When Eastern Washington University alumna Delaney Putnam returned to campus last May, she came back not just as a visitor but as a working scientist helping to create new opportunities for future STEM students.

Putnam graduated in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She soon landed a lab technologist position with Novelis, a producer of flat-rolled aluminum products and the world’s largest aluminum recycler, at the company’s Spokane Valley plant. More recently, she’s been busy bringing Novelis and EWU closer together through a new partnership that will support students through a multi-year scholarship program.

The Novelis Aluminum STEM Scholarship will provide five $1,400 scholarships to students in EWU’s chemistry, engineering and MESA programs.

Putnam said she got the idea for the scholarship after noticing several Novelis employees, herself included, are EWU alumni.

“We have three or four people on the team from EWU,” Putnam said. “I saw what other Novelis locations were doing for their local schools, and it just clicked—since we have this EWU connection, it made perfect sense to support Eastern.”

She brought the idea to her team, where it quickly gained momentum. With Putnam leading the charge, Novelis employees visited the campus, toured the Interdisciplinary Science Center and the newly renovated Science Building, and chatted with faculty to learn more about EWU’s STEM programs and how the university prepares students through applied learning.

For Putnam, the visit brought back memories of her own hands-on learning experiences, which she now puts into practice every day. At Novelis, she analyzes aluminum samples for impurities, helping ensure the material’s quality before it gets shipped out to major manufacturers, including Coca-Cola, BMW and Jaguar.

During her return to campus, Putnam rolled up her sleeves and joined students in a working lab — this time in the Geosciences 462 class taught by recent Trustee Medal of Honor recipient Carmen Nezat, a professor of geosciences and environmental science.

Students in the lab typically tackle a real-world industry challenge, such as breaking down aluminum samples to find impurities. Watching students work through familiar industry challenges reinforced Putnam’s belief in the value of experiential learning.

“It’s hard to put into words how important [hands-on opportunities] are — they really help you be ready for what comes after graduation,” Putnam says.

Putnam also says she’s excited to watch Eastern’s polytechnic programs continue to grow and hopes students will have even more opportunities for hands-on learning in the future.

For Novelis, this scholarship is about supporting today’s students and building up future talent in STEM fields and the communities where its employees live and work. Megan Durfey, an accounting professional at Novelis, sees these programs as a way to keep the industry strong while giving students a clear path from the classroom to a career.

“Novelis has always wanted to back STEM initiatives,” Durfey said. “There just aren’t enough people entering these fields, so we ask ourselves — how do we encourage and support the next wave of talent?”

She also pointed out that partnerships between local organizations and universities help students see their career possibilities. “Companies have to show up for local universities and high schools so students can see what these paths actually lead to,” Durfey adds.

Putnam feels proud to give something back to the place where it all started. “It was great to come back and make a difference,” she says. “Dr. Nezat was a big part of my experience, and I’m thrilled to support her students.”

Putnam’s involvement with EWU doesn’t end with the Novelis scholarship; she’s now serving on Eastern’s advisory board for the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

After experiencing the value of applied learning herself, Putnam encourages EWU STEM students to embrace the challenges that come with learning and growing: “There are so many hurdles in college, but those hurdles will set you up well for industries like ours.”

**Story written by Emilia Klewin.

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When students have the financial resources to pursue real-world, hands-on learning experiences, they can focus on building the knowledge, skills and connections they need for career success. Support EWU’s $100 million Build Our Future campaign to make these valuable opportunities possible. Your gift can provide scholarships and other resources that help students afford college, stay enrolled, gain meaningful professional experience and prepare for their futures.

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For Jessica Clemons, earning her education degree from Eastern Washington University has meant balancing college with work, student teaching and raising four children. Thanks to scholarships, supportive faculty and hands-on learning opportunities, she overcame obstacles, stayed enrolled at EWU and made the Dean’s List every quarter.

Now, Clemons is wrapping up her student teaching placement in a first-grade classroom at University Elementary School in Spokane Valley and preparing for a career as an elementary teacher.

When she crosses the stage on June 12, she will graduate with honors, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education with a minor in environmental sustainability education. Clemons managed to balance her studies, a part-time job with EWU’s Transition to Teaching Program and an intermittent side gig for a friend who owns a contract mail center, all while raising her children: Harrison, 5; Charlotte, 7; Paxton, 9; and Brynlee, 12.

“It has been quite the couple of years, but I’m on the homestretch now,” she says.

Clemons, who lives in Spokane Valley and has children attending four different schools, credits part of her success to her brother, parents and friends — people who pitched in to provide rides for the kids — and to supportive faculty and scholarship donors at Eastern.

Small classes taught by engaged faculty — coupled with well-timed scholarships — helped Clemons overcome obstacles and take advantage of applied learning opportunities. Her professors not only believed in her but also allowed her children to attend class when scheduling conflicts arose. During Clemons’ capstone course, Professor Kathryn Baldwin welcomed her daughter, Brynlee, who created and presented a poster about what she learned from her mom’s project.

The support from EWU faculty has been pivotal for her. Two years ago, an exhausted Clemons was on the verge of transferring to an online college to finish her degree when Michael Winer, a math professor who initially served as her advisor, noticed she wasn’t registered for the upcoming quarter. He called her and helped her work through several challenges so she could continue at Eastern. To this day, she says, Winer still plays a positive role in her education.

Within the School of Education, professors Suzie Henning and Baldwin provided additional encouragement, pointing her toward scholarships, stipends and a 10-hour-a-week student employment position supporting students in the Transition to Teaching Program.

Financial support played an equally important role, especially during tough times. This past December, a roommate unexpectedly moved out, leaving Clemons to foot the entire rent bill. Fortunately, EWU’s Student Emergency Fund helped cover the gap while she picked up extra side jobs to build her own emergency fund.

Leading into winter quarter, Clemons received the Clawson-Youngs Award in Environmental Studies, allowing her to pursue an environmental science education minor.

“I feel like if I didn’t have those scholarships, there’s no way I could have said, ‘Yeah, I’m going to take on a minor in my last two quarters at Eastern.’”

For her minor and capstone, Clemons used research from EWU’s Prairie Restoration Project along with data from her own independent study to create unit plans for K–5 educators. Clemons aligned the project components with Washington’s Common Core State Standards, Disciplinary Core Ideas and Next Generation Science Standards.

She also received an honorarium through the University of Washington to build a literacy library linked to the environmental science units she was creating. The library, which includes about 50 age-appropriate books covering everything from environmental science and prairie habitats to Native American history, aligns with the Prairie Restoration lesson plans.

“It has been crazy for me. All these little doors that have opened have been just phenomenal.”

Baldwin, who oversaw Clemons’ capstone project, complimented her work ethic.

“What impressed me the most about Jessica is her motivation,” Baldwin says. “She always chooses to go above and beyond in all aspects of her degree program.”

As for the importance of Eastern supporters who provide scholarships, Baldwin says those donors open doors for students like Clemons to work toward additional credentials, such as minors and K–12 add-on endorsements, that expand their career options and help them make the most of their education.

Clemons appreciates every scholarship award, recalling that after receiving the Fox Family Education Scholarship, she had the opportunity to meet Tom Fox, the EWU alumnus who started the fund, and thank him in person.

“He’s phenomenal. He genuinely cares so much about those going into education,” Clemons says.

Most recently, Clemons received the Last Mile Scholarship. Funded by the Krumble Foundation, the scholarship helps students nearing graduation overcome barriers to complete their final degree requirements.

“That was a huge blessing,” she says, “because now I am full-time student teaching — and it’s not a paid position — so the Last Mile was really there to get me through the last little bit.”

After graduation, Clemons hopes to work as a full-time elementary teacher in the Central Valley School District, where three of her own children attend school. Initially, she planned to teach older students, but a year of working with first graders helped her discover a passion for elementary education.

“I love these little kids,” she says, adding that first-graders have particularly sweet dispositions.

Throughout her time at Eastern, Clemons chronicled the journey with family photos, taken on the Hello Walk outside Showalter Hall. The latest photos feature this super-achieving mom wearing a graduation cap, pictured alongside her four children.

“It means so much more to me now that I’ve done what I’ve done to have been able to do it with all of my kids,” she says.

Help Build Futures Through Applied Learning

When students like Clemons have the financial resources to pursue hands-on learning experiences, they can focus on building the knowledge, skills and connections they need for career success. Support EWU’s $100 million Build Our Future campaign to make these valuable opportunities possible. Your gift can provide scholarships and other resources that help students afford college, stay enrolled, gain meaningful professional experience and prepare for their futures.