Photographer Rich Villacres Named CWU Employee of the Year

June 4, 2008

ELLENSBURG, Wash. -- Central Washington University photographer Richard Villacres is CWU's 2007 Employee of the Year. Villacres will be honored Friday, June 6 at the 2008 CWU Honors Convocation ceremony in McConnell Auditorium at 8 p.m.

Villacres has worked at Central for six years, and was named Employee of the Month in October of 2007. Those who nominated him said his contribution to the university "clearly demonstrates his commitment to his art, his work, his co-workers, the university and the community." Villacres works in the Public Relations and Marketing Department, which specializes in not only photography, but also public and community relations, graphic design, promotions, advertising, writing and editing.

"I'm just really grateful I get to do what I love for a living," Villacres said. "I enjoy interacting with so many different people and programs, and I love the group of people I work with."

Villacres earned his associate degree in commercial photography from the Art Institute of Seattle. Prior to working at Central, he was a studio manager and assistant to Seattle's Phil Banko Photography. In 1991 he moved to Wenatchee, where he grew up, and started his own commercial photography business.

"People have always been my favorite photo subject. Nothing really comes close. Aside from that I like to photograph anything that will allow me to create a feeling or a mood in regards to the subject," he said.

Created in 1998, the Employee of the Year award recognizes exemplary service to the university and acknowledges those who bring unique and valuable contributions to their department. Each month, CWU names an Employee of the Month, and in the spring, chooses an Employee of the Year based on those 12 people. The selection committee bases its decision on original Employee of the Month nomination materials, and comments from individuals from departments throughout the university. CWU students, faculty and staff, as well as community members, are eligible to make nominations for the Employee of the Month award.

Nomination forms are available from the CWU Human Resources Office, employee council representatives and by clicking on the nomination form link at www.cwu.edu/~hr/ec. For more information about the program, call 509-963-1202, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD 509-963-2143.

Media Contact: Teri Olin, CWU Public Relations & Marketing, olint@cwu.edu, 509-963-1416

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of place bound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.