Archive: stories

An alumnus craftsman and his wife present Eastern with a tuneful, long-lived contribution. By Eastern Magazine Lynn Nelson ’69 is a luthier; i.e., a maker of stringed musical instruments. During a Thanksgiving event in Hargreaves Hall earlier this year, Lynn and his wife, Gail, presented the university with a gift as unique as it was…

An Eastern arts expert masters the business case study. By Eastern Magazine Jonathan Middleton, a professor of music at EWU, is a champion of the fine arts. He is not, strictly speaking, a business person. But after a recent conference he may need to update his CV. In September, Middleton and Jeff Culver, an information…

Eastern physical therapy students learn by assisting little ones in need. By Eastern Magazine Watching children grow, play and learn is a timeless joy. It’s a pleasure made even more palpable when kids with developmental delays and disabilities are doing these things with the help of EWU physical therapy students. This was the scene last…

EWU students travel in the footsteps of America’s civil rights icons By Eastern Magazine Spring break is traditionally known as a week to relax and unwind, perhaps even to travel to a warmer climate and lay by a pool or the ocean. For 15 EWU Africana Studies students, however, spring break involved a different kind…

Professional architects agree, Eastern’s PUB is the place to be. Eastern’s Pence Union Building, recent recipient of a $47 million remodel, has become everything renovation advocates had hoped for: an inviting center for student activities, a welcoming gathering place for the campus community, and a symbol of Eastern’s commitment to a new era of higher…

A colorful celebration of discovery now enlivens the Science Building. By Eastern Magazine Even as the new Interdisciplinary Science Center rises next door, the old Science Building at EWU remains a vital center for learning and discovery. It is also now a destination for art aficionados, thanks to a massive, science-celebrating mural recently completed by…

Noelle Covarrubias left Eastern, but dreamed of returning. A new online degree program is making it happen. By Eastern Magazine She was a sophomore studying at Eastern when her family in the Tri-Cities decided to relocate to the Midwest. When Noelle Covarrubias, a talented vocalist and music performance major, got the news, she was torn.…

For more than half a century, Hank Steiner created a lasting legacy of service. By Leilah Langley Henry-York “Hank” Steiner, a revered professor of English at EWU, passed away Sept. 6, 2019. He was 87. Professor Steiner was born in Chicago, but moved with his parents to Portland, Oregon as a child. After high school…

A social work instructor’s sudden passing inspires a heartfelt tribute. By Eastern Magazine LuAnn “Lu” Brown, died suddenly last October, the senior lecturer and associate director of EWU’s field social work education program left a huge void. Senior students whom she counseled, advised, challenged and empowered were particularly bereft, and wanted to publicly assert how…

Jody Graves, a music professor and director of piano studies at EWU, in October was inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame. By Eastern Magazine Applauding her “passionate commitment to teaching and inspiring young people,” Steinway CEO Ron Losby said that Graves’ dedication to her students was both “commendable and rare.” Eastern…