Our Crimson 50 series honors Cougs who have been making gifts to Washington State University for 50 years. Their enduring generosity has created lasting opportunities for students, faculty, and communities across Washington and beyond. Each Crimson 50 profile shares their journey—from first gift to most recent—and their reflections on philanthropy, WSU, and the indomitable Cougar spirit.
Jan’s Story
Jan Stewart ’56 has a whimsical collection of WSU memorabilia, much of it from the 50s and 60s—cocky Cougars, cute Cougars, fierce Cougars, and many other items from the last 60 years of Cougar Nation—some evoke memories of her college years, others are simply a reflection of her love for all things WSU.
Born in Wenatchee and raised in Yakima, Jan graduated from WSU with a degree in education and then taught third- and fourth-graders in Oregon and Western Washington. She loved teaching and, beloved by her students, instilled rigor in her classroom. At 92, Jan is still as sharp as a tack and has a memory like a steel trap.
She resettled in the Pullman area in the 1960s when she married Alan Stewart, a successful farmer who, along with his five sisters, also attended WSU. Jan and Alan regularly cheered on Cougar Football at home games.
In 1965, Jan got involved with the Alumni Association, and in 1988, when she became the association’s president, she dived into the fundraising and development of converting the WSU “farm barn” into the gambrel-roofed Lewis Alumni Center we all love. Her efforts resulted in her being honored with an Alumni Achievement Award.
“Loving your college leads to giving and service to your college,” said Jan, “and that’s what I’ve been glad to do.”
First Gift: $25 in 1972 in support of WSU Athletics Scholarships
Five Questions
“My husband and I loved going to Cougar football games, and we always gave to athletics. We never really thought about it. It’s just something you do—you give back. And we realized how important it is to help young people attend college, so we also started giving to scholarship funds. I have kept connected to WSU through my involvement with the WSU Alumni Association since the 1960s and all the friendships I have made with so many Cougars.”
“That would probably be the last time WSU made it to the Rose Bowl, but I’m personally also very proud of the work so many in the alumni association did to convert the WSU Farm Barn into the Alumni Center.”
“Getting a college education is so important—so much good has come out of higher education. And community is so important—Cougs looking out for Cougs.”
“My hope is that WSU continues to thrive and that the Cougar community gets stronger and WSU’s great sense of community continues to grow.”
“As a former teacher, I would choose the College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences, and, in particular, the ROAR program. But everyone should give to the school or college at WSU where they studied.”