|
Steven B. Abbott (BA 1999, Magna Cum Laude)
Washington and Lee
School of Law, J. D. 2004
My history degree at CWU served as the springboard to acceptance at a law school ranked in the top twenty. While at CWU I achieved many scholastic awards among them: Dean's Scholar 1995-99; Farrell Merit Scholarship 1996-1997, 1997-1998, President of Phi Alpha Theta and History Society, President of Law and Justice Society. At the same time I raised over $20,000 in alumni donations working as a student representative. My legal career has encompassed representing clients in Nevada and Washington State. I worked previously for an insurance defense firm in Las Vegas. I Helped senior citizens navigate the Byzantine labyrinth of the Medicare and Medicaid appeals process in order to eliminate medical billing errors while a law student in Virginia. My Government experience includes duties as aide to Congressman Jack Metcalf (ret.) 2nd District Washington State in our nations capitol. Former law clerk at the United States Air Force JAG post in Los Angeles handling family law, criminal prosecutions, and government contract cases. During my time with the Air Force I conducted legal research and analysis on a wide variety of cases ranging from courts martial to complex government contract disputes. Drafted a significant component of a memorandum for a major government procurement integrity violation.
I am the current Vice President and In House counsel to Shenandoah Vista properties Inc with real estate holdings in numerous states with the crown jewel Pinnacle Townhouses set for completion during the summer of 2006 in Lexington Virginia.
My current practice in Olympia with the law firm of Taylor and Berg emphasizes Landlord Tenant, Family law, Real Property law, Elder law, Business law, & Estate Planning.
I am a member of the Washington State Bar Assn., Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, and the Young Lawyer Section of the Thurston County Bar Association.
I enjoy horseback riding, sailing, and the new sport of ski-biking (it is safer than it sounds, trust me).
Without my experiences at the CWU history department and the talented guidance by my professors I would not be where I am today, words cannot express how a history degree can give you an insight to not only the past but the present and the future as well, a history degree can help lay the foundation for a career in the private or public sector. |
David Braswell (BA 2003)
I have been living in Japan for the past two years, working as an English
Instructor. I have been studying Japanese culture and the Japanese language
since I arrived, and have greatly enjoyed my experiences here. Last year
I accepted a position as a Manager at my company, and I would like to let
you know that I feel that the education I received at CWU has admirably
prepared me for professional endeavors. I am currently in charge of several
individuals who graduated from nationally recognized universities, and
my salary is approximately $40,000 per year after taxes. I would like to
thank you for your great classes and the knowledge that you imparted unto
me. As you may remember, I asked you to write a letter of recommendation
to law school for me before I graduated. Thanks to your aid, I received
an offer of admission to the Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent)
College of Law in 2003, which I did not act upon, choosing instead to journey
to Japan. However, I have recently reapplied to several law schools, and
would like to again thank you for your kind recommendation. I hope that
all is well with you, and I would like to let you know that I truly feel
that CWU is a more than adequate primer for professional success. I will
keep you apprised of the status of my law school applications, and extend
to you my deepest thanks. I hope I can see you again in the future, perhaps
over beers. |
Cary Collins (MA 1996)
Completed his Ph.D. in 2001 at Washington
State University with a dissertation entitled "Between Savagery and Civilization:
The Memoir of Edwin I. Chalcraft, U.S. Indian Agents." It will be published
by the University of Nebraska Press. Chalcraft served as an Indian agent
at numerous Indian reservations, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Collins
published an article on "Medicine Creek to Fox Island" with SuAnn M. Reddick
on the Fall 2005 special issue of the Oregon Historical Quarterly.
He
is a public schoolteacher in the Maple Valley School District. He headed
the Operation Veterans Remembrance a program that raised money to purchase
flags for the Tahoma National Cemetery, the only veteran's cemetery in
the state.
His high school students, surpassing their original goal to
raise $6,500, made more than $14,000 to purchase over 11,000 flags, which
were placed in the Maple Valley cemetery. |
Randy Dills (MA 2002)
Has
a Fulbright research in St. Petersburg, Russia for a Ph.D. on the historic
importance of transportation in Russian history, for a degree at the University
of Illinois at Champagne |
William Frank (MA 2005)
Is beginning a Ph.D.
program in Russian Studies at the Jackson School, University of Washington,
with a TA ship. |
Michael Getsinger (MA 2004)
Traveled to the Republic of Korea to teach English to Korean youths from March
through September 2005. He is currently applying to several universities in
pursuit of a doctorate program to start fall of 2006. Michael was a graduate student of modern Chinese diplomatic history. He arrived at Central Washington University in the spring of 2001 and earned a BA for History: Teaching Broad Area with a minor in Asia-Pacific Studies (China) and a BA in Foreign Language (Chinese). He took part in several study abroad experiences including three spring break trips, two to China and one to Cambodia and Vietnam; a one year Study abroad at Peking University in Beijing with side trips to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea. |
Aaron Goings (MA 2005)
March
3, 2006: "Hellow from Canada." During my two years in the history graduate department at CWU I mostly worked with Dr. Karen Blair, serving as research assistant while she completed her book Join
In, while completing my master's thesis entitled "Free Speech and Industrial Unionism: The Industrial Workers of the World in Grays Harbor, Washington, 1910-1912." As a result of my efforts at Central, I was awarded four years of full funding for Ph.D. studies at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. While studying for my Ph.D. comprehensive exams I've been doing preliminary research for two scholarly articles, one comparing the growth of businessmen's vigilante groups in Washington State during the 1910s, and the other comparing Washington and British Columbia's radical labor movements.
Fall
2005 entry: His M. A.thesis on "The Wobblies of
Grays Harbor" won the campus award for best MA Thesis. He is beginning
a Ph.D. program at Simon Fraser University with a TA award. |
Curtis Harris (MA 2003)
Is teaching English in Russia. |
John Katz (MA 1996)
Taken from the CWU Graduate Program Pamphlet: "My instructors
at Central impressed me with their accomplishments as historians and teachers,
and the attention and interest they showed me and other students. They also exhibited
high standards and expected serious, quality work and steady improvement.
Under their tutelage, the professors let us express our ideas and share our efforts
with one another in seminars. The small group discussions were challenging and
exciting, and the professors kept us moving steadily forward, without losing
focus." |
Jennifer Meyer (MA 2005)
Won
the $250 Topmiller Award for Best Written MA Thesis in 2005. |
Tracey Pepper (MA 2002)
Is a full time Core Lecturer in the History Department at Seattle
University. She has been teaching a variety of courses on modern Eastern
Europe and Western Europe, revolutionary women, historical methodology
and German Culture.
Her MA Thesis on modern Germany won the campus award
for Best Thesis in 2001.
She lives in Everett with husband Scott and
Catherine, aged 3.
Taken from the CWU Graduate Program Pamphlet: "The graduate
program at Central taught me the historian's craft, how to apply a critical eye
and do unbiased research. My thesis advisor taught me to stand up for what I
think, even though I might be disagreeing with other experts.
"Central's program gave me the opportunity to learn the subject matter I was
interested in, and a breadth of knowledge I needed to compete in today's job
market. I finished my master's degree, then landed a part-time teaching position
at Seattle University." |
Susan Peterschick (BA 1998)
Is completing her MA Thesis on Washington State Legal Cases and Women's Health Care, 1890-1920 |
Jackie Shelton (BA 2002)
Is coordinating international
studies programs at Oregon State University, Corvallis. |
Jim Smith (BA
1991 and MA 1993)
Currently serves as the School to Work Coordinator at
the Yakama Tribal School in Toppenish, WA.
A mixed blood enrolled tribal member, Jim is a Northern Traditional dancer and fly fisherman.
He is
the single father of two sons, Ian, aged 16 and Andrew, aged 13. |
Dr. Robert Topmiller (BA 1993, MA 1994)
Received the Distinguished Alumni Award
for the College of Arts and Humanities from the CWU Alumni Association
in a ceremony on Friday, October 21, 2005.
Wrote a book titled The Lotus Unleashed. The Buddhist Peace Movement in South Vietnam, 1964-1966. It was published by the University Press of Kentucky in 2002. |
|
