Governor Inslee Appoints Gary Epp as CWU’s New Student Trustee

Governor Jay Inslee today named Gary Epp as the student member of the Central Washington University Board of Trustees for 2018-19.

Epp, 22, who will be a senior during his term, is majoring in Applied Mathematics with minors in STEM Education, Applied Computer Science, and Economics.

He currently works as a member of the membership services and floor staff at the Student Union and Recreation Center (SURC) and has served for four years on the Associated Students of Central Washington University’ Services and Activities Fee Committee. He also worked as a resident assistant at CWU, a Camp C-Woo Counselor, and a math tutor.

“With his impressive background of service to CWU and its students, I believe Gary Epp will do an excellent job representing students as well as the entire university as a member of the Central Washington University Board of Trustees,” Inslee said.

In his application for student trustee, Epp, a graduate of Northwest Christian High School in Lacey, Washington, said one of his primary goals is “ensuring that our programs and opportunities are available and accessible to all our students.”

Epp said another of his priorities is expansion of the recreation center. He said the SURC was built a decade ago when Central’s student enrollment in Ellensburg was 8,500.

“This year, CWU’s enrollment was approximately 11,500 students, so the facility is almost bursting at the seams,” Epp said. “I think we need to look at the options for expanding the rec facility to meet the needs of current and future students.”

All of the state’s six public baccalaureate institutions have a student seat on its governing bodies. The student trustees serve one-year terms and are full voting members on all issues except matters relating to hiring or discipline of personnel, tenure of faculty, and collective bargaining agreements. Epp’s term will end on June 30, 2019.

Epp was among a list of four nominees for student trustee submitted by CWU to the governor.

Media contact: Richard Moreno, Department of Public Affairs, 509-963-2714, Richard.Moreno@cwu.edu.