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In the News
6.29.2009 Latest Monograph from EWU Offers Insight into Clusters
Announcements
Anonymous $30,000 Gift Caps Off Successful SOS Campaign
 An anonymous donor has contributed to the Eastern Washington University Foundation's "Save Our Scholarships" (SOS) Campaign with a $30,000 money order. The donation was received June 23, some two months after the SOS effort came to an end. It also pushes the total pool available for scholarships from the Foundation's Endowment to more than $200,000.
The SOS rescue plan was launched in mid-April as a bold response to the financial crisis, which reduced earnings from the EWU Foundation Scholarship Endowment. This comes as Eastern faces an all-time high in applications from students seeking scholarship support.
Student testimonials, the support of alumni, faculty and staff as well as an aggressive outreach plan that included national media coverage of the scholarship issue made the six-week SOS campaign a success. About 60 students benefited from the scholarship drive, but the generous gift from the anonymous donor will help up to 40 more students this upcoming school year.
"Not only is this anonymous gift truly appreciated, but it speaks to the kindness that Eastern supporters have shown through the years," said Michael Westfall, executive director of the EWU Foundation and vice president for University Advancement. "Nearly 100 students will now be able to continue to pursue their higher education goals at EWU. My only regret is not being able to thank this generous donor personally for their kindness."
Westfall emphasizes that scholarship gifts are always welcome. You can make a donation and learn more about ways to support Eastern at the Support EWU website. Free Dental Camps for Kids
 Children will have an opportunity to learn about dental careers, preparing for college and the importance of oral health through hands-on activities. Under the supervision of mentoring dentists and dental hygiene and assisting students, campers will work with simulator's teeth and make plaster impressions and tooth models. Campers will also learn about how to start preparing for dental careers in middle and high school by focusing on math and science classes.
When: 9 a.m.-noon, Friday, July 10 and Friday, July 24
Where: EWU Spokane
What: Introduce middle school students to dental careers in a half-day camp.
How can I sign up: Please call 368.6517 to reserve your spot. It's FREE.
Local sponsors: EWU Dental Hygiene Program, the EWU Africana Education Program, the EWU Chicano Education Program, GEAR-UP, MESA and Spokane Community College Dental Assisting Program.
Dental Camp is offered by the Dental Hygiene Department of Eastern Washington University through support from Washington Dental Service Foundation. The University of Washington School of Dentistry developed Dental Camp in 2002, in collaboration with the WDS Foundation.
WANTED! Faculty and Staff
 The EWU Homecoming Committee is looking for a faculty member to serve on this year's committee. Meetings are held the last Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m. in PUB 205. Beginning in September, the committee will meet every other week (the second and last Wednesday of the month) and in October, the committee will meet weekly at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.
The committee is also looking for faculty and staff members to assist with departmental spirit week competition for homecoming week. A lot of fun things are planned for this year and we want the whole campus to come together and celebrate EASTERN.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Lisa Poplawski, 359.4550.
This year's homecoming theme is "Wild, Wild Eastern." The week kicks off Oct. 19, with spirit week. Look for challenges, games and a whole lot of red on campus. On Friday, Oct. 23, the homecoming parade, bon fire and bed races take place in downtown Cheney. The weeklong celebration culminates Saturday, Oct. 24, with a showdown between the Eastern Eagles and the Montana State Bobcats.
Carpenter's Passion for Teaching Inspires Students
 Marilyn Carpenter,PhD, professor of education, is the winner of the 2009 Graduate Faculty of the Year Award.
Carpenter came to Eastern in 1998, attracted to the University by its major in reading for both secondary and elementary teachers. Over the years, she has combined her passion for teaching and reading as an elementary school teacher, children's book reviewer and staff developer. At Eastern, Carpenter teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in reading and children's and teens' literature.
She received a BA in English and elementary teaching certificate from California State University at Los Angeles in 1973 and 1974 respectively. In 1985, Carpenter received her MA in elementary education from Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, Calif., and in 1997, she earned a doctorate degree in language, reading and culture, and children's literature from the University of Arizona.
Carpenter taught elementary school in both the Los Angeles and Alhambra school districts and served as a Title I coordinator and reading specialist. She has worked with school districts throughout the country, providing staff development in literacy, children's literature and thematic, integrative curriculum.
As an education professor, she passes her personal experiences on to future teachers. "Her classroom is a community of learning, learners and ultimately, friends," reads a letter of nomination for this award. "She inspires me as a learner, teacher and person, as she models excellence in those areas. She uses humor, wisdom, texts, experience, knowledge and compassion every day to teach teachers. She simply inspires."
In another letter of nomination a student writes, "Dr. Carpenter makes herself available to her students in every capacity possible - book recommendations, thesis advice and all sorts of professional resources. But what sets her apart is her gift to inspire her students by challenging them to ask questions, stand up for what is best for kids and to teach kids about things that matter in life."
Tepp Shares Russian Language and Culture with Students
 Oksana Tepp, Russian language instructor for the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, is the winner of the 2009 Undergraduate Faculty of the Year Award.
Tepp was born in 1969, in Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine. In 1991, she obtained her degree from the State Pedagogical University of Kherson (Ukraine), with a major in Russian language and world literature. Tepp's areas of interest include Russian language history and the evolution of the modern Russian language, and her primary research interests are modern Russian drama and mythology.
Tepp and her three young sons moved to the U.S. in December 2003. They lived in Montana before moving to Spokane the summer of 2005, and she began teaching at Eastern that fall. She has developed a new course in Russian studies, and in addition to her 12 years of teaching experience, she brings an authentic cross-cultural understanding to her students at EWU. Tepp presents the Russian language in the broader context of Russian society, culture and history.
"Professor Tepp never ceases to persuade the absolute best from her students," writes student Natasha Vanderlinden.
"The high standard of academic excellence to which she holds herself is likewise expected of her students. Tepp seems to know exactly how to respond to different personalities, discerning the most suitable and effective manner to interact with each individual."
Faculty Merit Awards Announced
Beginning in academic year 2006-07, an expanded Merit Award program has been used to recognize and reward outstanding contributions made by EWU faculty in teaching, scholarship, creative endeavors and service. Nominated by their respective college personnel committees, faculty candidates are selected as Merit Award winners by the Merit Committee, composed of faculty representatives throughout Eastern's academic areas and JFK Library.
Congratulations to this year's Merit Award winners, whose contributions to their academic disciplines and to Eastern's students make a vital contribution to academic rigor and excellence at EWU.
Outstanding Faculty Awards In Teaching: Kevin Decker, philosophy; Damon Aiken, management; Bruce Teague, management; Paul Green, PEHR; Jeni McNeal, PEHR; Kevin Pyatt, education; David May, government; Peter Shields, communication studies; Daniel Canada, mathematics; Kimberly Cleary, physical therapy
In Scholarship/Creative Activity: Kevin Decker, philosophy; Samuel Ligon, creative writing; Gregory Spatz, creative writing; Rachel Toor, creative writing; Jeni McNeal, PEHR; Kevin Pyatt, education; Georgia Bazemore, history; David May, government; Philip Watkins, psychology; Ryan Mizner, physical therapy
In Service: Kevin Decker, philosophy; Garrett Kenney, English; LaVona Reeves, English; Jeni McNeal, PEHR; Kathleen Huttenmaier, history; Elizabeth Kissling, communication studies; David May, government; Christian Hansen, mathematics; Rebecca Stolberg, dental hygiene; Golieda Jansen, social work
Distinguished Faculty Awards:
In Teaching: Kevin Decker, philosophy
In Scholarship/Creative Activity: Georgia Bazemore, history
In Service: Golieda Jansen, social work
Professors of the Year: Kevin Decker, philosophy; Jeni McNeal, PEHR; Kevin Pyatt, education; David May, government; Daniel Canada, mathematics
President's Award: David May, government
Homework Assignment for the Summer
 Over the summer think about your colleagues and think about nominating them for the Classified Staff Distinguished Service Award and the Administrative Exempt Distinguished Service Award, which will be given out in the fall in recognition of outstanding service to the University.
The awards are given to those individuals whose service is generally acknowledged by the University community to be an exceptional contribution to the support and maintenance of the University's programs, physical environment and service to the public. These awards, which include a check for $1,000, will be presented during the University Thanksgiving Dinner.
If you have nominated a Classified Staff or Administrative Exempt person within the past three years and would like to reactivate the nomination, please send a new letter of nomination indicating that you are reactivating the application along with any new supplemental materials.
Any member of the Eastern Washington University community may make nominations for these awards. Nominations must be in writing and should not exceed 20 pages (including supporting documentation). In light of the nature of these awards, support for nominations must come from a broad cross-section of the University community and must include:
1. A personal statement regarding the nominator's reasons for making the nomination.
2. The nominee's current address.
3. A full and complete description of the nominee's history of service to the University with sufficient detail to identify the specific areas in which the nominee has made a special and unique contribution to the support, maintenance and enhancement of the University's environment and services.
4. A resume or personal history of the nominee.
5. Letters of support from a broad cross-section of the university, including fellow employees, supervisors, students or others.
All nominations should be submitted to the University Medals and Awards Committee, Office of Graduate Education, Research and Evaluation, 220 Showalter Hall, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA 99004.
The Medals and Awards Committee will review all nominations and forward recommendations to the President; the deadline for nominations and supporting information is Oct. 9, 2009.
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