WSU Employee Presidential Scholarship

The scholarship program is on hold for the academic year due to funding. Updates will be made once more information becomes available.

The WSU Employee Presidential Scholarship is designed for eligible employees who are taking online courses through WSU Global Campus, the inaugural spring 2019 semester award recipients are listed below.

Applications are for WSU employees who meet the “Eligible Employees – WSU Employees” section of the tuition waiver benefit of BPPM 60.70.

Recipients of the WSU Employee Presidential Scholarship receive a scholarship equivalent to three WSU Global Campus credits for the semester (up to $1,746 https://online.wsu.edu/currentstudent/costs/tuition-and-fees/). Recipients are responsible for their student account and amounts due. Recipients must remain enrolled through the duration of the awarded term. APAC requires a complete application to be considered, including questions about marketing.

Fall 2019 Scholarship Awardees

Teresa Bevan-Church

Terrie Bevan-Church has been a Custodian at WSU Tri-Cities for three years. Born a military brat, she had the opportunity to travel extensively in her youth. Finally settling in Buckley, Washington when her father retired in the late ’70s. She later graduated from Buckley High. Terrie gained a passion for history that was garnered at the knees of her grandparents and uncles as they would relate stories of their lives before and after immigration to the United States. As a benefit to the continual moving in her early years, she gained a love and fascination with the diversity and histories of the various people, lands, and cultures in which she came into contact.

Terrie had just completed her Associates of Arts and Sciences when she left school to marry and begin a family. Seven children and 20 years later, Terrie decided to go back to school and finish her education in history. She is currently in the senior year of her chosen field. She considers it important not that she not waste the advantages and opportunities given us to go to school, study, and improve ourselves. Her plan is to continue her education, earn her graduate degree and either obtain employment in education or as an archivist.

Terrie is happiest in an educational environment and deems herself lucky to be working in an atmosphere that encourages education for its staff. Terrie is typically one of the more mature students in her classes and she finds it interesting to hear the views of younger students discussing issues of which she has lived. She believes the youth of today can often look at the events of yesterday with a fresh insight that can aid in forming how we look to the future. Overall, Terrie finds it vastly enjoyable to learn among today’s future scholars.

Terrie is grateful for having had the opportunity to apply for the Presidential Employee Scholarship. Being awarded this scholarship has allowed her the opportunity to complete a class that she would not have had the opportunity to do otherwise. It means she is one class closer to achieving her goals. She would like to thank those involved that made this opportunity possible.

Andrea Dodge

Andrea Dodge currently holds the role of the Retail Technology Operations Manager at CORETECH, on the Pullman campus, where she has worked for coming up on 5 years. Working in higher education is what ultimately led her to begin the path as a student. Andrea is currently working toward a degree in Political Science, Women’s Studies, and Sociology, with the plan of attending law school. Being that this is Andrea’s last semester as a student before graduation, the scholarship couldn’t have come at a better time and is very appreciated.

Prior to WSU, Andrea attended the University of California, Riverside, where she studied Sociology & Comparative Literature. After a couple of relocations, she landed in the Pacific Northwest, where she pursued her passion for human rights and advocacy by volunteering in the community, with time spent at the Latah Recovery Center, Women’s March Washington State, and the League of Women Voter’s.

In her free time, Andrea enjoys traveling and experiencing the diversity of communities and cultures around the world. She also enjoys spending time with her family, being part of a large extended family has always encouraged close relationships, especially being a part of her niece & nephew’s growth into tiny humans.

Andria Donnenworth

Like many, I started college right after high school. I completed two years at a community college during which I met my husband. We chose to start a family in which I became a stay at home mother until my daughters were in school and then I entered the workforce. I worked in the childcare and school district industry for over a decade and went as far as running my own childcare centers, but I wanted something else.

My family moved to Pullman and I was fortunate enough to be hired with WSU Global Campus. After two years, I still work for Global Campus and attend WSU as a student, earning my Social Science degree with a minor in HBM. My goal is to graduate from college before my daughters do. So far, I am on track to do just that and this scholarship will help my goal become even more obtainable. Growing up in Kansas, I could have never imagined or even known what it meant to be a WSU Coug. Now, I couldn’t even imagine NOT being a Coug.

Thank you for this scholarship opportunity and GO COUGS!

Eva Downs

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to you as the recipient of the WSU Employee Presidential Scholarship for the Fall 2019 semester. I was ecstatic to learn that I was selected for this award and I am deeply appreciative of your support. I thank you for your confidence and willingness to help me achieve my goals.

I am currently enrolled as a graduate student in the Master of Agriculture program with a focus in Food Science. Concurrently, I am a full-time Licensed Veterinary Technician at the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. My goal is to use the 3 credit hour scholarship toward the take the skills and knowledge from the MSAG program and use it to educate my peers and build working relationships with other professionals. The financial assistance you provided will not only help in paying for my educational expenses but has now allowed me to graduate with little to no debt.

Theresa Gonzalez

Theresa Gonzalez began her WSU journey in 2015 when she was hired on as an Information Technology Specialist, for Administrative Services Information Systems, under Student Affairs. Theresa had over 7 years of experience in Information Technology and was thrilled to join the WSU community. A California native, she relocated to the Pacific Northwest to pursue her new career, with hopes of still attending school. With a passion to learn new things, and her ability to adapt, and grow in any environment, she took to WSU with ease.

While working a full-time job, Theresa’s education remained a top priority for her and was always an important part of her life. Unable to attend a four-year college, after graduating high school, she committed time and effort at San Joaquin Delta College, a community college, where she was able to gain enough credits to transfer to a four-year college. Eventually, Theresa decided to enroll at WSU’s Global Campus, to complete her degree in Social Science.

Upon completion of her degree, Theresa will be the first college graduate within her family. This has been a personal goal of hers, which she has worked diligently to accomplish and achieve. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her partner, online gaming, and riding her motorcycle. Theresa is extremely grateful for being selected as a recipient of the Presidential Employee Scholarship and would like to thank everyone involved for the opportunity. Go Cougs!

Rodrigo Guizar

Rodrigo Guizar is a Honey Bee Specialist, Professional Beekeeper, and the Apiary Manager in the WSU Entomology Department. He has worked for the Entomology Department for four years. As the apiary manager, he maintains the WSU Honey Bee Lab’s research colonies ensuring their health and honey production. This entails inspecting the colonies for pathogens, monitoring parasitic mites and extracting honey, then bottling it. He also raises queens and helps to select certain traits that the WSU Honey Bee Breeding program wants to pursue in their genetic stock.

Before starting his academic studies at Washington State University in 2014, he attended and graduated from Connell High School near Tri-Cities, Washington. He worked as a farm assistant assisting with a variety of tasks and developing diverse skills such as farm management, fruit production, integrated pest management, farm machinery maintenance, and harvesting and storage in apple orchards until his family began raising honey bees on their small farm on the Columbia Basin. He has seen the importance of honey bees in human food production, and agricultural systems and has decided to dedicate his life and invest in a career in improving our beekeeping practices and honey bee genetics.

Rodrigo is currently a first-generation student (part-time), working on his double major degree in Microbiology and Genetics. He became interested in these sciences as they reflect the inner workings of life and how the environment shapes behavior and potential. These are themes that he is inspired to understand in order to better support health and wellness biodiversity. He enjoys spending time outdoors and loves to exercise. He also loves great food and preparing it, too.

In the future, Rodrigo hopes to help lead the globally renowned WSU Honey Bee Breeding program to continual success and to promote increased awareness for honey bee health.

Dean Hare

I am a Cougar alum (2005). I work as a photographer with WSU Photo Services, starting my position in December 2014. Before that, I worked as a photojournalist at the Moscow-Pullman Daily News and as a stringer for the Associated Press.

Every semester after becoming eligible, I have used the Employee Tuition Waiver option to take classes for personal growth and professional development. Some of the classes I took relate directly to my work, others classes for fun also related indirectly to my work; while several classes focused on gaining information and skills useful outside work. Many of these classes also position me towards another degree.

This will be my first time taking a class through WSU’s Global Campus, thanks to being chosen for the WSU Employee Presidential Scholarship. I plan to use this opportunity to take a bottleneck class in the Carson College of Business, where the number of computers in the lab space places a hard limit to on-campus enrollment. Taking this course through the Global Campus will work better for me than taking it on campus, even if I could get a seat, as my work schedule varies significantly from week to week. My supervisor is supportive of my efforts to take classes, but for staffing reasons wants me available to work during the afternoons, which often limits the classes I can even think about taking, including the one I will take, which on campus are all afternoon sections. Having the opportunity to take a class through the Global Campus eliminates this bottleneck while meeting a prerequisite, allowing me to take future classes.

Heather McPherson

Heather McPherson is a native of Latah County, growing up in Moscow, Idaho and graduated from Moscow Senior High School.

Heather went to cosmetology school and worked in the industry for 20+ years before looking for an administrative career.

After becoming a full-time employee at the Energy Systems Innovation Center in 2013 as an Office Assistant, Heather began taking classes part time in the Human Development field. After three years, Heather transferred to the Office of Equity and Diversity as a Fiscal Specialist, now known as Outreach and Education. Two years into her position, she has now become the Coordinator the Office of Outreach and Education and the Heritage Houses as well as being on the Coordinating Team for the Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center.

Heather is very close to her family and has two adult children as well as two grandsons who all live in the area. She enjoys working on her home, doing several craft projects and doing activities with her grandsons when she has time from her two other jobs outside of WSU as a housekeeper and also as an employee at a local golf course.

Certifying in Gerontology with the goal of becoming an Elder Care Advocate upon graduation, Heather is on track to graduate in the summer of 2024.

Audrey Van Nuland

Growing up in Pullman, with a mom who is a Coug alum and WSU employee, as well as siblings who are Coug alums, I always knew that I too would be a Coug. I was always a kid who loved school, but I never anticipated that I would be a Coug quite so many times over, or that WSU would foster such a love of learning in me. I graduated in 2013 with a BA in Foreign Languages and Cultures and moved from being a time slip employee in the Crop and Soil Sciences office to be the secretary of the Psychology Department.

While working in Psych, I discovered not only a love for the subject of Psychology, but also a love for social research and academic advising. I became an advisor for Psych, graduated with a BS in Psychology, and in 2018 came to work in the School of Biological Sciences as an academic advisor and graduate Coordinator. Currently, I am taking courses for fun while also prepping for the GRE with my sights set on an MA in Political Sciences. During my time as a Coug I have been exceedingly blessed in becoming and aunt (3x) and enjoying my time with family and friends.

Sarah Waterhouse

My name is Sarah Waterhouse and I am employed with Washington State University as the Alumni Association Communications Manager. I have a Bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in classics from the University of Washington, which I earned in three years. I was able to do this by enrolling in WSU’s Running Start program as a high school student in nearby Palouse, WA. I then received my Master’s degree in history from the University of California – San Diego. At the present, I am enrolled in the WSU Online MBA program for a Master’s degree in business administration with a marketing focus, and will graduate in summer 2020. With 2/3 of the program completed thus far, I have been able to maintain a 4.0 GPA while working full-time.

Professionally, I have been working in the marketing field for seven years (and counting). I began my career at Medallion Bank, a national finance company, where I worked for three years as the organization’s first marketing employee – ever! During that time, I earned the new role as Marketing & Communications Manager, where I oversaw the department and managed all employees in several states (along with two separate product lines and sales teams). I left Medallion Bank for an opportunity at PACCAR, where I worked as the Marketing Program Development Manager for the Leasing & Rental division. After only about a year, I had the opportunity to return to my hometown of Palouse with my husband and work for WSU.

Something that makes me unique? My husband and I flip houses (for fun…?). We’ve completed three official remodels so far, did all of the work ourselves, and lived through each renovation. When we left Seattle, we built our dream home overlooking the Palouse River – a year-long adventure.

Go Cougs!!

Spring 2019 Scholarship Awardees

Heath Bingman

Hello! My name is Heath J Bingman, and I am so excited to have been selected for this award.

I have been with the university for 2 years and am working on my 2nd master’s degree while working full time. I currently hold a master’s degree in special education curriculum & instruction and am now wrapping up my second master’s in political science, wherein my interest is policy & administration. I will likely be seeking a PhD as I move forward. I have two young children, ages 4 and 7, who keep me motivated, and a wonderful husband who wrangles the kids while I do my homework.

I am a dedicated educational administrator who seeks to work with and adjust policy to allow for equal education opportunities for individuals of typically underrepresented backgrounds, be that based on neurodiversity, ethnicity, nontraditional status or more. As a first-generation student from a low SES background who had children before completing my bachelor’s, I understand, respect, and support our students who are seeking academic success regardless of their background. I fully believe that if we can make education accessible to all then: “If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” ― Zig Ziglar Keep learning, keep fighting! Go Cougs!

Teresa Bevan-Church

Terrie Bevan-Church has been a Custodian at WSU Tri-Cities for three years. Born a military brat, she had the opportunity to travel extensively in her youth. Finally settling in Buckley, Washington when her father retired in the late 70’s. She later graduated from Buckley High. Terrie gained passion for history that was garnered at the knees of her grandparents and uncles as they would relate stories of their lives before and after immigration to the United States. As a benefit to the continual moving in her early years, she gained a love and fascination of the diversity and histories of the various people, lands, and cultures in which she came into contact.

Terrie had just completed her Associates of Arts and Sciences when she left school to marry and begin a family. Seven children and 20 years later Terrie decided to go back to school and finish her education in history. She is currently in the senior year of her chosen field. She considers it important to not waste the advantages and opportunities to go to school, study, and improve ourselves. Her plan is to continue her education, earn her graduate degree, and either obtain employment in education or as an archivist.

Terrie is happiest in an educational environment and deems herself lucky to be working in an atmosphere that encourages education for its staff. She is typically one of the more mature students in her classes and she finds it interesting to hear the views of younger students discussing issues of which she has lived. She believes the youth of today can often look at the events of yesterday with an fresh insight that can aid in forming how we look to the future. Overall, Terrie finds it vastly enjoyable to learn among today’s future scholars.

Terrie is grateful for the having had the opportunity to apply for the Presidents Employee Scholarship. Being awarded this scholarship has allowed her the opportunity to complete a class that she would not have had the opportunity to do otherwise. It means she is one class closer to achieving her goals. She would like to thank those involved that made this opportunity possible.

William Culey

I have worked for the State of Washington for the past eight years. I started with the Department of Corrections and realized I wanted more from life. I used my GI Bill to pay for my undergraduate degree from WSU. At the urging of a favorite professor, I applied for a position with Enterprise Systems Group of the Information Technology Department. I have been here for three years learning and growing, but wanted to take the next challenge of a leadership/management position. This requires a lot of experience or a graduate degree. I decided to pursue my MBA but am not able to financially afford taking off work for a year. Then the Pullman MBA program discontinued so I was left doing an online program. I did not want to wait to start, so started the WSU OMBA program January 2018. I chose WSU’s program because it offered some convenience and safety. Being familiar with WSU Global for my undergraduate, I was certain that the program would have many of the same requirements albeit at a higher level. I also know that some of the professors are on campus and I could use the open office hours to ask questions or get extra help if needed. After researching other programs, WSU made financial sense for my family. I wanted to cash flow the whole program, but with a large family, it has been challenging. The Employee Presidential Scholarship makes a big difference for my family and me. Once I graduate with my MBA, I plan to apply for mid-level management positions within the IT department if they exist. Washington State University has been a great employer and I would like to give back to the institution who has educated me so well and provided for my family for the last few years.

Mica DeMarco

Mica DeMarco is a third-generation Washington State University graduate who obtained her bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism with a minor in Spanish in 2014. Mica grew up in Wenatchee, Washington, but lived in Pullman during elementary school while her father attended WSU’s Vet School. After graduating high school, Mica returned to Pullman to attend WSU for her undergraduate degree. Upon graduation, Mica took a job with the Office of Admissions & Recruitment as a regionally-based admissions counselor in the Bay Area of Northern California. She enjoyed working with students, families, and alumni in the Bay and growing the Cougar family with California students! After a year and a half in this role, she returned to Pullman where she continues her work as an admissions counselor. She now has the privilege of working with students from all over the country, with a primary focus on Hawaii, Colorado, Texas, and Illinois. She also gets to work with families from the local Whitman and Latah counties who are interested in attending WSU. Outside of work, Mica volunteers as the Chapter Adviser for Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Gamma chapter on WSU’s campus. She has two dogs and enjoys attending as many Cougar athletic events as she can!

Andria Donnenworth

Thank you for this scholarship opportunity and GO COUGS!

Collette Pipkins

Collette Pipkins is a 2017 graduate of Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Collette dreams of obtaining a master’s degree in accounting and becoming a Certified Public Accountant. Currently, she works for Payroll Services as a fiscal specialist; ensuring over 4000 employees are paid across the world.

Collette grew up in a household focused on education and learning. She sees her interest in accounting a natural result of her upbringing because it requires continuous learning to keep up with changing tax and other accounting principles.

With three beautiful high-energy young children and a disabled father, life has made Collette a master of balancing her goals against her responsibilities while always moving forward.

When not working, Collette enjoys reading, drawing, hiking and considers herself a life learner.

Donald Schmit

Donald Schmit has been the coordinator of the rental shop and Coug Bikes for University Recreation since 2017. He is currently working on his master of arts in sport management in the College of Education. He received his bachelor’s degree in recreation administration and international studies from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Prior to coming to WSU, Donald worked for Adventure Programs and Education with U.S. Army Morale, Welfare, and Recreation at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, CO., where he introduced recently returned soldiers to adventure recreation. Since starting at WSU, he has worked on the development and launch of the next generation of bike share programs at WSU, Coug Bikes. Coug Bikes was successfully launched in June 2018 to replace the Green Bikes program. Donald also manages the Outdoor Recreation Center’s rental shop, which includes equipment for rafting, kayaking, backpacking, mountaineering, skiing and more. He originally hails from Omaha, Nebraska where he grew up on an emu ranch. His hobbies include backpacking, climbing, paddling, and skiing. When not studying, he can often be found wandering the Pacific Northwest in search of new adventures.

Darren Schinder

I work for Dr. Katrina Mealey, in Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology, characterizing the drug resistance protein MDR1. I have more than 20 years of clinical and research laboratory experience, primarily in general microbiology, high-containment laboratories, biosafety, and laboratory management. I graduated from WSU Pullman in 1996 with a degree in microbiology and a minor in Anthropology. I also hold two certifications (Cytotechnology, and Technologist in Microbiology) from the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

After graduation, I found employment researching Gulf War Syndrome at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Portland, Oregon. I took a break to work through a Cytotechnology training program in Seattle, and then went on to work for the two largest, private reference laboratories in the United States. I returned to research at the University of Idaho for several years, and most recently served as high-containment laboratory manager, institutional biosafety officer, and vice-chairman of the Houston Methodist Research Institute’s Biosafety Committee (HMRI is the research branch of Houston Methodist Hospital, the largest hospital system in Texas).

Somewhere along the way, my wife and I decided we should homestead and raise our daughter on the Palouse; so we downsized, returned to the region, and are building a small farm “from the bare dirt up.”

I enjoy learning … just for fun. I find that college is much more enjoyable when one can just take whatever is interesting, instead of whatever it takes to graduate. For spring 2019, that looks like data analytics, after that, perhaps artificial intelligence and machine learning. Later on, I think I might delve into sustainable agriculture and permaculture, because… well… homesteading. We have the land to “play” with, after all.

Shirin Shahsavand

Shirin Shahsavand earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Toronto, Canada. She then moved to Pullman and started working at the Smart Environments Research Center. After a couple of years, she discovered that her passion lies in the marketing and business area and decided to pursue a degree in business. She took on a new position as the marketing and communications specialist for the Engineering and Technology Management program and started taking courses using WSU staff tuition waivers. Today, she plans to pursue a graduate degree in management science. Shirin established the first ever Girls Who Code Club in Idaho in 2016. She regularly volunteers at STEM education centers on the Palouse in her free time. She is an amateur chef and enjoys cooking and baking for her friends and family when she is not studying or working. She participates in multiple sports and she is an avid film and theatre enthusiast. She loves traveling and speaks three languages.

Anastasia Tucker

Anastasia Tucker is the education and outreach archivist at the Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation in the Holland Library. She relocated to Pullman following a graduate degree in library and information science at the University of Washington’s iSchool. As a graduate student, Anastasia’s studies included a focus on indigenous systems of knowledge, a correlating course of study in Guam, and a Junior Fellowship at the Congressional Research Service, a division of the Library of Congress. Anastasia also volunteered as a teaching assistant at Seattle Central Community College and worked with the Seattle Art Museum on a collection of historic media while a student and recent graduate.

As an undergraduate student, Anastasia studied English with a focus on world literature at George Mason University in Virginia. She also studied Spanish in Madrid. Upon graduation, she joined the Peace Corps and taught English as a foreign language in Transylvania, Romania, for two years. As an English teacher, Anastasia worked primarily with elementary and middle school students. Other travels of note include time spent volunteering at a coffee farm in Jamaica and collecting medicinal plants in rural Romania.

Anastasia is looking forward to connecting further with the Washington State University community and continuing her studies through the Global Campus.

Wesley Underhill

My name is Wesley Underhill and I am proud to accept a scholarship in the inaugural grant of the WSU Employee Presidential Scholarship. I moved to Pullman many years ago to pursue a degree and then moved to Boise having never completed it. Last year my wife was offered a fantastic opportunity here and so we moved back to Pullman, and I began working for the School of Design and Construction. I feel I have a good grasp of my job and what it entails, but now I have this chance to grow and learn that I wouldn’t have even considered two years ago.

I have been planning on taking classes that will help me to better contribute to the many wonderful projects we have in motion at WSU currently and in the future, and now I can do so in a way that doesn’t require scheduling time out of my work day. I am truly grateful to President Schulz and the committee for this opportunity to develop my skills in a way that doesn’t take away from my ability to do my job, and hope to see many more employees taking advantage. Go Cougs!