From the CEO of Boeing to the founder of Olympia’s Oysterfest, Washington State University’s Alumni Association has found many worthy and interesting graduates deserving of recognition for their accomplishments and contributions to WSU and their greater communities. Here is a list of the WSU Alumni Achievement Award Winners from the past two years.

2007

Richard B. Ellingson ’75, president of the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association and advisory board member of the WSU School of Hospitality Business Management, has enriched the lives of numerous WSU students.

Shaikh M. Ghazanfar ’62, ’64, ’69, professor emeritus at the University of Idaho, an expert on Islamic studies and culture, and a major advocate for higher education, is actively involved in engaging students.

Dale F. Stedman ’49, Washington State transportation commissioner, has been dedicated to shaping the transportation industry in the state of Washington.

Richard Small ’69, owner and founder of Woodward Canyon Winery in Walla Walla, has greatly impacted the Washington wine industry and is an inspiration to future Washington State winemakers and students alike.

Richard Oltman ’52 is founder of Olympia’s “Oysterfest,” an event that draws thousands annually and promotes the Washington State seafood industry.

Mike Utley, a former NFL athlete and founder of The Mike Utley Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding cures for spinal cord injuries (SPI), has been an advocate for many suffering from paralysis.

Bernard Lagat ’01, a two-time world-champion runner who earned the title of “the fastest man on earth,” has brought distinction to the WSU athletic department and the University as a whole.

2006

Jeff Gordon ’71, owner of Gordon Brother’s Winery in Pasco and the first president of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers, is recognized for his leadership and service to his profession, community, and alma mater.

Gladys Jennings ’48, the first woman of color to receive a master’s degree from WSU, has been steadfastly dedicated to the University’s efforts to provide educational opportunities to students of color.

Jon Whitmore ’67, ’68, president of Texas Tech University, is recognized for his leadership and advocacy of higher education.

Scott E. Carson ’72, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and executive vice president of the Boeing Company, has actively supported educational opportunities in the WSU community.

Stephen D. Bernard ’76 is dedicated to the continuity of Holocaust education through the instruction and enrichment of students in the Central Valley School District and beyond.

Stanley R. Boyd ’78, former vice president of sales and marketing for The Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, has been a leader in the hospitality industry.

Kiutus Tecumseh ’72 has shown steadfast commitment to the Native American community in New Mexico.

Roger J. Duprel ’61 has been an advocate for student-athletes and continuously supportive for alumni.

David E. Miller ’68 and Robert E. Hull ’68, Seattle-based architects and co-founders of Miller|Hull Partnership, are leaders in Northwest architecture and beyond.

The Honorable Sid Morrison ’54 has a long and distinguished history of service to WSU and Washington, having served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1980 to 1992 and as a Washington State legislator, senator, and secretary of transportation.