2024 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 Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Alumni Association. This award recognizes alumni who have achieved exceptional success in their professions; have been leaders in their community; exemplified themselves as mentors and role models; and demonstrated a lifetime of service to their community and to EWU.

Eagle4Life Spirit

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

This award recognizes alumni who consistently demonstrate extraordinary spirit and pride in support of Eastern Washington University and the EWU Alumni Association.

Rising Eagle Award

This award recognizes up-and-coming leaders among EWU’s recent alumni (2013-2023).

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.

This award recognizes alumni from the Greek and/or student leadership community who dedicate personal time and energy towards their community, and use their education and experiences gained at the university to promote public service causes, advance university efforts, foster student success or positively contribute to the university culture.

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.

This award recognizes alumni who actively promote and advocate for diversity, social justice, inclusion, and accessibility through integration of diverse perspectives, the elimination of oppression, and the personal investigation of identities and systems of injustice.

Lt. Col. Daniel M. Carter Military Service Award

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

This award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership through their military service.

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.

This award recognizes alumni who contribute significantly in the area of education through mentorship, volunteerism, and/or service.