up front
Dear Alumni and Friends, The historic one-room schoolhouse that sits at the heart of the Eastern Washington University campus remains a cherished centerpiece, a constant reminder of our heritage as a normal school for training teachers. More than 130 years later, Eastern is a thriving comprehensive university offering diverse, quality programs while serving as a driving force for the culture, economy and vitality of the Inland Northwest. Training students in the field of education is still a critical part of our mission, and as you will see in this issue of Eastern magazine, we still do it well! Over the past year, graduates of our Education Department have been recognized as the best in their fields – earning honors such as state teacher of the year and state superintendent of the year. There are also some inspirational stories and reminders about why some of our alumni enjoy making a difference in the lives of children. Credit goes to the outstanding staff and faculty who are among the most dedicated and nationally recognized professionals in the field of education. Today, EWU remains committed to preparing students to enter this noble profession just as we take pride in ensuring all of our 12,500 students find success in whatever path they follow. That is why, as president, one of my top priorities is to make sure Eastern students will continue to succeed by urging state lawmakers to restore funding to higher education so that we can avoid large tuition increases. This will allow more students to realize their dreams, just like the teachers profiled in this magazine. It is also why your continued support is appreciated, whether it is through scholarship donations, attending events or just spreading the word about what a special place we have here at Eastern Washington University. And, next time you meet with your child’s teacher or principal, say thank you – they very well may be an outstanding Eastern grad!
Sincerely, Dr. Rodolfo Arévalo President
Editor Kandi Carper ‘05 ART DIRECTOR Ryan Gaard ‘02 Contributing Writers Brian Lynn ’98, Kandi Carper ‘05, Dave Cook, Dave Meany, Courtney Dunham
Photography John Demke ’98, Pat Spanjer ’80, Larry Conboy ‘71 Editorial Board Gina Mauro Campbell ’90, Robin Pickering ’03, ’97, Jason Clerget ‘07, Nick Lawhead ’07, Lisa Leinberger ‘98 Vice President for University Advancement Michael Westfall
Graphic Design Ryan Gaard ‘02, SAM BUZBY ‘07, Steve BATEMAN, HeIDI JANTZ, CoURTNEY HAMMOND ‘13
Director of Alumni Advancement Lisa Poplawski ’01, ‘94
Copy Editors Brian Lynn ’98, Katie Simpson ’12
EWU Alumni ASSOCIATION President Gina Mauro Campbell ‘90
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EASTERN: winter 2013
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.