New endowed scholarship for Tribal members or their descendants

Norman ’69 and Linda ’71 Baer have been interested in Native American cultures since early in their higher education careers. For many decades, they have been involved in making a college education more accessible to Native American students.

This past year at WSU, the Baers have invested in Native students by funding The Norman and Linda Baer Scholarship for Native American Students, which they endowed with an initial $25,000 gift.

WSU presently enrolls 768 Native American students (656 are undergraduates), which comprises 2.9 percent of the WSU systemwide population (higher than the national average for state … » More …

“To be competitive, this kind of investment is essential”

Dick Mack ’71 is quick to point out that he’s not retired. He’s a professor emeritus. There’s a big difference.

“I didn’t retire from science,” Mack says. “I stopped teaching classes in 2015, but I’m still fascinated with connections between life and the physical world.”

That lifelong fascination led Mack and his wife Nancy (pictured) to commit to a $1 million gift to Washington State University’s School of Biological Sciences in the fall of 2023—an extraordinary investment supporting startup costs to facilitate hiring two new faculty for the department.

A staggering sum

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Endowed deanship honors a storied ancestor, raising CAHNRS’ national profile.

James “Cashup” Davis was a 19th century pioneer and entrepreneur—a legend not only on the Palouse but also across Washington. His name lives on in many ways—including, now, a named deanship in WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS).

Davis’ great-grandson, Gordon Davis ’68, ’69, established the Cashup Davis Family Endowed Deanship of CAHNRS with a $5 million gift in 2019.  His motivation: to give back to WSU in thanks for his own success and to create a deanship that allows a leader to articulate and deploy a strategic … » More …

The next generation carries on a family tradition of generosity to WSU

Betsy (Holmberg) Sunich says it all began when she was a WSU student returning to her dorm room after a Saturday outing and found a note on her desk: Betsy, hurry and change; you have a date tonight. A friend of Betsy’s had arranged a blind date with another student named Paul Sunich.

Betsy ’60 was attracted to Paul ’59 from the start—he … » More …

Thanks to scholarships a student is on the path to achieve a childhood dream.

Since childhood, Dominic Devengenzo has loved sports. He knew he wanted to be an agent for athletes, but he wasn’t sure he could afford a college education to get the skills he needed. Thanks to the donors who are making his WSU education possible, he is taking courses at WSU that has set him on a path to achieve his goal.

As a high school student in Northern California set to graduate in 2020—in the middle of the Covid pandemic—Dominic was not able to visit … » More …

Cougar Pride and Generosity Radiates at the 2023 Recognition Gala.

Beasley Coliseum was transformed into a place that sparkled with splendor on the evening of October 12, 2023, as it hosted the Washington State University’s 43rd Annual Donor Recognition Gala. Four spectacular chandeliers seemed to float above the 200 elegantly dressed guests that included donors, alumni, cherished friends, and others.

WSU’s very own faculty brass ensemble, Equinox Brass Quintet, provided lively music, and Tim Pham, a 2014 WSU alumnus and charismatic co-anchor of KREM 2’s morning newscast in Spokane, guided the evening’s … » More …

Overseeing the project management function for a team of fun, creative, professionals and reporting to the AVP, Philanthropic Engagement and Campaign Communications, the Project Manager and Event Operations Coordinator will be responsible for setting up, monitoring, and ensuring timely completion of all projects, which range from straightforward, linear design and writing projects, to multi-media and web deliverables, to complex strategic initiatives.

This will require close collaboration with all team members and contracted vendors, oversight of project management systems with an eye on proactively improving those systems based on ongoing analysis of effectiveness and leveraging strong familiarity with project management tools, methodologies, and best practices. The … » More …