was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Whitehill coached track at Eastern in the ‘60s and served as a professor of physical education for 30 years. He earned four college degrees and served as Eastern faculty president and chairman of the academic senate. He later became president of the school’s retired faculty organization.

Over the years, Pat and Altamae, his wife of 60 years, were avid supporters of EWU’s Athletic Department and members of the Eagle Athletic Association. He chaired the committee that dedicated the Reese Room and Reese Court in honor of his former coach. Whitehill also served on the Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee since its inception in 1996. The couple retired in 1993, in Clarkston, Wash.

’51 William “Bud” Kirkwood passed away Jan. 20, 2012, at his home in Moses Lake, Wash. He was 85. While at Eastern, Kirkwood ran track and met his wife of 61 years, Clara Wagner.

He’s pictured about a month before his death with his beloved letterman’s sweater (the last ones made before jackets). From the 1949 Kinnikinick, “To acquire membership in the ‘W’ Club, a man must win his award through the requirements of the athletic department and also must go through a very stringent initiation.”

Kirkwood began his teaching career in Colville, Wash., and later taught and coached in Moses Lake, Wash., where he retired in 1986.

“He was a very proud EWU alum who impacted hundreds of people as a teacher and coach for over 31 years,” said his niece Diane Somerday ‘91.

Donations in his memory may be made to the EWU Jerry Martin Track & Field Endowment Scholarship, Eastern Washington University Athletics, Attn: Coach Stan Kerr, PEB 207, Cheney, WA 99004.

in memoriam

2000s’06 Matthew C. Manville, age 27, died Nov. 5, 2011, Spokane

’03 Eli Marsh, age 31, died Feb. 2, 2012, Kihei, Hawaii

1990s’96 Tara (Young) Yoder, age 38, died in February 2012, Puyallup, Wash.

’93 David Thomas, age 41, died Feb. 14, 2012, Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho

’91 Lonnie A. Tedder, age 64, died Jan. 30, 2012, Kelso, Wash.

’90 Tyra L. Francis, age 43, died Nov. 3, 2011, Boise, Idaho

1980s’88 Linda Foster Moore, age 69, died Jan. 14, 2012, Doylestown, Pa.

’87 Douglas Dwight Perry, age 48, died Feb. 7, 2012, Spokane

’87 Theresa (Mack) Powers-Kile, age 83, died March 13, 2012, Spokane

’85 Vickie Countryman, age 49, died Jan. 18, 2012, Spokane

Altamae and Pat Whitehill

William “Bud” Kirkwood


’84 Pat Fiorillo, age 48, died March 9, 2012, Spokane

’84 Donald L. Reffalt, age 74, died Feb. 18, 2012, Yuma, Ariz.

’83 Ramona Story, age 78, died Jan. 23, 2012, Sunnyside, Wash.

’82 Billie L. Askam, died Dec. 23, 2011, Helena, Mont.

’80 Pamela (Lydig) Laycock, age 58, died Feb. 9, 2012, Colbert, Wash.

1970s’79 Morris John Byrd, age 83, died March 12, 2012, Spokane Valley

’76 Eric A. Hulen, age 62, died March 22, 2012, Spokane

’76 David Edward Smith, age 66, died Feb. 23, 2012, St. John, Wash.

’75 Howard H. “Jess” Jessee, age 73, died Feb. 5, 2012, Spokane

‘74 Daniel Minnich, died Sept. 17, 2007, Portland, Ore.

’70 Rilla J. Weitz, age 83, died June 19, 2011, Peoria, Ariz.

1960s’69 Richard A. “Dick” Hall, age 66, died Feb. 10, 2012, Spokane

’69 Richard A. Nielson, age 68, died Feb. 17, 2012, Cheney

’68 Steven Charles Crooks, age 65, died Dec. 19, 2011, Spokane

’68 Joyce D. (Hergert) Laily, age 81, died Nov. 12, 2011, Endicott, Wash.

’66 Doug Garske, age 72, died March 10, 2012, Spokane

’66 Keith F. Neal, age 80, died Jan. 2, 2012, Wishram, Wash.

’66 Betty J. Vigue, age 83, died Feb. 10, 2012, Cheney

’65 Nellie L. Booker-Logan, age 103, died Dec. 26, 2011, Othello, Wash.

’65 Bernadine E. Langfeldt, age 93, died March 25, 2012, Spokane

’65 Col. Tracy Brian Sheer, age 68, died Sept. 16, 2011, Ellenwood, Ga.

’65 Larry Lee Utzinger, age 70, died Feb. 14,

2012, East Wenatchee, Wash.

’64 Gale LaMae (Salter) Strait, age 69, died July 25, 2009, Spokane

’62 Lloyd Haglund, age 82, died Nov. 6, 2011, Phoenix

’60 George L. Dye, age 79, died Feb. 29, 2012, Mead, Wash.

’60 Thomas Ennis, age 76, died Dec. 9, 2011, Olympia, Wash.

1950s’57 Duane K. Carlton, age 80, died Dec. 5, 2011, Yuma, Ariz.

’57 John A. Frucci, age 76, died Dec. 29, 2011, Spokane

’57 Daniel Tollefson, age 79, died March 15, 2012, Lacey, Wash.

’56 Donald K. Howard, age 84, died Feb. 3, 2012, Lacey, Wash.

’56 Harold C. Jorgensen, age 83, died Nov. 17, 2011, Spokane

’54 Loren W. Bartlett, PhD, age 79, died Sept. 28, 2011, Greeley, Colo.

’54 Duane H. Heidenreich, age 79, died Dec. 22, 2011, Spokane

’53 Robert H. Nelson, age 81, died Jan. 1, 2012, Spokane Valley

’52 Morris O. “Bud” Sanford, age 93, died March 4, 2012, Sequim, Wash.

’51 Joyce H. Griswold, age 97, died Jan. 27, 2012, Spokane

’51 Norm LaVigne, age 84, died March 26, 2012, Spokane

’51 Robert R. Richards, age 82, died Feb. 10, 2012, Spokane

’51 Esther E. Workman, age 82, died Jan. 16, 2012, Edmonds, Wash.

’50 Col. Richard J. Franz, age 94, died Feb. 29, 2012, Puyallup, Wash.

’50 Edwin Willis Shearer, age 87, died Feb. 21, 2012, Spokane Valley

1940s’44 Ethel M. (Kruger) Lowe, age 88, died Feb. 1, 2012, Des Moines, Wash.

’43 Margaret (Twining) Walston, age 90, died Dec. 2, 2011, Colville, Wash.

’42 Albert “Albie” Mattus, age 92, died March 20, 2012, Colfax, Wash.

’41 Marjorie S. Hartman, age 94, died Dec. 17, 2011, Bremerton, Wash.

’41 Virginia Stanton, age 91, died March 11, 2012, San Marcos, Calif.

1930s’38 Hughena E. House, age 96, died March 21, 2012, Spokane

’34 Ethel Gordon Metzger, age 98, died March 22, 2012, Spokane

Faculty and StaffBernard (Ben) L. Camp, died Jan. 25, 2012. He had been a lecturer in social work since September 2005.

Jere Donegan, professor emeritus, died Sept. 27, 2011. He was professor in the History Department from September 1967 until his retirement Jan. 1, 1993. He is survived by his wife, Sarann, at their home in Bellingham, Wash.

Jerome (Jerry) Donen, died March 22, 2012. He retired from EWU on July 1, 1990, after 22 years of service in the Instructional Media Center.

Joanne Jaynes, died April 21, 2012. After graduating from Eastern with a BA in music education in 1979, she worked at the university for more than 32 years. Her most recent job was in the College of Arts, Letters and Education. Prior to that, she spent time in Academic Affairs, Social Work and Applied Psychology.

Cal Murphy died Feb. 18, 2012. He was 79. Murphy was a full-time assistant football coach at Eastern from 1965-67 under Eastern head coach Dave Holmes before embarking upon a successful Hall of Fame coaching career in the Canadian Football League.

Marguerite S. Parton, age 97, died Feb. 18, 2012. In 1964, she started teaching for Eastern at the Campus School, where prospective teachers would observe her classes. She was promoted to the Education Department in 1970, where she helped develop the reading major program.

Donald E. Thorne, age 62, died March 16, 2012. He managed the swimming pool at Eastern for 30 years.

From Lisa Poplawski, director Alumni Advancement

Recently, I met Amanda, a current student at Eastern, and her 8-year-old brother – who is quite obviously impressed by his sister and Eastern. I was privileged to hear about her family, her pursuit of becoming an elementary teacher and her mentorship of her brother. It was lovely!

She then asked me what I did at EWU. When I told her that I was the director of Alumni Advancement tears filled her eyes. I was completely caught off guard, to say the least. She stood up and gave me a hug. “Last year, I received an Alumni Association scholarship,” she said. “The notification came on the very same day that I had reached the decision to drop out of school because of finances. It was my sign from you. Thank you.”

For the 2012-2013 school year, 38 EWU students will receive scholarships due to the revenue from the sale of EWU license plates. Thank you from me, and the students whose lives you are impacting.

If you don’t have an EWU plate on your car or motorcycle, get one soon so you can show it off on the road at the EWU Night at the King Tut Exhibition in Seattle or in Pullman at the EWU vs. WSU football game, Sept. 8. You will also be helping students like Amanda succeed.


final thoughts


events calendar

25 EWU King Tut Exhibit

and Reception (Pacific Science Center, Seattle)

8

Alumni Pregame* EWU vs. WSU (Pullman)

* Purchase includes ticket to the game

9

EWU Alumni Wine Tasting (Roos Field, Cheney)

7-10

Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort michaelroosfoundation.org

15

EWU Night at the Tri-City Dust Devils Baseball Game

(Pasco, Wash.)

16

EWU 2012 Commencement

ewu.edu/commencement

15 EWU at the

Seattle Marinersvs.

Texas Rangers

30 EWU vs. Idaho (Moscow)

goeags.com

24New Student Pass Through

the Pillars Event

29

EWU vs. Montana (Cheney)

goeags.com

5-6 Golden Graduate

Reunion (Class of 1962)

6

Hall of Fame Inductions

EWU vs. North Dakota

15-20 Homecoming Week

19 Homecoming Parade, Bonfire and Bed Races

20 EWU vs. Sacramento State

27

EWU Library Oktoberfest

ewu.edu/oktoberfest

June

Ju

ly

Aug

ust

Sept

embe

r

Oct

ober

Join your fellow alumni and friends at these exciting upcoming events. For more information and to register, visit alumni.ewu.edu or call 888.EWU.ALUM.

EASTERN MagazineUniversity AdvancementEastern Washington University102 Hargreaves HallCheney, WA 99004-2413

Non Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDEastern Washington

University

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Eastern Magazine | Spring/Summer 2012

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