Eastern magazine | spring 2014

Leaving A BIG LEGACY

up front

Dear Alumni and Friends, So This Is Goodbye – Sort Of I have made the decision to retire and will be leaving Eastern this summer. But the one thing I’ve learned in my eight years here is that you are an Eagle for life! My time on this wonderful campus is an experience I will cherish.

One of my major efforts as your president has been to improve the pride that our faculty, staff and students feel about EWU. When I arrived, all I heard was, “Why aren’t we more like WSU or Gonzaga?” There was a feeling that we were not as good as other institutions and nobody liked us. I also heard this in the community and even from our own alumni; it seemed few alumni were willing to admit they had graduated from Eastern, and they were less willing to demonstrate it.

I believe that has changed dramatically! We now have more students, faculty and staff who are willing to push their chests out and say “I work for, attend or graduated from Eastern!” We have grown significantly, not only in numbers but in the quality of programs that we offer. We have solidified our role in science, health and engineering, while still having strong programs in the fine arts and social science and in our professional programs like social work, business, public administration, psychology, health science and education.

We have become smaller in terms of administration and have developed a much stronger budget process that will serve the university well for years to come. I believe the relationship between the administration and faculty is at an all-time high, and that we are positioned well to continue to improve faculty compensation and academic recognition for meeting the needs of our student population.

We have made significant inroads into increasing our foreign student population, which will prove to be a great asset to the university and its students. Our students now have a greater opportunity to become global citizens, international contributors and world travelers.

I have advocated for the infusion of technology into our curriculum and tried to refocus our use and understanding of online education and how it can further expand Eastern’s visibility and reach.

While some on campus feared our investment in athletics, I would say our success in this area has brought the most visibility to the university and has allowed us to better promote and market our academic programs. It has also drawn many alumni back to Eastern and allowed us to meet many new friends who are now more engaged in the university.

That is what the past eight years have been for me —­ an investment in this amazing university. I would call it one of the best investments I’ve made, and the payoff is that no matter where the road takes me from here, I can proudly say that I am an Eagle for life!

EASTERN

Rodolfo Arévalo, PhD President

S P R I N G 2014

THE MAGAZINE for Eastern Washington University Alumni and Friends

EDITOR KANDI CARPER ’05 ART DIRECTOR RYAN GAARD ’02 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS BRIAN LYNN ’98, KANDI CARPER ’05, DAVE COOK, DAVE MEANY, KATE DANIEL '14 CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS RYAN GAARD ’02, STEVE BATEMAN, HEIDI JANTZ COPY EDITORS BRIAN LYNN ’98, CAMERON PILKINTON, KATE DANIEL '14 PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID LANE, PAT SPANJER ’80, ERIC GALEY ’84

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EDITORIAL BOARD STEVE BLEWETT ’69, GINA MAURO CAMPBELL ’90, JASON CLERGET ’07, BRENDAN GENTHER ’00, NICK LAWHEAD ’07, LISA LEINBERGER ’98, KAYLA CARTER NORTHROP ’08, ROBIN PICKERING ’03, ’97 AND NANCY TSUTAKAWA ’70 VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT MICHAEL WESTFALL DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ADVANCEMENT LISA POPLAWSKI ’01, ’94 EWU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT GINA MAURO CAMPBELL ’90 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS TERESA CONWAY

CONTACT US EMAIL: EASTERNMAGAZINE@EWU.EDU PHONE: 509.359.6422 WRITE: 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.

features

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The Legacy of Dr. A

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Dahir Jigre Believes All Things Are Possible

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Worldly Ways

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Redeeming the Bully

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Senior to Senior

As Rodolfo Arévalo retires, we look back on his years as president

ASEWU President - living the American dream

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Alumni follow their passion on different continents Tommy Williams Jr.'s holistic approach to change lives Alumni’s advice to the Class of 2014

on the cover The Arévalo Years – a look back at Dr. A’s presidency Photo: David Lane

departments

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2 up front 4 letters to the editor 6 on the road 8 eastern etc.

34 your turn: Helen's History 36 faces & places 38 class notes 44 in memoriam 46 final thoughts 47 calendar of events

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Letters to the editor We want to hear from you! Send us your letters.

Letters may be edited for length, clarity and civility.

One of ! t a e r g is magazine 4 1 0 2 r e t it cover to d a e r I The win . r e n re m e m b a c I t s e b the ew n a m e s f a e r e w e re cover. Th think I familiar. ’t n e r o e d I w t t a a h th e 1960s, t h t f o is about d it a s r s g e u a g s .I mit, a n campus o g I must ad in h t y ognize an would rec heney.

C o t ip r t ro a d time for a d wo r k . o o g e h t ompson eep up k h T d n w a o r in r ga t Mo lif.

Thanks a ’62 Jane Rosa, Ca Santa

write to us

Send your letters or notes to easternmagazine@ewu.edu or to Eastern magazine, 300 Showalter Hall, Cheney, WA 99004. Letters are edited for clarity, style and length. Please include your full name and address.

matching gifts

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Thousands of companies nationwide match their employees’ charitable contributions. Some match retirees’ and spouses’ contributions. Please check with your human resources office to determine if you can double or triple the impact of your contribution.

Visit www.ewu.edu/matchinggift for a list of companies and more information.

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Spokane’s premier

shopping, dining and entertainment center.

riverparksquare.com

’04 Rick Scott traveled to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., for Super Bowl XLVIII. He watched the Seattle Seahawks defeat the Denver Broncos 43-8 for the first Super Bowl championship in team history.

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’13 Joseph Stageberg is shooting a documentary in Kenya. He was hired by Spring of Hope International (SOHI) to tell the story of an HIV-stricken woman named Margaret Rachuonyo (pictured). Margaret, 62, has been HIV positive for 14 years. Her life was turned around thanks to the work of SOHI.

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’72 John Ellis at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, the lowest point in North America. John and his wife, Carol, enjoy exploring national parks and live in Mead, Wash. John is a retired Napa Auto Parts executive.

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’08 Marcella Cramer is pictured at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

She graduated with an MFA in creative writing. She’s written a book titled It’s Hard to Keep Secrets in Colfax.

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Lew Wilson (professor emeritus Communications Studies Department, 1964-1990), ’76 Peggy Edwards Wilson, ’71 Lorri Remmers Williams and Paul Williams enjoyed sunny Algodones, Mexico. Lew and Peggy (retired) split their time between Yuma, Ariz., La Conner, Wash., and Spokane. Lorri, a retired teacher, and Paul are farming in the Reardan, Wash. area.

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’60 Kenneth Coe recently took a two-week trip to Cuenca, Ecuador. The main cathedral of the city is in the background.

’93 John Propp and his wife, Cindy, recently celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary on the island of Kauai. The couple met while Cindy was attending EWU in 1986. They work for Spokane County.

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’03 Sara Baydek-Hicks and her husband, Brandon, took Eastern magazine to Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey in February. The couple lives in Orting, Wash., with twin daughters Kylie and Kayla. Sara is a branch manager at Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

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’58 Louise (Strosnider) McKay celebrated her 91st birthday with her family in Kauai. She completed her freshman year at Eastern in 1941 and returned to complete her degree in 1958 after raising her family. Her family moved to Omak, Wash., where she taught third grade. She currently lives in Spokane Valley.

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’12 Adrienne Hanson and ’14 Levi Lane took Eastern magazine to Lincoln City, Ore., in February. They made sure to show their love for EWU by writing it in the Oregon Coast sand.

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’02 Scott Hager and his wife Nicole visited Las Vegas during Super Bowl weekend. They live in Huntington Beach, Calif., where he works as the director of contact center operations for a private junior college.

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’92, ’82 Stephanie Combs on a trip to Antarctica in February. She is currently the grants controller of a group of not-for-profit K-12 charter schools. She lives in Philadelphia.

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’11 Nick Groth and his son, Mason, at the Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Fla., in April.

’93 Andrea Morris-Weymiller is at the summit of Crystal Mountain with Mount Rainier in the background. She is married, has three children and is part owner in Benash Real Property Exchange.

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’98 Karene Garlich-Loman enjoyed watching the 2014 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on Oahu in January.

’94 Craig Sides and ’94 Kyle Sides attended the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City in March. They are pictured in Times Square.

Craig lives in Bothell, Wash., and works for Microsoft, and Kyle lives in Seattle and works for Sharpe Mixers.

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on the road with eastern magazine Where will Eastern magazine be spotted next? 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 and on the magazine’s website. Send to easternmagazine@ewu.edu or Eastern Magazine, 300 Showalter Hall, Cheney, WA 99004-2445.

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eastern etc.

Pi Kappa Alpha Alums Unite to Give Back to EWU Libraries The Eastern Washington University Libraries received a huge boost on two significant initiatives that will help students succeed, thanks to some EWU fraternity alumni who are committed to leaving a lasting legacy with the university that brought them together.

Front row: Steve Oliver, Denny Fleenor, Garland Frankfurth, Tom Stevens, Jamie Wolff, Dave Bray, Mike Corkrum, Gary Garcea Back row: Dan Silver, Jeff Harshman, Jim Fricke, Bob Leingang, Jim Mathis, Larry Conboy, Craig Verjaska, Doug Myers, Dan Nichols, Jeffy Litzenberger, Denny York, Wes Orlob

The alums from Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, who have stayed connected for more than 45 years, are partnering with EWU Libraries to raise money for the endowed Randy Van Turner

Library Scholarship Fund and the Pi Kappa Alpha Library Fund.

The Randy Van Turner Library Scholarship Fund commemorates an EWU graduate and founding member of the “Pike” fraternity who was killed in action in Vietnam. Proceeds from the $25,000 scholarship will be awarded to an Eastern student as early as 2015 and a memorial will soon be displayed in the library’s Archives and Special Collections.

The Pi Kappa Alpha Library Fund will be used to fund the Archives Hidden Collections Digitization Project, giving EWU Libraries the opportunity to digitize more than a quarter-million items of substantive intellectual value and cultural significance that are currently not accessible.

Check out the video: http://vimeo.com92054391

Iñiguez Named Trustee Uriel Iñiguez, one of six siblings to graduate from Eastern and the father of a current EWU student, has been appointed to the university’s Board of Trustees by Gov. Jay Inslee. Iñiguez replaced Bertha Ortega, who served on the board since 2002. His appointment is for six years.

Iñiguez is the oldest of 11 children, all of whom were first-generation college students — a dream come true for a family whose parents came to this country from Mexico with no formal education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern and a master’s degree in public administration from City University.

Since June 2005, Iñiguez has served as the executive director of the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs. Recently, four of the Iñiguez alumni began the Iñiguez Family Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship will help first-generation students from Mexico complete their college degrees, and requires them to be active in the Latino community.

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Fuller Elected to National Academic Board EWU’s Provost Rex Fuller, has been elected to the inaugural board of directors of the Association of Chief Academic Officers, ACAO. The ACAO is the first national organization representing chief academic officers (CAOs), such as provosts and vice presidents for academic affairs, from all accredited higher education institutions.

As a charter member of ACAO, Eastern Washington University gains added visibility within higher education and the American Council of Education.

Being on the ACAO board will enable EWU to participate in programs designed to improve overall educational quality, and board-level participation enables EWU to be part of the team that designs future programming.

Cox has Basketball Jersey Retired Ron Cox, who earned All-America recognition all four seasons he played basketball for EWU, had his No. 30 jersey retired in a ceremony on March 8, at Reese Court. Current Detroit Piston Rodney Stuckey is the only other Eastern player to have his jersey retired.

Cox played for the Eagles from 1973 to 1977. He had record totals of 1,741 points and 1,273 rebounds in leading Eastern to a 77-30 record and three Evergreen Conference titles.

“We are very judicious when it comes to jersey retirements, but this ceremony is long overdue,” said Eastern Athletic Director Bill Chaves. “Ron’s career speaks for itself. For him to still hold our all-time scoring and rebounding records after 35 years is truly remarkable, and certainly deserving of continued remembrance and recognition.”

Drafted in the sixth round of the 1977 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cox went on to a successful high school coaching career.

He was inducted into the Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998 and to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Hall of Fame in 2011.

Cox earned his BA in education in 1978, and his master’s degree in 1995. He and Betty, his wife of 40 years, live in the Spokane area.

Their son, Jamie, and daughter Tanya (Pauling) also attended Eastern. They also have another daughter, Heather, and seven grandchildren.

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Men’s Basketball Has Best Season in 10 Years

2013-14 Eastern Washington University Men’s Basketball Team Photo Caption Front Row (left to right): Daniel Hill, Thomas Reuter, Nate Galgalo, Ognjen Miljkovic, Garrett Moon, Tyler Harvey, Drew Brandon, Parker Kelly.

Back Row: Graduate Student Manager Luke Clift, Manager Ryan Deckard, Assistant Coach Alex Pribble, Director of Basketball Operations David Riley, Felix Von Hofe, Frederik Jorg, Head Coach Jim Hayford, Martin Seiferth, Venky Jois, Associate Head Coach Craig Fortier, Manager Ben Zakheim, Assistant Coach Shantay Legans, Manager Thomas Moore.

Just one victory shy of a Big Sky Conference Tournament berth, the Eagles finished the season with more victories than a year ago. They established eight school records and one league mark, finishing 15­-16 overall and 10-10 in the league. The 15 victories equal the most for the Eagles in 10 years, since finishing 17-13 in the 200304 season.

The best news is that the Eagles had no seniors on the roster, and will return sophomores Tyler Harvey and Venky Jois. Harvey was a first-team All-Big Sky selection and earned second-team honors on the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 6 team – EWU’s first player honored on that team since Rodney Stuckey in 2007. Jois earned honorable mention accolades for the second straight year. College Sports Madness named Jois (third team) and junior point guard Drew Brandon (second team) to its All-Big Sky Conference squad, and Jois earned first team All-BSC honors from College Hoops Daily.

Harvey’s 109 three-pointers tops the list of school records. He was the Big Sky’s leading scorer with a 21.8 average, and ranked in the top 13 nationally in four categories. Harvey’s perfect 20-of-20 free throw performance against Southern Utah on Jan. 23 was both a school and conference record. He also had 10 three-pointers versus Northern Colorado to set a school record.

Jois, the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year last year, established a new school record for career blocked shots, with a total of 115.

The other school records established included the career shooting percentage for Martin Seiferth (64.4 percent) and team records for free throws made (38) and attempted (49) versus Southern Utah on Jan. 23, 2014.

Wasem Inducted in ABCA Hall of Fame Former EWU head baseball coach Jim Wasem was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Jan. 3. It is the fifth Hall of Fame honor of his career, including the 2009 Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame Service and Contribution Award.

Wasem, who coached more than 900 collegiate games in a 23-year head coaching career, spent nine seasons at EWU, from 1982 to 1990, compiling a 230-251-1 record. Eastern, which competed in the Pacific-10 Conference Northern Division against the likes of Washington State, Washington, Oregon State and Gonzaga, dropped the sport following the 1990 season.

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left to right: Tisha Phillips, Jade Redmon, Miranda Mielke, Laura Hughes, Cece Pearl, Hanna Mack, Aubrey Ashenfelter, Head Coach Wendy Schuller, Kylie Huerta, Hayley Hodgins, Marly Anderson, Lexie Nelson, Bethany Montgomery, Melissa Williams and Haley Shaner

Women’s Basketball Team Makes Big Sky Tournament The EWU women’s basketball team made its fifth consecutive appearance in the Big Sky Tournament in March. A No. 4 seed, with a season record of 16-13 overall, 12-8 Big Sky, the team lost to Idaho State in a heart breaking overtime game in the quarterfinals.

Lexie Nelson and Hayley Hodgins were named to the 2013-14 All-Big Sky Conference Team. Nelson was a first-team pick for the second consecutive season while Hodgins was an honorable mention selection.

This season, Nelson, a junior from Butte, Mont., led Eastern and ranked fifth in the Big Sky in scoring with an average of 16.1 points per game. Her 467 points currently ranks sixth all-time in EWU single-season history. Her free throw percentage is 86.1 percent.

Pasco, Wash. native Hodgins, who was last season’s Big Sky Freshman of the Year, ranked second on the team and 10th in the conference in scoring with an average of 13.6 points per game. She reached double figures in 24 of the Eagles’ 29 games.

“I’m very excited for Lexie and Hayley,” head coach Wendy Schuller said. “Those are two players that put in a lot of time and are really committed to this team and this program, and to becoming better players every single day. I’m excited for them that they were rewarded for their hard work.”

EWU Offers New Master’s Degrees

(MiT)

Master in Teaching EWU’s Education Department will initiate a new cohort of MiT students, beginning this summer. Courses will be offered on the Riverpoint Campus. The MiT program has been designed for students who plan to change careers and enter the field of teaching.

Structured as an intensive five-quarter program with day and evening classes, the program links coursework to the K-12 classroom experience (approximately 900 hours) and meets the new statewide certification requirements for K-12 teachers. Graduates of the program receive their Washington State Residency Teacher Certificates as well as their MEd degrees.

(MPH)

Master of Public Health The MPH is an interdisciplinary program that draws upon a number of disciplines to address the many aspects of public health.

The MPH consists of a core foundation of classes in public health with options in health promotion, epidemiology, health services administration and American Indian health care. The curriculum is designed to meet the accreditation standards for the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the only accrediting body for master’s programs in public health. The curriculum also meets competencies for the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH).

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MATT NICHOLS

GREG PEACH

J.C. SHERRITT

MICHAEL ROOS

BO LEVI MITCHELL

RODNEY STUCKEY

ERIK MEYER

Big Sky Conference’s Top Moments and Greatest Athletes

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The Big Sky Conference is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year for men’s athletics and the 25th anniversary for women’s athletics. In celebration, the conference is recognizing its top athletes and memorable moments. As you would expect, many Eastern Eagles made the list.

Greatest Male Athletes

No. 12 Erik Meyer played quarterback for the Eagles from 2002-05, and led the team to two Big Sky Championships. Meyer threw for 10,261 yards and 84 touchdowns, and won the 2005 Walter Payton Award as well as Big Sky Conference Offensive MVP honors and First Team All-Big Sky honors. Active in the professional ranks since his EWU career ended, he was the 2013 Arena Football League MVP. He also helped coach in Eastern’s program in 2012 and was quarterbacks coach at Central Washington in 2013.

No. 13 Rodney Stuckey played basketball for the Eagles from 2005-2007. After his 2005-06 freshman year, he was named the Big Sky’s MVP and Freshman of the Year – the only freshman in league history to win MVP honors. He was an NBA first-round draft pick and now plays for the Detroit Pistons.

No. 20 Bo Levi Mitchell, nicknamed the “Gunslinger,” transferred to Eastern from SMU. He then led the Eagles to the 2010 NCAA Division I Championship, where he was named the most outstanding player in the title game. In 2011, Mitchell won the Walter Payton Award given to the top player in the FCS.

No. 22 Michael Roos played for the Eagles from 2001-04 and was All-Pro for the Tennessee Titans in 2008. In that same year, Eastern selected him to its “100 for 100” All-Time Team and voted him the top offensive lineman in school history. Roos was honored by EWU in 2009, when his jersey was retired.

Eastern re-named Woodward Field to “Roos Field” in 2010 upon completion of the Red Turf project.

No. 37 J.C. Sherritt was named First Team All-Conference twice. As a senior in 2010, he won the Buck Buchanan Award and guided the Eagles to their first NCAA Division I Championship. In 2012, he received the title of Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the Canadian Football League after setting the CFL record for tackles with 130.

No. 39 Greg Peach is a former All-American defensive end and winner of the 2008 Buck Buchanan award, which he won by the largest margin in history. He tallied 18 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss, leading the nation in both categories. In 2012, three years after his college career had ended, Peach returned to Roos field and proposed to his fiancé, Kobli.

No. 47 Matt Nichols never missed a practice or a game during his career at EWU. He played in 47 contests and threw for a Big Sky record 12,616 career yards and 96 touchdowns. Nichols is also EWU’s alltime leader in pass attempts in a game (76), pass attempts in a career (1,608), career passing yards (12,616) and total offense (13,308). His 96 touchdowns are a school record and rank second in league history.

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KARI MCKAY

KIM EXNER

Greatest Female Athletes

No. 12

Kim Exner is one of three Big Sky Conference women’s volleyball players to win two regularseason MVP Awards and the only MVP to have also been dubbed the league’s Newcomer of the Year. Exner was named Co-MVP her junior year in 1997, and was also MVP as a senior in 1998.

No. 20 Kari McKay began competing in track in her senior year of high school. She made three appearances in the NCAA Championships in the early 1990s: two in cross country and one in track. In 1990, McKay finished fourth at her first Big Sky Cross Country Championship, came in eighth at districts and competed at her first NCAA Championships. McKay’s second NCAA appearance came in her senior season in 1991, where she finished 33rd in cross-country.

Top Big Sky Moments Men’s Moments

No. 5 Eastern won its final 11 games of the season to win the 2010 NCAA Division I Football Championship. Eastern won the title with four straight playoff wins, including a 20-19 victory over Delaware in the championship game on Jan. 7, 2011, in Frisco, Texas. The Eagles rallied from a 19-0 deficit and ended their season with a school-record 13 victories. Eastern finished 8-0 on its new, red turf at Roos Field.

No. 11 Buchanan Awards, where the FCS’s top defensive players are honored. The Big Sky has been represented in six of the past 11 years. EWU is proud of its Buchanan Award Winners, Greg Peach and J.C. Sherritt.

No. 30 Former Eagle offensive tackle Michael Roos is honored as an NFL All-Pro selection in 2008.

No. 37 EWU’s 2013 comeback vs. Sam Houston State, a 45-42 loss in the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs after trailing 35-0 at halftime.

No. 42 In 1998, Bashir Levingston returned three kickoffs for three touchdowns in the game against Sacramento State.

Women’s Moments

No. 9 EWU Volleyball defeats Oregon State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2001, equaling the highest advancement ever for a Big Sky Conference school.

No. 12 EWU Volleyball is one of three Big Sky Teams to advance to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament in 1999.

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The

Legacy of Dr. A When EWU President Rodolfo Arévalo spoke of his first 100 days as leader of Eastern Washington University in the fall of 2006, he said, “I think, for the most part, people see a president as somebody that is very flamboyant or outspoken.

I guess that’s not what I see as important. I see willingness to listen and doing thoughtful analysis as more important. By doing that, you can usually arrive at what is best for the university and primarily, what is best for the students – that’s what I am trying to mold into my vision for Eastern.”

By all accounts, Arévalo’s vision for a student-centered university has come to fruition during his eight years as president. He will retire on July 15, with more than 42 years of experience working in higher education.

with all state universities, there were multi-million-dollar budget cuts to deal with, which meant the restructuring of various departments and realigning administrative duties – all while enrollment continued to increase.

“President Arévalo’s leadership and accomplishments during this historic time at Eastern have been outstanding,” said Paul Tanaka, chair of EWU’s board of trustees. “Dr. Arévalo’s thoughtful and measured approach to the many challenges and opportunities the past eight years has put the university, and its students, in a remarkable position to succeed.”

President Arévalo led an aggressive effort to tell the story of access and opportunity for all students, and he focused his message on the power of education to transform lives for individuals and for the state of Washington.

There were times during Arévalo’s years as president that would test anyone’s mettle. In December 2008, he went on medical leave for several months due to a bout with cancer. He’s in good health now, however. And as

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During Arévalo’s tenure, Eastern’s ethnic-student diversity increased from 14.9 percent when he arrived, to 27 percent overall, and 31 percent of the university’s first-year student population in the fall of 2013. He is the first Latino president at any public four-year college or university in the state of Washington.

AT A GLANCE RODOLFO ARÉVALO, PHD, 25TH PRESIDENT OF EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY NICKNAME: affectionately known as “Dr. A” AGE: 68 BACKGROUND: A native of Edinburg, Texas, he is the son of migrant laborers who worked in Walla Walla and the Yakima Valley, and is a first-generation college graduate.

FAMILY: Wife Nadine, five grown children: Christopher, Krista, Jamie, Kimberly and Michael and four grandchildren.

EDUCATION: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1973, PhD, education administration; University of Michigan, 1971, MSW, social work administration; University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, Texas, 1969, BBA, accounting.

EXPERIENCE: Began tenure at EWU on April 1, 2006, after seven years as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of Texas-Pan American. He spent 18 years in the California State University System as a faculty member, department chair, associate dean, graduate dean and associate vice president. He also served as provost and chief academic officer at Fort Hays State University.

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Arévalo believed that investment in education is a key economic driver and that it provides an educated workforce who earn degrees and remain in the state to work and give back to their communities. Because of this belief, he resolutely supported the legislative emphasis to provide greater numbers of graduates in the math and science fields and led the university in further development of degrees relating to science, health and engineering.

Under his leadership the university gained approval to offer an additional engineering degree in mechanical engineering. As it seeks to meet the growing market demand in the critical field of health care, EWU has created the new College of Health Science & Public Health, set to open in fall 2014, and now offers a new master’s degree in public health.

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Because of his strong support of math and science education, Arévalo has been involved with work in the Spokane Public Schools, the Community Colleges of Spokane and WSUSpokane. He has served as co-chair of the Spokane STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) network and is also affiliated with the National Hispanic Science Network.

Last fall, Arévalo received national accolades as he successfully negotiated a groundbreaking faculty-compensation contract that would bring faculty pay in line with market rates.

He also launched a new strategic plan aimed at the continued improvement of student retention and graduation rates. During his tenure, enrollment passed the 12,000 mark for the first

time in university history. Under his leadership, Eastern also launched its first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, which will conclude in July.

His time as president was also marked by a tremendous growth in facilities, including a new recreation center, the first new residence hall in 40 years, the state-of-the-art renovation of the school’s largest academic building and the installation of the iconic red turf at Roos Field. Arévalo has also guided the university to unprecedented athletic recognition, highlighted by the EWU football team’s 2010 FCS National Championship.

In February, the Washington State Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring Arévalo for his service to the

university. The Senate resolution stated in part, “And whereas, Dr. Arévalo’s tenure as Eastern’s president may be coming to an end, but his absolute dedication to higher education will continue to live on through the countless students he has inspired and those who have had the pleasure of working with him; now therefore be it resolved, that the Washington State Senate recognizes and congratulates Dr. Rodolfo Arévalo for his steadfast guidance of Eastern Washington University, his dedication to limitless student achievement, his unyielding commitment to diversity, his 40-plus years of dedication to shaping the minds of students worldwide, and most importantly his humility and humanity.”

PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH The search for Eastern’s 26th president is under way.

The EWU Board of Trustees has formed a Presidential Search Advisory Committee, and the services of EFL Associates have been engaged to assist the committee in identifying the best candidates for the position.

The Board of Trustees is committed to keeping the Eastern community informed about the search process and seeking input from the EWU community. Updates on the search process will be posted on the website: www.ewu.edu/presidentialsearch. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please email the Committee Chair, Paul Tanaka, at boardoftrustees@ewu.edu.

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dahir jigre believes all things are possible

By Brian Lynn ’98

As president of the Associated Students of Eastern Washington University, Dahir Jigre (Da-here Geegray) exemplifies the opportunity and impact the university’s emphasis on first-generation students can have on a life, and ultimately on society.

His story, laced with hard work, confidence and opportunities seized, spans two continents and multiple moves within before ultimately finding focus and vision at EWU. Jigre, or “D.J.” as he’s known throughout campus, is a senior working toward a BA in communications, a minor in race and cultural studies and a certificate in leadership – three disciplines that have helped propel him to the forefront of the student body, and which lay the foundation for his future.

Born in Jijiga, Ethiopia, Jigre has a unique appreciation and perspective of America. Reflecting on a time when American children are starting first grade, he recalls a typical childhood, but with nuances distinctly African. “It was similar, but different. I remember climbing trees and playing in the dirt. Many areas of Africa have pavement now, but back then it was mostly dirt,” said Jigre. “One of the best things I remember is chasing dogs. I was terrified of dogs, but knew I had to conquer my fears. So, my friends and I chased dogs to see who could run faster than them. Looking back, it was probably dangerous because they wanted to catch you and, I don’t know, probably kill you ­­– or at least bite you!”

Jigre’s family owned a pharmacy market, with an above-average lifestyle, but instability and unrest within the region prompted his father to give up the business and to move the family to America. His parents’ hopes were that their five children would receive an education and a stable future, and that possibly one day they could return to Africa and help Ethiopia. “Growing up there is one of the memories I cherish, and what makes me appreciate what I have now,” Jigre said. “When you come from a place where you had nothing and now live like a king, you don’t take anything for granted.”

With the aid of a great-aunt living in California, his parents procured visas for the family. Jigre was 8 years old. “It was my first time being able to see an airplane. It was hard to sit still. My parents tried to keep us terrified to keep us in our seats,” he laughed. “But I was like one of the legends – I was flying!”

The amazement with flight, however, paled in comparison with the paradigm shift Jigre would undergo upon landing in California.

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“Everything I knew about life vanished. Everything from TV, everything that was in a virtual box, was now reality,” he said. “Everything was possible to me.”

For nine years, the family lived in the San Jose, Calif., area. With his father chasing the American dream, the family made frequent moves as he took new jobs. Jigre estimates he attended four elementary schools and three high schools – including a yearlong stint during middle school when he, his uncle and grandfather relocated to Renton, Wash.

During this time, Jigre kept a low profile. He tried to blend into the background of each new school, where he could observe his classmates and their culture and figure out how to fit in. He understood that each new school would likely be a short-term endeavor. So Jigre didn’t invest in relationships – friendships, teachers or the school as a whole. He credits those survival lessons as the foundation of his ability to quickly analyze any situation now – a skill he’s finding helpful in college as he’s ascended from scared newcomer to a confident, outgoing student body president.

In August 2006, the family settled in Kent, Wash., with the promise of it being the final move. Jigre consciously decided to “make his move” and worked at creating bonds with his Kent-Meridian High School classmates and becoming involved in track (including taking the school to its first state cross-country appearance in a decade – something that was easier than running from feral dogs).

Eventually, he applied for a highly competitive low-income scholarship and then to EWU, among other schools. After visiting the university and being accepted, Jigre felt a connection with the school and once again made a vow to himself: “I’m going to make something happen here.”

In his freshman year, with a mindset of involvement and blasting through the roadblocks his background presented, Jigre heard former ASEWU president Oscar Ocaña give a speech that focused his intent. The speech encouraged students to seek out and tackle the opportunities

Impossible doesn’t exist for me; it’s only possibilities. I want to change the world. possible at EWU. From that moment, Jigre made ASEWU president his goal. He wrote it on Post-It notes that he stuck to his mirror, and for the next two years he became involved in every aspect of EWU. In his junior year, he made his move – winning election to the highest student office. Jigre is happy with his administration’s accomplishments, but said there’s much more work to be done to increase student recognition and participation.

“I’m very excited that we’ve almost accomplished everything that I promised,” he said, noting the discussion of quarter-to-semester changeover, participation in and voting on the Pence Union Building (PUB) remodel and expanded library hours.

Jigre is eyeing a possible future in motivational speaking and continuing his education in student affairs or public administration. The future, whatever it holds, is infinately more exciting than that first airplane ride to America.

“Impossible doesn’t exist for me; it’s only possibilities. I want to change the world,” he said. “There’s a lot of hate and misunderstanding in the world, but I think love can conquer all. I want to reach out and connect with people and make them see the similarities. The only thing separating us is how we see things and our interpretation of them.”

Left: A family photo: father Khadar J. Adan and mother Hibo Mohamud, with brother Najib Jigre, D.J. (center) and sister Siham Jigre Right: D.J. and friends enjoy the EWU vs. Weber St. football game, October 2013

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Paula Meehan at the Samuel Beckett Bridge over the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland Photo: Antoinette Milne

Worldly Ways PAULA MEEHAN '83 was born in 1955 and raised in the working-class district of Dublin, Ireland. She first came to Cheney in 1981. “I was writing poetry and had started showing it about,” said Meehan. “James J. McAuley (then a professor at Eastern) brought a group of his students to Dublin and encouraged me to come over and study writing and to teach with a fellowship.”

Already familiar with the poets of the Northwest – Gary Snyder, Theodore Roethke, Richard Hugo and Carolyn Kizer – the opportunity to study at EWU represented a chance to get closer to some of these writers who were her deepest influences.

Immediately, Meehan felt the impact of Washington’s extraordinary beauty in her soul. “In Ireland, our Bronze Age stories from 4,000 to 5,000 years ago are warrior stories of interaction with bears and wolves and salmon. When I came to Washington state, an area that had only been colonized 150 years earlier, I felt that I was seeing parts of my own ancient history in fresher states. Things that were strange and exotic in ancient Irish tradition were fresh and alive in the Northwest.”

She describes the dance of a Spokane Indian at a powwow near the river as “one of the most amazing experiences” of her life. “I felt very privileged after seeing that.” Yipping coyotes and the trails of Turnbull opened her heart to energies that she had not directly experienced before. Her poetry soon reflected this reverence.

“If you take a poem and say it from beginning to end and say the long lines and wonderful expressions, by the time you come to the end you will have changed; the physical enactment of saying the poem changes who you are in the world.” For Meehan, the Northwest was a living poem. She inhaled the breadth of the mountains and exhaled the energy of the rivers. She spoke the long lines of the coastline and

For this issue of Eastern magazine, we caught up with four of our alumni who have followed their passion on different continents, connecting with deep meaning and working in capacities that they find truly rewarding. Through a mix of determination, good timing and a clear vision for themselves, these Eagles have carved out lives that not only fulfills them but also enrich the lives of others.

By Bailey Wolff ‘10

gave expression to the contemplative lakes. Completing her Master of Fine Arts degree in poetry at EWU strengthened her connection to the wild places of Washington and their expression in her work.

Eastern also influenced her teaching style and the literary editing technique practiced at Willow Springs, a small literary press housed in EWU’s Inland Northwest Center for Writers in Spokane. “My teaching style is relaxed. The atmosphere in the workshop is casual and the students should feel comfortable but also very focused so that the poems can exert their power.” Reading the poem out loud, Meehan shares, is the way the work should be enjoyed. In class she enforces this technique which brings the poems to life.

Poems, Meehan says, are separate entities from the person who writes them. “If you have children, you make them and they go out in the world and do what they will do. You trust that part of yourself that’s making poetry will stand on its own, too. It goes on its own and lives [without you]. People find in poetry what they need to find.”

Meehan now lives in Ireland and looks back on her time at Eastern fondly. She remembers people like Sue Ehama, secretary to the English Department, who worked hard to make international students, living far from home, feel welcome in the program.

Through the guidance of faculty like Jim McAuley, and friendship with writers like John Keeble, as well as the support of fellow graduate students, Meehan found the loving community that helped shape her universal, poetic voice. In September 2013, she was announced as Ireland Professor of Poetry and "informal poet laureate" at Trinity College Dublin. She currently teaches in Trinity, Queen’s University Belfast and University College Dublin.

For more information, bibliography and essays on her poetry and plays, visit muse.jhu.edu/journals/an_sionnach/toc/current.html.

Meehan’s work is available from Wake Forest University Press at wfupress.wfu.edu/authors/paula-meehan/.

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things changed. I realized I could serve not only domestically but also abroad.

[I realized that] the will to serve others can be exported across boundaries.”

Harder was caught off guard when the water ran out at the orphanage where he was volunteering. “All of the tanks dried up and the children had to walk five kilometers into the mountains to collect water. Along with their chores, along with their homework, along with their devotions, they would go before and after school to collect water for the village. It’s hard to explain – seeing what these kids went through on a daily basis affected me on a whole different level. It was a two-month period that really changed my life.”

Following this trip to Kenya, he returned to Eastern knowing that he wanted to pursue international relations so that he could help change the lives of the people with whom he’d formed relationships in Africa.

CODY HARDER '13, 25, is originally from Cheney, but he considers Kenya his second home. He first traveled to that country in 2008 as part of an African Inland Mission (AIM) trip.

In 2009, he returned and lived through a drought that convinced him Africa was where he wanted to direct the energy of his life’s work.

The Cheney Faith Center was the first recipient of Harder’s servant’s spirit.

Next he volunteered in the Spokane Police Department's Explorer Program, where he rode along with police officers and learned about their procedures.

But volunteering in Africa was what really opened his eyes to the possibilities of service available in the world. “It was during that second trip to Africa that

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Professors such as Dorothy Zeisler-Vralsted and Vandana Asthana in the EWU international relations program encouraged Harder to think for himself and pursue his goal of working abroad. “They helped me apply for internships and continued to mentor me as I traveled back and forth between Africa and the States.”

Harder’s sixth trip to Africa was with the State Department of the United States. Interested in how his superiors got their jobs in the embassy, he asked around and learned that many of them had first been Peace Corps volunteers. He also met with a lot of current volunteers who were working in the country and who shared his desire to work abroad while serving the needs of Africa.

The next logical step was for Harder to become a volunteer. The 27-month commitment seemed the perfect way to really immerse himself in a grassroots African experience.

One provision of Peace Corps service is that volunteers don’t have a choice where they work. A person applies, goes through a rigorous application process, and if accepted, is placed according to the needs of Peace Corps rather than an individual preference. Nonetheless, Harder says, “I had my mind and heart set on Africa. If it wasn’t Africa, I would have told them no.”

Carmen Dowling with Governor of the State of Ceará, Brazil, Cid Gomez

As fate would have it, Harder was sent to Madagascar, a short 240 miles away from the Kenyan village where he experienced that life-changing drought. “I was really excited when I received this invitation. Madagascar is a wonderful country, and I am still blessed to be close to Kenya.”

When his English teaching commitment with the Peace Corps ends in September 2015, Harder wants to study international economic development at Fordham, in New York City. The program will connect him with diaspora communities from Africa and show him a different side to the very big problem he has dedicated his life to tackling.

“After that,” said Harder, “I would like to go back to East Africa.” “[Life so far] has opened my eyes up to so many things,” said Harder. “It’s hard to ignore someone once you get to know where they’ve come from and what they’ve been through on a personal level. It’s changed my heart and desire for what I want to do in the future.” Harder believes that as long as he follows his heart, the future will be waiting, with many more exciting opportunities for him to grow and serve.

CARMEN DOWLING ’03 After finishing her English degree at Eastern in 2003, Spokane native and Ferris High School graduate Carmen Dowling took a job with a London-based recruiting firm so that she could travel before starting her career. This job led to one with the international trade show logistics company TWI, for which she often went to China, Singapore, the Netherlands and England. Five years of this work made Dowling realize how much diversity is in the world.

“It was a very different work environment,” she said. “Working overseas always presents a different challenge, whether it be regulations, working culture or language.” The traveling was great, but the work didn’t fulfill her. One day Dowling was looking out from the inside of a tour bus in Berlin, when she saw the U.S. embassy and had an epiphany.

“It hit me! There. I want to work there. I had no idea who worked at an embassy or what they did, but I knew if I worked there that I could do fulfilling work and see the world at the same time.”

A little research revealed that embassies are run by the State Department. Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) staff these embassies and support Americans abroad.

They also promote the U.S.A.’s interests within the host country’s borders.

Dowling was not daunted by the less-than-2 percent acceptance rate of her chosen career path. Instead, she found confidence in her new desire and certainty.

“Something was in store for me,” she reflects. “I have always been passionate about

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government and wanted to be involved, to make a difference.” Seeing the embassy was like looking into her future. She knew she would become an FSO. The following spring, Dowling started a battery of tests and interviews.

Below is an excerpt from her statement of purpose: “I want to show the world that in so many ways we are more similar than different. Like most of the world’s people, at our core, Americans want to love our families, live safely and securely, worship as we please and have a say in how our lives are led.”

Competing for FSO spots were former Ivy Leaguers and lawyers making career moves. Dowling’s bachelor’s degree from EWU paled in comparison to master’s degrees from Harvard. Nevertheless, she passed all of her tests, succeeded in the interviews and was invited into the Foreign Service placement pool.

Once invited to be an officer, Dowling waited for placement. In order to improve her class ranking, she used vacation time from work to live in Turkey and learn Turkish. The State Department considers Turkish a "critical language" – any candidate who speaks it gains points in the ranking system.

She gained even more points because she also speaks Spanish.

In spite of her extra efforts, she was still at the mercy of the Foreign Service.

If they didn’t place her in 18 months, her eligibility would expire and she would have to start the process over. “It felt a little like I was in limbo," she admitted. "You don’t know what is coming next so you’re just doing work in the meantime to see what happens.”

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But in March 2012, she was offered a position in the Foreign Service and after two months of training was assigned to Recife, Brazil. The career has been everything she hoped it would be.

“Recently I spoke (in Portuguese) at a graduation ceremony for fortyeight, 15- and 16-year-old students," said Dowling. "They are kids at a government-funded school who commute from surrounding, poorer districts. They just finished this school, which will help them study abroad.

They were so thankful for this experience and appreciative that U.S. funding helped them to get this opportunity.”

At age 35, Dowling is a consular officer in the embassy in Recife. She interviews visa candidates looking to travel to the United States. She’s really on duty 24 hours a day. “I’m the first American that a lot of these people have ever met. I always talk to people; I am generally a friendly person.” She loves talking with her neighbors and informing them of their new rights under recently reformed Brazilian law. “Many people in Brazil don’t know that the laws have changed and that they have more freedoms today. It’s an exciting society.”

The FSO has turned out to be everything Dowling hoped it would be, and she is very pleased with the career move she made two years ago.

“Everywhere I go there is one thing that gets reinforced and that is people everywhere have more in common than we do differences. I am proud to represent my country. I think we have a lot to be proud of. I am happy to showcase that when I travel overseas.”

ETHAN (ZHI) HE '11 We have George Washington to thank for the fact that Ethan He chose EWU as the school he would attend on an exchange program from China. “I applied to Eastern because it sounded pretty cool with ‘Washington’ in the name. Also in China we take the ranking of a college very seriously.

My Chinese university was ranked number 30 and I wanted to attend an American university that was ranked highly as well.” The Northwest region of America was ranked number 52 out of all geographic regions in the United States. He also picked Cheney because of its proximity to Spokane, the second largest city in the state.

Once in Cheney, everything seemed to work out in He’s favor. His first roommate was patient and willing to help him learn English. “I didn’t speak very well when I first arrived there.” They played chess and even practiced Chinese kung fu. In his two years at EWU he finished two degrees – one in finance and another in economics. He jokes that his 108 credits must have been some kind of record. “Had the school let me, I would have taken more classes.”

In Cheney, He also started working out. “My last roommate got me really interested in physical fitness. I actually never exercised when I lived in China. At EWU, I discovered my sporty spirit. I lost 50 pounds there.” The exercise component was the final change that rounded out He’s EWU education. He made great friends, received two degrees and awoke in himself a desire to get fit.

His exchange program lasted only two years. After that time, he had to go back to China. It was there that he wrote his thesis on the difference between American and Chinese power hierarchy, received his Chinese degree, got a job and gained back the 50 pounds.

He took a financial analyst position with a Wall Street bank, Moelis & Company, in Beijing, and started working 100 hours per week. “My family helped me find the perfect job, but it was a cubic life. I had to follow every guidance they gave me. In America and Canada, I can be more free.”

Soon, He missed the energy and happiness he’d discovered within himself while living in Cheney. The 26-year-old made good money at the bank and was on track to become an executive. Yet he had no time to do anything but work. The life reminded him of the one he lived before his first two years in America. He needed to change something.

What he did next surprised and disappointed his family. He applied to the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg, Canada, to pursue a master’s degree in agricultural economics. He got in, and in May he will receive his degree after only one year of studying. He is also in the process of immigrating to Canada.

Since returning to North America, He has again started running and working out every day. He has even started swimming and will run the Manitoba marathon in June. He says it feels good to be closer to Cheney again, where he really feels free to be himself.

“Eastern made me realize why life is important for me. I choose to live my life over the perfect job in China,” said He. “I found myself at Eastern.”

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Redeeming the Bully

Tommy Williams Jr.’s “Operation Healthy Family” takes a holistic approach to changing lives through its anti-bullying campaign.

By Kate Daniel '14

From the back row of English class at Mendel Catholic High School in Williams said he has always been thankful his decision, and he attributes much Chicago, Tommy Williams Jr. peered to the front of the room and was for of his success to mentors like his father, startled by something peculiar. David, a scrawny, nonathletic, “nerdy” Tommy Williams Sr., Coach Dick Zornes, Campitelli and professors James kid, was scratching at his head and a clump of hair fell to the desk. Mike Moynahan and Robert Morgenstern. Williams Williams had grown up being teased for being overweight, but later shot graduated in 1995 with a BA in sociology and criminal justice. up to 6 foot 4 inches. He excelled at sports – he had already earned a spot on the junior varsity football team, and was at once accepted by popular upperclassmen.

However, Williams quickly learned that the perks of the in-crowd were not without consequences. Peer pressure became a major force in his life and he regretfully experienced his own metamorphosis from victim to bully in order to maintain his social standing.

“We started bullying David. I didn’t physically assault him, but I would join in with the teasing and harassment,” Williams said. “On the inside, there was a part of me saying, ‘Tommy, how dare you? You remember being bullied like that, and now you’re sitting here doing the same thing.’

But then I was scared to step up and say, ‘Hey, cut it out; that’s not cool.’”

Williams said that in hindsight he imagines David’s hair loss was a result of bullying; this was the first time he realized the physical impact of his behavior. Not long afterward, Williams was expelled when his name was mentioned repeatedly in connection with bullying on campus.

Today, Williams tells this story to kids in the Spokane community as a part of the Reactor Nation assembly, one of many programs run by Operation Healthy Family, a local organization of which Williams is the volunteer CEO and founder. During the day, Williams works as a case worker for DSHS. “I tell them, ‘I’m an old man now and I still wish I could go back and apologize to David.’"

“I’m really dedicating my life today to help students not make those dumb decisions and to be comfortable with themselves,” he said. “Peer pressure is always going to be there but it’s easy to do the right thing and it’s harder to just continue to go down that path. We can’t live in the past, but what we can do is make it a game plan to learn from our past.”

Williams’ mission to combat bullying is implemented by programs incorporating sports, such as football and disc golf, music from groups such as – rappers Level Ground,(Williams’ childhood friends) and community outreach – a passion that was instilled by the sense of community he experienced growing up.

After graduating from high school, Williams was recruited heavily to play college football, and eventually chose to attend Eastern after the EWU recruiter impressed Williams by stopping by his Chicago home.

“It shaped the man I am today. Living in a small town like Cheney, having coaches who cared, professors who were there nonstop for me, my teammates with whom I still keep in contact today – having that Eagle pride; I’ll have it forever. It’s just something that was very special. I was on the first team to win the Big Sky Conference Championship in ’92 – that’s just something I can’t stress enough; how it really made me feel as though I’m a part of something great.”

After graduation, Williams tried an array of professions and continued to search for his identity, which he said he found upon meeting his wife, Paula.

The couple began attending Bethel AME Church, located next door to what are now the Operation Healthy Family offices, and discussing ways to give back. Initially, Williams decided to begin an after-school football program, but said he received instructions from God to do something much bigger.

Today, Operation Healthy Family implements sports and music programs to impart self-confidence and a safe mode of self-expression for kids.

Operation Healthy Family is present in 15 schools as a part of its Reactor Nation anti-bullying program, 18 schools for its disc-golf program, two schools for its oral-health program and one school for its entrepreneurial program.

Williams and his wife both work for the non-profit, which is staffed entirely by volunteers. The organization also operates in the Congo, where staff, headed by a minister named Napoleon, provides education, including oral health and entrepreneurial programs, and boarding for children who have lost one or both parents to war.

Williams stressed his belief in the importance of giving children a hand up, rather than a hand out. He explained that as a part of the disc-golf program, children receive personal packets of golfing supplies in return for an allotted number of family community service hours spent at Second Harvest Food Bank. In the Congo, children are not only fed, but are given a tackle box and taught to fish.

“I think we have the most holistic, well-rounded program that not just talks to the students and trains the students, but we also have programs for staff, teachers and also the parents,” Williams said. His ultimate goal is to expand Operation Healthy Family to all Spokane Public Schools students and to have multiple family disc-golf courses.

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Senior to Senior We asked SOME of our golden grads to share their best advice with the Class of 2014 Joan (Reinbold) Hinshaw ’68

Life is an amazing and wonderful journey with incredible adventures along the way. Dr. Seuss says it best: “You have brains in your head; you have feet in your shoes; you can steer yourself any direction you choose.” So choose wisely.

Face your fears, overcome the obstacles, work hard and be trustworthy, because what you do really does matter. Practice patience and treat others as you would like to be treated. Share your time and talents and strive to be a person of integrity and character and to always do your best. Be proud to be an American and never take for granted the freedoms and opportunities of our country. Let faith, family and friends be your guide to a blessed life of love and happiness.

My daily to-do list: sing, smile at strangers, keep learning, notice kindness, eat ice cream, hope, count your blessings, laugh, love and love some more!

John Nugent ’62

As graduating seniors, I am sure you have set your goals for achieving success in your life – good start. Now is the time to make sure those goals are consistent with things you enjoy and are worthwhile.

Have a goal and stick with it – work two jobs if necessary. Live on one salary or income, and invest the second income. Investing in real estate has done very well for us (even through ups and downs in the economy). Keep good credit ratings, and always take time to enjoy the extras: family, travel, vacations. Reward yourself.

It helps to have a spouse or partner who is supportive of your goals. My wife Pat attended EWU also and has been an equal partner in any achievements in our 53 years together. Good luck in life.

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Don Jamison ’69

One of the most important things I have learned is that learning never stops. If you want to move forward in your career, your relationships, your spiritual life, your qualities as a person, you must continue to learn and grow. You will always be a reflection of the people you know, the places you go and the books you read.

Take time to appreciate the present, look to the future and learn from the past. And don’t take yourself too seriously. Joy, laughter and a little humility can go a long way in creating a great life. EWU gave me a great educational foundation that has served me well in five separate careers. I learned tomorrow can be an adventure if you are willing to step out and see what opportunities are there for your sampling.

When you graduate, take a moment and say thank you to those around you who have supported you. Take pride in what you have accomplished, but remember those who stood by you. Have a great life.

Reed Reavis ’65

While trying to come up with some advice for the Class of 2014, I realized that I was, actually, very well prepared for the “after Eastern” part of my life.

I graduated in 1965 and was immediately on my way to Fort Bliss, Texas, to start a career in the U.S. Army. Upon reporting in and beginning my school, I felt very comfortable and prepared – prepared by one of the best ROTC Departments in the country. Just look at the number of generals who have come from this program.

While at Eastern, I got involved in an organization that provided me with leadership opportunities. There is nothing more satisfying than leading a bunch of troops or a project staff. Just take care of them always. And keep the lines of communication open.

Don’t worry, Eastern has prepared you well. Now go get it done.

Carol Hill ’67

There is a good-natured joke in our family that it took me 10 years to get a college degree. It was worth it! Marriage, working to help put my husband through Eastern and starting our family made me older than most graduating seniors.

Looking back, although I didn’t always follow these guidelines, three things strike me as priorities, people, communication and compromise.

Taking the time to keep in touch with friends from high school and college is very worthwhile.

Career, volunteer work and, of course, relationships with family and friends will be enhanced or hindered by communication skills.

The importance of compromise is another ongoing learning experience which affects so many aspects of our daily life. After 54 years of marriage, I confess I am still working on perfecting the art of compromise – and communication.

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Nancy J. Tsutakawa ’70

You, as new graduates, are like bright, shiny copper pennies about to embark on your life’s journey with new careers, perhaps marriage and families. As a retired educator, I have lived almost a full life – like a well-traveled, well-circulated dollar bill.

I’ve learned that life is hard and sometimes unfair. Many situations you will encounter are out of your control. You may find far greater benefits by handling these situations with positive, logical thinking and by accepting the circumstances. Because of these situations, you may develop gratitude for gains in personal growth, and empathy for others in similar situations.

Kathy (Iverson) Privratsky ’73, ’69

After graduation, my career took me in many different directions. My husband was in the military and kept getting reassigned, so I found myself seeking new positions every few years. That probably would intimidate some people, but I saw opportunities for new and exciting things.

It took more than 20 years before I discovered exactly what I wanted to do and where I wanted to do it! Don’t be afraid if that happens to you. Find someone who wants to share the ride with you. You both will make many mistakes along the way, but you can get past them together. Fifty years from now, I hope you will be loving life and sharing a similar message with another Eastern senior.

Gordon Budke ’63

Years ago, I watched a video by Morris Massey, What You Are Is Where You Were When.

It helped me understand that those of generations senior to mine, and my generation, are molded by the times of our pasts, as to value systems and self-awareness. It helped me understand why, depending on the generation, that many times, views were different. I needed to be cognizant and respectful and understanding of the same.

Understanding how to work with different types of people is important.

The proper balance of family, work, community and other factors you consider important will pay great dividends in the long run.

Bob Clark ’65 and Maureen (Sullivan) Clark ’65

Consider living a values-based life at the heart of everything you choose to do or not to do.

Continue to learn and develop those values that help you discover what is most important to you in your life. Accept your experiences and internalize these truths as evidence of the values you hold. Trust your values to help guide the decisions you make on a daily basis and continually focus on your values to verify that you have clarity and alignment with all aspects of your life.

As necessary, refocus on what you are doing, who you are spending time with and what decisions you are making, to ensure that your life is in harmony with your values. Our valuesbased life together has been blessed with 50 years of marriage, three children, nine grandchildren and an abundance of joy!

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Dave Manley ’64

This is the greatest time of your life! Do not let anyone tell you that the “golden years” are when you retire! You are living in the golden years! Do not put off any of your dreams or wishes ‘till “later” – that time may never come.

It has been 50 years since I graduated. Probably the greatest change has been the change in communication – from a telephone that hung on the wall to everyone carrying one around in their pocket. Once, it took more than two weeks to know what was happening in the world; now it is instantaneous.

Know that within your power lies every step you ever dreamed of and within your power lies every joy you ever dreamed of. Dare to grow into your dreams and claim this as your motto: “Let it be me.” And when you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.

Thomas O. Tiffany, PhD ’64

Senior year at EWU is an exciting and challenging time. My senior year was my sixth college year, with four years at Eastern and two at another college. I was the first in my family to go to college and I had a few career changes as I progressed from freshman to senior.

I could not have made it to this stage of my career, retired and working on my fifth career, without key people in my life. Family is very important in life.

The journey was made possible by my education at Eastern. The key is to give more than you take, to be respectful, thankful and always have a passion and joy about what you do.

Gail (Johnson) Jantz ’68

Congratulations on your senior year and your graduation! Finishing our degrees is the best decision you and I will have ever made. I have had so many opportunities in life because of my degree – and you will too.

Time is time. Use it equally to work, play, love and laugh. Surround yourself with positive, supportive and happy people. They will see you through the good and through the bad.

May your world be blessed as mine has been by the years spent at EWU!

Ken Ledgerwood ’50

In 1946, friends encouraged me to choose Eastern Washington College of Education because of its friendly and caring reputation. I encourage you to make connecting with your alma mater a top priority.

My connection to Eastern the past 64 years has been very helpful and rewarding.

Enjoy your connection to EWU by attending athletic events, lectures and reunions. Reminiscing with your classmates is always a winner.

The trip to Frisco, Texas, and experiencing the football National Championship game in 2010 will always remain a major highlight.

Numerous trips to the campus have convinced me that it remains true that Eastern is a friendly and caring campus.

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BRIGHT PROMISE SCHOLARSHIPS

IMPACTING LIVES In 2008, The A.I. Bright Promise Program was designed to develop a strong local workforce that will help ensure the continued growth and success of the Inland Northwest. Investing in a welltrained, educated workforce is one of the best ways we can achieve success in our region. Associated Industries wants to help ensure a bright future for Northwest area students and businesses though the Associated Industries Bright Promise Program.

THE RESULTS AT EASTERN:

--3.56--

AVERAGE CUMULATIVE GPA FOR RECIPIENTS

10,290

57 scholarship recipients

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS BY BRIGHT PROMISE SCHOLARS

Associated Industries President and CEO ’73 Jim DeWalt and ’11 Ariel Dykstra, scholarship recipient.

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STUDENTS H A V E E I T H E R G R A D U AT E D O R A R E ENROLLED IN COLLEGE

TOTAL DOLLARS IN SCHOLARSHIPS

$2 2 5 ,0 0 0

The Associated Industries Bright Promise Foundation is a Washington State non-profit corporation and 501(c)(3) tax exempt status is pending. Currently, Moda Health and Well Fargo Insurance Services have been extremely generous in support of this fund.

If you would like more information about Bright Promise, please contact Director of Development for Eastern Washington University, Todd Sturgis, 509.359.6846 or tsturgis@ewu.edu.

SUPPORT THE EWU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WITH EVERY PURCHASE!

Now, you can earn reward points each time you make a purchase with your Washington Trust Bank Visa Signature速 credit card featuring the EWU Eagle. Get rewarded and help support the EWU Alumni Association each time you use your card. Apply for your official EWU Alumni Association credit and debit card today only at Washington Trust Bank.* *Subject to credit approval.

For more information visit a local branch or find us online at watrust.com/ewuaa.

Helen's history

In the mid-1960s, Helen Odell Dewey typed 28 pages from diaries she kept throughout her life.

Helen was a student at Cheney Normal School during, and after, World War I. As we approach the 100th anniversary of WWI, Helen gives us a glimpse into life on the Cheney campus and her early years as a teacher. Helen’s mention of “Dad” refers to Leslie Hamilton Dewey, who courted her in Cheney and she later married.

Excerpts from Helen Odell Dewey's diary: I was born April 2, 1896, in the farm home of my grandparents, William and Harriet Graham, about two miles from Dayton, Wash. I was the fourth child of Alec and Della Odell.

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your turn

When I was about 4 years old, Father went into the sawmill business on the Two-Canyon, a stream about 30 miles from Dayton and at that mill site or another, my summers were spent – happy, happy days. It was at a little country school near the mill that my formal education began. In a brand new pinafore that Mother had made for me, I went to school to visit. In the excitement of the day, I doused my new frock with ink and I’m very sure I cried all the way home.

This is a long jump from 14 months to 14 years but that is what I have to do. Back to my last days in Dayton – 1909: I was in high school a few weeks when I became quite ill – to the point where I ended up in bed not able to attend the farewell surprise party given at our home, and from what I heard it was a fun party with Mother telling fortunes, etc. What’s more, the doctor advised that I not enroll in school till the next semester. That made me spend four and a half years in WW (Walla Walla) High School instead of the usual four.

One thing about high school graduation – for they were different back in the old days: flowers were the thing, and they were bought and presented to the girl graduates in quantities. I received my share, a bouquet of red carnations, from my dancing partner in the operetta and whom I liked very much, outshone all others. Later, when I was a graduate from Cheney, “Dad” had been told about my red carnations and had about six dozen sent to me. There were carnations all over the dorm – in the living room, dining room, housemother’s living room, etc. And I still love red carnations and they have deep meanings to me.

The time to go to Cheney came soon (too soon) for me, having never been away from home for any length of time. Going on to Cheney seemed to bode loneliness for me. To begin with, the train backed into the town instead of approaching front end to. There was I, a stranger in a strange world. I struggled up the hill to the school building. En route I saw a very attractive place that looked like it might be living quarters but proved to be a funeral parlor.

Reaching the Ad[ministration] Building I entrusted my precious suitcases to someone in the office and I left with a list of possible room and board available. After many failures I came to a house with four girls living upstairs and downstairs, a very small cubicle of a room with a cot with a straw mattress. The lady hadn’t expected to rent it but she took pity on me and let me stay there.

The first term at school went very well. Thanksgiving was spent with Sis and family and Mother was there, too. That got me through, for Christmas came soon and home and family once more. When we went back to school after Christmas vacation we had the thrill of

Helen andLeslie

moving into a brand new dormitory. Living in the dormitory was nice in so many ways: cost $17.50 a month for board, room and laundry of sheets, towels and pillow slips. We had turns being hostess at the tables and often had guests and special occasions. The most interesting and most unique thing about the dining room was that most of the “men” in school were waiters. This gave the girls in the dorm an advantage over the girls who lived in private homes.

Speaking of men – they were few and far between – probably one man or boy to every 15 or 20 girls. Dates were really occasions. Our dances were not waltzes, fox trots, etc., but what many laughingly called “rhythmic gamelets,” more like folk dancing, but they were better than nothing at all. We had baseball and won some games but we didn’t have enough men for football.

The spring term was given over quite fully to making our grades, doing practice teaching in the training schools, writing many applications (with photo included), and getting a job for the fall. Since things have a way of working out they did for me and I was elected to teach a one room school about five miles out of Walla Walla, so I was able to go home secure in having my first job, come September.

Time marched on and during that time we were trying out cars and on Sept. 19, I drove our Model T Ford out to school. I had good days and bad. The end of the month the ghost walked and my pay was three $20 gold pieces and one $10. There was a rich feeling about gold and that seemed like the most money I’ve ever been paid.

Since the poor farmers in the community could not afford many extras for their school it was up to the teacher to give dances and programs with which to raise money. We had a couple of dances and with $30 net we were able in 1916 to buy a very good record player. It was fun along with the work and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

Editor’s note: Helen Odell Dewey’s son, Donald Dewey, was kind enough to share his mother’s story and photos with us. Helen’s career as a teacher took her to several small communities throughout eastern Washington, ending in Portland, Ore., where she remained a substitute teacher as she neared the age of 70. The complete transcript of Helen’s journal is stored in the Special Collections at EWU’s JFK Library. It ends with a note from her daughter, Joy, regarding Helen’s death in March 1969.

your turn

is a reoccurring feature giving Eastern alumni the opportunity to share their thoughts, opinions, musings and stories. Readers are welcome to submit original essays of 1,000 words for consideration.

Send to Eastern magazine, easternmagazine@ewu.edu or 300 Showalter Hall, Cheney, WA 990024.

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1. Alumni Appreciation Event | Reese Court | Feb. 8, 2014 2. Young Professional Networking Event | Feb. 6, 2014 3. Arizona Alumni Event | March 13-15 4. Young Professional Networking Event | March 6, 2014 5. Eagle 4 Life Tour | Tri-Cities | April 17, 2014

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class notes

8 EMAIL YOUR NOTES TO EASTERNMAGAZINE@EWU.EDU Worsham Named Deputy Secretary for Public Health Operations ’93 Dennis Worsham, BA health services administration, will serve as the Washington State Department of Health’s first deputy secretary for Public Health Operations. This newly created position oversees four of the agency’s divisions and serves as the chief of emergency preparedness and response, leads the agency’s planning work on public health informatics and serves as the agency’s chief of health equity. He oversees 1,500 employees.

Worsham lived in Othello, Wash., until graduating from high school in 1983. While at Eastern, he served as the student body president and led an effort to establish student health services. At the time, EWU was the only university in the state without these services. After graduating, he began his career in public health as the Student Health Services coordinator at EWU before stints in public health services in Snohomish and King counties. He has devoted his life to public health, which he sees as helping prevent disease and infection.

Worsham has served two terms as president of the Washington State Public Health Association and has chaired the Washington State Public Health Roundtable, advocating for public health funding to help improve the health of people in Washington.

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’13 Phuong Walters, BA

Fairmount since 2003, and was previously

’10 Viktoriya Malko, BA finance, has been

accounting, BA management

the general manager of the Fairmount

promoted to a senior accountant at Nicholas

Memorial Association.

Knapton, P.S., in Spokane.

’12 Christine Jacobsen, BA English, has

’10, ’08 Jennifer Scully, BA accounting, BA

joined Rainmaker Creative, a Spokane

finance, has been hired as a staff accountant

’12 Ben Britz, BFA visual

graphic design and marketing company, as

by Magnuson, McHugh & Company, a Coeur

communication design, has been

creative coordinator.

d’Alene accounting, tax and financial firm.

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She is a member of the Idaho Society of

information systems, has been promoted to a staff A accountant at McDirmid, Mikkelsen & Secrest P.S., in Spokane.

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hired by 14Four, a Spokane advertising and design company, as a junior front-end developer. Previously, he was a designer at Plese Printing & Marketing. ’12 Ray FitzGerald, BS computer science, has been promoted from the application support group to build engineer of Imprezzio Inc., a software company in

’11 Nick Crooks, BA accounting, has been promoted to a staff A

accountant for Nicholas Knapton, P.S., in Spokane.

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’10, ’04 Lance D. Kissler, MS communications, BA graphic

communications, has been promoted to

Spokane.

e-business development officer at Spokane

’12 David Ittner, MBA, has been promoted

president of Inland Northwest Business

to senior vice president for Fairmount

Alliance and teaches interactive journalism

Memorial Association and Fairmount

and digital marketing as adjunct faculty at

Holdings Inc., in Spokane. He has been with

Whitworth University.

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Teachers Credit Union. He is also the

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CPAs, an affiliate member of the Washington Society of CPAs and a member of the Kootenai County Young Professionals. ’10 James Wohrle Jr., BA marketing, has been hired as a sales account executive by Lamar Advertising in Spokane. Previously, he worked in sales for Sysco Corporation.

09

’09 Brandon Betty, MURP, has been named as the vice

president for the Inland Northwest Business Alliance.

class notes Sites Named One of Nation’s Top Educators ’03 Brian G. Sites, BA education, a social studies, mathematics and technology educator at Rivers Edge High School in Richland, Wash., received the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence, $10,000, and recognition as one of the nation’s top educators at the National Education Association Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Awards Gala on Feb. 7, in Washington, D.C. The NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence are given annually at the Foundation’s black-tie event, which attracts more than 800 national leaders from the public education, philanthropic and business sectors. The awards recognize, reward and promote excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession.

“Brian has been selected for this award by his peers because he has attained the highest teaching standards, as shown by his exemplary instruction, advocacy for the profession, attention to diversity, leadership in professional development, and engagement of parents and community,” said Harriet Sanford, president and CEO of the NEA Foundation.

Sites was nominated for the award by the Washington Education Association, the state’s NEA affiliate. “He assesses students in a variety of ways to accommodate their diverse learning styles and lead them to higher levels of success,” said Kim Mead, president of WEA.

’09 Steven Carrasco, BA psychology, EWU McNair Scholar, is working for the Department of Epidemiology at University of California,

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’06, ’04 Pamela “PJ” Carlson-

’06 Jillian Robison, BA accounting, of

Hafner, MA, BA history, was

McDirmid, Mikkelsen & Secrest P.S., has been

named “Emerging Business Leader” by

named assistant treasurer for the board of

Los Angeles (UCLA), conducting human

Catalyst magazine. She is the director of

directors of Executive Women International

papillomavirus (HPV) research among gay

administration for Haskins Steel Co., Inc.

Spokane.

men in Los Angeles.

’06 Craig Fischer, MA teaching English

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’05, ’94, ’92 Leanne Donley,

’09 Casey Groh, BA finance, has been

as a second language, has been hired

awarded the 2013 Hologic Circle of Excellence

by SNAP to work in external affairs. He

award in women’s health solutions sales

previously served as the advancement

named one of two educators of the year

in the areas of gynecologic and prenatal

officer for the College of Arts, Letters and

by the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of

health solutions sales. The award was given

Education at EWU. He teaches ethics in

Commerce. She teaches in the Central Valley

for ranking in the top 5 percent of Hologic

management as an adjunct instructor at

School District.

diagnostic sales specialists nationwide.

Whitworth University.

’09 George Stoess, BA business, and his wife,

’06 Keva Sonderen Humbert, BA business, of

appointed to the board of the Spokane

’03 Gina (Bogath) Stoess, MEd, welcomed

Sonderen Packaging, has been named board

HOPE School (Hearing-Oral Program of

their daughter, Natalie Julia, born Nov. 7, 2013.

of directors’ secretary for Executive Women

Excellence). He is a teacher at Michael

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International of Spokane.

Anderson Elementary and the chair of the

’07 Alicia Kinne Clawson, BA government, is now

’06 Megan McNeal, communication studies,

organizational improvement specialist at

has been hired by 14Four as an interactive

the University of Washington Organizational

producer. Previously, she was the events

Effectiveness Initiative.

director at Greater Spokane Incorporated.

MEd, BEd communication

studies, BS mass communications, was

’05, ’01 Ryan Grant, MEd, BEd, has been

Eastern Washington Chapter of the advocacy committee for political education for the Washington Education Association.

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class notes ’82 Vali Hawkins Mitchell, BA counseling education and developmental psychology, holds a doctorate in health education and a master’s degree in applied psychology. Her new book, The Cost of Emotions in the Workplace, was recently published by Rothstein Publishing.

Mitchell is a mental health professional who has trained or counseled first responders and victims during 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and other major disasters.

In the book, she shows everyone, from executives to work group managers, human resource managers and individual employees, that unmanaged emotional forces in the workplace can leave behind just as much costly desolation and rubble as the physical disaster. She uses real-life examples from her professional experiences to show how managing individual and collective workplace emotions is integral to risk and crisis management. Mitchell shares techniques on how to manage and even avoid disruptive emotional incidents, from bad managers and office bullies to gossip and workplace violence.

She is also the author of Emotional Terrors in the Workplace: Protecting Your Bottom Line, Dr. Vali’s Survival Guide: Tips for the Journey, Preparing a Go-Bag, and a number of plays, musicals and children’s titles. She is a registered expressive arts therapist and currently has her studio and office in Seattle. For more information: www.ImproVizion.com.

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’05 Eric Soles, BA marketing, has joined Morgan Stanley’s

Wealth Management office in Coeur

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’01 Leah J. Mow, BA art history, has been hired as creative services

manager at Desautel Hege Communications.

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’97 Beth Thew, BA liberal studies, has been named to a

five-year term on the Community Colleges

d’Alene. He is a financial adviser and

Previously, she was the associate director of

of Spokane’s board of trustees. Thew is

previously worked at Edward Jones for

alumni relations at EWU.

secretary-treasurer for the Spokane Regional

nine years.

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Labor Council. She is a member and past

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’03, ’98 Karene GarlichLoman, MS communications,

’00 Drew Buchkoski, BA journalism, has been hired as

the head strength and conditioning coach

BS communications studies, with Coldwell

for the Spokane Shock Arena Football

Banker Tomlinson, has completed training

League team. Since 2007, Buchkoski has

to become residential construction certified

served as the performance enhancement

and a certified new home specialist. She has

programming director for APX Strength,

10 years of experience in real estate sales

working with notable athletes such as Matt

and holds the certified residential specialist

Kemp (MLB, Dodgers), Jeremy Affeldt (MLB,

designation. She was named to Inland

Giants), Adrian Wilson (NFL, Cardinals) and

Business Catalysts’ “20 Under 40” in 2012.

Calvin Pace (NFL, Jets), among others.

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Training and Education Coordinating Board and a commissioner with the Washington State Economic Development Commission.

She also serves on the Community Colleges of Spokane’s Worker Retraining Advisory Committee, the Spokane Area Workforce Development Council and the board of directors for United Way of Spokane County.

’02 Aaron Bell, BA business,

’00 Belinda Caillouet, BS computer

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has joined Keller Williams

information systems, has been named chief

Credit Union Magazine, published by the

Realty Spokane. Previously, he was with

operations and information officer for STCU.

Windermere City Group.

She was previously the vice president of information technology and has been with STCU since 1986.

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vice chair of the Washington State Workforce

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’96 Jeanette Radmer, BA recreation management, has

been named a “Credit Union Rock Star” by Credit Union National Association, for her work as a business development manager for Numerica Credit Union.

class notes ’70 Jim Roloff, BS biology, has had his first book, Mending God’s Creatures: True Stories of a Small-Town Veterinarian, an anthology of short stories based on his experiences, published

by Tate Publishers.

Over the years, the two questions Roloff was most frequently asked were, “What’s it like being a veterinarian?” and “What kind of things do you see?” Those questions are answered as Roloff takes you, the reader, along with him on farm calls and medical cases. You’ll see firsthand that the life of a veterinarian can be a real adventure.

Roloff grew up on a wheat and cattle ranch near Ritzville, Wash. He earned his undergraduate degree from Eastern and his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Washington State University. He entered the veterinary profession as an associate veterinarian at the Enumclaw Veterinary Clinic, Enumclaw, Wash.

Roloff worked as a veterinarian for more than 35 years, operating the Medical Lake Veterinary Clinic from 1975 to 2011. He’s on a new path as he shares his stories, writing about man’s best friends. He and his wife Sandy have one son, and continue to make Medical Lake their home.

The book is available at tatepublishing.com and at EWU’s University Bookstore.

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’91 Shannon Cartier, BS mass

’87 Jess Walter, BA journalism, is a winner

communications, has joined

in this year’s Pacific Northwest Booksellers

Rainmaker Creative in Spokane as a copywriter.

Association Awards. Walter won for his first

’90 Gina Mauro-Campbell, BA communication studies, has been

promoted to director of industry and training at Visit Spokane. Previously, she was director of visitor services at the Visitor Information Center and led training for the certified Tourism

Perennial. Walter was a National Book Award finalist in 2006 for his novel The Zero. His latest novel, Beautiful Ruins, was a New York Times bestseller in 2012.

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counseling, education and

She has been with the firm since 2005, and

development psychology, has been promoted from mental health evaluator to mental health court manager for Spokane County. Folden is a licensed mental health counselor and a boardcertified forensic mental health evaluator.

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which was published in 2013 by Harper

’88 Barbara Folden, BA

Ambassador Program in Spokane.

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collection of short stories, We Live in Water,

’87 Landie Chappell, BA finance, of Prime Lending, has been

named treasurer for the board of directors of Executive Women International Spokane.

’86 Anne Hanenburg, BA theatre, has been promoted to

associate with SPVV Landscape Architects. is a licensed landscape architect and a board member of the Spokane Arts Commission.

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’80 Kathy Amistoso, BA home economics, with RE/MAX of

Spokane, has completed a luxury home marketing training course offered by The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing through RE/MAX University.

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’79 Randy C. Cameron, BA history, has been re-elected to a third term as park board president for the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department.

He was appointed to the Spokane Park Board in 2008, and is the chief operating officer at Baker Construction in Spokane. ’79 Delories S. “De” Martin, MA, BA communications disorders, has joined King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., as director of international student recruitment. ’79 Bette Zerba, BA marketing, with RE/MAX of Spokane, has completed a luxury home marketing training course offered by The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing through RE/MAX University at RE/MAX Spokane.

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’78 Sarah Hoyt, BA general studies, was named second-vice chair of the board of directors of the Inland Northwest chapter of the National Association of Credit Management. Hoyt is employed at Jubilant HollisterStier LLC.

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class notes Parrish, Humboldt General Hospital Named Top 10 in Pre-hospital ’83, ’76 Jim Parrish, MBA, BA radio/TV, is the CEO and administrator of Humboldt General Hospital in Winnemucca, Nev. In February, he was recognized for his innovative work with emergency medical services. He was presented with the prestigious EMS 10 Award, given by the Journal of Medial Services in partnership with Physio-Control, Inc. “We are fortunate to be blessed with an outstanding care team, a governing board that sees the value of bringing the best practices to Humboldt County, and a community that has supported us as we transform this hospital into one of the best rural health care leaders in the nation,” said Parrish.

Parrish assumed his duty as CEO and administrator of the hospital in 2004. Over the past decade, he’s introduced several innovative programs, such as one that allows patients to receive in-home checkups and flu shots rather than at the hospital. He has also introduced a Community Para-medicine Program to reduce ER visits, a free ElderCare component, paramedic training programs for both residents and police and use of a portable X-ray for the hospital’s EMS rescue.

This is the second time in three years that the hospital has been honored as a leader in medical care.

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’78 William “Bill” Simer, BA accounting, has been appointed as a director for the Spokane accounting firm McDirmid, Mikkelsen & Secrest, P.S. Simer is a board member of the Inland Northwest Community Foundation and the Spokane Symphony Endowment Board. He chairs the EWU Foundation and serves as a board member and officer of the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants. ’73 Gordon Schuster, MA music, BA health education, has been named as New York Life Insurance’s top agent in eastern Washington for 2013. Schuster has been an agent for the company for 15 years. He also earned the 2013 Guaranteed Life Income Award, one of the company’s top sales honors. He and his wife, Kathy, have lived in Wenatchee since 1984 and have four children.

Join Eagle Link to find old friends and meet new ones; share inspiring stories and discover upcoming alumni events.

It’s free. Get linked: alumni.ewu.edu/join

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’69 Walter H. Lingren, BA English, and ’67 Janice (Potter) Green, BA and BEd home economics, married on Dec. 27, 2013, in a family ceremony at their home in Spokane. Janice works part time, January through April, as a tax professional for H & R Block. Walt writes part time for e-zines and other Web publishers.

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/ /

/ /

/

Thanks to the EWU license plate scholarship funds, a total of $34,000 will be awarded to 34 EWU students during the 20142015 academic year.

Eagle Pride. Got yours?

EWU students may be eligible by filling out the general scholarship application form through the EWU Financial Aid and Scholarship Office and by having a parent or grandparent who are EWU graduates.

in memoriam Margaret Soderberg 1935-2014 Margaret Soderberg, also known as Peg Frederking and Maggie Campbell, was born in Spokane on Dec. 31, 1935. She passed away on Jan. 12 at age 78.

Soderberg graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1954 and from Eastern Washington College of Education in 1958 with a BA in education. She later attained a master’s in education from Lesley College.

She was a lifelong educator, beginning her teaching career in Brewster, Wash., in 1958 and relocating to Spokane in 1959. She taught at North Central High School and Libby Junior High before settling in at Sacajawea Middle School, where she was chair of the Language Arts Department for more than 20 years.

When she retired in 2002, she was the longest-tenured active teacher in the Spokane Public School District. In addition to teaching language arts, she also served as advisor for the student newspaper, yearbook and drill team and led more than 15 student trips to Washington, D.C. Soderberg enjoyed an active retirement. At the time of her death, she served as president of the Tawanka Alumni Association. She was a member of the Red Hats Society and the Inland Empire Iris Society and enjoyed reading, cooking, gardening and traveling. Tawanka was a women’s honorary organization on Eastern’s campus from 1934 to 1959. The Tawanka Alumni Association was organized in 1953 and has continued to serve EWU in many capacities, including awarding scholarships to students in the fields of education or child services.

Donations may be made in Ms. Soderberg’s honor to the EWU Foundation, 102 Hargreaves Hall, Cheney, WA 99004.

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’12 Charity Rumbolz, age 24, died April 5, 2014 ’97 Jami L. Boom, age 42, died Jan. 25, 2014

’95 Jim F. Walsh, age 63, died Nov. 29, 2013, Seattle, Wash. ’91 Eldon J. Barr, age 46, died Dec. 22, 2013

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’89 Tom D. Fryxell, age 55, died Feb. 12, 2014, Pullman, Wash.

’87 Dana S. Jensen, age 50, died Jan. 10, 2014 ’84 Megan M. Brinson, age 66, died Dec. 16, 2013 ’82 Joseph W. Zupan III, age 64, died March 24, 2014

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’78 Pauline L. Pederson, age 77, died March 27, 2014

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’69 Ethel E. Deaver, age 91, died Jan. 5, 2014

’77 Robert “Bob” M. Cook, age 60, died Feb. 10, 2014

’67 Bob Plotts, age 73, died Jan. 5, 2014, Spokane, Wash.

’77 A.C. Dotson, age 63, died Dec. 27, 2013

‘66 Thomas A. Farr, age 71, died Nov. 25, 2013, Edmonds, Wash.

’75 Gretchen G. Derusha, age 67, died Feb. 14, 2014 ’74 Bonnie Jo Melton, age 65, died April 7, 2014 ’74 Steven M. Johns, age 62, died Dec. 29, 2013, Spokane, Wash. ’73 Randy T. Fisher, age 63, died Dec. 21, 2013 ’72 Lyle Gene Danielson, age 64, died Feb. 7, 2014

’65 Kenneth N. Eilmes Sr., age 76, died Jan. 15, 2014

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’59 David W. Orahood, age 81, died March 21, 2014

’57 Walter G. Munk, age 84, died Feb. 14, 2014, Kettle Falls, Wash.

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’47 Betty P. Callihan, age 89, died Jan. 5, 2014, Longview, Wash.

’42 Evelyn A. Geisler, age 96, died March 8, 2014

Passing of EWU Trustee Mark Mays Mark Mays, PhD, passed away suddenly on March 22, 2014, at age 65. Mays served as vice chair of EWU’s board of trustees and had been a long-standing advocate for the university and higher education. He was a clinical psychologist in private practice in Spokane and was active in numerous community efforts, and was a leader in the fields of health care and education.

Upon his death, Mays was four years into his second appointment as a trustee, and was actively involved on numerous board committees.

“This is a tremendous loss for the whole community,” said President Rodolfo Arévalo. “From the moment he started his second term as an Eastern trustee, Dr. Mays brought incredible passion, insight and enthusiasm to our campus. His commitment to the success of all our students was evident in the way he cared about each issue that came before the board.”

Mays first served on Eastern’s board from 1997 to 2003. During his first appointment, he served as chair of the board during the 2001-2002 academic year. His second appointment began March 4, 2010.

The board of trustees is made up of eight members who are appointed by the governor to a six-year term, except for a student trustee whose term is one year. The board oversees the implementation of all initiatives, policies and programs at the institution.

The Dr. Mark Mays Endowed Scholarship has been established to honor his legacy in higher education. Please make your contributions to the Eastern Washington University Foundation, 102 Hargreaves Hall, Cheney, WA 99004.

38 29

’38 Wanda M. Heinemann, age 95, died Dec. 26, 2013, Cheney, Wash. ’29 Katherine L. Anderson, age 100, died Nov. 27, 2013

There’s a better way to leave your mark at EWU.

Faculty & Staff ’74 Carolyn S. Olafson (BA counseling, education and developmental psychology) passed away on Feb. 14, 2014, in Spokane.

She was 80. Olafson served as the director of Benefits at Eastern and retired in September 1996, after 20 years of service. She was the spouse of emeritus faculty member Robert Olafson, also deceased.

MAKE IT PERMANENT WITH A BRICK IN SHOWALTER'S HISTORIC WALKWAY TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS.

EWU.EDU/BRICK

final thoughts From Lisa Poplawski, director of Alumni Advancement One of my friends has placed an unflattering label on me: “tech challenged.” He has even gone so far as to put me on “technology probation” because of the help sought during a computer conundrum or an iPhone mystery. Although name calling is a bit much, I have to admit it is justified; I’ve been lazy when it comes to keeping up on my tech savviness. I am all about enabling others to help me.

I wasn’t always that way. As a graphic communications major at Eastern, I was constantly on computers and in labs engaged in learning technology. Fortunately, Lewis Rathbun always opened up the lab early for me. He must have recognized my “tendency” to slack a bit on the technology front early on.

Lisa a nd

Lewis Rathb un

As a senior, I remember one lab assignment where we had to take one of our computer design files, develop the file to film, create plates for the press and print on a press that was older than dirt. If it wasn’t for Tom Harlow, I don’t think the rest of the group would have pulled it off. Professor John Gosse knew that Tom carried us on his shoulders at the press. If I remember correctly, he wrestled with it for everyone that day.

Even though I can’t seem to move at geek-speed to keep up with all the technology advancements in the world, I am sure thankful for them. The only video phones imaginable when I was a kid were on The Jetsons! Now I FaceTime friends, store hundreds of family photos on my computer, check the weather forecast at my fingertips and wonder what an Eagle's football or basketball game would be like without those cool video boards.

In celebration of graduating our most tech-savvy students so far, I am giving you a chance to show off your tech wizardry – or maybe your lack thereof. Here is your technology assignment:

1. Create a video that shows off your Eagle pride – no longer than 20 seconds.

2. Use whatever fancy-schmancy editing tools you want, just keep them family friendly.

3. I will post as many as possible on our EWU Alumni Facebook page.

4. Deadline for entry is June 15. Email to alumni@ewu.edu.

As an added bonus, prizes will be awarded for “most creative,” “video sent from the farthest location” and “technology probation.” Winners will receive an Eagle spirit pack in the mail.

Speaking of technology, did you know you can read Eastern magazine online? Check it out at: http://sites.ewu.edu/easternmagazine.

(Hey, could someone come in my office and help figure out how to upload these videos? Or better yet, do it for me!)

46

E ASTERN: SPRING 2014

events calendar

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.

6

14

19

Alumni Awards Gala

Young Professionals Network

College of Business Golf Tournament

EWU Commencement

(Spokane)

(Spokane)

(Cheney)

EWU Bellevue Graduation/Pinning Ceremony (Bellevue)

6

7

20

20

Eagle4Life Tour

Young Professionals Network

JULY

(Wenatchee)

(Spokane)

(Spokane)

29

30

Sam Houston State vs. EWU Football

EWU Day at Silverwood

Montana Western vs. EWU Football

(Cheney/ESPN)

(North Idaho)

(Cheney)

EWU Football vs.

UC Davis (Davis, Calif.)

OCTOBER

23

27

22

Ron Raver Memorial A Midsummer Night’s Golf Classic Dream, Interplayers (Spokane)

September

MAY

(Spokane)

AUGUST

5

JUNE

31

6

EWU Football vs. University of Washington (Seattle)

Football Kickoff/Rally (Spokane)

20 EWU Football vs.

Montana St. (Bozeman, Mont.)

4

11

6

Idaho State vs.

EWU Football

EWU Football vs.

Southern Utah

Golden Grad Reunion Classes of ’63-’65

(Cheney)

(Cedar City, Utah)

(Cheney)

18

25

25

31-Nov. 2

Northern Colorado vs.

EWU Football

Library Oktoberfest

EWU Football vs.

Northern Arizona

Fall Family Weekend

(Cheney)

(Cheney)

(Cheney)

(Flagstaff, Ariz.)

E ASTERN: SPRING 2014

47

EASTERN Magazine

Non Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE

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

GOEAGS.COM/TICKETS

PAID

Eastern Washington University

#GoEags