Foundation News

Anna Cortines

Graduate student Anna Cortines graduated from Western in Spring ’22 with a BA in accounting. She…

Morgan Whitt

Meet Morgan Whitt, a WWU sophomore planning to graduate in 2025. Morgan hails from sunny San…

Jennifer Kutcher

Over the past many years WECU's impact on Western has been transformational. Last night at the WWU women…

Tyanin Opdahl

Meet Tyanin Opdahl! Olympia native Tyanin plans to graduate in Spring 2024. She’s…

Henry Belanger

Meet Hank! Montlake Terrace native Henry Belanger, or “Hank” as he’s called, is…

Milo Campbell

Hi! I’m Milo Campbell and I’m a sophomore planning to graduate in 2025. I’m double majoring in Studio…

Petra McDonnell-Ingoglia

In 2016, Olympia High School student Petra McDonnell-Ingoglia was having a rough time. Her parents…

Carisa Blacklock

By Frances Badgett

When the COVID-19 pandemic rolled through hospitals and burned out healthcare workers across the country,…

Ellie Potts

Hi, I’m Ellie Potts! 

Sealey Raymond

By Frances Badgett

When considering colleges to attend, Montana native Sealey Raymond ('23) knew a few things: she wanted to…

David Cummins

On WWU Give Day, your gift helps students like David Cummins. 

A…

Jade Phillips

By Frances Badgett

The WWU Give Day, support your favorite club, the backbone of the…

Juliana Covarrubias

By Frances Badgett

Your gift this…

Nate Jo

by Frances Badgett

Richland-born Nate Jo attended Hanford High School after years of homeschooling, and immediately ran for a…

Jeff and Dina Frank

by Frances Badgett

Seattle attorney Jeff Frank has worked in commercial, construction, and real estate litigation for more than…

Megan and Brian Lau

Alaska native Megan Lau’s path from Western to winning the 4 Under 40 Award from the American Marketing Association this year is a fascinating one…

Elise Batten

Two years ago, Boise native Elise Batten (industrial design, 2024) was looking for a college that…

Kim O'Neill

Dear WWU Community,

Following a nationwide search, I am pleased to announce that Kim O’Neill will join Western Washington University as…

Zoe Evans-Agnew

By Frances Badgett

Zoe Evans-Agnew (’21), Outstanding Graduate in Honors and behavioral neuroscience major, came to Western for…

Black and white drawing of Ebonezé “Ebon” Oluchi doing the peace

By Frances Badgett 

(Oluchi uses ze, zim, zis gender non-conforming pronouns)

When Ebonezé “Ebon” Oluchi wrote…

Aliki Valdes

By Frances Badgett

When Aliki Valdes transferred into Western from Whatcom Community…

Anu Singh-Cundy

By Frances Badgett

It almost didn’t happen. Biology professor Dave Hooper was out on a run when he saw a friend, Dr. Greg…

Collage of Black and white photos of Benita and Larry Offutt ‘54

By Frances Badgett

When Karen Rockwell considered a gift to Western that would benefit students, she thought of her parents,…

Rukhsar Sadat posing outside with roses behind her

by Frances Badgett

Rukhsar Sadat ’21 was born in war-torn Afghanistan. Her Shia Muslim family was persecuted by the predominantly…

Woody Wheeler (’76) and his wife Lori Cohen

by Frances Badgett

Huxley alumnus Woody Wheeler (’76) and his wife Lori Cohen have dedicated their lives to environmental…

Dale Durrwachter standing next to an old car

by Frances Badgett

Dale Durrwachter (’62) is deeply grateful for the success he achieved in the field of education. The retired…

Brendan Pape (’11)

By Yara Clark (’22)

Brist Manufacturing designs and manufactures apparel for companies and brands around the world. What makes…

Stephanie Bowers

Following two decades as Western Washington University’s Vice President of University Advancement and President and CEO of the WWU Foundation …

Grayscale photo of Eden's

WWU President Sabah Randhawa has issued a video titled "A Statement of Solidarity and Action" as a message of support…

Grayscale photo of Old Main

Dear Western Community,

In the midst of this pandemic, as we all struggle with loss and fear, we have seen the disproportionate impact of…

Edward Rippe

Edward Rippe (’11) chose to attend Western the first time he set foot on campus. Nine years later, as a practicing emergency room physician in…

Paula Rippe

When Western sent a request for donations to the Student Emergency Fund, Paula Rippe answered with her characteristic warmth and enthusiasm. When…

LUCE Henry Luce Foundation

The Western Washington University Foundation has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation on behalf of the Western Gallery.…

Italy countryside road

The Pacific Northwest has always been my home. I love the rainy weather, the scenic Puget Sound, the proud mountains, and the beautiful woods. I…

Tatum Buss

This year, thanks to the Western Foundation’s Student Ambassador Scholarship, third-year student Tatum Buss was able to work as…

grayscale photo of Old Main

Dear members of the Western Family,

As you know by now, last week we announced that all classes and instruction will be offered remotely…

Mock-up exterior sketch of the new engineering building

A $10 million gift from Fred Kaiser and Grace Borsari will support “Building Washington’s Future,” a campaign to raise $20 million for a new…

Student battling with homelessness

Western students who identify as former foster youth or as unaccompanied homeless youth are getting additional support over the next three years…

Poulsbo Fish Park

Supported by a $25,000 grant that the Rose Foundation awarded WWU Foundation in December 2018, Associate Professor Jenise Bauman is making a…

Hoku Rivera

Awarded through the Ray Wolpow Institute for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity, the Kohlmeier-Mikulencak…

LGBTQ+ Western

Newly launched, LGBTQ+ Western under the direction of L.K. Langley (they/them) works to support the holistic thriving of diverse LGBTQ+ students,…

A WWU student helps kids in the LEGO Club at Cordata Elementary School.

Children attending Bellingham’s most diverse and lowest-income elementary schools (Alderwood and Cordata) get to participate in free after-school…

Lauren Hoffman

Hardworking and up for a challenge, WWU alumna Lauren Hoffmann (’18) grew up wanting to become a professional musician, but a knack for science…

Sabah & Uzmah Randawa photo

The annual Bellingham Leadership Forum brings together local business leaders, community members, WWU alumni and Western faculty, staff and…