eastern etc. Veterans Resource Center Opens EWU officially opened its new Veterans Resource Center in July as part of its goal to ensure that the university meets the needs of the thousands of service men and women returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. There are currently more than 500 veterans enrolled at EWU, and the university expects to see a 10-percent increase annually in the number of veterans seeking college degrees and utilizing GI benefits as the draw-down of deployed troops continues over the next few years. Eastern President Rodolfo ArĂŠvalo welcomed university leaders and community supporters at the opening reception of the 2,000 square-foot center located on the first floor of Showalter Hall. The center includes a lounge, kitchen area, computer lab and conference space, as well as office space for support staff. Lt. Col. (Retired), David Millet is the director of the center. He has more than 25 years of success in leadership and management positions within the U.S. Army and at Eastern. In addition to Millet, staffing includes a recruiter/advisor, a GI-benefits coordinator, graduate assistants, a VetCorps representative and faculty liaisons. The center is also developing an online presence to reach individuals even while they are still on active duty. If you are interested in making a donation of any size to the Veterans Resource Center, please contact Dave Millet, 509.359.2461, or dmillet@ewu.edu.
First Class of Mechanical Engineering Students Graduate During the 2012 Commencement ceremonies held in June, Eastern awarded diplomas to eight students who have the distinction of being the first graduates to earn degrees in mechanical engineering. The mechanical engineering curriculum, first offered in the fall quarter of 2009, builds on concepts studied in physics, math and the sciences. The ME graduates reflect Eastern’s commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Such STEMrelated fields are considered to be a driving force in economic recovery and global competitiveness, which is why the state has directed higher education institutions to expand enrollment in STEM programs. In addition to the mechanical engineering degree, Eastern also offers a degree in electrical engineering, making it unique among the regional universities in the state of Washington. Â
E ASTERN: FALL 2012
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