VANCOUVER, Wash. — Washington State University Vancouver raised $135,000 for student scholarships and presented 2014 Notable Alumni awards to 25 individuals who have earned degrees at the university since 1989 at a 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner held Friday night at the Red Lion Hotel on the River, Jantzen Beach.
Scholarships are 91ԹϺ’s top fundraising priority. More than 80 percent of 91ԹϺ students qualify for financial aid and a scholarship can make the difference between staying in college and earning a degree, or dropping out. The funds raised Friday night will go toward the Second Chance Scholarship which supports students who are one to three semesters from graduation and have run out of money.
“The paddle raise brought together the strength, compassion and generosity of the 752 guests in the room to support our students,” said Jennifer Miltenberger, 91ԹϺ director of development and alumni relations. “Friday night our guests met scholarship recipients for whom the decision to stay in college or drop out because of expenses was very real. There is no better feeling than seeing these students complete their degrees.”
The Notable Alumni award was created this year to honor alumni who have made significant contributions to society, and whose accomplishments, affiliations, careers and/or community service reflect 91ԹϺ’s legacy of excellence.
In this inaugural year, 91ԹϺ’s 25 anniversary, the university recognized 25 alumni. After this, one will be chosen each year. Awardees were selected by committee from an open nomination process. Nominations for the 2015 award will open in March.
The 25 Notable Alumni are:
Ron Wysaske, Washougal, Wash.
MBA, 1989
President and COO, Riverview Community Bank
Caroline Heldman, Los Angeles
B.A., Business Administration, 1993
Associate Professor of Politics, Occidental College
Jonathan DeHart, Camas, Wash.
B.A., Business Administration, 1996
President and CEO, NorthShore Bio
And Director, Allegory Venture Partners
Kellie Henderson, Vancouver, Wash.
B.S., Psychology, 1996; M.P.A., 2000
Juvenile Probation Counselor, Clark County Juvenile Court
Donna Sinclair, Washougal, Wash.
B.A., General Studies and Social Sciences, 1996
Consulting Historian
Jeff Olson, Vancouver, Wash.
B.A., Criminal Justice, 1999; M.P.A., 2007
Police Officer, Vancouver Police Department
Cheryl Snodgrass, Vancouver, Wash.
B.S., Nursing, 1999; M.N., 2009
Clinical Educator, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
Elson Strahan, Vancouver, Wash.
M.P.A., 1999
President and CEO, Fort Vancouver National Trust
Sam Freshner, Portland, Ore.
B.A., General Studies and Social Sciences, 2002
Police Officer, North Plains, Ore.
And Law Enforcement Instructor, Sabin Schellenberg Center
Paris Powell, Ridgefield, Wash.
B.A., Business Administration—Accounting & Finance, 2002
Senior Manager, Perkins & Co.
Bryn Murdock Browning, Hermiston, Ore.
M.Ed., 2003
Assistant Superintendent, Hermiston Public Schools
Christopher Nye, Dewitt, Mich.
B.S., Psychology, 2003
Assistant Professor of Organizational Psychology, Michigan State University
Sunrise O’Mahoney, Vancouver, Wash.
B.A., Public Affairs, 2003
Executive Director, Vancouver Watersheds Alliance
Kelly Love, Vancouver, Wash.
B.A., Humanities, 2003
President and CEO, Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
Alyson Galloway Rotter, Bremerton, Wash.
M.P.A., Psychology, 2003
Program Manager, Olympic Educational Service District 114
Jennifer Cullison, Vancouver, Wash.
Ed.M., 2004
AP Biology and Medical Science Teacher, Woodland High School
Alex Dondanville, Laveen, Ariz.
B.S., Manufacturing Engineering, 2004
Founder and Project Engineer, Desert Scanning
Cynthia Myers, Vancouver, Wash.
B.S., Nursing, 2004; M.S.N., 2007
Director of Nursing, Clark College
D’Alene White, Portland, Ore.
B.A., Public Affairs, 2004
Probation Officer, Clark County Juvenile Court
Joe Winton, Las Vegas
B.A., Digital Technology & Culture, 2004
Web Developer, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Mike Bomar, Ridgefield, Wash.
M.P.A., 2005
President, Columbia River Economic Development Council
Kim Abegglen, Vancouver, Wash.
M.I.T., 2006
Science Teacher, Hockinson Middle School
Christina Reyes, Vancouver, Wash.
B.A., Human Development, 2006
Project Manager, U.S. Bank, Portland
Tamara Roark Shoup, Vancouver, Wash.
B.A., Human Development, 2007
Director of Family Engagement, Vancouver Public Schools
Cynthia Ann Meyer, Vancouver, Wash.
B.A., Humanities, 2013
Program Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention, Clark County Public Health
Read more about each award winner at vancouver.wsu.edu/25-notable-alumni.
About 91ԹϺ
91ԹϺ is celebrating 25 years of creating access to higher education in Southwest Washington. For 25 years, students have chosen 91ԹϺ for its scenic campus, small classes, close personal attention, topnotch faculty, accessible location and reasonable costs. Here, students gain much more than a degree—they gain a brighter future.
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MEDIA CONTACT(S)
Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@vancouver.wsu.edu