By Charles E. Reineke<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Rick Romero \u201978, \u201993, a former associated vice president of business services at EWU and director of strategic planning for the city of Spokane, was the EWU Alumni Association\u2019s 2020 Lifetime Achievement honoree. During his tenure with the city, Romero, who retired in 2019, was credited for his \u201cinnovative, transformational\u201d leadership, including his development of Spokane\u2019s Integrated Clean Water Plan, a visionary approach to storm and wastewater management. Throughout his 28 years at Eastern, Romero was a passionate advocate for students, playing a leading role in advancing projects, such as the construction of the new University Recreation Center, that greatly improved the quality and desirability of campus life. Perhaps most consequentially, Romero\u2019s leadership helped Eastern develop new enrollment and retention strategies that helped the university assert its continued viability at a time when some state and local leaders were floating the idea of a merger with Washington State University.<\/p>\n
I cannot think of another citizen who demonstrates the mission, vision and values of EWU every day better than Rick Romero\u2026 He has made a profound and significant contribution to the economic and social vitality of not only our region but to every person he has worked with along the way.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Stephanie Curran
\nCEO, Spokane Public Facilities District<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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Alum of Service Award
\n<\/em><\/h5>\nScott Glabb \u201985, is an educator, mentor, wrestling coach and author. His long service in the Santa Ana (California) Unified School District has demonstrated his \u201c110 percent commitment to changing lives and making a difference\u201d for his most vulnerable pupils. Glabb, a former varsity wrestler at EWU, joined Santa Ana High School as the head wrestling coach and an English teacher in 1990. From the beginning, he recognized that, both on the mat and in the classroom, many of his students faced daunting obstacles to academic and personal success: poverty, homelessness, unplanned pregnancy, lack of documentation and mental-health challenges. An early proponent for girls wrestling, Glabb was among the first coaches in Southern California to start a girls-only wrestling program. His 2010 book, A Saint in the City: True Stories of Champions Living in the Barrio, chronicles inspiring stories of achievement among his students. It is now in its second edition.<\/p>\n
With unwavering courage, personal sacrifice and determination, Scott can reach seemingly unreachable kids. Using wrestling as his vehicle for change, he provides tough love to teach these kids that they not only matter, they can also find their place in the world and achieve their dreams.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Frank Jasper, actor. Jasper’s credits include the role of
\nwrestler Brian Shute in the 1985 film ‘Vision Quest.’<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Inspirational Young Alum Award<\/em><\/h5>\n
Audra Stillions \u201913, \u201916, a marriage and family readjustment counselor for the Spokane Vet Center, has been described as a \u201cshining star\u201d for veterans, their families and the entire community of former service members. Though she has served at the Vet Center for less than five years, this year\u2019s Inspirational Young Alum winner has had an enormous impact. In addition to assisting combat veterans, military sexual trauma survivors, and veteran family members through her often dauntingly hefty counseling caseload, Stillions has built a robust counseling internship program, worked with federal and state agencies to expand marriage and family counseling options, and helped bring both equine therapy and Native American spiritual sweat therapeutics to veterans in need. In addition, outside of work, Stillions volunteers her time and expertise to organizations that train service animals. Stillions efforts were recognized by former secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie, who in 2018 awarded her an outstanding employee citation and a coveted VA challenge coin.<\/p>\n
\nHer influence and reach has extended beyond the Spokane area and across state lines to include 34 counties in four states.
\n\u2014 Eliseo Dumlao
\nU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Exceptional Military Service Award<\/em><\/h5>\n
Scott West \u201976 a former standout EWU ROTC cadet and varsity wrestler who rose to the rank of major general in the U.S. Army, is the 2020 honoree for Exceptional Military Service. West, who retired in 2010 after more than 30 years of service, held key leadership positions throughout his career. Among the most notable of these included terms as 48th Quartermaster General of the Army and Commanding General of the 21st Theater Support Command, the Army\u2019s lead organization for \u201coperational sustainment\u201d in Europe. An expert logistician, West received numerous awards and citations for managing materials and leading soldiers in what is often called the \u201cmost critical field in the military.\u201d Among his honors are the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star. West has also distinguished himself in humanitarian causes closer to home, including his leadership in providing desperately needed disaster relief to Central American families devastated by the destruction of Hurricane Mitch in 1998.<\/p>\n
\nNot only is Major General West\u2019s military career noteworthy, but his time at Eastern and in ROTC assisted all of us who continued in the program our junior and senior year. [His] leadership, integrity, responsibility and duty made us better officers being prepared for active duty.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Albert J. Watson, Colonel (Ret.)
\nUnited States Army Reserve<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Eagle4Life Spirit Award<\/em><\/h5>\n
During the workweek, Randy Casto \u201991, the 2020 Eagle4Life Spirit award winner, serves as a private banking relationship manager with Washington Trust Bank in Spokane. But on football gamedays \u2014 both at home in Cheney and at most Big Sky Conference venues \u2014 Casto is celebrated for an entirely different form of labor: operator of the Game Day Bus. That vehicle, an 80s era school bus rebranded in Eagle red and white, has over the years become a fixture for fans. \u201cIt\u2019s now an Eagle institution,\u201d Casto told The Spokesman-Review a few years back. \u201cPeople have so many great memories of it over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nRandy\u2019s Game Day Bus can be found at every EWU football game within a 500-mile radius. His open invitation to fans and foes alike is reflective of the wonderful EWU spirit that we as alumni should all strive to follow.\u201d
\n\u2014 Callen Young
\nWashington Trust Bank<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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