CWU Redesigns Specialty License Plates

February 13, 2007

ELLENSBURG, Wash. -- "It's the right time for a new design," says Dr. Paul Baker, Central Washington University vice president for University Relations. The new CWU license plates feature a landscape view of the Ellensburg campus with the Wildcat logo, and will be available to the public across Washington State this Thursday, February 15.

There are currently 478 registered CWU license plates on the road, which went into circulation in November 1996, according to the Washington State Department of Licensing.

The initial cost to buy the plates is $40 plus regular licensing fees, resulting in $28 given to CWU for alumni scholarships. Each year's renewal also results in $28 given to the alumni association for the department scholarship fund.

"To have that number of plates on the road is encouraging, both from the perspective of loyalty to the university and the number of scholarships those special license plates help generate annually," says Jim Armstrong, CWU director of alumni relations. "With our striking new plates, we anticipate both of those numbers will rise."

In 1994, the Washington Legislature passed legislation allowing the six public universities in Washington, including Central Washington University, to issue special plates to raise money for scholarships. The first CWU license plates went into circulation on November 1996.

The new plates will be available through all Department of Licensing Vehicles offices in Washington. Customers are mailed their plates within 48 hours of purchase.

Contact: Becky Watson (509-963-1117/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: bwatson@cwu.edu)