Alumni Awards Nominations Open

ALUMNI AWARDS NOMINATION words against a gold leaf background.

Deadline for nominations: October 15, 2021

Winners will be honored at the WWU Alumni Awards & Celebration May 13, 2022

LOCATION
WWU Campus
Location TBD

Nominations are open for the 2022 WWU Distinguished Alumni Awards. Nominate an individual(s) for the Campus Volunteer, Community Volunteer, Entrepreneur of the Year, Larry "Go Vikings!" Taylor Alumni Service Award, Legacy Family of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award or Young Alumnus of the Year.

Nomination Process

Each college, under the direction of the dean will nominate one person of distinction to represent the Distinguished Alumni of 2022. However, we are accepting nominations for the non-college specific awards listed below.

Awards

Campus School Recognition Award
Nominees shall have attended the Campus School at Western Washington University and achieved personal and professional recognition and/or made civic contributions in their community. Note: this award is open to WWU alumni and non-alumni alike.

Campus Volunteer Recognition Award
This prestigious award recognizes a Western employee who has provided continuous volunteer support to the Alumni Association. Note: this award is open to WWU alumni and non-alumni alike.

Community Volunteer Recognition Award
This prestigious award recognizes an individual in the greater community whose efforts have raised the visibility of Western and strengthened the WWU community through outstanding support and service. Note: this award is open to WWU alumni and non-alumni alike.

Entrepreneur of the Year Award
This award recognizes an alumnus whose efforts have fostered an entrepreneurial spirit both in their own professional endeavors but also encouraged Western students to pursue an entrepreneurial career path. NOTE: This award is open to WWU alumni and non-alumni alike.

Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
This prestigious award recognizes an alumnus who has provided continuous and passionate service to Western Washington University.

Legacy Family of the Year Award
This award celebrates a family who has and may continue to attend Western. This award recognizes that legacy. Great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters, moms and dads and current students are all eligible if they participated in classes and/or graduated from Western.

Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement award recognizes an alumnus whose knowledge, experience and insights have led to success in personal, professional or community service endeavors.

Young Alumnus of the Year Award
This award identifies high achieving young alumni (age 39 or younger) who have distinguished themselves in an exceptional way at an early age and confirms that it does not necessarily take a lifetime to make a mark on society.

Young Philanthropists of the Year Award
This award identifies benevolent young alumni (age 39 or younger) who have distinguished themselves in an exceptional way at an early age through their generous financial gifts to Western Washington University in support of deserving students, faculty and university programs; thus modeling for others the critical impact philanthropy has on our Western community.

Nomination Process

Unless otherwise noted, Alumni Association Award nominees shall have attended one or more quarters at Western Washington University. Nominees shall have brought pride to Western through their personal and professional accomplishments and have a proven track record of commitment to and support of Western (volunteer support, classroom presentations, mentoring students, campus department advisory boards and/or financial support). Current Alumni Association board members are not eligible during their term of service on the board. With the exception of the Legacy Family of the Year, all nominees must be living at the time the nomination is submitted. Previous recipients are not eligible in the same category.

Nominations may be submitted by Western Washington University alumni, faculty, staff, students and members of the general public.

Please provide the following:

A completed nomination form (required)
Letters of support (no more than three)
Newspaper articles, publication or other pieces indicating candidate’s qualifications

Support materials are equally weighed and should speak to a candidate’s:

Professional achievement or significant accomplishment in his or her field
Industry awards and special recognitions received in her or his field
Esteem held by colleagues in the field, as evidenced by letters of support

The Alumni Association Board of Directors will determine the finalist(s) for each of the aforementioned awards.

QUESTIONS
I’m Victoria Martinsen, and I’m the Program Director for this event. Feel free to contact me via email at marti450@wwu.edu if you have any questions or comments. WWU is an equal opportunity institution. For disability accommodation, please contact me.

Past Honorees

Recognizing outstanding alumni and Western community members is one way the Alumni Association supports making Western stronger. These honorees represent just a few of the thousands of alumni, community volunteers and supporters who contribute in countless ways to their profession, fellow alumni, the University and to humankind.

2021

Larry "Go Vikings!" Taylor Alumni Service Award
Don Hardwick ('84)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Julie Larson-Green ('86)
Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Tyler Malek ('10)
Young Alumna of the Year Award
Deborah Dull (‘07)

2020

2020 College Distinguished Alumni Awards

College of Business & Economics
Touk Sinantha ('98)
College of Fine & Performing Arts
Rashawn Nadine Scott ('11)
College of Science & Engineering
Jin U. Kang ('92)
Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
Roxanne Lieb ('73)
Huxley College of the Environment
Molly Adolfson ('75)
Woodring College of Education
Greg Baker ('93)

2020 Alumni Association Signature Awards

Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Kent Lewis ('94)
Larry "Go Vikings!" Taylor Alumni Service Award
Bob Watt ('71, '72)
Legacy Family Award
The Cummings-Steele Family
Lifetime Achievement Award
Ken Johnsen ('75)
Young Alumnus of the Year Award
Schuyler Telleen ('04)

2020 Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees

Women's Rowing
Audrey Coon Schwind ('94)
Women's Basketball
Jodie Kaczor Berry ('71, '72)
Football
Michael Koenen
Softball Coach (Awarded Posthumously)
Coach Art Phinney

2019

Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
Lisa Wolff Swanson (’95)
Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
- Benjamin Dragavon (’07)
  Soccer
- Lindsay Evelyn Mann-King (’07)
  Rowing
- Sean Packer (’08)
  Golf
- Courtney Schneider (’08)
  Volleyball
Young Philanthropists of the Year Award
Douglas W. Leek (‘98 & ’99)
and Latonya G. Leek (’00)
Campus Volunteer Award
Edwin Love
Community Volunteer Award
Rod Roth and R&D Plastics
Young Alumni of the Year Award
Benjamin Gibbard (’98)
and Nicholas Scott Harmer (’98)
Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Stephan Aarstol (’96)
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Christy Johnson (’02)
College of Business and Economics
Andrew Vallee (’96)
College of Fine and Performing Arts
Michael Christopher Brown (’00)
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Ronald L. Heimark (’70)
College of Science and Engineering
Jeffrey Roy Hammarlund (’72)
Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
Michael West Cox (’81)
Huxley College of the Environment
Karen Symms Gallagher (’67)
Woodring College of Education Lifetime Achievement Award
Hoyt Gier (’80)

2018

Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
Ed Roddy (’84)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Peter J. Hallson (’58)
Entrepreneur(S) of the Year Award
John Bergen (’92), PJ Ohashi (’97)
& Josiah Johnson (’99)
Young Alumnus of the Year
Andrew James Dumont (’11)
Campus School Recognition award
Catharine R. Stimpson (Campus School ’48)
Distinguished Alumni Awards
- Anne Blanchard (’97, ’99)
  Woodring College of Education
- Raymond Merle “Bud” Burke (’68, ’72)
  College of Science & Engineering
- Jeffrey Fisher (’89)
  College of Fine & Performing Arts
- Gabriel S. Galanda (’97)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Christie True (’81)
  Huxley College of the Environment
- Russ Wilson (’79)
  College of Business & Economics
- Coll Thrush (’93)
  Fairhaven College
Athletics Hall of Fame
- Anne Cooper (’86)
- Basketball
- Alison Richards (’99, ’01)
- Softball
- Joni Slagle (’78)
- Basketball
- Jason Stiles (’96)
- Football
- Katja Parrish (’06)
- Golf
Campus Volunteer Recognition Award
Kate Stevenson (’00)
Community Volunteer Recognition Award
Mayor Kelli Linville (’74, ’82)
& the City of Bellingham

2017

Young Alumnus of the Year Award
Jesse Dean Moore (’05)
Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
Scot Studebaker (’90)
Distinguished Alumni Awards
- Denise Attwood (’83) & Ric Conner (’85)
  Huxley College of the Environment
- Dr. Betty Jean Cobbs (’73, ’76, ’77)
  Woodring College of Education
- Debora Juarez (’83)
  Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Todd J. Lindley (’83)
  College of Business and Economics
- Vini Elizabeth Samuel (’94)
  College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Marc A. Seales (’78)
  College of Fine and Performing Arts
- Jeffrey Wiggins (’88)
  College of Science and Engineering
Campus School Recognition Award
James L. Hildebrand (Campus School ’56)
Campus Volunteer Recognition Award
Linda P. Beckman (’91)
Community Volunteer Recognition Award
Gerald E. Henson (’73)
Legacy Family of the Year Award
Hoffman-McLeod family

2016

Young Alumni of the Year Award
Harrison G. Mills (’12) and Clayton J. Knight (’12)
Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
Kay French Hovde (’84)
Lifetime Achievement Award
John Abrams (’50)
Distinguished Alumni Awards
- Deborah M. Atwood (’77)
  Huxley College of the Environment
- Ron (’89) and Tracy (’88) Bundy
  College of Business & Economics
- David A. Frank (’78 & ’79)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Dr. Tom Keegan (’84)
  Woodring College of Education
- Ruben Van Kempen (’92)
  College of Fine & Performing Arts
- David R. Kennerud (’92)
  College of Science & Engineering
- Ruth E. Mathews (’87)
  Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
Campus School Recognition Award
Brian L. Griffin
Campus School (’46) Campus Volunteer Recognition Award
Evelyn E. Ames
Community Volunteer Recognition Award
Casey R. Diggs
Legacy Family of the Year Award
Linville, Kuljis, Parberry and extended families

2015

Distinguished Alumni Awards
- Kurt Creager (’79)
  Huxley College of the Environment
- Mitchell L. Eggers (’85)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Dr. Sheila L. Fox (’67)
  Woodring College of Education
- James Reavis (’87)
  College of Science & Engineering
- Karen L. Richards (’82 & ’89)
  College of Business & Economics
- Mark Shetabi (’93)
  College of Fine & Performing Arts
- Diane Sigel (’77)
  Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
Tony (’87 & ’91) and Diana Pechthalt (’87 & ‘91)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Duane Anderson (’52)
Young Alumnus of the Year
Seth “Hoby” Darling (’97)
Campus Volunteer Recognition Award
David A. Hamiter (’92) and Robert E. Olson
Community Volunteer Recognition Award
Warren W. Michelsen
Legacy Family of the Year
The Veith Family

2014

Distinguished Alumni Awards
- Fritz Johnston (’73)
  College of Fine & Performing Arts
- Kirby M. Larson (’76)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Robert S. Matson (’69 & ’71)
  College of Sciences & Technology
- Roberta N. Riley (’82)
  Huxley College of the Environment
- Thomas R. Thornton (’78)
  Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Jason T. Warnick (’94)
  College of Business & Economics
- Bill Wright (’60)
  Woodring College of Education
Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
Jo Metzger-Levin (’81 & ’86)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Mina Butros Ghattas (’59 & ’60)
Young Alumnus of the Year Award
Brett Mitchell (’01)
Campus School Recognition Award
Rob Brand (’60 & ’67)
Campus Volunteer Recognition Award
Tamara L. Belts (’76)
Community Volunteer Recognition Award
R. Emil Hecht
Bellingham Ear, Nose and Throat and Hecht Aesthetic Center

2013

Distinguished Alumni Awards
- Murray L. Dow, II (’70)
  College of Business & Economics
- Royal A. Hanson (’75)
  Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Maitland F. Peters (’74 & ’76)
  College of Fine & Performing Arts
- J. David Leander (’67)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Mark M. Reis (’75)
  Huxley College of the Environment
- Robert H. Brim (’70)
  College of Sciences & Technology
- Laurel W. Browning (’86, ’93 & ’06)
  Woodring College of Education
Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
Joyce Taylor Wallace (’84)
Lifetime Achievement Award
David W. Cole (’84 & ’86)
Young Alumnus of the Year Award
Jane K. Carten (’01 & ’06)
Campus School Recognition Award
Pamela L. Spratlen (’61-’66)
Campus Volunteer Recognition Award
Harold Hansberry (’59 & ’77)
Community Volunteer Recognition Award
Wes Herman
The Woods Coffee, Owner and Founder
Legacy Family of the Year
The Martina Family

2012

Distinguished Alumni Awards
- Chase Franklin (’86)
  College of Business & Economics
- Frank James (’73)
  Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Annette Devick (’82)
  College of Fine & Performing Arts
- Laurel Nesholm (’64)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Kevin Raymond (’80)
  Huxley College of the Environment
- Peter Hallson (’58)
  College of Sciences & Technology
- Joseph Zavaglia (’73)
  Woodring College of Education
Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
David Mann (’82)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dennis Murphy (’69 & ’71)
Young Alumnus of the Year Award
Scott Davison (’74)
Legacy Family of the Year Award
Craker and Larson Families

2011

Distinguished Alumni Awards
- Dennis Organ (’73)
  College of Business & Economics
- Carol Davis (’75)
  Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
- John Olbrantz (’72)
  College of Fine & Performing Arts
- Karen Freeman (’78)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Eric Dinerstein (’75)
  Huxley College of the Environment
- William “Bill” Kindler (’65)
  College of Sciences & Technology
- Patricia Wasley (’73 & ’82)
  Woodring College of Education
Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
Kim (’81) and Victor Cruz (’81)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Rick Anderson (’73)
Young Alumnus of the Year Award
Kelsey Heikoop (’97) and Paul Van Metre (’96)
Legacy Family of the Year Award
Jones, Dickerson, Macmillan and May Families

2010

Distinguished Alumni Awards
- Paul Merriman (’66)
  College of Business & Economics
- Theodore Bestor (’73)
  Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Erin Wall (’98)
  College of Fine & Performing Arts
- Simon Blackwell (’84)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Gail Bingham (’75)
  Huxley College of the Environment
- Peter Greenberg (’70)
  College of Sciences & Technology
- Robert Watt (’72)
  Woodring College of Education
Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
Jerry Thon (’75)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Don Olcott, Jr. (’81 & ’86)
Young Alumnus of the Year Award
Scott Harrington (’98)
Legacy Family of the Year Award
Kruhoffer, Hayden, Mehl, Scott, Hartstra Families
Alumni Community Service Recognition
Sid Hammond (’67)

2009

Distinguished Alumni Awards
- John Wolfe (’74)
  College of Business & Economics
- Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus (’74)
  Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Steven Arnold (’79 & ’81)
  College of Fine & Performing Arts
- Kevin Jackson (’92)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Mike Town (’84 & ’85)
  Huxley College of the Environment
- Kathleen Grega Digges (’71)
  College of Sciences & Technology
- Ronald H. LaFayette (’69 & ’71)
  Woodring College of Education
Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
Moose (’50) and Vi Zurline (’50)
College of Humanities & Social Sciences Young Alumnus of the Year Award
Jonathan Main (’94)
College of Business and Economics Legacy Family of the Year Award
The Bowman and Frazier Families
Alumni Community Service Recognition
Bill Kalenius (’74)
College of Business & Economics

2007-08

Distinguished Alumni Awards
- Shaun Wolfe (’89)
  College of Business & Economics
- William Dietrich (’73)
  Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Elsi Vassdal Ellis (’74 & ’77)
  College of Fine & Performing Arts
- Margit M. Loser (’60)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Heather Flaherty Merchant (’77)
  Huxley College of the Environment
- Laurie Vitt (’67 & ’71)
  College of Sciences & Technology
- Steven Clarke (’85 & ’91)
  Woodring College of Education
Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor Alumni Service Award
Larry “Go Vikings!” Taylor (’72)
College of Business & Economics
Lifetime Achievement Award
- John Fotheringham (’55)
  Western Washington College of Education
  Young Alumnus of the Year Award
- Kendrick Efta (’95)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Richard Law (’93 & ’95)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- R. Ethan Yarbrough (’92 & ’95)
  College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Legacy Family of the Year Award
The Hickenbottom Family

2006

Distinguished Alumni
- Horst-Otto Gerberding (’79)
- Raynald Albert Samoa (’94)
- Gerald Webster (’80)
Lifetime Achievement
Wendy Wollam Scherrer (’76 & ’88)

2005

Distinguished Alumni
- Rick Anderson (’73)
- Heidi Grant Murphy (’87)
Lifetime Achievement
- Jack Bowman (’54)
- Donna Thompson (’61)

2004

Distinguished Alumni Awards in Honor of Bellingham’s Centennial
- Debbie Adelstein (’70)
- Steve Adelstein (’70)
- Bob Ames (’67)
- Pam Ames (’72)
- Mark Asmundson (’76)
- Bruce Ayers (’79)
- Louise Bjornson (’91)
- Laurie Casey-Schreiber (’84)
- David Christensen (’76)
- Craig Cole (’77)
- Sharon Coss (’86)
- Jim Cozad (’76)
- Fran Dodson (’98)
- Sherri Emerson (’99)
- Bill Gorman (’80)
- Taimi Gorman (’77)
- Pebble Griffin (’71)
- Elsie Heinrick (’76)
- Juanita Jefferson (’84)
- Stephen Jones (’74)
- Maureen Kane (’91)
- Joy Keenan (’80)
- Tony Larson (’84)
- Justin McKay (’02)
- Phyllis McKee (’67)
- Darcie Nielsen (’82)
- Wilanne Ollila Perry (’89)
- Janis Olson (’72)
- Kathy Pierre (’01)
- Vic Randall (’71)
- Mary Shea (’94)
- Tim Shea (’87)
- Marty Snyder (’92)
- Cheryl Thornton (’95)
- Bill Unrein (’76)
- Shirley Van Zanten (’71)
- Richard Vanderway (’71)
- Tim Wahl (’77)
- Dee West (’71)
- John Whitbeck (’85)
- Joe Wooding (’03)
- Nicolas Zaferatos (’79)
- Moose Zurline (’50)

2003

Distinguished Alumni
- Carlos Buhler (’78)
- Jimmy Diehl (’68)
- Suzanne Diehl (’68)
- Richard McIver (’76)

2002

Distinguished Alumnus
Craig Cole (’77)

2001

Distinguished Alumnus
Al Lunde (’53)

2000

Alumni of the Century
- Dan Beard (’66)
- Angus Bowmer (’23)
- Jack Bowman (’54)
- Cheryl Chow (’70)
- Terrence Deacon (’76)
- William Dietrich (’73)
- Carroll Haeske (’23)
- Helen Hostetter (’38)
- Jessica Lee (’92)
- Donald Leu (’47)
- Robert Maki (’62)
- Douglas Massey (’74)
- Ralph Munro (’66)
- Thomas Nelson (’37)
- Jessie Payzant (’25)
- Michael Phelps (’64)
- Ellen Repp (’22)
- Joyce Taylor (’83)
- Kathleen Taft (’25)
- John Terrey (’49)
- Bill Wright (’60)

1999

Distinguished Alumna
Shirley Van Zanten (’71)

1998

Distinguished Alumnus
Daniel P. Beard (’66)

1997

Distinguished Alumnus
Kenneth L. Moffett (’57)

1996

Distinguished Alumnus
Michael Seal (’65)

1995

Distinguished Alumnus
James M. Ford (’51)

1994

Distinguished Alumnus
Donald J. Leu (’47)

1993

Distinguished Alumnus
Jerry R. May (’66)

1992

Distinguished Alumna
Bernice F. Graves-DeVore (’43)

1991

Distinguished Alumna
Kathleen M. Taft (’25)

1990

Distinguished Alumna
Ellen Repp (’22)

1989

Distinguished Alumnus
Ralph Munro (’66)

1988

Distinguished Alumna
Lynda M. Goodrich (’66)

1987

Distinguished Alumnus
William Kendrick (’57)

1986

Distinguished Alumnus
John N. Terrey (’49)

1985

Distinguished Alumnus
Thomas W. Nelson (’32)

1984

Distinguished Alumnus
William R. Zagelow (’63)

1983

Distinguished Alumnus
Larry Nielson (’70)

1980

Distinguished Alumnus
Michael Phelps (’64)