Distinguished Alumni and Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients Honored

October 26, 2009

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — The Central Washington University Alumni Association and the CWU Foundation honored recipients of the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Awards and Excellence in Teaching Awards Friday evening, October 23 at the annual CWU Homecoming Banquet.

According to Jim Armstrong, Central’s director of Alumni Relations and executive director of the CWU Alumni Association, “This annual banquet, which stretches back nearly a century, is today an opportunity to recognize three diverse groups: alumni who have distinguished themselves in their lives and careers, the best young faculty, and this year – with the addition of two philanthropic awards – the generosity of the donors who increasingly sustain the university. The only commonality of this diverse group is their connection to CWU, and its pride and gratitude in their accomplishments.”

2009 Distinguished Alumni Awards:

• Jim Jansen, 1968, nominated by the College of Business. Jansen is president and CEO of Lynden, Inc, one of the Northwest’s largest shipping companies with air, sea and land operations. Lynden is based in Anchorage, Alaska, and Seattle, Wash.

• John Williams, 1963, nominated by the College of the Sciences. Throughout a distinguished career at the University of Michigan, Williams conducted significant research and taught in the Department of Internal Medicine and in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, which he chaired for 21 years.

• Gary Frederick, 1959, nominated by the College of Education and Professional Studies. Frederick has been connected with Central for 45 years as a student, coach and teacher. He is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame and is a three-time inductee into the CWU Athletics Hall of Fame, and has guided the women’s softball team for 15 years. In 2009 the university’s softball field was named jointly in honor of Frederick and his late wife, Bobbi.

• David Boushey, 1969, nominated by the College of Arts and Humanities. Boushey’s 30-year career as a stuntman and action choreographer resulted in his induction into the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame. He has choreographed more than 350 stage productions and 45 feature films.

2009 Special Achievement Award:

• DeAnna Bridenback, 1995. Bridenback, a former Ellensburg Rodeo Queen, commanded two rotations with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Iraq.

2009 Excellence in Teaching Awards

• Elise Forier, nominated by the College of Arts and Humanities. Forier is an assistant professor of Theatre Education and Youth Drama and director of the Family Theatre Series. She received her M.F.A. in playwriting, and her plays and musicals have been produced across the country.

• James Avey, nominated by the College of Business. Avey, an assistant professor of Human Resource Management, received the 2009 College of Business Excellence in Faculty Research Co-award and the 2008 College of Business Excellence in Faculty Research Award.

• Natalie Lupton, nominated by the College of Education and Professional Studies. Lupton, an assistant professor of Information Technology and Administrative Management, specializes in interpersonal development and professional development and is co-director of the university’s popular Symposium on University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE).

• Teresa Francis, nominated by the College of the Sciences. Francis, an assistant professor of Law and Justice, is an attorney and specializes in criminal and civil law and procedure, family law and correctional law.

2009 Philanthropic Awards

• David and Susan Coffman. David Coffman is CEO and president of Coffman Engineers and served as co-chair of the university’s successful Transforming Lives campaign. He and Susan have contributed generously to scholarships for football and other sports.

• Fred Meyer. Fred Meyer, a division of the Kroger Company, has generously endowed two $5,000 scholarships for annual distribution.

The CWU Alumni Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the interests of CWU and its 80,000 living alumni. The association works in partnership with CWU’s Office of Alumni Relations.

The CWU Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise private funds that support the students, faculty and programs at CWU.

About the awards:

Distinguished Alumni Award: The Distinguished Alumni Award is awarded annually to CWU alumni who graduated 20 or more years ago and who have demonstrated achievement in their professional fields and who have made a positive contribution to society. The university’s four colleges submit nominations.

Special Achievement Award: The Special Achievement Award is presented to a CWU alumnus who graduated fewer than 20 years ago and who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in his or her professional field. Alumni, former students, friends, faculty and staff of CWU submit nominations.

Excellence in Teaching Award: The Excellence in Teaching Award is presented annually to four non-tenured CWU faculty who exemplify the ideals of superb and creative teaching along with student development and research.

Philanthropic Awards: The CWU Foundation’s Philanthropic Awards recognize the generosity of specific individuals and groups in supporting CWU.

Media Contact :Jim Armstrong, Dir. CWU Alumni Relations, armstroj@cwu.edu, 509-963-2885

Teri Olin, CWU Public Relations and 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 placebound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.