Doctorate in Physical Therapy Approved by Legislature
Spokane Symphony Presents Special Concert at EWU
Ines Zozaya-Geist and Kris Mikkelsen Named to EWU Board of Trustees
Poland's Lech Walesa to Speak at EWU
Students, Alums Celebrate Cultures at World Party Event
EWU's Cinco De Mayo Celebration Features Art, Discussions and Culture
Seahawks Return to Cheney
Eagle Statue Dedicated on EWU Campus
EWU Receives $120,937 in Washington Technology Center Research Funds

Doctorate in Physical Therapy Approved by Legislature

In April, the Washington State Legislature passed a bill authorizing EWU to seek approval from the state's Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) to offer a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT).

Currently, the physical therapy degree at Eastern is a master's degree, and legislative authority was necessary before the university could pursue moving the degree program to the doctoral level.

"This is very good news for Eastern and for our physical therapy students," said Dr. Stephen M. Jordan, EWU president. "The industry standard is moving to a doctoral degree in physical therapy and it is important we provide for our students the education they will need to become licensed in their field."

Prior to passing the bill, the Senate concurred with a House amendment requiring that the DPT be an applied degree, which is a professional or practitioner degree rather than a research-based degree.

"This fits well with Eastern's mission of focusing on career preparation with a strong underpinning in the liberal arts," Jordan said.

Spokane Symphony Presents Special Concert at EWU

This April, the Spokane Symphony returned to the campus of Eastern Washington University in Cheney to present a special concert, under the baton of Fabio Costa, associate conductor of the Symphony and conductor of EWU Orchestras.

"A Special Evening with the Spokane Symphony" was held on April 4 in Showalter Auditorium, which was refurbished a few years ago, with special attention to acoustics and ambience.

Ines Zozaya-Geist and Kris Mikkelsen Named to EWU Board of Trustees

The Eastern Washington University community welcomes Ines Zozaya-Geist of Richland, Wash., and Kris Mikkelsen of Spokane as the newest members of the EWU Board of Trustees.

Zozaya-Geist, former senior consultant with Lockheed Martin Services, Inc., Richland, and Mikkelsen, general manager of Inland Power & Light, Spokane, were named to the board by Gov. Gary Locke. Both earned baccalaureate degrees from Eastern.

They replace Jean L. Beschel of Spokane and Joe Jackson of Pasco, whose terms expired this past fall. Beschel and Jackson were both appointed to the board in 1985.

"We welcome Ines Zozaya-Geist and Kris Mikkelsen to the board," said Michael Ormsby, chair of the EWU Board of Trustees. "Both are dynamic individuals with very successful careers and strong records of community service. We are pleased that they are returning to their alma mater as members of the governing board."

Ines Zozaya-Geist was born and grew up in the Columbia Basin area, graduated from Connell High School and earned a B.A. in business administration from Eastern in 1986. She was a senior consultant at Lockheed Martin and recently became a stay-at-home mom. She was previously manager of Telecommunications Management Systems and manager of the 300 End User Computer Center at Richland's Boeing Computer Services.

Kris Mikkelsen has been general manager of Inland Power & Light since March 2000. She has been with the company since 1981, serving as assistant general manager for finance and administration, controller and accounting supervisor.

A certified public accountant, she earned a B.A. in business administration and professional accounting from Eastern in 1981. She is on the Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs Board of Directors and the Spokane Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee.

Poland's Lech Walesa to Speak at EWU

EWU President Stephen M. Jordan has announced a new EWU Presidential Speaker Series beginning with the 2001-2002 academic year – with Poland's Lech Walesa scheduled to be the first speaker on October 18.

Walesa, founder of Poland's Solidarity movement and winner of the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize, will give a free public address on the Eastern campus in Cheney on October 18 and will also make a classroom presentation.

"We are pleased to institute this speaker's series and that Lech Walesa will be our first presenter," said Dr. Jordan. "There is much we can learn from this man who contributed so significantly to changing the political and economic face of eastern Europe. We are honored that he begins what we hope will be a very successful series of speakers on important topics at Eastern Washington University."

Walesa organized the pivotal strike at the Lenin Shipyards in Gdansk, Poland, in 1980, which influenced workers all over Poland to strike. His Solidarity movement led Poland out of communism.

Students, Alums Celebrate Cultures at World Party Event

More than 1,000 people attended the annual World Party at Eastern in April. This event celebrates cultures, ethnicities and countries, and is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to learn about and appreciate the uniqueness and similarities of all peoples.

Entertainment included Middle East dancers, African belly dance, Hmong dance, Irish dancing, opera, karate and judo demonstrations and much more.

A fashion show of traditional clothing from many nations and societies included participation by a number of Eastern's international students.

There also were a large number of display booths where visitors could learn about the variety of cultures in the world through interaction, sampling cuisine, asking questions, having their names written in a foreign script and more.

EWU's Cinco De Mayo Celebration Features Art, Discussions and Culture

The annual Eastern Washington University Cinco de Mayo Celebration was held April 30-May 5 and featured three new events, a Canto Al Pueblo (Song to the Community), an open-air fair to which K-12 students from the region were invited and a car show.

"We wanted to do some different things this year; we want to keep things fresh," said Carlos Maldonado, chair of the Chicano Education Program at Eastern. "We think this year's events provided a good view of Chicano/Latino culture, celebrations, history, issues of interest – and a lot of fun besides."

Seahawks Return to Cheney

The Seattle Seahawks and Eastern reached a multi-year agreement that will allow the Seahawks to return to Eastern's campus in Cheney for training camp for the next three summers.

"I'm excited that we are able to return to Eastern," said Seahawks Executive Vice President Mike Holmgren. "It's a great community, they treat us well and are easy to work with. They have a first-class athletic facility that provides us with a good opportunity to prepare for our season."

"It's wonderful to have the Seahawks return to the east side of the state, and we are glad to be able to provide a ïhome' for them at Eastern," said Dr. Stephen M. Jordan, president of EWU.

Scott Barnes, EWU Athletic Director, concurs: "We have enjoyed this partnership and are pleased it will continue. Our student athletes and coaches benefit by the opportunity to interact with the Seahawks' coaches and players, and the presence of this world class team brings a great energy and sense of excitement to our whole community."

This will mark the 15th season overall and the fifth consecutive season that the Seahawks have spent their summer east of the Cascade Mountains. Eastern hosted the Seahawks inaugural training camp in 1976.

The Seahawks' first practice at Eastern this summer is slated for July 29, with all practices open to the public. An Extravaganza event and scrimmage will again take place during camp on August 5. For more information, check out Eastern's website at www.ewu.edu and click on the Seahawks icon.

Eagle Statue Dedicated on EWU Campus

The Spirit of the Eagle will soon be on permanent display at Eastern. Although the Eagle became the official symbol of the university decades ago, an appropriate representation of this mascot has never been established on the Cheney campus.

This fall, however, as part of the newly remodeled Monroe Hall, a six-foot high bronze eagle sculpture – Spirit of the Eagle – will be mounted on a nearby cement monolith which was created in 1982 to celebrate the university's 100th year.

The eagle sculpture was created by Mont L. Crosland, a western and wildlife sculptor from Sandy, Utah.

To support the expense of placing the eagle sculpture in its new home, EWU alumni, faculty, staff and friends can provide support and in return be recognized as donors to this project in either the dedication ceremony program, a plaque at the site or by receipt of a framed, commemorative photo for the dedication ceremony. Top donors will also receive a fabulous limited edition replica of the sculpture.

For more details on assisting with the purchase and installation of this sculpture, call the EWU Foundation at (509) 359-6268.

EWU Receives $120,937 in Washington Technology Center Research Funds

Eastern received a grant of $120,937 from the Washington Technology Center this winter for a biotech research project with a local company.

The award was one of 10 given by the WTC, with dollars totaling $1.3 million, and the only award given to a public comprehensive university in the state.

EWU researcher Jim Fleming, adjunct professor of biology, received funding for a project he is developing with GenPrime, Inc., a biotech company in Spokane which has developed and is selling test kits for determining microbe concentrations in the cultured dairy and brewing industries.

Fleming said the WTC funds will support generating a new rapid test for raw milk, to alert farmers to contaminated milk within minutes rather than after the milk has gone to the dairy processor. The WTC provides funding for university researchers who partner with Washington companies to conduct technology research and development with the ultimate goal of helping the company grow and create jobs in the state.