June 26, 2001

Contact: Katherine Cernick (509-963-1416/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: frinston@usa.net)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Instruction. Counsel. Encouragement. Support.

Central Washington University's College of Business (COB) has honored Edmonds Community College accounting professor Donnie Kristof-Nelson for providing such guidance to her students in their pursuit of a dream - a baccalaureate degree. Kristof-Nelson received the COB "Advancing the Dream" award for precisely that, advancing the dream of her students.

"The Central Washington University College of Business wants to recognize the contribution of our colleague professors in community colleges across the state through this award," said Dr. Roy Savoian, COB dean.

The first COB "Advancing the Dream" award was presented during the college's 2000 Honors Banquet to pay tribute to their faculty partners in education. Kristof-Nelson is the second award recipient.

Savoian said Kristof-Nelson's teaching philosophy focuses on two fundamental considerations. The first is "creating a successful learning experience for students," he said.

The second is giving students numerous opportunities to demonstrate their quantitative skills, abilities to communicate financial information to a variety of audiences and critical thinking proficiency, Savoian added.

"I look forward to getting acquainted with all of (the students) and providing a very successful learning experience," Kristof-Nelson said.

Kristof-Nelson, a 1980 graduate of the CWU Lynnwood Center with a bachelor's degree in accounting, has spent 17 of her 20 years as a professor at Edmonds Community College. Before joining the faculty there, she worked for two years in public accounting in Seattle.