SLICE Endowments and Stakeholders

Opportunities

• The Duncan Family Endowment

  Central Washington University alumni Don and Verna Duncan have spent their lives championing education and philanthropy.

  They have received numerous awards and recognition for their endeavors, including:

  • CWU Distinguished Alumni Award (Don)
  • Phi Delta Kappa Distinguished Service Award (Don)
  • Monmouth-Independence [Oregon] Elementary Teacher of the Year Award (Verna)
  • Monmouth-Independence First Citizens Award (both).

  A study room at Western Oregon University (WOU) and a flute room at CWU are also named after the Duncans.

  The Duncans have had long careers in education. Verna worked as an elementary teacher for 23 years. Don held numerous positions in higher education throughout his career, such as Dean of Men and Students at CWU, Dean of Education and Psychology at WOU and Professor Emeritus of Special Education at WOU. Don also served as a coordinator and district representative for Phi Delta Kappa.

  In 1980, the Duncans used a small inheritance to create a scholarship in their parents’ names through the Western Oregon University Foundation. This act sparked an ever-growing devotion to providing financial support for educational endeavors. They have funded support programs for classroom enrichment through the Monmouth-Independence Community Foundation, for Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars through the Rotary Foundation, and scholarships such as the Don and Verna Duncan Community Service Scholarship at CWU. Ever thinking forward, the Duncans have planned for funding of the scholarship and neighborhood obligations to continue well into the future.

  In recognition of their efforts, the library at WOU contains a Donald and Verna Duncan Group Study Room. In 2007, CWU’s Center for Civic Engagement was named in their honor.

• David Wain Coon Center for Excellence in Leadership

  David Wain Coon, Ed.D. became College of Marin’s 10th Superintendent/President in December 2010. Throughout his 30-year career in higher education, Dr. Coon has been recognized for his leadership locally, regionally and nationally. He came to Marin following five successful years as President of Evergreen Valley College in San Jose where he championed a richly diverse student body and was recognized for being an inclusive and collaborative leader. Prior to Evergreen Valley College, Dr. Coon held several high-level administrative positions at various colleges in Washington State.

  

  During his tenure at the College of Marin, Dr. Coon has successfully presided over two facilities modernization programs in excess of $515 million, tackled a long history of acrimonious labor relations with a willingness to listen to all constituent groups and energized partnership opportunities with Marin County schools and nonprofits. Dr. Coon has had the unprecedented opportunity to hire a majority of full-time faculty across many disciplines at the College of Marin.

  With a continued focus on social justice, Dr. Coon serves as co-chair to the Marin Promise Partnership with a focus on closing equity gaps in Marin County. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce.

  Dr. Coon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Public Relations from Central Washington University, a Master of Education degree in Student Personnel Administration from Western Washington University, and a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Organization Development from Seattle University.

  In 2016, Dr. Coon was presented with the Special Achievement Award by the Central Washington University Alumni Association. In May 2007, Central Washington University dedicated the David Wain Coon Center for Excellence in Leadership.

• Off-Campus Partnerships

  The following partners are in agreement with our current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU):

  • Allied People Offering Year-Round Outreach (APOYO)
  • American Red Cross
  • ASPEN
  • Blue Bear Puppet Lab
  • Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington 
  • City of Ellensburg
    • Ellensburg Adult Activity Center
    • Ellensburg Animal Shelter
    • Ellensburg Energy Services
    • Ellensburg Parks and Recreation Department
    • Ellensburg Public Library
    • Ellensburg Public Works
    • Ellensburg Youth & Community Center
  • Cle Elum-Rosyln School District
  • Conservation Northwest
  • Discovery Lab School
  • East Valley School District
  • Ellensburg Downtown Association
  • Ellensburg Morning Rotary Club
  • Ellensburg Noon Rotary
  • Ellensburg School District
  • Elmview
  • FISH Food Bank
  • Habitat for Humanity (Kittitas County)
  • HopeSource
  • Hospice Friends
  • IOOF Cemetery
  • Josie's Misfit Ranch
  • Kittitas Co Community Network formerly SAFE Kids of Kittitas County
  • Kittitas County Farmers Market
  • Kittitas County Health Department
  • Kittitas County Health Network
  • Kittitas County Pride
  • Kittitas County Search and Rescue
  • Kittitas Environmental Education Network (K.E.E.N.)
  • Kittitas School District
  • Kittitas Valley Event Center
  • Kittitas Valley Health Care
  • Kittitas Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation
  • Lazy F Camp and Retreat
  • Memorial Foundation
  • Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group (CBO)
  • Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust
  • National Marrow Donor Program
  • Olmstead Place State Park
  • Open Door Health Clinic
  • Pegasus Project
  • Pigture Perfect Rescue & Sanctuary
  • Prestige Senior Living at Hearthstone
  • Rod's House
  • Salvation Army
  • Second Harvest
  • Spirit Therapeutic Riding Center
  • The Trellis Center
  • Thorp Mill
  • Thorp School District
  • United Way (of Central Washington)
  • Valley Theatre Company
  • Wahluke School District
  • Washington FIRST Robotics
  • West Valley School District
  • WorkSource
  • Yakima Enological Society
  • Yakima Humane Society
  • Youth Services of Kittitas County