May 9, 2001

Contact: Teresa Watt (509-963-3486/fax 509-963-2301/email: loweryr@cwu.edu)

Ellensburg, WA - Gov. Gary Locke has appointed Central Washington University junior Justin Silvers, from Oak Harbor, to a place on the university's board of trustees for the 2001-02 academic year.

Silvers, a 2000 transfer student from Skagit Valley Community College, is majoring in finance at CWU. He becomes the fourth student selected to represent university students on Central's governing board.

"Having this position is an opportunity to make sure the student perspective is well represented on the board of trustees," Silvers says. "I'm excited to be working with the individuals on the board and continue learning about CWU on a different level."

Silvers, 28, has served in a variety of student leadership positions, including student body president at Skagit Valley as well as with the CWU center for excellence in leadership advisory board, and as chair of the Associated Students of CWU services and activities fees committee. He's also an active member in two university business clubs, Alpha Kappa Psi and Phi Beta Lambda.

"I think my experience working with policy and budgets will help me be an effective and active board member," Silvers adds.

Several years ago, the Washington State legislature created a student seat on the governing bodies of the six state public universities and college. Each student trustee serves a one-year term. They are considered full-voting board members on issues, excluding personnel matters.

Silvers will replace student trustee Shawnte Pearson, whose 2000-01 term officially ends May 31.

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