Travel – Eastern Magazine

On the Road

creineke — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:34:21 +0000

Where will Eastern magazine be spotted next? Share a photo of you, our latest issue and the details of where your travels have taken you. Send to easternmagazine@ewu.edu.

Argentina

Dave Heyamoto, Jerrie Little Heyamoto ’88, Janice Hijiya Price ’70 and Jim Price (pictured from left) recently trekked to the Argentinian rainforest to experience Iguazu Falls, the world’s largest waterfall system. “The falls were at low flow if you can believe it,” Dave Heyamoto says.

Croatia

Under a picture-perfect summer sky, Terry ’95 and Crissy Robinson ’95, enjoyed a commanding view of the Medieval walls surrounding the historic city center of Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Indonesia

Jim ’99 and Kristin Williams ’99 recently visited the Gate of Heaven at the Amarta Penida restaurant on Nusa Penida, Bali. The Williams journeyed to the Indonesian archipelago to celebrate the 50th birthday of Kristin’s brother, Bob.

Malaysia

This fall Jennifer Hicks ’94 visited the famed City Mosque in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. The majestic structure, also known as the “floating mosque,” is modeled on the Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina.

New Zealand

During a three-week-long trip to New Zealand and Australia, Dwayne Deckard and Danice Deckard ’84, along with Matt Portch and Linda Portch ’80 (pictured from left) took in the spectacular scenery at Milford Sound, a UNESCO World Heritage site on New Zealand’s South Island.

Romania

Holly Grisamore ’91 and her husband, Charles, this summer celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary with a seven-day cruise on Europe’s fabled Danube River. Holly displayed her Eastern magazine as the ship navigated the “Iron Gates” gorge separating Romania and Serbia.

United States

Eagle pride took center stage as Ryan ’86 and Marcie Rader ’87 (left) along with Gary ’86 and Peggy Smith ’86, earlier this year traveled to Fabulous Las Vegas to experience a concert at the Sphere, that city’s impressively immersive concert venue.

Former Eastern roommates Joyce Callison ’63, (left) Linda Murphey ’63 (standing), and Susan Stannard ’63, ’79 this summer got a prime view of the vastness of Washington’s Grand Coulee Dam, a marvel of Depression-era engineering that remains the largest hydropower production facility in the United States.

On the Road

creineke — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:37:58 +0000

**Where will Eastern magazine be spotted next? Share a photo of you, our latest issue and the details of where your travels have taken you. Send to easternmagazine@ewu.edu**.

Australia

While on a three-week visit to Australia, Gary Wilson ’75, and his wife, Pimei, brought their magazine to a viewpoint near the Twelve Apostles, a series of limestone stacks off the coastal boundary of Port Campbell National Park.

Egypt

Intrepid Eagle Mitch Swenson ’82 and his wife, Kris, braved temperatures as high as 110 degrees while visiting the pyramid complex at Giza. The couple traveled to Egypt to see the sights and to visit family in Alexandria.

Great Britain

Carl Combs ’87 joined students from the EWU Study Abroad program as they gathered outside Charles Darwin’s house in London’s Borough of Bromley. Darwin, who moved to the house in 1842, wrote On the Origin of Species in the
home’s study.

Iceland

During a 5-day trip filled with “lots of outdoor activities,” Michele Starostka, ’97, and her husband, Chris, hiked Iceland’s Sólheimajökull glacier in celebration of Michele’s 50th birthday.

Italy

While on a springtime sojourn to Italy’s Amalfi Coast, “On the Road” Hall of Famer Doug Kelley ’83 enjoyed a luminous afternoon in the ancient port city of Positano, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Japan

Jerrie (Little) Heyamoto ’88 and Dave Heyamoto, dressed in traditional kimono and yakuta, share a magic moment in Kinosaki, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The couple were enjoying a 2 week family vacation that included visits to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

United States

Andrew ’15 and Kristen Landeza ’15, with their daughters, Kaisley, 5, and Koah, 7, display their Eastern magazine, and Eagle pride, while sharing a perfect, sunshiny day on the beach in Maui.

Kristy Garrett ’80, is surrounded by the doctors, practice manager, dental assistants and hygienists that she worked with for 22 years at the Willamette Dental Group in Idaho Falls. Garrett brought her magazine with her to her retirement celebration. “While I did not travel to a far away land with my Eastern magazine,” she wrote, “I am proud to be an alumni of EWU, and grateful for the support I have received from my coworkers.”

A group of Eastern alumni, faculty and friends, including EWU President Shari McMahan (bottom row, center), share their magazines — and EWU pride — at this winter’s ‘Eags in the Desert’ event in Arizona.

On the Road

creineke — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 23:34:44 +0000

Where will Eastern magazine be spotted next? Share a photo of you, our latest issue and the details of where your travels have taken you. Send to easternmagazine@ewu.edu.

Belgium

Alex Moskalyuk ’03 with his son, Daniel, age 12, at the Grand-Place in Brussels this summer.

Dominican Republic

On a cruise ship en route to the Dominican Republic last July, a flock of Eagle alumni gathered to take in the oceanic vistas. From left to right around the table: Jeff Watson ’90, Rob Ahrens ’93, Shannon Bryan-Ahrens ’93 (holding her magazine), Pam Clayton ’00, and Karen Thompson-Watson ’89, ’90.

Germany

Dan Obenchain ’79, ’82, and his wife, Maria, recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a river cruise through Germany’s enchanting Rhineland.

Iceland

While in the southwest of Iceland, Doug Kelley ’83, treated himself and his magazine to the healing waters of the Blue Lagoon Spa, a place “where the powers of geothermal seawater create transformational spa journeys.”

Japan

Robert Adams ’90, celebrated his 64th wedding anniversary with a “sail by” cruise featuring a stunning view of Iwo Jima’s Mt. Suribachi. Adams, a veteran, served with the rank of major in United States Marine Corps.

Clay Breshears ’83, on the bridge over the moat outside Osaka Castle, in Osaka, Japan. Breshears spent two weeks traveling around the country to attend 10 Nippon Professional Baseball games in 10 different stadiums. It was his eighth trip to Japan.

Korea

Casey Furuya ’22, a middle-school science teacher in Salem, Oregon, displays his Eastern magazine outside the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan, South Korea. Furuya’s temple tour came during a six-week summer sojourn to visit family.

Netherlands

Taking time out from what she describes as a “fun, touristy weekend”, Lauren Hegge ’10, posed for a photo at the iconic, and enormously popular, “I AMsterdam” sign.

While visiting Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Rotterdam, Holland, Kent Richardson ’69 and Nancy McKay ’68 took in a scenic view of one of the town’s 18th-century windmills.

Mexico

Brendan Genther ’20 shows off his Eastern magazine on the beach in front of Puerto Vallarta’s stunningly modern Los Muertos Pier.

Norway

Earlier this year John Nelson ’90, and his wife, Cami, rode the Fløbanen funicular to the summit of Mount Fløyen, a popular peak high above the historic city of Bergen on Norway’s southwestern coast.

Thailand

During a two-week trip to Southeast Asia this summer, Shyann Morton ’18, and her brother, Trace Morton, stopped by a sanctuary for elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Trace is a student in the EWU nursing program.

Turkey

Newlyweds Emily Ausere Holman ’22 and Zander Holman ’22 offered to add their magazine to the collection of the Library of Celsus in Ephesus, Turkey, an important center of scholarship during both classical and late antiquity.

Scott ’03 and Andrea LaPlant ’23 and their children visited the Hagia Sophia, one of the world’s greatest architectural and spiritual landmarks, during a summertime sojourn in Istanbul, Turkey.

United States

Samantha Creal ’08 joined her sisters, Heidi Birdsell ’05 and Tracy Eckersell ’12, and her brother-in-law Chase Eckersell ‘08 packed their magazine on a camping and hiking trip to central Oregon.

Ted Fritsch ’75 recently attended the 50th Anniversary Vintiques Auto Show in Yakima. He and his magazine are pictured with the same 1945 Dodge pickup that he used to drive to and from the Eastern campus while earning a degree in industrial technology. “I actually overhauled the engine in one of my classes,” Fritsch says.

While visiting historic Salem, Massachusetts, Harry Kautzman ’91 found himself in the stocks. Kautzman was in New England to experience the region’s splendid fall foliage.

During a Inside Passage cruise in Alaska, Joel San Nicolas ’83 and his wife, Teresa, took their magazine along on a visit to Juneau’s famous Red Dog Saloon.

While visiting Kachemak Bay on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, Paula ’75 and Jim Perez ’75 paused to show their Eastern pride at a sign celebrating the scenic city of Homer.

Shari McMahan, EWU’s president, joins a group of the Eagle football luminaries during a tailgate before an Eastern road game.

Vietnam

Ciara Johnson ’02 a brought her magazine with her to the post office in Hoi An, Vietnam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Johnson, who lives in Changshu, China, was in town for a conference, but was able to take time out for Hoi An’s famous fall full-moon festival.

On the Road

creineke — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 17:53:03 +0000

Where will Eastern magazine be spotted next? Share a photo of you, our latest issue and the details of where your travels have taken you. Send to easternmagazine@ewu.edu.

Japan

Cara Hernandez ’09, ’12 on the hill where the world’s greatest skiers met for the giant slalom competition during the Sapporo 1972 Winter Olympic Games. Her visit was part of a 14-day trip to Japan.

Argentina

Beneath the granite spires of Patagonia’s Mount Fitzroy, Doug Kelley ’83, takes a break during a recent trek in southern Argentina. Kelley is this years’ EWU Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement honoree.

Italy

Matt Murphy ’04 visited Rome’s Colosseum in February. He traveled to the Eternal City as part of a celebratory European tour with his daughter, Katelyn, who is a recent graduate of Wenatchee High School.

U.S. Virgin Islands

During a recent Caribbean cruise, Jason ’93 and Stephanie Barthell ’93 celebrate a sunny day on St. Thomas.

Spain

Team USA member Myra Klettke ’82, brought home gold in the 60+ age group at the 2024 World Snowshoe Championships after shoeing her way through Spain’s Cantabrian Mountains.

Czech Republic

In May, Dan Robisch ’77 and his wife, Colleen, visited Kunratice u Cvikova in the Czech Republic. Robisch’s ancestor, Charles Robisch, left the town in 1867 to emigrate with his family to the United States.

Germany

Myrna Driskill ’63 and Aubry Blad ’15 display last year’s spring/summer magazine — and Eagle pride — at the iconic Fernsehturm (television tower) in what was formerly East Berlin.

United Kingdom

While on a Scottish sojourn to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, Kathy Montague ’73 and her husband, Larry, donned their Eagle gear to tour Edinburgh Castle. Larry Montague recently retired as EWU’s director of facilities maintenance after 33 years of service.

On the Road

creineke — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 22:58:23 +0000

Where will Eastern magazine be spotted next? Share a photo of you, our latest issue and the details of where your travels have taken you. Send to easternmagazine@ewu.edu.

Romania

On a day that seemed not-at-all terrifying, Matt ’80 and Linda Portch ’80 visited Romania’s Bran Castle, the foreboding, 13th-century fortification that author Bram Stoker famously depicted in his novel Dracula.

Germany

During a trip to Germany in August, Danielle Kilian, ’00 and David Kilian ’02 took time out to admire Schamil Gimajev’s “Wir Sind Ein Volk” (We are One People), a mural that makes up part of an art friendly, 1300-meter section of the Berlin Wall.

Ireland

Even though he’s not a golfer, Kevin Hasslinger ’98 brought his appropriately themed magazine along to Dromoland Castle in County Clair, Ireland, a world-class resort and golfing destination.

Japan

In September, Ayla DeLaat ’13 and Mitchell Nelson ’14 enjoyed two weeks of travel in Japan, where, among other highlights, they visited the Himeji Castle in Hyōgo Prefecture.

Clay Breshears ’83 own excursion to Japan involved attending 10 Nippon Professional Baseball matchups in 10 different stadiums. Between games he somehow found the time to tour Osaka Castle, one Japan’s most famous landmarks.

Mo’orea

Casey Picha ’13 visited Mo’orea, a volcanic island in French Polynesia, earlier this year. The photo’s background, he says, depicts the coastline of nearby Tahiti: “If you love snorkeling or diving, this is the place to go!”

Portugal

Doug Kelley ’83 visited the Universidade do Porto during a recent trip to Porto, Portugal.

Switzerland

On a cold, cloudy day this summer, Greg ’86 and Sharla Austin ’86 took a tram from Zermatt, Switzerland to experience the spectacularly glaciated peaks surrounding the Matterhorn.

U.S.A

Members of the Estrellado family (pictured from left to right), Marcie ’89, Benji ’87, Jon ’88, Jose ’86 and Tracy ’87, display their Eagle pride on a sunny August afternoon on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Eagle fans Dan Hovanes ’68, Carol Williams Hovanes ’68 and Jim Williams ’69 traveled to U. S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for the opening game of the Eags’ 2023 football season.

Jamaica

Paul Stredwick ’79 spent part of his November perusing his magazine at a resort in Negril, Jamaica. “Two weeks on a beach, in a hammock, with people bringing food and drinks all day,” he said. “That’s the way it’s supposed to be!”