2025 Alumni Award Nominations

Benjamin P. Cheney Lifetime Achievement

Benjamin P. Cheney was a director of the Northern Pacific Railroad and with a gift of $10,000, he founded what would eventually become Eastern Washington University. 

The Benjamin P. Cheney Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor given by the EWU Alumni Association to alumni who embody the core values and spirit of Eastern Washington University. This award celebrates a lifetime of excellence, commitment, and contributions from alumni who make EWU proud through their achievements and service. Recipients of this prestigious award meet the following criteria:

• Professional Accomplishments: They have achieved a distinguished record of contributions in their field, demonstrating sustained success and impact over time.
• Leadership and Mentorship: They are recognized leaders and mentors, guiding and inspiring others in their profession and community.
• Community Service: They show a strong dedication to community service, actively giving back and making meaningful contributions to society.
• EWU Engagement: They have a long-standing history of participation in the EWU community, demonstrating commitment to the university and contributing to its growth and future.
• Experience: They have a minimum of 20 years of experience in their chosen field.
• Alumni Requirement: Recipients are graduates of EWU, having graduated in 2005 or earlier.

Eagle4Life Spirit Award

The EWU Alumni Association is who we are, but an Eagle4Life is what we are. Being an #Eagle4Life is a lifelong journey. 

The Eagle4Life Spirit Award honors alumni who showcase exceptional pride and unwavering spirit for Eastern Washington University and the EWU Alumni Association. This award celebrates the alumni who keep the EWU spirit alive, fostering connection and pride among the entire Eagle community. Award recipients embody the following qualities:

• Positive Representation: They actively exemplify a positive image of EWU, inspiring loyalty and pride among their fellow alumni.
• Public Support: They are visible advocates for the university, promoting EWU through community engagement and social media platforms.
• Encouraging Engagement: They demonstrate their Eagle4Life spirit by motivating fellow alumni to stay connected and engaged with EWU.
• Alumni Requirement: Recipients are graduates of EWU.

Rising Eagle Award

The Rising Eagle Award honors emerging leaders among EWU’s recent alumni who are making a notable impact early in their careers. Award recipients embody the following qualities:

• Commitment to Excellence: Show a dedication to excellence in their post-academic lives, marked by exceptional work, research, or volunteer efforts.
• Professional and Community Impact: Have achieved significant recognition through their professional accomplishments, research contributions, volunteerism, or active involvement in local or global communities.
• Leadership and Service: Demonstrate strong leadership skills and a commitment to serving others.
• Innovation and Initiative: Special consideration is given to those who exhibit initiative by launching innovative service projects, research endeavors, businesses, or other original ventures.
• EWU Engagement: Display a history of active involvement with the EWU community, showcasing their dedication to the university’s growth and future.
• Alumni Requirement: Recipients are graduates of EWU within the past 10 years (2014-2024).

Tawanka Service Award

The Tawanka Organization was a women’s honorary service organization that was created in 1926. The name was derived from a Native American phrase meaning “to help.” The purpose of which was to extend hospitality to campus visitors, to foster college spirit, to promote interest in activities in which the student body participates, and to maintain campus traditions.

The Tawanka Service Award honors EWU alumni who dedicate themselves to service, advancing the university’s mission, and fostering a positive and inclusive culture. This award celebrates alumni who embody EWU’s values through service, advocacy, and fostering a more inclusive and connected community. Special recognition is given to alumni whose leadership and involvement in Greek or student organizations during their time at EWU have continued to shape their commitment to service and community building post-college. Award recipients embody the following qualities:

• Service Commitment: Exhibit a sustained and meaningful commitment to serving their community or university, consistently going above and beyond in a volunteer capacity.

• Beyond Career Responsibilities: Make impactful contributions that extend beyond, or are entirely outside, their professional obligations.

• Relationship Building: Cultivate meaningful relationships with those they serve and thoughtfully reflect on their experiences as alumni.

• Fostering Change: Lead efforts to create positive change, contributing to the growth and success of their workplace, or EWU’s Greek and/or student leadership communities.
• Alumni Requirement: Recipients are graduates of EWU.

Sandy Williams Trailblazer Award

Sandy Williams was a Black, queer, civil right activist, founder of the Black Lens newspaper and champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion.  During her five years of working at EWU, Williams established two of the university’s longest-running diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. One of these, the annual Lavender Graduation, honors the academic achievements of LGBTQ+ students — along with the faculty, staff and students who support them — and has become a cherished annual tradition. Another, the Welcoming Project Advocate Training program, continues to advance equity and inclusion by educating faculty, staff and students about the unique experiences of EWU’s LGBTQ+ communities and how to be visible and active advocates. Williams also helped open the EWU Pride Center in 2010.

The Sandy Williams Trailblazer Award honors alumni who are leaders in promoting diversity, social justice, inclusion, and accessibility, using their platform to foster understanding and dismantle barriers to equity. This award celebrates those alumni who break new ground in advancing equity and inspire others to contribute to a more inclusive and just world. Award recipients embody the following qualities:

• Community Building: Actively work to create a supportive and inclusive community that fosters a sense of belonging within educational and professional spaces.
• Commitment to DEIA Goals: Exhibit a strong dedication to EWU’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
• Leading Change: Lead initiatives that enhance awareness and understanding or drive measurable progress in promoting diversity and inclusion within their communities.
• Cultural Competency and Education: Champion workplace diversity education, communication, and the advancement of cultural competency through impactful educational efforts.
• Alumni Requirement: Recipients are graduates of EWU.

Lt. Col. Daniel M. Carter Military Service Award

Lt. Col. Daniel M. Carter was the commander of the first ROTC class at EWU.

The Lt. Col. Daniel M. Carter Military Service Award honors EWU alumni who demonstrate outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment through their military service. Award recipients embody the following qualities:

• Honorable Military Service: Have served honorably, or are actively serving, in the Armed Forces, including the Reserves or National Guard.
• Exemplary Leadership and Service: Exhibit exceptional leadership and a commitment to service that positively impacts their communities.
• Career Achievement: Have achieved significant accomplishments and recognition throughout their military careers.
• EWU Engagement: Display a history of active involvement with the EWU community, showcasing their dedication to the university’s growth and future.
• Alumni Requirement: Recipients are graduates of EWU or the EWU ROTC program, though ROTC program graduation is not required.

Governor Clarence D. Martin Educator of the Year Award

Governor Clarence D. Martin, an EWU alumni, was instrumental in laying the foundation for our education department. He signed the degree bill which allowed us to offer a BA in Education in 1933, and EWU became the first college in the state to offer this degree. 

The Governor Clarence D. Martin Educator of the Year Award honors EWU alumni who make outstanding contributions in the field of education through their mentorship, service, and dedication. This award celebrates educators who go above and beyond in their dedication to students and who lead by example in promoting inclusion, equity, and excellence in education. Award recipients embody the following qualities:

• Inclusive Community Building: Foster inclusive environments by promoting equity and advocating for underrepresented groups within educational settings.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Exhibit exceptional leadership qualities, serving as role models and mentors to both students and colleagues.
• Passion and Innovation in Teaching: Demonstrate passion, creativity, and innovation in their teaching methods, inspiring a love of learning and commitment to student success.
• EWU Engagement: Display a history of active involvement with the EWU community, showcasing their dedication to the university’s growth and future.
• Alumni Requirement: Recipients are graduates of EWU.