Western Washington University Western CEDAR
Window Magazine Western Publications
Fall 2009 Window: The aM gazine of Western Washington University, 2009, Volume 02, Issue 01 Mary Lane Gallagher
Office ofni U versity Communications and Marketing, Western Washington University
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Recommended Citation Gallagher, Mary Lane and Office of University Communications and Marketing, Western Washington University, "Window: The Magazine of Western Washington University, 2009, Volume 02, Issue 01" (2009). Window Magazine. 3. https://cedar.wwu.edu/window_magazine/3
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I * ' 5'-»dP- ^ siwiir 'A i. ,i£l f*TKn /ei® iljB JH'. ’s .if \ I i Ln tf •* *4*»KS w4Hi 4 !*li ,.f jV.%JksrU**&• ^Tr .. Ht'VaV<■-' * Monev Smarts p 8 A, . .-^i WWU leads in economics education 1 . n. . «>HV ■ > ■ .,..1...... tR-P" ’i"' Inside Western's Neuroscience Program 6^*' r si'iJAc.+X?^..^ ,■ JK • »ir ____' ®*_ _:* V* ’ ‘ Fifth graders Jorgey Mancillas, left, Devin Carlson and their classmates from Burlington's Lucille Umbarger Elementary School wear 3-D glasses as they look at 3-D aerial photos of glaciers and other terrain during Associate Professor Scott Linneman's geomorphology class. All photos by Rachel Bayne KIDS GET A GLIMPSE OF COLLEGE Hundreds of fifth-graders paired up with WWU student mentors to visit classrooms and laboratories on campus Oct. 27 in Western's first Compass 2 Campus event, a program to get more kids thinking early about college with the help of mentors and role models to show them the importance of higher education. "Research tells us mentorship is the key," says Cyndie Shepard, who brought the program to WWU when she moved here with her husband, WWU President Bruce Shepard. "Kids who are mentored or who have a significant adult in their lives have a better chance of success." The Washington State Legislature established the program this year in hopes of increasing the number of low-income students, students of color and first-generation college students in higher education. The privately funded program will grow to cover fifth through 12th grades in selected schools. See more photos at www.wwu.edu/window. Learn more at www.wwu.edu/compass2campus. WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Window 'Community The magazine of Western Washington University Vol. 2 No. 1 Fall 2009 Conversations' Editor Mary Lane Gallagher engage us in [email protected] Contributing writers transformation Matthew Anderson ('06), John Thompson Photographers Matthew Anderson ('06), Rachel Bayne, Andy Bronson, Michael Leese Graphic Design/Production Shona Fahland, Chris Baker Photo by Martin Waidelich Editorial Advisory Board Mark Bagley, Senior Director, Western Washington University Foundation Stephanie Bowers, Vice President, University Advancement Sherry Burkey, Associate Vice President, from fh^ President University Relations Paul Cocke, Director, University Communications So often I am impressed by the remarkable accomplishments of our Western com Karen Copetas, Director, Admissions and munity. A few of our alumni achievements - including Bill Wright s historic golf prow Enrollment Planning ess and Dave Bennink’s pioneering a new green deconstruction industry - are well Deborah DeWees, Executive Director, Alumni Association chronicled on these pages. Or read about the exciting and potentially life-saving re Shearlean Duke, Associate Professor and Chair, search being conducted at the university’s Behavioral Neuroscience Program. Journalism Department More and more people are convinced of Western’s academic quality, buoyed as it is by Jeremy Mauck ('08), Assistant Director, Membership Programs and Marketing, Alumni Association our unswerving dedication to undergraduate education. It is readily apparent to me that Laurie Rossman ('86), Communications and Western offers the best public undergraduate education in the Pacific Northwest and Marketing Coordinator, Alumni Association among the best of both private and public colleges throughout the entire West. Our aim Steve Swan, Vice President, University Relations is to be even better, to stand out among public master’s-granting universities throughout John Thompson, Assistant Director, the entire nation. How do we get there? University Communications Sheila Webb, Assistant Professor, Journalism To get feedback on that and related questions. Western has begun an effort titled “100 Window is published in the fall and spring for alumni Community Conversations.” The initiative, funded through the generosity of Jack and and friends of Western Washington University by the Jo Ann Bowman, is a way to engage alumni, parents, civic and business leaders, philan Office of University Communications, 516 High St, Bellingham, WA, 98225-9011 (360) 650-3350 thropists and community members in talking about the future of WWU. Conversations will be held across Washington and in select out-of-state locations. Send change-of-address requests to: Western Washington University Why is this important to do now? Our world is changing. The global economy, cli University Advancement - Constituent Records Old Main 430, MS 9030 mate change, increasing diversity of our cultures, technological innovation and advances Bellingham, WA 98225 are transforming the world around us. Western, like all higher education institutions, [email protected] will have to transform to meet the needs of the state and the communities of people who Views expressed in Window are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect official policy of make up the “public” in public education. Western Washington University. As a university community we are working very hard to discuss and comprehend the Window supports Western's commitment to assuring forces at work in our society and in higher education. With that knowledge we can even that all programs and activities are readily accessible to all eligible people without regard to race, color, better lead Western to become the premier university of its kind in the nation. Please creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, feel free to share your thoughts with me on this and other issues related to Western at marital status, sexual orientation or veteran's status. my e-mail address, [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. This publication is available in an alternate format. For information, call (360) 650-3350. President Bruce Shepard 2 WINDOW • Fall 2009 • Western Washington University WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY WINDOW Get Ready WWU threw open its doors to fifth-graders to encourage them to plan for college...... Inside Cover WWUNews ■ ...... ■■■■■ A video scholarship contest, water help for a Mayan village, the best in children's books and’ recruiting science and math teachers. Just don't miss the unicycling clown...... 4 Money Smarts Teachers are hungry for ways to arm their students with some economic savvy, and WWU's Center for Economic Education shows them how...... 8 Golf Legend How Bill Wright ('60) and a streak of birdie putts made golf history...... 10 Brain Science WWU's Behavioral Neuroscience program puts students on the cutting edge of brain research ...... 14 Peak Performance Professor Ralph Vernacchia studies the minds of top athletes...... 18 Putting the Green in Construction Orange Dave Bennink ('94) demonstrates how we don't have to throw buildings away...... 20 President's Message...... 2 Weddings...... 24 Alumni Message...... 23 Obituaries...... 24 Class Notes...... 24 Student Lens ...... 28 On the cover: Bill Wright ('60) can still sink a putt like a champion. He's seen here at Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club in Blaine. Photo by Andy Bronson. www.wwu.edu/window 3 ■liSil Photo courtesy of Mark Bussell WWUNews X IB removes sulfur from crude oil. Finding better ways WWU SCIENTISTS’ to get sulfur out of petroleum-based fuel Is an Why Western? NEW GOO ClEANS DP important step in utilizing fuels such as gasoline rmore efficiently while producing fewer harmful The answer It may look like black, brittle, freeze-dried ice cream, emissions. Gaudette's adviser. Chemistry Professor could score but a new material developed with the help of WWU Mark Bussell, studies hydrodesulferization, the $2,000 researchers is a pollution-cleaning workhorse. chemical process refineries use to remove sulfur The lightweight, porous material called cobalt- from petroleum products. Call it a next-generation molybdenum-sulfur chalcogel, seen here In this scholarship essay. The cobalt-molybdenum-sulfur chalcogel is also electron micrograph, can puli sulfur out of crude oil WWU s Office of Admissions better than any other known material at remov two times better than the catalyst thought to be the is sponsoring a YouTube video ing mercury from polluted water, thanks in part to best available, according to research by scientists at contest offering three Western Its very high surface area. One cubic centimeter of WWU and Northwestern University published this scholarships to the incom the stuff has a surface area of 10,000 square feet, spring in the scientific journal Nature Chemistry. ing freshmen whose video best about half the size of a football field, providing lots answers the question, “Why WWU graduate student Amy F. Gaudette ('07 and of space for the polluting molecules to stick to. Western?” '09) tested the new chalcogel to see how well it The three-minute video is a chance for prospective freshmen to showcase their creativity and t ^ SE i I i m tell their stories about what has attracted them to WWU, and why Western is the best place Supporting the for them to learn and grow, says Kayle Walls (‘09), WWU ad NEXT GENERATION missions counselor. of Science and Math Teachers The contest for scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000 A new $900,000 grant from the National uates and professionals in science, tech also reaches students where they Science Foundation will help WWU nology, engineering and mathematics are. Walls says. Many teens use address the shortage of highly quali who want to become teachers. After social networking sites not only fied math and science teachers in graduation, scholarship recipients must to connect with friends, but also Washington state. commit to teaching math and science as a vital source of information in a high-need school district for two about the world, he says. "We hope to attract the best possible years for each year they received the “By creating videos and shar people out there into becoming sci scholarship. ence and mathematics teachers by of ing them with their friends, they fering to help support their education "Someone who has always wanted to are sharing excitement and in - whether they are incoming students teach and bring their science or math formation about Western vi- or professionals still working in their ematics knowledge, expertise and ex rally with each other,” he says, areas of expertise," says George "Pinky" perience into the classroom would be a “instead of hearing it from our Nelson, director of WWU's perfect fit for one of these scholarships," office.” Science, Mathematics and says Bruce Larson, WWU professor of Entries must be received by Technology Education pro Secondary Education and the adminis Jan. 31,2010, and will be judged gram and co-director trator for the grant. on their creativity, relevance to “” j of the grant. WWU and students’ abilities to In addition to scholarships, the grant express themselves. I The Robert Noyce gives freshmen and sophomores who They’ll also be judged on H I Teacher Scholarship are considering a career in math or sci YouTube hits. See the entries Program will pro- ence education a chance to work with roll in at www.youtube.com/ vide 61 $10,000 summer school students in Whatcom whywestern. And learn more scholarships to County's rural Mount Baker or Meridian about the contest at admissions. HHE both undergrad school districts. wwu.edu/whywestern. 4 WINDOW • Fall 2009 • Western Washington University WWU News Westerns new provost is Catherine Riordan Catherine A. Riordan became Western's Riordan came to Western from Central Michigan University, provost and vice president for Academic where she served as vice provost for Academic Affairs, respon Affairs this fall. sible for strategic planning at the 27,000-student university. As WWU's new chief academic officer, She was also in charge of undergraduate curricula, academic Riordan oversees Western's academic op program planning, assessment of student learning outcomes, erations, including colleges, libraries, aca faculty and department chair development, the honors and first demic support services and graduate and year student programs, regional and specialized accreditation undergraduate programs. and a Department of Education grant to support academic deci sion making. Catherine Riordan Over the course of her career Riordan has received awards for distinguished teach Riordan, who holds a doctorate in social psychology from the ing, advising, research and service. She also was a Missouri State University of New York at Albany, succeeds Dennis Murphy, Youth Initiative Kellogg Fellow and a visiting scholar at University who served as provost for two years following a distinguished College Dublin in Ireland. career as dean of WWU's College of Business and Economics. WV^U STUDENTS HELP DESIGN NEW KITSAP EERRY Ferry commuters on the Seattle- Bremerton run may have a new boat A tiny Mayan community in Guatemala is working with students from WWU’s this spring, designed in part by WWU Engineers Without Borders club to build a place for residents to do their laundry with students. out polluting the drinking water. WWU Engineering Technology stu After traveling to Candelaria Camposanto last June to sample the water, scout out dents collaborated with All American locations and talk to residents about what they need, students will spend this school Marine in Bellingham to help design a lightweight hydrofoil for a Kitsap Transit year designing the laundry station and raising the $25,000 it will take to build it, says ferry now in production. Miranda Savory, president of the club and a senior from Bothell. The hydrofoil is a T-shaped wing Now, residents are washing their clothes in a spring that runs into a nearby river. mounted to the hull of the ferry, produc Savory says. And the Guatemalan government has ordered the community to stop pol ing lift and raising the boat's hull to re luting the water or risk losing their land, she added. duce drag and increase speed. The washing station will be a covered area with several wash basins and a filtering "Our goal is to cut the weight of the system to remove pollutants from the water that goes down the drain. Savory says. hydrofoil in half by using new compos “What’s really important about ite materials that are lighter and stiffer the project is it’s sustainable within than aluminum or stainless steel, which will increase efficiency and decrease their own community,” she says. fuel costs," says Assistant Professor of “Anything we’re going to build there Engineering Technology Nicole Larson, has to be locally bought so they’ll who leads the student team. know how to fix it and they’ll know The students finished the project how to replace it.” this summer with the help of a $25,000 To learn more about the Guatemala grant from All American Marine and a Sustainability Project, contact Savory $100,000 grant from Pacific International at [email protected]. Engineering. "This is the kind of research that our Clean green: WWU students The Nguyen, students take with them from the class Rachel La Bouve, left, and Miranda Savory, room into their careers," said Larson. far right, in Guatemala with their translator, "It's invaluable in that way, so we'll keep Candelaria, who helped the Spanish-speaking students communicate with Mayan residents pushing to do more collaborative work in the que'chi language. like this in the future." www.wwu.edu/window 5 WWU News You'd1 think a clown on a unicycle would be hard to miss. But not, ap parently, while you're chatting on a cell phone. people talking on their cell phones are more than twice as oblivious as those not on their phones, according to a recent study conducted by Western Washington University Psychology Professor Ira Hyman. SEE "^HAT In his research, Hyman documented real-world examples of people who were so distracted by their cell phones that they failed to see the bizarre occurrence of a unicycling clown passing them as they walked through Red Square. The study is published in an upcoming issue of the journal "Applied Cognitive Psychology." "Just think of what this means when put into the context of driving safety," Hyman says. "People should not drive while talking on a cell phone." In Hyman's study, just 25 percent of people talking on their cell phones saw the unicycling clown In his yellow and purple clown suit, red nose and floppy feet. However, more than half of people walking alone saw him, as did people listening to portable music players or walking in pairs. "Cell phone use causes people to be oblivious to their surroundings while engaged in even a simple task such as walking," Hyman says. "Cell phone users walk more slowly, change directions and weave more often and fail to notice interesting and novel objects.The effect appears to be caused by the distraction of a cell phone conversation, because people walking in pairs did not display the same range of problems." Another finding of the study, Hyman says, is that a person's familiarity with the environment does not eliminate the effects of cell phone use on navigation. WWU students get a boost and a ‘Thanks!’ from Shuksan Middle School Shuksan’s principal. “They’ve made a sig Shuksan kids, has members of WWU’s nificant difference in the lives of our un M.E.Ch.A. student club come to Shuksan derserved students.” to mentor about 30 kids and plan activities Which is why Mark and other exploring their cultural heritage. Shuksan administrators this year hon AVID (Advancement Via Individual ored the WWU students with the Determination) is a program for middle- school’s Volunteer of the Year award. level students whose parents didn’t attend The students, who come to Shuksan college. WWU students tutor Shuksan stu through Woodring College of Education’s dents to help them pass their academically Service Learning Office, help out through challenging classes and prepare for college. WWU student Christina Everett, right, leads a group discussion at Shuksan Middle School with WWU three different programs. Both Western and Shuksan students Retention Project coordinator Trisha O'Hara, left. Youth 4 R.E.A.L. (Relationship, benefit from the efforts at the school, says Exploration, Action and Leadership) has WWU student Jamie Daniels. WWU student volunteers at WWU students mentor Shuksan kids as “Western students need to see how up Bellinghams Shuksan Middle School help they explore their own interests through beat and energetic middle school students kids with everything from college-prep aca community service projects they design are, and need a reminder that there is more demics to community service projects. themselves. One group, for example, chose to life than the paycheck and the grade,” And don’t think Shuksan hasn’t noticed. to build a Web site to educate their peers Daniels says. “Shuksan students need to see “The effort they’ve put in down here has about the risks of joining a gang. positive role models that have gone through been huge for our kids. I wouldn’t trade ALTO (A Latino Team Organization),, difficult times and yet succeeded in school it for anything,” says Andrew Mark, started at the request of a handful of and life.” 6 WINDOW • Fall 2009 • Western Washington University WWU News COW POWERED: VRI WINS GRANT TO RUN BUSES ON BIOMETHANE Tourists heading to the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver may have Whatcom County's dairy cows - and WWU's Vehicle Research Institute - to thank for a green ride to the games. A $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy will help the VRI convert tour buses to run on clean-burning blomethane from a digester in Lynden that turns the area's dairy manure into fuel. Converting the three buses used by Bellingham's Bellair Charters from die sel to biomethane fuel will reduce their Photo by Michael Leese carbon dioxide emissions by 23 times. "These buses will essentially become 'car Lit bon negative' once they have the new engines installed," says VRI Director Eric TOP PICKS Leonhardt. "Not only will they produce a Nancy Johnson, children's literature fraction of the carbon dioxide they did be expert and WWU English professor, can't fore the conversion, but they are also us get enough good kids' books. ing a renewable resource made from cow manure, which would ordinarily just add its greenhouse gases to the atmosphere." The biomethane used to power the buses comes from the Northwest's first dairy digester, at the Vander Haak dairy in Lynden; the farm's cows supply the manure “A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week put into an anaerobic digester on the farm, Ever,” by Marla Frazee. In this lively and which separates the solids from the gases. humorous celebration of boyhood, child hood friendship, and the power of the book-loving kid could get lost in imagination, Frazee captures the essence of summer vacation and the wonder of be WWU English Professor Nancy ing a kid. A 2009 Caldecott Honor Book. Johnsons office. A (Harcourt) Johnson, a childrens literature expert at WWU and director of the annual Chil “Duck! Rabbit!” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld. At first glance, this drens Literature Conference, works in a room lined floor-to-ceiling with enough is a simple story about two animals yet re children’s books to start her own library. peated reading reveals a clever take on an optical illusion: Is it a duck or is it a rabbit? A grown-up book-loving kid herself, John (Chronicle) The gases are then run through a "scrub son was a 2003 Newbery Medal judge and “The Hunger Games,” by Suzanne Collins. ber," which removes the hydrogen sulfide reviews children’s books for The Journal of This provocative story for mature readers set and other contaminants from the methane Children’s Literature. and makes it clean and ready to burn In a in a postapocalyptic world evokes the ques combustion engine. We gave her the impossible task of picking tion: What happens if we choose entertain Being a dairy-intensive region, Whatcom just flve favorites. She snuck in two extras. ment over humanity? (Scholastic) Bonus County alone could produce enough bio tip: read the sequel, “Catching Fire” methane to fuel up to 40,000 vehicles, ac “All the Broken Pieces,” by Ann E. Burg. cording to Leonhardt. This novel written in free verse captures the “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” by Brian Larry Wickkiser, manager of Bellair heartache and secrets of Matt Pin, who was Selznick. Set in Paris in the 1930’s, “Hugo Charters, says he hopes the converted bus airlifted from war-torn Vietnam and ad Cabret” artfully blends narrative, illustra es are ready in time to carry passengers to opted into a caring home. It offers an un tion and cinematic technique to tell the the Olympics. forgettable perspective on the resonance of story of a thief, a broken machine, a strange "The time is right for our company be cause the technology is coming together war and choices of blame and forgiveness. girl, a mean old man, and the secrets that tie In our own back yard," Wickkiser says. "On (Scholastic). Bonus tip: pair with Katherine them all together. A 2008 Caldecott Medal top of that, the raw fuel source is abundant, Applegate’s “Home of the Brave.” Winner. (Scholastic) renewable and locally produced." www.wwu.edu/window 7 WWU, a leader in Economics Education, helps teachers prevent the next financial meltdown. By Mary Lane Gallagher Photos by Rachel Bayne As director of economics education at Western, Pam Whalley clarify more complicated choices, such as colleges, health plans, knows new teachers graduating from WWU will need a strong jobs and mortgages. knowledge of economic principles to teach those concepts to kids. “The reality is, resources are scarce, so people have to make To really make the lessons stick, they may need some choices,” Whalley says. “We want students to see that decisions chocolate chip cookies, too. have consequences. When we make a choice, were giving up “And I strongly recommend you include some health-food something.” cookies,” she tells her students in Economics 446, Economics for If more people knew this, Whalley believes, perhaps we could the Teacher. have avoided the financial meltdown of the past two years. “My goal is to make sure our teachers have the background “I think at its core is a failure of financial literacy,” she says. and the training when they leave Western to make economics “No one held guns to people’s heads and said, ‘You will take out come to life in the classroom,” Whalley says. these loans.’ While there were fraudulent practices, we don’t Whalley, the director of WWU’s Center for Economics educate our populace about being wary of fraud.” Education, is one of the states top experts in the subject. In While economics is included in the state learning requirements addition to courses for pre-service teachers, Whalley also for social studies, it doesn’t get much attention compared with leads workshops around the state for teachers already in the literacy, math, science and other subjects on state-required tests. classroom. And she is president of the Washington Council on “I’ll have teachers tell me, ‘I’ll do this, but don’t tell my Economics Education, housed at WWU s College of Business principal,”’Whalley says. “It’s like an underground movement.” and Economics. In 2008, more than 600 teachers took one of Whalley’s The cookies Whalley passes out in little baggies in Economics workshops, which are filled with ideas for all kinds of teachers to for the Teacher will help illustrate a simple method to get kids incorporate economics into their lesson plans. to develop the most important skill they 11 need to navigate our Of course math teachers can use economics to bring a new increasingly complex economy: decision-making. relevancy to their classes, Whalley says, but so can English and From high school dropouts and teen-age pregnancies to history teachers. credit card debt and catastrophic mortgages, evidence abounds “Think about all the stories that hinge on choices,” she says. that people of all ages make bad economic decisions. “And to really understand history, you have to understand the “But when was the last time someone sat you down and taught economic forces behind it. They can relate it to the real world.” you how to make a good decision?” So far, teachers from about 90 different classes have taken she asks the class. Whalley’s courses through the center, and almost all say they use So Whalley has at least something from the workshops. the students decide “My favorite is the French teacher,” she says. “I had to ask. which of four She teaches it on the ‘dead’ days: two days before Thanksgiving, chocolate chip homecoming week and before any break.” cookies is the Whalley knows why that teacher makes the effort. best using a “There are fewer and fewer things that children have control simple method over as they grow up these days,” she says. “But if you give them ’-"I# ^ that can also control over their finances, they have control over their lives.” 8 WINDOW • Fall 2009 • Western Washington University Start smalf: A simple rnethod can clarify tough decisions. ^ - SYLLABUS: ECONOMICS FOR THE TEACHER Economics 446 gives students a grounding in the moving parts of a market economy while providing them the tools to illustrate those concepts to students in kindergarten through 12th Even English Teachers: Pam Whalley, director of WWU's Center for Economics grade. Education, teaches econorfiics courses to hundreds of teachers each year. Introduction:The state's Essential Academic Learning Requirements for economics, an introduction to the Council ‘77/ have teachers tell me, L. for Economic Education. m Week 2: ms. Til do this, but dont tell Itfffents, Decision Making and Opportunity Costs: Exercises include "What is a stock?" and figuring the cost of a my principal,' Ifs like an college education. An introduction to economics education materials available on the Web. underground movement,'' Junior AchlevementTralnIng: All students must prepare and present a lesson in a K-12 classroom. Opportunity Cost, the Production Possibility Frontier and Economic Systems: Exercises will include "Economies in Transition"and "The Bead Game." Weeks 5 and 6; Demand and Supply: Demand and supply curves, and reasons for changes in demand and supply. Equilibriums:'A Market for Crude OiL'simulation and a lookie criteria: Brittany Esbenshade ponders discussion of micro-markets. a cookie in a decision-making exercise. Week 8: ■ Elasticity: Elasticity of demand and changes in revenue. SEN. MURRAY PROMOTES FINANCIAL ED FUNDS Sen. Patty Murray recently sponsored a bill that would Government Intervention in Markets: Price ceilings and price * provide funding to develop financial education models floors. in both kindergarten through 12th grade and at the collegiate level. Production and Costs, Competition and Monopoly:"Creative The bill would provide $500,000 grants for public-private Toy Production"exercise. partnerships to develop new financial literacy projects. WWU's center already partners with several private sector groups, including U.S. Bank which funds scholarships for International Trade and Externalities: Why people trade minority teachers to attend the workshops. domestically and internationally. loves this game ... but he had to fight to play it lH Fifty years ago, a WWU alum used a putter to demolish one of golfs racial barriers By Mary Lane Gallagher Photos by Andy Bronson o one could beat Bill Wright (’60) The son of two golf fanatics, Wright had and his putter the day he won been raised in Seattle to love the game the U.S. Amateur Public Links in spite of the stubborn racism that re Championship at Wellshire Golf mained in the sport’s culture. Course in Denver 50 years ago. N But Wright wasn’t thinking about break After squeaking into the match-play por ing down barriers when he sank that last tion of the tournament as the 63rd out of birdie putt on the final 18th hole, defeat 64 qualifying players from public courses ing a former professional golfer from around the country, Wright began a put Florida to win the USGA championship ting streak that would send him into the for public golf course players. He was history books. simply amazed at his own accomplish ment and celebrated with a Singapore In 1959, no African-American golf Sling delivered to him right there on the er had ever won a United States Golf green by a clubhouse waitress who knew Association Championship title. But his favorite drink. the growing crowd of spectators watch ing Wright birdie seven out of the first “I wasn’t thinking about anything, but I nine holes, round after round, sensed that just got through winning,” he remembers. this 23-year-old education major from Which may explain his reaction to a Western was about to change that. phone call from a reporter back home At one point, the noise from the crowd in Seattle. How did it feel, the reporter bothered Wright. He walked to the gal wanted to know, to be the first black man lery after his semi-final opponent, a se to win a USGA title? nior from Louisiana State University, was “I slammed the phone down.” distracted during a critical shot. “Some of you folks bothered him on that shot,” Wright said, according to a USGA t was a momentary anger. Wright report at the time. “It was very unfair. was the day’s best golfer, but the first Please give him a better break so he can thing he was asked to talk about was play his regular game.” not his skill, but the color of his skin. I Continued on Page 12 That part of golf really doesn't exist anymore' But he soon composed himself. When the Less than a year later, the younger Wright reporter called back, he was ready for the entered the city’s junior championship conversation. tournament, shooting a 68. The next day, tournament officials sent him home, say “As time went on, I realized it was bigger ing he couldn’t continue because he didn’t Historic moment: and bigger,” Wright says of the signifi Below, WWU Golf Coach Steve Card, left, and Bil have a handicap. • . cance of his victory 50 years ago. “I knew Wright at the NCAA Division 11 Championship Bottom, Wright accepts the trophy for winning the how big it was.” “So I was pushed out of that,” Wright says. U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in 1959. “But still told my dad, T beat him.’ Growing up in Seattle, Wright had been s’-, iiiii&iili raised on golf. His parents were good But it was basketball that brought BiU friends with Charlie Sifford, the first Wright to Western. He had led his Franklin African-American PGA golfer, who High School team to the state champion stayed at the Wrights’ home while travel ships and caught the attention of Western ing. The Wrights played at Jefferson Park basketball coach Bill McDonald, who re near their home and at other public cours cruited Wright to come to Bellingham. es around Seattle. The teenage Wright had actually dreamed “It doesn’t rain on the golf course,” Bob ofplaying for the University ofWashington, Wright used to joke with his son. “You but the basketball coach there. Tippy Dye, have to play in the rain around here.” wasn’t interested in putting the first black player on his team, Wright remembers. So Bob Wright, an accomplished golfer in he came up to Western to play under coach his own right, made it to the Public Links Jack Hubbard and became a standout on championship four years after his son won the WWU team. He caught the atten it. But he struggled for years to become a tion of a sports reporter at the Bellingham member of one of the segregated, private Herald, who often wrote about Wright’s golf clubs associated with Seattle’s public basketball talent. courses; golfers needed to belong to such a club to establish a handicap needed to “And at the end (of the story) he would enter tournaments. put, ‘Wait until spring,” for golf season, Wright says. So Bob Wright knew the power of “you can’t” when he took his son to watch a champion junior golfer at Jefferson Park ill Wright made it to the USGA’s one day. Public Links championship in “My dad said, ‘Don’t worry about it, you 1959, during his senior year at can’t beat him anyway,”’ Wright remem Western. Seattle’s golf clubs bers. “I said, ‘Just for that, within a year. I’m were still segregated, so the future cham going to beat him.’ pion had to join a golf club in Portland, 12 Legend of the game: Far left, Bill Wright and his wife, Ceta, watch the NCAA Division !i championships at Loomis Trail Golf Club in spring 2009. Below, Wright chats with Brett Eaton, director of golf at Semiahmoo. Right, Wright with WWU golfer Jake Koppenberg, who tied for 12th at the tournament. Ore., to establish a handicap to get into "Anvtime 3 vounqster tfios me. I'm ready to play the tournament. j y ^ j Its hard for anyone born less than 40 to travel or play with him he says. Wright successful businessman as the owner of years ago to understand the level of rac was practicing on the putting green alone Pasadena Lincoln Mercury. He also went ism in sports during that era. Many col when golfing legend Chick Evans walked on the PGA tour, appearing in the U.S. leges refused to field their athletes if there up. Evans, the first player to win the U.S. Open in 1966 and six Senior U.S. Opens were any black players on the opposing Amateur and the U.S. Open the same year, in the ‘80s and ‘90s. He returned to WWU team. Even Don Essig, the player from was known not only for his skill on the several times over the years, often to play Louisiana State on whose behalf Wright fairway, but his sense of sportsmanship. in an alumni tournament named in his asked the crowd to quiet down, had to call honor. And in 2000, he was named one of his university’s officials for permission to Evans told Wright he was looking for a WWU’s “Alumni of the Century.” play against Wright. It wasn’t personal, player to round out a foursome. Now 73 and a golf instructor at The Lakes Wright says, just something Essig had to “I understand why you’re not playing,” at El Segundo near the Los Angeles do. Evans told Wright. “Don’t say anything International Airport, he stiU gets up at “That part of golf really doesn’t exist that more. I want you to go into the clubhouse 5 o’clock each morning and hits 300 balls much anymore,” Wright says 50 years later. and sit next to me.” three times a day, he says. He’s standing at a podium at Semiahmoo So Wright joined Evans to play with “Anytime a youngster tries me. I’m ready Resort, speaking to a banquet room packed a young up-and-comer named Jack to play,” he says. with top collegiate golfers the night before Nicklaus, who won the U.S. Amateur that the NCAA Division II national tourna year, and Deane Beman, who won it the Today, many of Wright’s golf students are ment, hosted by WWU in spring 2009. following year. Afterward, Wright sat next kids, hoping to get on the golf team. He’ll Invited as a special guest, Wright had just to Evans - at the head table. often teach them for free. Though Tiger received an official proclamation from Woods has certainly smashed through “He had to be close to 80 years old,” USGA President Jim Vernon, recognizing most of the remaining racial barriers in Wright remembers of Evans. “He under his accomplishments. golf, it’s still difficult for anyone but the stood the problem.” Wright doesn’t Uke to dwell on the road very wealthy to become accomplished in a blocks he experienced because of racism in sport that can cost $50 in green fees each the past. Most people know the history, he year after winning the PubLinks time you play. says, or they don’t want to. But there’s one championship, Wright brought But it’s a game he still loves. story he does make sure to tell the nation’s home WWU’s first national title in best Division II men’s golfers on the eve of I any sport when he won the NAIA “When you play golf, it makes you concen the national championship. men’s golf championship, also the firsttrate, ” he says. “You’re not hitting anybody, AAfrican-American to do so. you’re not hurting anybody. You’re not Winning the PubLinks title in 1959 talking to anybody, except maybe to God. earned Wright an automatic spot in that After graduation, Wright and his wife, year’s U.S. Amateur championships. But Ceta, moved to Los Angeles, where he “You learn etiquette,” he says. “You learn his fellow PubLinks qualifiers didn’t want taught for nine years before becoming a to be honest.” www.wwu.edu/window 13 WWU faculty and students explore the depths of the By Mary Lane Gallagher Photos by Matthew Anderson ('06) on Bale explains that the clear liquid he’s carefully dripping into a glass test tube in the laboratory contains neurotrans mitters, the chemicals that allow brain cells to communicate with each other. Working on a research project studying brain neurochemistry with Associate Professor of Psychology Janet Finlay, Bale is get ting important research experience for a student who aspires to become a neurologist. But Bale knows the real beneficiary of his long hours in the lab are people with schizophrenia, like those he once met while accompanying a doctor treating psychiatric patients. Those troubled by hallucinations could find relief with medi cation, Bale saw. But medicine didn’t seem to alleviate other symptoms like extreme emotional detachment or disorientation '; even though, as he says, they can be just as debilitating. Finlay is most interested in these so-called “cognitive” symp toms of the disease, which also include loss of short-term mem ory and attention deficits, all of which can make it impossible for people to live on their own. And those are the symptoms she’s targeting with her research. “In this lab, we’re working on (research) that can go on to help people,” Bale says. “It’s a very real experience for me.” Finlay, Bale and other student researchers are studying the anatomy of the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that gov erns high-level reasoning and helps us navigate social interac tions. They’re studying structural abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex and their link to the symptoms of schizophrenia. Dozens of WWU students like Bale are working along side faculty researchers in WWU’s four-year-old Behavioral Neuroscience program, an interdisciplinary effort of the Psychology and Biology departments. While neuroscience programs are common at large research- oriented universities, it s rare to find a program like this at a uni versity like Western, where undergraduate education is the focus, says Finlay, the program’s director. “I have worked with more undergraduates in the lab in one quarter at Western than I did in 10 years at the University of Pittsburgh,” Finlay says. At large universities such as the University of Pittsburgh, she says, the emphasis is generally on training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. At WWU, each faculty member in the Behavioral Neuroscience program is conducting research with the help of up to 10 undergraduate research assistants. That means students leave WWU better prepared for doctoral programs, medical school and jobs in the biomedical research field, she says. Learning in the lab: Above, Junior Amanda DeSouza works on a class project in Assistant Professor of Psychology Jackie Rose's lab Undergraduates work closely with Finlay says the goal of the program is to train undergraduates faculty in WWU's Behavioral Neuroscience program. Middle, Associate Professor of in the “four cornerstones” of brain science: physiology, chemis Psychology Janet Finlay in her lab. Bottom, Mitchell Wold, a senior Behavioral Neuroscience major, examines a solution of neurotransmitters for Finley's neurochemistry work. try, behavioral analysis and anatomy. Faculty research areas range from schizophrenia and brain injury to memory and addiction. She’s proud of the faculty who’ve come to the program. Many have impressive research experience: Assistant Professor Jackie Rose, for example, published an article this year in the prestigious neuroscience journal Neuron. Other faculty members include Professor Roger Anderson, associate professors Mike Mana and Jeff Grimm, and assistant professors Jose Serrano-Moreno, Heather Van Epps and Kelly Jantzen. “I just can’t believe the faculty we’ve been able to bring to gether,” Finlay says. Behavioral Neuroscience got an important boost from the state Legislature in 2007, when they provided some enhanced funding for the program partly to promote the state’s biomedical research industry. All the students "felt like they had the area themselves." And just as importantly, Finlay says, students got excited about studying brains, too, drawn to a field that combines biolo gy, chemistry and psychology. The program started small and re mains selective, with 17 students now working toward a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Neuroscience. All the students “felt like they had discovered the area them selves,” Finlay says. Take John Harkness (’09), who calls himself “an ultimate suc cess story for General University Requirements.” Harkness was interested in business, or perhaps philosophy, when he took a Psychology 101 class for a GUR. He found his home. Fascinated with the possibility of studying both human be havior and the biology and chemistry of the brain, Harkness ap plied to become one of the first Behavioral Neuroscience majors Continued on Page 16 wvv.wwu.edu/window 15 soon after the program began in 2005. University, Harkness returned to WWU He asked Grimm for advice on get this fall to present his research at the an ting involved in research, and Grimm nual Pacific Northwest Chapters meeting suggested Harkness stop by his lab to see of the Society for Neuroscience, held at for himself Harkness soon worked with Western for the first time this year. Grimm to explore the brain science be Finlay was delighted that colleagues hind sugar cravings, co-authoring a paper from both the Seattle and Vancouver/ with Grimm and presenting research at Victoria regions selected WWU as the several conferences. Harkness also co place to gather. founded a student club. Neuroscience “It s one more indication Western is Research Driven Students, or NeRDS. on the map as far as neuroscience goes,” Now a doctoral student in neu she says. “I think people will be surprised roscience at Oregon Health Sciences at what we ve become.” : entering scientists: Above, Associate Professor Janet Finlay inspects her students' work in her lab. Middle, senior Paul Pittman, right, and junior Olivia Konicek use microscopes to study previous daywork in a lab run by Jackie Rose, an assistant professor 9 of Psychology. ';v m mm Profoundnr , ______CDrUlECtlDnS______, ssociate Professor Janet Finlay often speak to community groups such has won lots of research grants as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, in her nearly two decades of while members of the student club, studying the brain. But only NeRDS, often visit K-12 classrooms to talk Aone of those grants changed her life.about brain science. A promising young neuroscientist And students and faculty meet infor at the University of Pittsburgh in 1992, mally each month at a restaurant in down Finlay received a research grant from town Bellingham for freewheeling discus the National Alliance for Research in sions about topics ranging from memory Schizophrenia and Depression. The grant to brain injury. required her to travel to Chicago to meet These "Neuroscience on Tap: Bring Young researcher: Below, senior Mitchell Wold hopes his research with Finlay will help lead to new treatments for the people who funded it: four families Your Own Brain" (sometimes known by schizophrenia. who had lost children to schizophrenia. the acronym, BYOB) events typically draw As the families told Finlay their stories, dozens of people armed with questions. she realized that for the first time, her re "How can people improve their memo search had a face - four faces, really. The ries?" one asked Assistant Professor Jackie four families hoped their stories would in Rose, who recently led a discussion about spire young scientists to look for new ways memory and the brain. Get enough sleep to treat schizophrenia. and exercise, she responded over the din "From that point forward, I was com of the crowded bar. mitted," she says, "t couldn't possibly not Other topics in the Bring Your Own devote the rest of my career to studying Brain series have included brain injury, ad this mental illness." dictions and mental illness. Faculty mem Those are the kinds of galvanizing bers leading the discussions have learned moments Finlay hopes students have in they don't need to give long presenta WWU's Behavioral Neuroscience program, tions to fill the time. so community outreach is a big part of the "There always seem to be enough department's activities. Faculty members questions," Finlay says. WWU Seniors Give Back For the second consecutive year, graduating seniors were given the chance to celebrate their graduation with a gift to Western in honor of their favorite professor, staff person or coach. During the 08-09 Senior Giving Campaign, 87 students made gifts totaling $1,785 to enrich departments and programs on campus. The ‘thank you that came along with those donations is an added benefit for those who play such an important role in the lives of students. To make a gift in honor of your favorite professor, contact Caitlin Holman in the Western Washington University Foundation at 360.650.3274 or email [email protected]. For information about the Graduation Celebration fair and volunteer opportunities, contact Jeniene WWU graduate Rachel Mesko ('09) with Econonnics Bengtsson in the Alumni Office at 800.676.6885 or email [email protected].. professor Paul Storer. Rachel made a gift to Western in honor of Dr. Storer because he was the best teacher she ever had and made economics simple. "As a recent graduate in a tough job market, I couldn't donate a lot,"she says. "But Professor Storer was hugely influential in my success at Western and it was very important for me to recognize him, no Western Employees who were honored: matter the amount." Warren Aller, Ed Leadership-Ed Administration John Korsmo, Human Services & Rehabilitation Kristin Anderson, Sociology George Kriz, Chemistry Susan Anderson, Career Services Center Donald Larsen, Ed Leadership-Ed Administration Chappelle Arnett, PEHR Bill Lay, Special Education Honor Roll of Donors Bidisha Biswas, Political Science Kristi Lemm, Psychology July 1,2008-June 30,2009 Rich Brown, Theatre Arts Max Lewis, Psychology David Brunnemer, disAbility Resources Ying Li, PEHR Anonymous Mathesen Hoss Sandra Daffron, Ed Leadership-CCE/SAA Billie Lindsey, PEHR Steven Abbott, Jr. Emily Humphrey Rieko Darling, Communication Sciences & Disorders Morgan Livingston, Human Services & Rehabilitation Angela Adkins Dana Irwin James Dean, Economics James Lortz, Theatre Sarah Anderson Bailey James Mary Lynne Derrington, Ed Leadership-Ed Kristin Mahoney, English April Baetz Kristin Jensen Administration Mike Mana, Psychology Melissa Baldwin Jagjeet Johal Jennifer Devenport, Psychology Charles Maxwell, Finance & Marketing Thomas Ball Jon Junell Peter Diehl, History Lee McClain, Decision Sciences Rachel Bell-Randall Malie Larish Dawn Dietrich, English Kris McDuffy, Ed Leadership-Ed Administration Christina Berger Steven Dillman, Engineering Technology Scott Miles, Environmental Studies James LeDuc Bradley Berget Deb Donovan, Biology Karen Morse, President Emeritus Teresa Litton Craig Dunn, Management Sean Murphy, Liberal Studies Charles Blair II Bryant Livesay Pat Fabiano, Ed Leadership-CCE/SAA Jeff Newcomer, Engineering Technology Catherine Bollinger KirkMahJoubian David Fewings, Finance & Marketing Carolyn Nielsen, Journalism Katherine Borden Jeffrey Marinelli Petra Fiero, Modern & Classical Languages Kathleen Nuzum, Psychology Megan Byram Isabel Meaker Jeanne Freeman, PEHR Maria Paredes-Mendez, Modern & Classical Languages Christina Chacharon Rachel Mesko Kristen French, Elementary Education Cornelius Partsch, Modern & Classical Languages Jaymie Chamberlin- Tasha Newell Hugo Garcia, Modern & Classical Languages Scott Pearce, Liberal Studies Johnston Leo Norikov David Gilbertson, Accounting Seiko Purdue, Art Athena Cipriani Alexander Oster Bliss Goldstein, English Daniel Purdy, CBE Jennifer Cloud Vanya Popov Stan Goto, Ed Leadership-CCE/SAA Deena Rathkamp, Counseling Center Alexis Davis Kendel Quaid Lee Gulyas, English John Rybczyk, Environmental Sciences Britani Davis Brian Ramsdell Shaw Gynan, Modern & Classical Languages Yolanda Sanchez-Lovato, Human Services - Bremerton Kia Davis Richard Riddell Joyce Hammond, Anthropology George Sanders, Accounting Sidonie De Cassis Vanessa Roebuck Todd Haskell, Psychology Kathleen Saunders, Anthropology Jessie Deardorff Esmeralda Romero Peter Haug, Decision Sciences David Shull, Environmental Sciences Arbour Decker Shannon Rothbauer Jennifer Hays, Communication Ron Singleton, Accounting Naomi Diaz Marc Runyard Julie Helling, Fairhaven Ruth Sofield, Environmental Sciences Angela Dittmar Lauren Schadt Marty Hitchcock, Accounting Robert Stoops, Liberal Studies Kyle Donohue Charles Hoffman, Political Science Paul Storer, Economics Rebecca Sevin George Drumheller IV Caitlin Holman, WWU Foundation Audrey Taylor, Accounting Chris Sharp Samantha Durr Peter Homann, Environmental Sciences Lucky Tedrow, Sociology Megan Shea Stephen Howie, Journalism Glenn Tsunokai, Sociology Lama El Dani Cassandra Shelley-Main Hud Hudson, Philosophy John Underwood, Modern & Classical Languages Morgan Filibeck Jillian Smith Zite Hutton, Accounting Michael Vendiola, Student Activities Cassandra Flores Montaine Sorenson Ira Hyman, Psychology James Vyvyan, Chemistry Meghann Galland Campbell Thibo James Inverarity, Sociology Wendy Walker, Environmental Studies Ted Gemmer Justin Thompson Nancy Iwakawa, Modern & Classical Languages Rudi Weiss, Modern & Classical Languages Karlee Glasgow Sharon Traykov Mitchell Jancic, Elementary Education Kathleen Young, Anthropology Kaleb Gubernick Aaron Vallot Washington McNeel Jantzen, Psychology Eyad Youssef, Finance and Marketing Andrew Hansen Tish Watson Diane Johnson, Modern & Classical Languages Kei Hattori Erin Williams Nancy Johnson, English Alumni Association Staff Michelle Hilton Gabriella Wilson Vernon Johnson, Political Science CBE Faculty and Staff Trevin Hoffman Patti Wilson-Buchanan Jack Keith, Journalism MIS Department Faculty and Staff WESTERN ■ fbundation CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE rofessor Ralph Vernacchia has the well-trained minds of the world’s bes ^ think^f Vernacchia, he remembers what made a career of encouraging skiers, skaters, lugers and hockey players at ®*his WWU track coach said about the athletes and helping them reach work. competition: race walkers training in the their peak physical performance, “I’ve had a love affair with sport my relative luxury of an indoor track during but forgive him if he becomes a completewhole life,” he says. brutal winters of the northern Midwest. couchP potato for two weeks in February. As director of Western’s Center for “Oak trees don’t grow in a greenhouse,” Because when the Winter Olympic Performance Excellence, a 40-year scholar Vernacchia told him. Games in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., of sport psychology and a former WWU “That’s something that’s stuck with are on television, Vernacchia says, he’ll track and field coach, Vernacchia has me the longest,” says James. “You’ve got be an “Olympic zombie.” For a scholar of helped anyone from struggling college to go out there and make the effort. It sport psychology, watching the Olympics players to Olympians find the mental doesn’t matter what it’s like outside. It is like field research and he’ll try to soak toughness to achieve their physical goals. doesn’t matter what the competition is in as much as he can get, he says, watching When race walker Allen James (‘87) like. If you think, ‘I’m cooked before I Believe it: Belief is central to what Ralph Vernacchia has learned over the years about sport psychology - both athletes' belief in themselves and their coaches belief in them. "I learned that as a coach," he says. "You're not able to coach someone if you don't believe in them." 18 WINDOW • Fall 2009 • Western Washington University even start/ how do you succeed, when Vernacchia has been fascinated by the you’re already defeated?” mental aspects of sports since his high James, along with WWU teammate school days as a track and field athlete. Herm Nelson (’87), went on to compete A miler, one of his early heroes is Roger in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games in Bannister, whose smashing of the four- race walking. minute mile was as much of a mental ac But Vernacchia won’t share credit for complishment as physical, Vernacchia says. the accomplishments of great athletes he’s Before Bannister’s mile, Vernacchia known along the way. He may have helped, says, many people just didn’t believe hu he says, but the athletes themselves did all mans could run a mile in less than four the work. Asked for a favorite moment in minutes, that perhaps the lungs would coaching, he remembers a young man who explode. But as Bannister later wrote, be wasn’t a star, just happy to contribute. lieving he could do it gave him that extra “‘Ralph,’” the student said after Western physical edge he needed. won the district cross country champion But sport psychology was still in its ship, ‘“This was the happiest day of my life.’ infancy in the ‘70s, when Vernacchia was That’s one thing I’U never forget.” pursuing a doctorate on the mental aspects of athletic activity. Most of Vernacchia’s or a decade, Vernacchia worked coaching colleagues seemed to believe with the nation’s top track and they’d get the best out of athletes through field athletes, first with the ju a “survival-of-the-fittest” approach, but nior team and then the senior Vernacchia remained convinced that team, traveling with the U.S. Trackcoaches and needed to strengthen athletes’ FieldF teams to international competitions minds as well as their bodies. in Bulgaria, Scotland, Greece and Spain. “To me, every person is gifted,” he says. In 2000, he was one of two sport psy “My role as a professor or a parent or a chology professionals to travel with the coach is to help you discover that gift, your team to the Olympic Games in Sydney, specific talent.” Australia. The power of belief is the thing that “It was very humbling to be able to live keeps Vernacchia intrigued these days. For my dream,” Vernacchia says. years he’s told athletes how important it is Inner Strength: Vernacchia's sport psychology graduate students include, from left to right, Catherine Rasnack (08), Kelly Jones (09), Kaylee Gardner and Brian Zuleger ('09). "He "To me, every person is gifted. has taught me and other students what it really means to set your principles and really live by them," Jones says. "That's what you have to My role is to help you discover that gift." measure every decision you make against." Part of Vernacchia’s job was to help the to develop and believe in their own dreams athletes and coaches to perform at their and goals, to visualize them and prepare to best even under less-than-ideal circum achieve them. But he’s also thinking about stances. The pressure and attention of the the power of others’beliefs. Olympics can be distracting for athletes, “We can all look to a mentor or some who must focus - and refocus - to stay in one who believed in us when we didn’t the zone. even know we had talent,” he says. “People Vernacchia learned that first-hand underrate that, the power of belief ” when he was faced with a common dis And James, who continues to race walk traction at the Olympics: colds and flu and coach younger athletes near his home bugs gathered from the far corners of the in the Buffalo, N.Y, area, stiU puts his old world. But illness didn’t keep Vernacchia coach’s advice to good use. Even during The Center for Performance Excellence down for long. the most brutal of New York winters, he offers programs for athletes, coaches “You don’t have much time to think refuses to work out indoors. and others interested in learning more about it,” he says. “You’re there to serve the “Oak trees,” he says, “don’t grow in a about achieving peak performance. coaches and athletes.” greenhouse.” Learn more at www.wwu.edu/cpe. www.wwu.edu/wlndow 19 Saving the planet, one building at a time By Mary Lane Gallagher Photos by Andy Bronson itting in the driver’s seat of a rumbling blue forklift, Dave Bennink uses the tongs to carefully remove parts of a decaying roof, piece- by-piece revealing the massive rough-heAvn timber trusses that have sheltered this school gymnasium on Vashon Island for 90 years. Bennink, a 1994 Huxley graduate, \vonders hoAV the 1919 builders got these gigantic beams 20 feet off the ground as he straps them to the forklift for sup port before lowering them to the ground. The longest beam is 50 feet. “It’s like a tree suspended over two walls,” he says. “For all intents and pur poses, it’s a squared-off tree without bark.” Bennink’s job is to dismantle the gymnasium carefully enough to preserve those beams - and almost everything else in the historical building - for either reuse or recycling. He also must do it quickly enough to show that preserving a building’s parts can be as cost effective as tearing it doAvn and hauling it to the dump. “Our goal is to make building deconstruction a mainstream choice for build ing removal,” says Bennink, who has deconstructed about 500 buildings in 34 states and consulted on thousands of others. “He has a hunger for dismantling buildings,” says John Majercak, chairperson of Building Materials Reuse Association. “There’s an intensity about him re lated to wanting to take down buildings efficiently.” The association just named Bennink its National Deconstructor of the Year not only for his skills on the job, but his advocacy for the industry. “A lot of people aren’t even thinking about deconstruction and don’t know what it is,” Majercak says. “You have to be able to sell the idea of deconstruc tion at the same time you’re selling your deconstruction services.” ennink was still studying water quality at Huxley when he needed an internship in 1993 and landed at RE Sources, a Bellingham non-profit getting ready to launch the RE Store to collect and sell used building supplies in town. TheyB started by taking buildings apart piece by piece. It took forever, Bennink remembers, and got him thinking that “zero waste” was a green myth. He be gan developing ways to use machines to speed up the process. “In the real market, you can’t have something cost 2 1^-times more and take 2 1^-times longer,” he says. “You essentially betray your mission on a larger scale.” Bennink says that most building owners love the idea of salvaging a building for materials instead of tearing it down and throwing it all away. “But they just want it to cost the same and take the same amoun t of time.” Continued on Page 22 vvww.wwu.edu/window 21 He ended up working for the RE Store for ennink, a quietly intense cant houses. Deconstructing those houses IIV2 years, improving his techniques along guy who prefers to travel can do more than just give new life to the the way. It used to take about three weeks Bellingham’s hills on his bi building’s pieces, he says. The new jobs to salvage parts from a 2,000-square-foot cycle instead of his car, explains that result could revitalize families and house, Bennink says. Now, he and a well- how a salvaged two-by-four saves notneighborhoods only bereft by the shrinking trained crew can take it apart in 2 V2 to spaceB at the landfill, but also the trees and manufacturing industry. three days. And the higher labor costs are energy it would cost to harvest and manu “Deconstruction creates 20 times more often off-set by much-lower landfill fees, facture a new one. jobs than demolition work,” he says. “We he says. Better yet, he explains, it saves jobs. could take back a lot of jobs from overseas.” “If there were 100 buildings that needed to As soon as Bennink and his crew were As his methods have become more ef be taken down, I would say we’d be cheaper done dismantling the old Vashon Island ficient, he’s trained others, including de on 20 of them,” Bennink says. “We might school gymnasium with contractor Ron molition businesses that want to get in be the same price on 20 of them and in the Mitchell, a stressful five-day job com on the growing interest in sustainable ballpark on maybe another 10. pressed into fewer than four during a holi construction. “Building owners are demanding decon "He has a hunger for disnnantling buildings..." struction,” Bennink says. “If you want to be a part of that project, you have to pro vide it.” “Right now, that’s fine,” he says, “because day week, he was on a plane to Chicago we don’t have the capacity to do 100 per to help the city develop what would be Another critical part of his consulting cent of the buildings.” the nation’s largest green deconstruction business is working with communities to job-training program, training 140 former launch their own retail stores to sell used That’s his next challenge: While Bennink prison inmates for green-coUar jobs. building supplies. Bennink knows it does has been deconstructing buildings, he’s no good to encourage people to salvage been building a green deconstruction Though RE-USE Consulting consists building materials if there is no local mar workforce. only of him, his wife and help from his ket for it. two teen-aged children, he’s working with He began RE-USE Consulting about clients in 34 states who have the potential By the time Bennink is working in Chicago, five years ago to share his practices with to deconstruct thousands and thousands of the 90-year-old gym has been transformed groups in other parts of the country to buildings. into piles of wood, sturdy timber and re build their capacity to keep buildings out cyclable material. About half of the old of the landfill, too. He has also consulted with Rust building is destined to become part of Belt cities such as Buffalo, N.Y. “It’s taken people a long time to see this, what is yet to be built. and Detroit, whose shrinking but the environment can be an economic populations have left behind engine,” says Brad Smith, dean of Huxley tens of thousands of va- College of the Environment. “It was an industry that didn’t exist. Whenever you have a whole new sector emerging like this, you have job creation.” Salvaging history: Right, Dave Bennink scales a timber beam roof structure to prepare to take it apart. join our Linkedin group. With more than 5,000 active members, they have become a dynamic way to exchange pho tos, memories, and career opportunities at real-time speed - adding value in many ways to each other and the university. While virtual connections are im portant, sometimes it’s nice to see old Western friends and professors in per son. So, we’re giving you two great op portunities in 2010: • Back 2 Bellingham Alumni Sc WWU online connnnunities S an alumnus of this great uni Family Weekend, May 14-16. versity you have an obvious keep us connected Tour your old residence hall, at bond with Western. Think back tend a campus lecture, enjoy live Aon your classes and friends, professors entertainment or join your college, By Deborah DeWees and favorite hangouts; how do you stay student club or athletic team in a Photo by Edye Coiello-Morton connected to these memories and rela reunion. tionships in the midst of your busy life? • Golden Viking Reunion, July 13- We can help! It’s as simple as logging 14, for grads from 1965 and earlier. on to your computer, going to our WWU Reconnect with former classmates Alumni website, and strolling through during a campus tour, hop aboard a our Western alumni neighborhoods on cruise on Bellingham Bay, and join Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter. members of the classes of 1958, 1959 and 1960 as they are inducted into Golden Viking Society. facebook bulikker Linked Start finding old Western friends on our WWU Alumni social networks, I’m amazed at how fast these online make a plan to spend time together in communities are growing; I recently had Bellingham, and watch your in-box for WESTERN more details! WASHINGTON 25 requests in 24 hours from alumni to UNIVERSITY. dAlumniAssociation WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SUMMER 2009 1 PAST ISSUE Western Weekly Western Wire (AJ^ What's in your in-box? 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Facedook and October 14, 2009 You should already be receiving Twitter groups, Network with Western grads and your university from newspapers, magazines and blogs nationwide. old cfassrnates to find a job, remember your days on Financial Survivai Skiiis for yno Women the Western Wire and your college campus, or just make new friends! In this Issue of the Western Wire find out about the Viking Blend, a new whole November 4, 2009 bean coffee that supports student scholarships; read about a Western Tcauaima Professor Series Sign up at news.wwu.edu, click on "Feedback" then e-newsletter. If not, visit wwualumni. Communication grad's experience teaching Er>g}i6h in the east African country of George '’Finky“ Nelson & Djibouti; [earn about some of the groundbreaking research happening on the Bract Snowden WWU campus; and watch a student's take on a commencement speech; plus "Subscribe to Publications"or to see previous editions com to "Update Your Info" with your morel May 14>16,2010 Become part of our community and 1o«n the Alumni Association today. Check click on "Publications " then "Western Today." current e-mail address. oiir rho rn wHv ir «n mtirh aanaa lutv 13-14. 2010 www.wwu.edu/window 23 Class Notes 1958 - John Steward Harding, 75, a 1979 - Margie (Mitchell) Huntoon, 52, 1968 - Joe Henry published his Weddings retired educator, on May 9, 2009 in on Oct. 8, 2009. book, "Lieutenant Henry: Memoir of a Bellingham. Marine," with virtualbookworm.com. 1980 - Julie Aydelotte, 51, a former 2000s The book chronicles Henry's post-grad 1959-Donald E.Thorneycroft,79,a re human resources director, on June 19, uation "metamorphosis" from college Jesica Grace Arreola and Patrick Robert tired teacher and immigration inspec 2009. Ernest W. Randa, 91, a retired student to a Marine Corps combat of Kofler ('01) on June 20, 2009 in Walla tor, on June 11,2009. Dick Wilkinson, a economics professor at the University ficer in Vietnam. Walla. former teacher, coach and horse train of Utah, on Sept. 5, 2009 in Salt Lake Cedar Pearsall ('01) and Robert Carter er, on June 3,2009 in Portland, Ore. City. 1969 - Pete Coy is director of the Ski to Sea Race in Bellingham. He is also a real ('01) on Aug. 16, 2008 in Laguna Beach, 1961 - Marvin L. "Jim" Harris, 71, a re 1982 - Nancy Ann (Wilson) Walbeck, estate agent. Calif. tired park ranger in North Cascades 67, a journalist and editor, in May 2009 Anne Marie Provinsal ('03) and Derek National Park, on June 21,2009. in Anacortes. 1970 - Berton L. Glandon was named president of College of Western Idaho. Mahoney on Oct. 11,2008 in Bellingham. 1962 - Verrill Staiberg, 72, a mem 1987 - Danae C. Lennox, 44, an ac He previously served as president ber of the Marine Corps League and countant, on Aug. 7,2009 in Chehalis. Brayde Ridenhour ('04) and Matthew of Arapahoe Community College in Disabled American Veterans, on July 2, Willson ('06) on May 16, 2009 in 1989 - Randall Lynn Schuett, 61, who Littleton, Colo., and Treasure Valley 2009 in Bellingham. Bellingham. worked in logging and construction Community College in Ontario, Ore. Mackenzie Belka ('05) and Jonah 1965 - Terrance Rodney Curran, 66, a before earning his degree, on May 7, Harry Price lives in Fairfield, Calif., and Griffith on Sept. 5,2009 in Seattle. scientist, on July 15,2009 in San Diego. 2009 in Bellingham. has long been active in city govern ment. He was recently elected for a sec 1969 - Richard Charles Fackler, 61, a 1990 - A. Brad Peterson, 55, a physical Lindsay Wallace ('05) and Andrew ond term as mayor. Leisner ('06) on May 2,2009 in Tacoma, retired parks and city planner, on May therapist, on April 6,2009 in Ferndale. 23, 2009 while traveling in Argentina. 1971 - Edward G. Carson became WA. 2000 - Elizabeth Me Euen, 30, on Aug. A lifelong advocate of parks, trails and chief executive officer of Growth 5, 2009 in Charlotte, N.C. Lisa Harvey ('07) and Dale LeClaire open space preservation, Mr. Fackler Management and Constructive ('09) on June 6,2009 in Gig Harbor. worked in Whatcom and Kitsap coun 2001 - Rachel Verda Busby, 30, Changes LLC, a planning, market Lauren McKnew ('08) and Jeffrey Bell ties. Keith Leroy Lowry Sr., 87, a retired who worked to help domestic vio ing and analysis company in Laguna ('07) on June 20,2009 in Bellingham. Air Force Lt. Colonel and middle school lence victims, on May 25, 2009 in Niguel, Calif. Previously, Carson was a mathematics teacher, on Sept. 23,2009. Bellevue. Anastasia Minter, 36, who senior manager at The Boeing Co. Bob had worked as an academic adviser at Eager, a retired history teacher, was 1971 - Diana Lee (Gooding) Boise State University and University of named "Harborite of the Year" by the 1990s Williamson, 59, on April 8,2009. Washington, on Sept. 29,2009. Aberdeen Museum of History. Elizabeth Alex Duncan ('95) and Tod 1972 - Robert Carkner, 73, a retired 2002 - Gunther Jose Frank, 35, a 1972 - Mary Ann Horn retired in 2007 Monroe ('87) on March 28, 2009 in high school principal and coach in the photographer, on June 5, 2009 in after teaching special and regular edu Turn water. Vancouver, B.C. area, on Aug. 2,2009. Bellingham. cation for 34 years in the Seattle School Zooey Deschanel and Ben Gibbard 1973 - Gary Lee Gilmore, 59, on Aug. District. 2004 - Tyler Wayne Johnson, 27, on ('98) on Sept. 19,2009 near Seattle. 4,2009. Feb. 19, 2009. 1973 - After teaching for 31 years in the 1974 - Holly Weston, 55, on Nov. 13, Tacoma School District, Nancy Jones 2007 in Eugene, Ore. Denise Guren, 56, Foote and her husband moved to the Obituaries a library technician, violinist and folk- Sunriver, Ore., area where she works for dancer, on May 31,2009 in Bellingham. Faculty and Staff Sunriver Resort. Bill Kalenius, 57, the founder and pres 1933 - Ruby Katherine Smarz, 97, 1974 - DaveTucker, a geology research ident of the Vancouver Lake Rowing Michael Grimes, 44, an associate pro a retired teacher, on Oct. 12, 2009 in associate at WWU, leads geology tours Club, on Sept. 23, 2009. Kalenius fessor of anthropology at WWU, on Centralia. of downtown Bellingham for Western's earned the WWU Alumni Community Oct. 14, 2009. The director of WWU's Academy for Lifelong Learning. Al 1941 - Edith M. Miller, 88, a retired mu Service Recognition in 2009 for his Biodemography Laboratory, his re Erickson recently retired as parks man sic and art teacher, on Aug. 9,2009. leadership of the club, particularly after search areas included nutrition and ager for the City of Issaquah. 1945 - Phyllis Louise Plummer Knick, a rare tornado destroyed much of the metabolism, reproductive physiology 93, on March 29, 2009 in Bellevue. club's equipment. and breastfeeding behavior. 1975 - Americans for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts 1975 - John J. Jameson, 75, a retired Douglas R. Vander Yacht, 73, a retired 1947 - Alice Joan (Fjellman) Bedoian, awarded Victoria L. Hamilton the public school teacher and adminis professor of Theatre at WWU, on May 86, a retired teacher, counselor and Selina Roberts Ottum Award for Arts trator, on April 24, 2009 in Ferndale. 26, 2009 in Bellingham. He graduated school administrator, on April 3,2009 in Leadership in June. Hamilton is exec He was also active in community the from Western in 1960 and was also very Fresno, Calif. utive director of the City of San Diego ater in Whatcom County. Don Edward active in children's theatre throughout Commission for Arts and Culture. 1950 - Donald S. Peterson, 83, a Navy Schelling, 60, an Air Force veteran and the state. veteran, former gas station owner, in retired pipefitter, on July 30, 2009. 1979 - Chris Rust became principal surance salesman and upholsterer, on of Warden High School. He previous 1976 - Jim McKellar, 82, retired exec Aug. 11,2009 in Bellingham. ly worked as principal at a school for utive director of the Bellingham YMCA mental health outpatients in Portland, 1952 - Ralph Sparman, 81, a retired and former Whatcom Community Class Notes teacher, in May 2009 in Lake Stevens. Ore. and as a middle school principal in College trustee, on July 20, 2009 in 1960 - Ruggles Larson, a retired coach Letha Sussex, 77, on Nov. 12, 2008. Mattawa. Bellingham. Richard Leigh Thiessen, and administrator, often competes at Robert Baker, 78, a retired teacher, 1980 - Linda Quinn became superin 54, a geology professor at Washington the Washington State Senior Games. school counselor and accomplished State University, on July 18, 2009 in The 75-year-old came in first this year tendent of the Ferndale School District. musician, on Feb. 24,2009 in Kirkland. Everett. Stephen F. Snapp, 56, a com in the softball throw and second in the She has worked as a school administra tor in Washington and California. 1953 - Priscilla Wallace, 77, a retired mercial fisherman, shipwright and mer triple-jump. chant mariner, on Sept. 14, 2009 in teacher, on Oct. 4,2009 in Bellingham. 1981 - Dana Hanks, coordinator of Sitka, Alaska. 1965 - Terry DeValois retired after 44 1955 - Ray Martin Cohrs, 75, a retired years with the Lynden School District, the Blaine Senior Center/Community teacher and administrator, on June 30, 1977 - Dale Lee Pendry, 64, on July 31, including 35 as the district's athletic di Center, won a Bellingham Mayor's Arts 2009 in Seattle. 2009. rector and 25 years as freshman basket Award in 2009. Before joining the Blaine ball coach. 24 WINDOW • Fall 2009 • Western Washington University WHERE’S ^ Class Notes ftonrufrcTC r JL X JLlljhJjLkJ m Alum finishes his degree - finally - after creating a chance for others Senior Center, Hanks was coordinator Harbor. Shannon Harvey, principal of of the Boeder Home in Bellingham. Cascade Elementary School in Renton, won the $25,000 Milken Award from 1983 - Rick Dale, chairman and CEO the Milken Family Foundation. Harvey of iXP Corp., spoke at WWU's spring was honored for her success in using Commencement. Dale is an expert in data to achieve long-range goals, par building public safety communica ticularly in reading achievement. Mike tions systems. Jeff Morris works for Bruner became manager of the Grays the Environmental Protection Agency Harbor County Fairgrounds. as the National Program Director for Nanotechnology. 1994 - Jen McQualde just performed the role of Luce in the Bellingham 1984 - Patsy Martin, executive di Theatre Guild's "The Boys from rector for the Port of Skagit County, Syracuse."She is also a project manager was a finalist for Northwest Business at Sterling Life Insurance in Bellingham. Monthly magazine's Business Person Tim Bartlett became an Accredited of the Year. Sarah Spaeth became ex Advisor in Insurance with the Insurance ecutive director of the Jefferson Land Institute of America. Tod Sakai and Trust. She previously was agency's con his wife, Kristen ('98) started Sockeye servation director. Debbie (Romano) Bradley Broder ('09) knows disappointment often creates opportunity. Homes two years ago. One of their proj Ream became director of public rela ects recently won a Chrysalis Award in In Broder's case, disappointment at not earning a master's degree cre tions at Mount St. Mary's College in Los the category of $100,000 to $250,000 ated educational opportunity for hundreds of Kenyan children. Angeles. She most recently was direc building additions in the western Broder, 34, had planned to combine his Peace Corps experience in Kenya tor of public affairs at the Los Angeles U.S. region as well as an Excellence in with a new master's degree from WWU in political science and launch a Times. Remodeling Award in the $75,000 to career with an international non-governmental organization devoted to 1986 - Julie Larson-Green is head of $150,000 category from the Building economic development in Africa. But when his master's degree didn't pass "Windows Experience" at Microsoft, Industry Association of Washington. muster, those plans were put on hold. where she helped build Windows 7, the Melanie Loughmiller is president "No organization would hire me for the job I wanted without a master's company's next-generation operating of the International Association degree," says the New York City resident. system. Timothy Vail became a finan of Administrative Professionals, But while he couldn't find a job, Broder knew first-hand how much work cial adviser with Waddell & Reed. Bellingham chapter. there was to do. When he had returned to Kenya to do research for his thesis, 1987 - Eileen Martin of Spokane served 1996 - James Bible Jr. received the Broder had reconnected with many friends. as an artist-in-residence in the Ritzville 2009 Champion of Justice Award "All anybody asked me for was money for school for their children," he School District in May. Teri Sund, ex from the Washington Association says. "They didn't ask me for money for TVs, or food or hospital bills. All they hibits director for the RiverSea Gallery of Criminal Defense Lawyers for his wanted was an education for their children and they couldn't afford it." in Astoria, Ore., judged the Peninsula work as a community organizer and Sixty percent of Kenyans never attend high school because of the fees, Arts Association Art Show in Long president of the Seattle King County Beach in April. Kelly Lewis earned the NAACP. Irwin Stroosma became prin Broder says. He began to see a way to help not only his friends, but the whole Senior Professional Human Resource cipal of Centennial Elementary School country. certification from the Human Resource in Mount Vernon. Guy Leahy is an ex "Through education, we can improve human capacity in Kenya to the Certification Institute. She owns Allied ercise physiologist for Davis-Monthan point where they no longer depend on others to solve their problems," he Human Resources Consulting in Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz. A film says. Bellingham. about Louie Gong's life and work was In 2006, Broder founded the Kenya Education Fund, which now provides screened at the American Indian Film 1989 - Corey Dangel is an art director Festival in Bellevue. Gong, educational school fees for about 300 Kenyan students. By next year, Broder hopes KEF for Sony Online Entertainment, work resources coordinator at Muckleshoot will send about 600 students to high school. ing on "The Agency," an online role- Tribal College, is an artist and activist Each high school diploma "represents an opportunity for a family, a com playing game. He previously worked at exploring multiracial culture. His latest munity and a country to improve itself and live the kind of life that we all Microsoft's games division, on games endeavor, shoe art, was on display at such as "Dungeon Siege,""Psychonauts" want for ourselves," he says. the festival, too. He decorates sneakers and "Mythica." U.S. Army Lieutenant But Broder had all but given up on completing his own degree until he with Coast Salish designs. visited Bellingham earlier this year to speak in an African politics class led by Colonel Kerrie Golden is chief physical therapist at Walter Reed Army Medical 1998 - Maria L. Corkern is an ele his old advisor. Political Science Professor Vernon Damani Johnson. Center. She visited Bellingham recent mentary school teacher in Alpharetta, "We went out for a beer afterward and he said, 'I felt bad you never fin ly for the Ski to Sea Race as captain of Georgia, whose book "Doris TheSaurus" ished. What do you think about giving it another stab?'" Broder says."I was "Missing Parts in Action," a team made shows kids how to use a thesaurus. kind of hoping he'd say it. It was always looming over me. The conversation up almost entirely of injured soldiers. Jennifer Louie was a violinist with The with Damani encouraged me a lot." Ohio Light Opera's Albany Records re 1990 - Sheila C. Schmid owns Bhakti Broder finished the the cordings of "The Mikado" by Gilbert Yoga in Portland, Ore. sis in time to graduate this and Sullivan and Jerome Kern's "The Learn more about the Kenya Education Fund at summer - and speak at the 1993 - Susan Colleen Browne just Cabaret Girl." John Grimm became lead designer for Flying Lab Software's www.kenyaeducatioiifund.org Commencement ceremony published her memoire, "Little Farm in the Foothills: A Boomer Couple's Search "Pirates of the Burning Sea," an online, about opportunities that pres See Broder's Commencement speech at for the Slow Life," about her experienc multi-player roleplaying game. Anita ent themselves even in the www.wwu.edu/window. es creating Berryridge Farm outside K. Boyle recently read her poetry at worst of times. Maple Falls. She wrote the book with the Northwind Reading Series in Port Establishing the Kenya her husband, John F. Browne, a 1970 Townsend. Her poetry has been pub Education Fund was an oppor graduate of Western and a retired ser lished in Indiana Review, StringTown, tunity that was "the best of my life," he told the graduates. "It's one I was able geant with WWU Police. Ted Strong The Raven Chronicles, Spoon River to recognize thanks only to my education. became principal of Gig Harbor High Poetry Review and others. School. He was previously the princi "My work is to facilitate the kind of education that creates similar oppor 1999 - Nate Langstraat, the head pal of Goodman Middle School in Gig tunities for others," he said. women's volleyball coach at Whatcom www.wwu.edu/window 25 Class Notes Community College, became a volun home healthcare provider. Amanda 2004 - Chris Lang became interna business Preserving Heritage, a busi teer assistant volleyball coach at WWU (Frederick) Hauk was named Teacher tional accounting manager for Saturna ness she started with her mother in this fall. of the Year in the Lower Kuskokwim Capital Corporation in Bellingham and Bainbridge Island. Gail Goulet, was School District in rural southeast assistant vice president of Saturna awarded a three-year "studentship" by 2000 - Phil Sharp, debate coach Alaska. Hauk is an elementary school Brokerage Services. Josh Henry works the Department of Education for the at University of Nevada at Reno, teacher in Goodnews Bay, where she in real estate lending with Bank of the Ph.D. program in adult education at the coached a team that won two presti also coaches the cross country and Pacific in Bellingham. John Peeters is University of Glasgow. Her research is gious national collegiate debate titles speech teams. Melanie Reed was se a champion power boat racer. He re on transformative learning. Rick Staeb in one year - a rare feat. Sharp's stu lected to design the new logo for the cently won national titles in D-stock became sales and marketing director dents won the National Parliamentary Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of hydro and outboard stock hydro 400, for Baron Telecommunications. He pre Tournament of Excellence in Berkeley, Commerce. qualifying for the world champion viously was manager of the Cascade Calif., and the National Parliamentary ships in Sweden in September 2010. Radio Group. Jason Curry, who just Debate Association Championship in 2003 - Neal Tognazzini just earned Robin Daniel Gouin earned his doc earned his master's degree from Stockton, Calif. Sharp is a former debate his doctorate in philosophy from the torate in optometry from the Southern Western in Rehabilitation Counseling, coach at Western. University of California, Riverside, and California College of Optometry. became the family coordinator for became an assistant professor of phi 2001 - Keli Carender teaches math to Scott McDaniel became principal of Rebound of Whatcom County, a faith- losophy at the College of William and adults, and is a stand-up comic, blogger Goodman Middle School in Gig Harbor. based group that helps at-risk children. Mary in Williamsburg, Va. Accountant and political organizer active with the He previously was assistant principal at He'll develop programs to assist par Jennifer Weeks joined Telgenhoff & "Tea Party" movement in Seattle. Key Peninsula Middle school. ents and families. Oetgen Certified Public Accountants 2002 - Jennifer Shelton is a certi in Lynden. Readers of Mother Nature 2005 - Alex Ramel is energy policy 2006 - Nicole Hagerman became a fied business adviser at Snohomish Network named Casey and Katie Kulla manager for Sustainable Connections research analyst at WWU's Center for County's Small Business Development among the nation's top "40 Farmers in Bellingham. He also is president of Economic Vitality. She just earned her Center. Robert Krause is gener Under 40."Their Oakhill Organics is lo the Kulshan Community Land Trust MBA from Western. Mary North co-au- al manager of the Tacoma branch cated in Grand Island, Oregon. board of trustees. Margalyn Hemphill thored "Successful Transfer of Learning," of Maxim Healthcare Services Inc., a produces family history books in her and presented her work at the Standing Conference on University Teaching and Research in the Education of Adults at Downing College in Cambridge, England. Her book is due to be pub LEADING RABBI GOT HER START AT FAIRHAVEN COLLEGE lished by Krieger Press in early 2010. Leanne Summers became an English Never be afraid to without knowing what Judaism said about It," she teacher at Othello High School. She ask Rabbi Ellen Weinberg says. "I got hooked on studying this stuff." previously was a student teacher in Dreyfus (74) a question. New Zealand. But career choices were limited for Judaica- It was a question - lots of 2007 - Jenny Kern became a senior loving women In 1974. Few schools had Jewish them - at Fairhaven Col research analyst at WWU's Center for studies departments, and the first woman rabbi lege of Interdisciplinary Economic Vitality. Dan Erickson's play, had been ordained just two years earlier. But Drey "Convention," was one of three full- Studies that helped launch fus was drawn to the variety of roles rabbis play. "I length productions staged at Festival her career. love to teach, and rabbi means 'teacher,'" she says. Northwest at Tacoma Little Theatre in August. Cassandra Jarvis earned her Dreyfus, now a pio So Dreyfus attended Hebrew Union College- master's degree in speech and lan neering woman rabbi and Jewish Institute of Religion and in 1979 became guage pathology from Washington Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus president of the Central State University. She plans to provide the 11th woman ordained from the nation's main Conference of American speech and language therapy servic seminary for Reform rabbis. Rabbis, remembers being peppered with ques es to children in Western Washington. Blake Herrington is a mountain climb tions during her time at Fairhaven. One of few Jew "As far as we know, I was the first rabbi ever er who has discovered new climbing ordained while pregnant," she says. ish students at the college, Dreyfus became her routes on mountains in New Zealand, classmates'de-facto source for all things Jewish. Earlier this year, she also became the second Argentina and around the U.S. "People asked me lots of questions and I didn't woman ever elected president of the Central Con 2008 - Former WWU football line know the answers," Dreyfus says. "I found I really ference of American Rabbis, the 1,800-member backer Shane Simmons signed with the B.C. Lions in September. He had wanted to learn the answers." organization of Reform rabbis. She's an important previously trained with the Oakland figure in the Reform movement, handling issues It was during the Vietnam War. Dreyfus, a Chi Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks. ranging from assisting rabbis unemployed by the Shannon Skinner became a copywriter cago native, had been a medic at anti-war riots at recession, to questions about Israel, to concerns and financial editor at Saturna Capital her first college, the University of Wisconsin, and about Jewish education and intermarriage, she says. Corporation in Bellingham. Patrick found the experience made it difficult to focus on Rogers joined Blu Sky Creative Services her studies there. A family friend lived In Belling "We're trying to figure out what will be the face in Bellingham as a Web site program ham, and Dreyfus came out to Fairhaven. of Reform Judaism in the 21st Century," she says. mer. Krista Van Mersbergen passed the Certified Public Accountant exam But when her professor, Bob Keller, asked the Meanwhile, Dreyfus is also proud of the chil and became a staff accountant for class to write a position paper about war, Dreyfus dren she raised while building her career. Her old Varner Sytsma Herdon in Bellingham. was stumped. est son, a 30-year-old high school physics teacher Nic Castona became head cross coun try coach for Nooksack Valley High who was in his mother's womb when she was or "After a process of soul searching, I realized I School. Amy Visser passed the Certified dained, just got married - to a rabbi. couldn't come up with my own position about war Public Accountant exam and became company accountant for Logos Bible Software in Bellingham. Stacy Citron, 26 WINDOW • Fall 2009 • Western Washington University Class Notes mmm. played Julia in "Aunt Fondeen and the Lost Dutchman Goldmine," an origi AN OLYMP CAREER (Borzilleri) as a joke tester. If she nal children's show for the Culver City Ron Judd prepares to laughed, I thought, 'This Is a good Public Theatre. Derek G. Delgado be chronicle his sixth came a member of the Benedictine Olympic Games joke.' If I got nothing, I would just community in July when he was invest take it out. in Turino, we worked ed as a novice of St. Martin's Abbey in Ron Judd ('85), a reporter and out of the same office again. She Lacey. Delgado received the religious columnist for the Seattle Times worked in Colorado Springs and name of Damien, after St. Damien of we both claimed Apolo Ohno as a Molokai. A music teacher, he earned a and author of several outdoors master's degree in music from WWU. books, has traveled the world hometown athlete. We got to be Amaris Lunde oversees the Bellingham to cover the Olympic Games. really good friends and one thing Food Bank Farm, which raises fresh He recently talked to Window led to another. We got engaged fruits and vegetables for patrons of about preparing to cover his sixth in Lake Placid, and got married in the Bellingham Food Bank. Tracey 2008. She's going to be creden- Demmon earned her doctorate degree games this winter in Vancouver in audiology from A.T. Still University's and Whistler, B.C. tlaled for the Vancouver games Arizona School of Health Sciences in writing for the Seattle Times and It's not just sports. It's the Mesa, Ariz. She is an audiologist at other newspapers as a freelancer. Hearing Northwest in Bellingham. Olympics; It's like the one time the Krista Van Mersbergen passed the world all comes together In one What to watch in Whistler: It's Certified Public Accountant exam. She place and focuses on one thing a down year for U.S. figure skaters, works at Varner Sytsma Herndon in that doesn't involve people trying but there will be some Intense Bellingham. Alexandra Copeland be Ron Judd, left, with wife and fellow Olym matchups on the women's side. came the office and customer relations to kill each other. Most profes pic journalist Merl-Jo Borzilleri, at the Lake manager for Excellence Northwest in sional sports, I can take or leave. Placid Olympic bobsled track with "Bobby Between Kim Yuna of Korea and Bellingham. I've seen too much of the dark Bobsledder." Photo courtesy of Ron Judd two or three Japanese skaters, 2009 - Tahoma Khalsa organized a side - the money and the egos. these women are at a level unlike 5k run in Shoreline commemorating But these athletes are different. were by far the two best teams and anything I've ever seen in U.S. fig Earth Day. The Bellingham Slam's Tyler Most will persevere and scrape by they met in the gold medal game - ure skating. I think we have a good Amaya was named an International and do whatever they have to do and there was a lot of vitriol. When chance for the first time In a long Basketball League all-star after leading time winning a gold medal In the the Slam with 448 points scored dur to get into the Olympics, purely the Americans won, everyone ing the season. Before joining the Slam, because they want to be best at dropped their sticks and realized four-man bobsled. The Canadians Amaya played professional basket something. To me that's pretty this was such a historic occasion. will have the fastest bobsled/luge ball in China during the winter season. special. Women from both teams started track in the world, by far. Just that Alexander Peterson became a reporter crying. These teams didn't like each track will be a story. for the East County Journal in Morton. Favorite Olympic moments other, but they still realized it was a Holly Faulstich spent her summer as a in journalism: One was in Nagano Judd's book, "The Winter biological science technician at Mount cool moment. at my first Olympics in '98. It was Olympics, An Insider's Guide to the Rainier National Park, gathering data Legends, the Lore and the Games," in the back country for a long-term the first year for women's hockey Favorite Olympic moments not study of the effect of climate change as a medal sport. These girls had in journalism: We met for the first was released this year by The on forests. Evelyn Barber joined the grown up watching their brothers time in Athens, working in the same Mountaineers Books. Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest to play hockey. The U.S. and Canada office. I used (journalist) Meri-Jo iii work with people with disabilities in Southeast Alaska. May 14-16,2010 July 13-14,2010 ■ Ba^k' HM : ij>Pi ri.*. - - M:. GOLD Bellingham------■ ^ WEEKEND REUNION • CLASSES 1930-1965 3 Fun Packed Days for Alumni & Families Isil 2 Days of Celebration for Grads of 1965 and Before Campus lectures, Downtown Bellingham Bash, ^ iReconnect with classmates, tour the campus, cruise live entertainment, residence hall tours, Fairhavei ^ ^'ellingham Bay, enjoy live entertainment and the Golden] College and Huxley College 40th reunions, and ikings Society Induction Celebration for class members froSf more! For alumni of all graduating years! 1958,1959, & 1960! iii* WESTERN I WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY www.wwualumni.com AlumniAssociation Student Lens A bear's-eye view Photos by Larry Aumiller WWU graduate student Ian Gill spent in their path, using a variety of "fishing" five weeks watching grizzly bears gorge techniques to catch their prey. Some themselves on salmon this summer in an squat in the falls and wait for salmon to Alaskan wilderness version of an all-you- literally bump into them; others perch can-eat buffet. on ledges near channels and swat the Gill, a student at Huxley College of salmon as they go by; others swim in the Environment, had a coveted bear the water at the base of the falls like skin watching spot at the McNeil River State divers, grabbing prey under water as Game Sanctuary, where he collected the salmon wait their turns to proceed data on how much fish the bears caught upstream. and ate as the chum returned to their "This is one of the most pristine wildlife spawning grounds on the Cook Inlet. viewing areas in the world," Gill says. "To "This is the largest naturally occurring even get to the viewing platform, you seasonal congregation of brown bears have to win a permit lottery." in the world," says Gill, who worked Since the lottery program began with Larry Aumiller, the former long in 1975, he says, no human has ever time manager of the sanctuary, "so it's been harmed by a bear at McNeil River. an incredible chance to do this kind of "Because these bears have never been research." fed, never been shot at or molested in As the chum swim upstream through any way,"Gill says, "they view observers as the falls, the bears perch, swim and lie neutral entities." See more photos at www.wwu.ed u/wi ndow 28 WINDOW • Fall 2009 • Western Washington University Joyce Taylor ’84 Broadcast Communication Major Life Member Since 1993 The Home Team News Anchor, King 5 Morning News Former member of the Western Cheerleading Squad. ** Living in a world where it is Lived in Delta and"Bucky"Towers. so important to Worked at the Career Placement Center as a student. stay connected Is a member of the WWU Foundation Board. Former Western Alumni and maintain Association Board Member. relationships, the Recognized as one of Western's "100 Outstanding Alumni of the Century." Western Alumni Association is a Passionate about children's health and education; volunteers her time with Rainier Scholars. great way to build a network/^ Learned the value of an education from her family, is proud to be instilling those same beliefs in her own children! WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AlumniAssociation WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 516 High Street Bellingham, WA 98225 - 9034 Change Service Requested nAUE RFIIIIIMIf Making orange the new Huxley grad Dave Bennink says keeping yesterday's buildings out of today's landfills can build the jobs of tomorrow. Page 20 Photo by Andy Bronson FSC Mixed Sources Product group from wed-managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood or fibre Cert no. SW-COC-0029S4 www.fsc.org 01996 Forest Stewardship Counci