Retired Central Professor Jean Putnam begins with the end in mind. 

Jean believes physical education needs to be more about a child’s lifetime commitment to healthy living, so she became a professor to train teachers to instill this message in their students. She believes Central can be a home to a strong field hockey team, so she created and led it from 1968-1980.

She believes the best teachers are those who are “empowered, motivated and inspired” as students through creative educational tools -  seasoned guest lecturers, interactive workshops, and activities that go beyond the everyday curriculum. So she established the Putnam Endowment in the Department of Physical Education to support creative inspiration.

Putnam’s commitment to Central spans from the classroom, to the field, to the volunteer boardroom. It is why she’s been recognized with the 1999 Women’s Achievement Award, a 2012 induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame, and now the 2015 Retirement Association’s Distinguished Retiree Award.

Putnam continues to keep the end in mind. Not only has she committed her life’s work to Central, she will leave a bequest to ensure the Putnam Endowment benefits students far beyond her own lifetime.

You can leave your legacy at Central with a commitment through your will or living trust. Go to www.mycentral.cwu.edu/give and choose Jean Putnam Endowment from the "My Greatest Passion" dropdown menu.