CALE Awards 2020

CALE Awards for Excellence

Taking the time to reflect on our achievements is one of my favorite parts of the year. It gives us the chance to celebrate our work as scholars and educators. It enables us to reflect on how we have helped students reach new heights of knowledge and wisdom in their chosen disciplines. Above all, I invite you to join us in recognizing these outstanding achievements, achievements that inspire us to teach, and to learn.

Frances B. Huston Medallion Awards

Recipients of the Frances B. Huston medallion award will have established themselves as exceptionally capable individuals in both academic and extracurricular activities. All recipients have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement with a minimum of a 3.75 GPA in their previous four quarters and have qualified for the award in one or more of the following areas: leadership, service to the university, and/or service to the community.

Rachelle Rogers

BA, Art History (Art)
Faculty Escort: Catherine Girard, PhD Art History

Samantha Hsu

BAE, Elementary Literacy - Reading & Writing (Education)
Faculty Escort: Ann Van Wig, PhD
Photo of Samantha Hsu

Grace Wahlman

BA, Technical Communication (English)
Faculty Escort: Kate Crane, PhD Technical Communication
Photo of Grace Wahlman

Sonya Dauncey

BA, French (Modern Languages & Literature)
Faculty Escort: Florian Preisig, PhD, French
Photo of Sonya Dauncey

Kimberly Snow

BM, Instrumental Performance & BME, Music Education (Music)
Faculty Escort: Kristina Ploeger-Hekmatpanah, Choral Studies
Photo of Kimberly Snow

Kira Westlund

BA, Film & Minor in Design (Theatre & Film)
Faculty Escort: Drew Ayers, Film
Photo of Kira Westlund

Dean’s Excellence Awards and Faculty Mentors

The Dean’s Student Excellence Award is awarded to outstanding graduating seniors who have demonstrated distinguished excellence and achievements within their department, the college, university, and the community. Faculty Mentors are selected by the student award recipients and are celebrated for their excellence in teaching and mentorship.

Madison Jones

BFA, Studio Art
Art
Photo of Madison Jones
Faculty Mentor: Joshua Hobson, Photography

Brittany Brattin

BAE, Elementary Literacy - Reading & Writing
Education
Photo of Brittany Brattin
Faculty Mentor: Ashley Lepisi

Deidra Churchill

BAE, Elementary Literacy - Reading & Writing
Education
Photo of Deidra Churchill
Faculty Mentor: Ann Van Wig, PhD

Andrew "Drew" Steven Lawson

BA, Journalism: News Editorial & BS, Journalism: Public Relations
English
Photo of Andrew "Drew"  Steven Lawson
Faculty Mentor: Jamie Neely, Journalism Program Director

Jamie Yallup

BA, English: Literary Studies & Minor in American Indian Studies
English
Photo of Jamie Yallup
Faculty Mentor: Beth Torgerson, PhD Director of Literature and Writing

Irene Padilla

BA, Spanish
Modern Languages and Literatures
Photo of Irene Padilla
Faculty Mentor: Natalia Ruiz Rubio, PhD Spanish

April Wright

BA, Philosophy & BA, Psychology
Modern Languages & Literatures
Photo of April Wright
Faculty Mentor: Terrance MacMullan, Philosophy

Jonathan Williams

BM, Percussion Performance
Music
Photo of Jonathan Williams
Faculty Mentor: Michael Waldrop, Percussion

Jared Martin

BA, Theatre
Theatre and Film
Photo of Jared Martin
Faculty Mentors: Jeff Sanders and Sara Goff, Theatre

Emeritus Status Award

Dana Elder

Professor Emeritus
English
Photo of Dana Elder

Anthony Flinn

Professor Emeritus
English
Photo of Anthony Flinn

Jamie Neely

Professor Emerita
Journalism
Photo of Jamie Neely

Grant Smith

Professor Emeritus
English
Photo of Grant Smith

Staff Retirements

Thank you for all you have done for Eastern over the years!

Pam Russell

Program Coordinator
Creative Writing

Diane Weber

Senior Secretary
English

Faculty & Staff Excellence Awards

These individuals embody the college’s mission and values. The purpose of the six college awards is to recognize and commend outstanding faculty and staff who have put forth the extraordinary commitment to represent their department, the college, and the university.

Team Excellence Award

Modern Languages Team:
English as a Second Language, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.

Classified & Exempt Staff Excellence Award

Jazmine Jackson
College of Arts, Letters, and Education & Art
Photo of Classified & Exempt Staff Excellence Award

Faculty Teaching Excellence Award

Chris Tyllia
Art

Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activities Excellence Award

Sam Ligon
English
Photo of Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activities Excellence Award

Faculty Service Excellence Award

Jody Graves
Music
Photo of Faculty Service Excellence Award

Campus Partner Award

Records and Registration Team

In Memoriam: Alys Seifert

Alys Seifert, née Rallier, a long-time educator in EWU’s Modern Languages and Literature Department and emeritus faculty, died on March 4, 2020 at the age of 84. Alys will be deeply missed by her former MLL colleagues and friends, who were still in touch with her years after she retired.

Alys Seifert was born in the Loire Valley, a region famous for its Renaissance castles, like Blois, Chambord, and Chenonceau. Alys grew up during the war and saw her dad be sent to Germany for forced labor in a munitions factory. She met her future husband, Loren, when he was in France with the US military. They moved to the Spokane region in 1958. She had a strong personality that didn’t leave people around her indifferent.

For over two decades, Alys taught French language, culture and literature at EWU and ran a French M Ed program. Additionally, she took students to Nice and Paris every summer. She was passionate about French culture and would hold cheese and wine tasting events on campus. She cared deeply about her students and saw them as family; she was much liked by them. Seifert retired from EWU in 2003.