News
![Michael Pittis](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2024-07/Pittis.jpg?itok=EUyg_Sj4)
Michael Pittis, a 1968 WWU alumnus and long-time supporter of Western, has recently designated a significant portion of his IRA to The Foundation for…
![Minh Tran](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2024-05/-_0011_Minh%20Tran%20.jpg?itok=fA3v9l0j)
Meet Minh Tran! A psychology major from Renton, Minh hopes to get her Psy.D and become a clinical psychologist one day. Until then, she is enjoying…
![Diego Cardenas](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2024-05/-_0018_Diego%20Cardenas_0.jpg?itok=AE3_hjYw)
Creative writing major Diego Cardenas dreams of crafting stories that make a positive change in the world.
Why did you choose Western?
The…
![Alumni Awards 2024](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2024-04/1080x1080-ALumniAwards2024_0.jpg?itok=cMh67525)
The Foundation for WWU & Alumni is pleased to announce our five winners of the WWU Alumni Awards. These awardees were chosen from a community-…
![Aerial of Bellingham, Washington with a white key superimposed over it](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2024-04/muljat_0.jpg?itok=FbM19jrq)
The Muljat Group and The Foundation for WWU & Alumni have announced a new program to support education at Western Washington University.
To…
![Joann smiles at the camera; behind her are windows looking out on campus.](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2024-03/Joann-Otto.jpg?itok=z6gDB_GO)
Otto came to Western from Purdue in 2004 to chair the Biology Department and helmed the department until she retired in 2016
![Virgina Wright smiles broadly and holds a wrench, standing next to Mark di Suvero in front of For Handel in this 1974 photo](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2024-03/Virginia-Wright.jpg?itok=z4byJcEL)
A brainy timber heiress with a passion for sculpture, Virginia Wright brought some of the nation’s best contemporary artists to Western’s Sculpture…
![McKenzie Harris](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2024-03/McKenzie%20Harris.jpg?itok=wpnH-i6w)
McKenzie Harris of Bend OR is a psychology major and environmental studies minor.
Why did you choose Western?
When looking into colleges, I was…
![June Fraser Thistle](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2024-02/June-Fraser-Thistle_0.jpg?itok=FuV_1Unt)
On Tuesday, Feb. 6, the Western Washington community will say farewell to June Fraser Thistle as she transitions into retirement.
Who is June you…
![Ashlynn Tibbot](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2024-01/Ashlynn-Tibbot.jpg?itok=6Sm6TkRb)
Ashlynn is a second-year at WWU who is expected to graduate in 2026. She’s a double-major in creative writing and women, gender, and sexuality…
![a man smiles, wearing a cowboy hat, white T, jeans and boots, sitting on a rock next to a stream.](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-12/In.her_.fathers.memory_0.jpg?itok=G-JVoMpm)
Julann Spromberg learned to love nature on her family farm, and learned to be a scientist at Western
![Ben Bagley holding up a bejeweled Basketball with the letters DET on it.](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-11/Ben.Bagley.jpg?itok=TUvZB9fn)
Ben Bagley (’22) honed his craft in sports journalism by broadcasting games at WWU and by majoring in journalism with a public relations…
![Paul Merriman](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-10/PaulMerriman.jpg?itok=jDOcXL38)
Alum Paul Merriman shares a lifetime of financial knowledge with WWU students and the community
![Student lounge will provide space for study and informal interactions.](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-10/kaiser_0.jpg?itok=9z7yQcld)
The Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction has unveiled the list of 20 outstanding finalists for the Holcim Awards 2023 competition, and…
![Justin Gruba](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-08/Justin-Gruba-Color-Print-Res-on-Gray.jpg?itok=i36fw9ZR)
By Frances Badgett
The first in his family to go to college, WWU Accounting alumnus Justin Gruba (’07) didn’t really intend on being a mascot for…
![Sunset on Bellingham Bay](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-07/merger1_0.jpg?itok=M3DYC-py)
The WWU Foundation and WWU Alumni Association are now a single organization.
Following 18 months of planning, a unanimous vote of the Alumni…
![Stephanie Morrell](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/Stephanie-Morrell%20%281%29.jpg?itok=_9H9rCbN)
The friendly, knowledgeable face behind the Bellingham Bells is WWU alumna Stephanie Morrell. Join us on June 13 and you might catch a glimpse of…
![Melinda Assink smiling outside wearing a medal](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/Melinda-Assink%20%281%29.jpg?itok=7ZDctJT6)
Melinda Assink, executive assistant to the Provost, takes a very supportive and personal approach to WWU Give Day every year—she asks the student…
![Terry Clayton](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/Terry_0.jpg?itok=SF6gDfFS)
Alumni Spotlight: Terry Clayton
Alumnus Terry Clayton is the an author and teacher who excelled at athletics and student leadership. His book Facing…
![Anna Cortines](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/Anna-Cortines_0.jpg?itok=noHtTnmC)
Graduate student Anna Cortines graduated from Western in Spring ’22 with a BA in accounting. She is currently working on her Master of Professional…
![WWU geology graduate out on a field trip looking at the stratifications in the earth.](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/WWU-geology-graduate.jpg?itok=rEoy8jk4)
By Frances Badgett
When WWU geology graduate student Emily Smoot plans a field trip for high school students, she knows one of the most important…
![Morgan Whitt](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/Morgan-Whitt.jpg?itok=8z0Gk7kt)
Meet Morgan Whitt, a WWU sophomore planning to graduate in 2025. Morgan hails from sunny San Diego and she is currently studying environmental…
![Jennifer Kutcher](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/Jennifer-Kutcher.jpg?itok=bUh_0c_8)
Over the past many years WECU's impact on Western has been transformational. Last night at the WWU women's basketball game, we recognized WECU…
![Tyanin Opdahl](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/Tyanin-Opdahl.jpg?itok=7L9PbsTS)
Meet Tyanin Opdahl! Olympia native Tyanin plans to graduate in Fall 2026 with her masters in computer science. She is receiving her bachelors in…
![Henry Belanger](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/Hank-Belanger.jpg?itok=nifWm25z)
Meet Hank! Montlake Terrace native Henry Belanger, or “Hank” as he’s called, is an Environmental Studies major with an emphasis on policy and a GIS…
![Haley Taylor](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/haley-taylor.jpg?itok=htAY2xoe)
By Frances Badgett
When she died in 2017, beloved coach and gifted athlete Susan Joy Stevens left behind a warm family, grieving students, many…
![Petra McDonnell-Ingoglia](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/Petra-McDonnell-Ingoglia.jpg?itok=Dowzbg0b)
In 2016, Olympia High School student Petra McDonnell-Ingoglia was having a rough time. Her parents divorced, she lost an important friendship,…
![Milo Campbell](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2022-12/milo1.jpg?itok=S3Ygp9wO)
Hi! I’m Milo Campbell and I’m a sophomore planning to graduate in 2025. I’m double majoring in Studio Art and Communication Sciences and Disorders.…
![Ellie Potts](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2022-12/Ellie1.jpg?itok=xP1Wjg0A)
Hi, I’m Ellie Potts!
(she/her)
I recently started my Masters in Business Administration at Western and I will be graduating in Fall 2023. I…
![Sealey Raymond](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2022-10/Sealey-Raymond.jpg?itok=S68hon3H)
By Frances Badgett
When considering colleges to attend, Montana native Sealey Raymond ('23) knew a few things: she wanted to attend college in…
![Michou Yenokida](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2022-10/Michou11.jpg?itok=HV35dPaA)
By Frances Badgett
Michou Yenokida began teaching older adults enrolled in lifelong learning courses in southern California in 2007. A self-…
![Scott and Kate Missall](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2022-07/Scott_Kate_Missall.jpg?itok=YUNHe0_J)
By Frances Badgett
Attorney Scott Missall (’75) majored in philosophy and political science at Western. Not only did he enjoy his time at Western,…
![Dario Ré](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2022-06/06.21.22-Dario_0.jpg?itok=jCKGnwsk)
As with so many accomplished musicians, Dario Ré found the inspiration for his music both on campus and out in the greater Bellingham community.…
![Black Lives Matter event in Bellingham](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/06.13.22-blm.jpg?itok=f6sx7jdW)
Yara Clark, '22
Since the beginning of 2020 our world has seen a series of changes that have introduced unprecedented challenge along with new…
![David Cummins](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/05.25.22-David.Cummins.jpg?itok=4NQNlNWM)
On WWU Give Day, your gift helps students like David Cummins.
A biochemistry major, David grew up in a chaotic household. He never thought…
![Jade Phillips](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/05.25.22-jade.jpg?itok=RVKM_wKT)
By Frances Badgett
The WWU Give Day, support your favorite club, the backbone of the Western experience.
Health and Human Services major Jade…
![Juliana Covarrubias](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2023-06/05.25.22-Juliana-in-Katmai.jpg?itok=uy3lyK_Q)
By Frances Badgett
Your gift this WWU Give Day will support students like Juliana Covarrubias.
When Juliana came to Western, she loved the…
![Nat Jo](/sites/foundation.wwu.edu/files/styles/large/public/2022-03/Nat-Jo.jpg?itok=iTnvnJW1)
by Frances Badgett
Richland-born Nate Jo attended Hanford High School after years of homeschooling, and immediately ran for a leadership position in…