upfront Dear Alumni and Friends, The start of another school year here on the Eastern Washington University campus is always an exciting time, and this fall is no different. Another big freshman class is now settled in, part of another record student body that is approaching nearly 11,000 students. The energy from winning a football national championship has carried over to everything on campus, as Eastern’s commitment to excellence and success in the classroom has never been stronger. There is definitely a new sense of pride people feel when they talk about coming to EWU. The university is trying to capitalize on this momentum as it charts a new course for the future. In the spring, I announced the creation of a new Strategic Planning effort, which includes valuable input from a diverse group of students, faculty, staff and community members. By the end of this year, EWU will have a bold plan known as “Inspiring the Future,” with clear action plans and short-term attainable goals. This is critical, because the academic direction and focus of the university have changed, and new demands from the region and state require us to reassess the best ways to utilize our resources. The university must take a fresh approach to meet the new funding challenges facing higher education in the state of Washington. In the end, the strategic path will reflect Eastern’s interest in strengthening our role as an innovative, relevant and inclusive leader in the education field. You can learn more about this process at www.ewu.edu/inspiringthefuture. Speaking of which, you will find the stories in this issue very inspiring. The cover story takes you inside the comic book world of a creative and successful EWU alum. Two other graduates are profiled in an inspiring story about their lifelong friendship. You will also learn how Eastern is taking the lead in preparing the next generation to be leaders in the renewable energy field. Your support, ideas and feedback are very meaningful during these challenging times. We look forward to hearing from you, or better yet, seeing you around campus this year. Editor – Kandi Carper ‘05 EASTERN THE MAGAZINE for Eastern Washington University Alumni and Friends FALL 2011 Graphic Design – Ryan Gaard ‘02 Copy Editor – Teresa Conway, Judy Crabb Contributing Writers – Kandi Carper ’05, Dave Cook, Dave Meany, Brandon Hansen ‘08, Sam Buzby ‘07 Photography – John Demke ’98, Pat Spanjer ’80, Eric Galey ’84, Ryan Gaard ’02, Von Klohe ‘88 Editorial Board – Doug Kelley ’83, Jack Lucas ’77, Pia Hallenberg ’98, Kory Kelly ’98, Gina Mauro ‘90 Vice President for University Advancement – Michael Westfall Director of Alumni Advancement – Lisa Poplawski ’94 and ‘01 EWU Alumni President – Kevin Linn ‘88 EWU Foundation Chair – Rob Neilson ‘81 Contact Us Eastern Magazine Letters or comments E-mail: Phone: Write: easternmagazine@ewu.edu 509.359.6422 Eastern Magazine, 300 Showalter Hall, Cheney, WA 99004-2445 Address Changes Alumni Correspondence Class Notes Submissions E-mail: Website: Phone: Write: ewualum@ewu.edu http://alumni.ewu.edu 888.EWU.ALUM or 509.359.4550 Office of Alumni Advancement 506 F St., Cheney, WA 99004-2402 Support Eastern Washington University For information about making a gift to Eastern, please contact the Office of Alumni Advancement. E-mail: Website: Phone: Write: ewualum@ewu.edu www.ewu.edu/supportewu 509.359.4550 Office of Alumni Advancement 506 F St., Cheney, WA 99004-2402 Eastern, a magazine for alumni and friends of Eastern Washington University, is published fall, winter and spring by University Marketing & Communications, and mailed free in the U.S. to alumni of record. This issue, and previous issues of Eastern magazine, may be viewed at www.ewu.edu/easternmagazine. Sincerely, Rodolfo Arévalo, PhD President 2 EASTERN previous page next page