News | WSU Foundation | Washington State University

_News

Meet Our Donors: Gladys Jennings (’48)

October 30, 2015 Trevor Durham

She is gracious and kind, respected and admired, and above all, determined to make a difference. Gladys Jennings (’48) warmly acknowledges family, friends, and colleagues who helped celebrate her 90th birthday. Grateful for the experiences she enjoyed at WSU, Gladys asks that celebratory gestures be directed as gifts to the Agriculture and Home Economics Scholarship Fund or the Alberta Hill Academic Excellence Award at WSU.

Gladys resides in Mill Creek, Washington with her husband, Clifford. She retired from WSU in 2008, capping a career in higher education that spanned six decades. Her request to birthday well-wishers is a nod to uncompromised excellence in teaching and … » More …

Meet Our Donors: Bill & Joy Goodenough

October 30, 2015 Trevor Durham

By the time Ryan Evans graduated from WSU with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2012, he was well on his way to a successful, international career thanks to the help of generous donors. Aside from his studies, Ryan participated in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers WSU RC Baja Club, which he eventually led as president. Through his club activities, Ryan had access to hands-on, practical experiences not otherwise available in the classroom. He learned valuable life skills such cooperation, communication, and budgeting, and had the opportunity to flex his creativity and showcase his work. The experiences enabled Ryan to leapfrog into his career. … » More …

Meet: Adam Bakken

October 30, 2015 Trevor Durham

Thanks to the scholarships that paid most of his expenses at WSU, Adam Bakken is well-prepared for his next step in life: becoming a teacher and ultimately, working in the field of international education.

Adam will graduate in December with a double degree in Elementary Education and in Linguistics, with a Japanese minor and a Teaching English as a Foreign Language teaching certificate.

“I have always known that I want to be a teacher, instructing the future leaders of tomorrow. I now know I will do this by teaching English to non-native speakers,” he says.

Adam worked part-time while attending WSU, but scholarships made the … » More …

Meet: Janelle Mendoza

October 30, 2015 Trevor Durham

Janelle Mendoza (’14; ’15) records programming announcements in the studio of Northwest Public Radio on the campus of Washington State University in Pullman.

Avid listeners of Northwest Public Radio know her name and recognize her voice, but they are unfamiliar with what defines Janelle Mendoza’s character: a determination to overcome obstacles and graduate from WSU with two undergraduate degrees.

Janelle was facing an abrupt end to her educational journey at WSU. “I couldn’t afford many things that were essential to doing well in school, such as purchase books or even pay tuition, which held me back from registering in classes,” she recalls.

Her parents had been borrowing the money to help pay for tuition, fees, books, and housing. But financial pressures increased dramatically when her family was no … » More …

SEL, Schweitzer family honor memory of WSU President Floyd

July 17, 2015 Trevor Durham

WSU Spokane Chancellor Lisa Brown, Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, and Beatriz Schweitzer

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) contributed $100,000 to the Dr. Elson S. Floyd Medical Education Founders Fund to honor the memory of a valued friend and community leader. Ed Schweitzer, founder and president of SEL, presented the gift to WSU Spokane Chancellor Lisa Brown at SEL’s world headquarters in Pullman, Wash., on Thursday afternoon.

“President Floyd contributed so much to WSU and the Pullman community,” said Schweitzer. “Because of his vision, tenacity and ability to bring people together, we will have a medical school in eastern Washington that will benefit us all.”

Schweitzer also presented a personal gift of $100,000 to the fund on behalf of … » More …

Inspiring the Next Generation of Business Leaders

July 7, 2015 Clint Young

A generous gift from Phyllis Hayfield Roenicke in honor of her late father, Claude E. Hayfield, is helping WSU’s College of Business to achieve the college’s priority of helping the next generation of business leaders develop a wide range of professional skills and knowledge. Claude was a well-known pioneer banker of Whitman County. At the age of 16, he attended Washington State College and was the bugler in the ROTC unit. He opened Farmington State Bank in 1929, which he managed until his death in 1960.

At the 2013 WSU Foundation Gala, Claude was … » More …

WSU Benefactors Support University’s Greatest Needs

July 7, 2015 Clint Young

With a shared desire to help youth access and receive a world-class education, Dan and Barbara Howell are impacting the lives of countless WSU students. Through their generous gifts they are providing scholarships for student-athletes and helping to ensure that many of the University’s greatest needs are met. Their dedication has led them to being named Benefactors of the University at the WSU Foundation Gala in 2013.

Loyal Cougs, Dan (’78 Const. Mgmt.) and Barbara have made annual gifts to WSU for 20 years. They met as students at WSU and credit the University … » More …

Campaign for WSU tops expectations

July 7, 2015 Trevor Durham

THERMOMETER-July15 Officials at Washington State University announced today that the school’s most ambitious fundraising effort eclipsed its $1 billion goal and realized its most successful year of fundraising in fiscal year 2015.

Washington State University Interim President Dan Bernardo praised the commitment of alumni, friends and corporate partners who helped the university reach its target. “This campaign truly will transform WSU’s ability to tackle the grand challenges we face as a state, nation and world in the years ahead,” he said. “The effort has taught us all to recognize this is really just the beginning for … » More …

Medical college fund established to honor late WSU president Elson S. Floyd

June 24, 2015 Trevor Durham

The Dr. Elson S. Floyd Medical Education Founders Fund was established to honor the university’s late president, who died following a battle with cancer.

Established by the Washington State University Foundation in accordance with the Floyd family’s wishes, the new fund will support the accreditation, implementation and operation of the new WSU College of Medicine. Distributions from the fund will be at the discretion of the college’s dean.

“Washington State University would not be starting a medical school today without the vision and leadership of President Elson S. Floyd,” said John Gardner, Vice President for Advancement … » More …

Rough to Refined

June 4, 2015 Trevor Durham

WSU dedicates new Ste. Michelle wine science center

Washington State University Thursday dedicated its new wine science center here and announced that the center will bear the name of its top supporter.

wine-science-bldg2 “For more than 25 years, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has supported the WSU wine program with their own contributions as well as shepherding support from others,” said WSU President Elson S. Floyd. “In recognition of their outstanding commitment and contributions, I am pleased to announce the center … » More …