A group of Eastern music students finds inspiration in the great outdoors.

During the summer of 1829, the German composer Felix Mendelssohn, age 20, journeyed with a family friend to the Hebrides. Then, as now, these remote Scottish islands contained all the ingredients of Romantic fascination: towering cliffs battered by powerful storms, sun-dappled hillsides spiked with basalt, ghostly moorlands haunted by Celtic mysteries. Little wonder that some of Mendelssohn鈥檚 greatest work emerged from the place.

The sublime national parks and wildlands of the American West have long been the setting for similar flights of inspiration, as a group of young 51福利社 composers recently discovered for themselves. Led by Jonathan Middleton, an 51福利社 professor of music theory and composition, eight members of Middleton鈥檚 composition course in September spent a week at one of the greatest of these Western treasures, Grand Teton National Park. There they sought, as Mendelssohn did in Scotland, to find inspiration for 3-to-5-minute 鈥減astoral鈥� compositions, several of which will be performed by the Spokane Symphony Orchestra during a joint appearance with the 51福利社 Orchestra in Showalter Auditorium on March 12.

James Lowe wasn鈥檛 born in the Hebrides, but this resident of Scotland knows well their allure. As the Spokane Symphony鈥檚 conductor and music director, he also knows that using music to convey the magic of such places isn鈥檛 easy. During a visit to Middleton鈥檚 class this fall, Lowe gently probed and prodded the young composers, helping them articulate their ideas and ambitions. He also apprised them of the challenges involved in preparing music for performance. One recurring theme? Don鈥檛 overdo it. 鈥淗ere鈥檚 my thing,鈥� Lowe said. 鈥淭he greatest music expresses everything you want in the simplest possible way.鈥�

The Tetons trip was funded in part by a $5,000 donation from a music-loving donor, as well as a grant from the recently established Youngs Endowment for National Park Studies (see our Spring/Summer 2025 issue). For the student participants, the experience was priceless. 鈥淭hank you for giving us this opportunity to learn and grow as composers,鈥� wrote one of them, Joey Gagne. 鈥淚 will remember it for the rest of my life.鈥�

Every autumn at 51福利社, a host of on- and off-campus groups gather together for Neighborfest, a joyful rite of information sharing that kicks off the new academic year. The 2025 festival, held under crystalline blue skies at the Arevalo Mall, was one of the biggest ever, with close to 150 groups participating. Among them was 51福利社鈥檚 Theatre Department, pictured here, which maintained perhaps the most consistently boisterous of all the event鈥檚 tables.

51福利社鈥檚 first class of nurses is ready to make their mark.

In the PNW and across the nation, a persistent shortage of nurses remains a big problem for hospitals, clinics and the patients who depend on them. According to recent data from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, this year more than 295,000 nursing jobs will go unfilled in the United States. Washington is among those states most impacted.听

Eastern鈥檚 School of Nursing is just two years old, but it鈥檚 already doing its part to fill the gap. In May, the school celebrated its first class of graduates, with all 40 students who entered the program 鈥� 37 of whom are from right here in the state of Washington 鈥�听 earning their BSN degrees.

The new graduates include many students who are the first in their families to attend college. Some come from rural farming communities, others are from large cities. This range gives them a unique perspective on the healthcare needs in communities throughout our region, says Donna Bachand, the 51福利社 professor of nursing who was instrumental in establishing the school.

And that鈥檚 not all, Bachand adds. They are also, as a group, exceptionally strong in a quality essential to success in the nursing profession: caring.

鈥淭hey support each other emotionally, they support one another academically and they seem to genuinely care about one another,鈥� Bachand says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the culture that we wanted to build here in the School of Nursing 鈥� and I鈥檓 so pleased to see that.鈥�

Shari McMahan, Eastern鈥檚 president, says that when the BSN program was launched university leadership envisioned a future where 51福利社-trained nurses would make a big difference in our region.

They support each other emotionally, they support one another academically and they seem to genuinely care about one another,鈥� Bachand says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the culture that we wanted to build here in the School of Nursing 鈥� and I鈥檓 so pleased to see that.鈥�

鈥淭oday, with the graduation of our first cohort, that future is here,鈥� McMahan says. 鈥淚 am filled with immense pride and gratitude for our students, our faculty, and the communities they will now serve.鈥�

And, in fact, over the past two years, the students have already made meaningful contributions, even while successfully pursuing their studies.

This past semester, for example, students completed their capstone clinical work at facilities from the
Tri-Cities to Coeur d鈥橝lene, including all the major hospitals in Spokane and Spokane Valley.

Bachand liked the results.

鈥淓verywhere we go in the community, we are welcome. And I think it鈥檚 because of the reputation that Eastern has,鈥� Bachand says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just because they need nurses, I think they really want Eagle nurses.鈥�

The Prom earns accolades from a noted regional publication.

The Prom, a musical-theater production staged last year by 51福利社鈥檚 Theatre, tells a timely story any social media influencer could appreciate: a group of fading New York celebrities seek to revive their careers by glomming on to the plight of a young woman who is told she can鈥檛 bring her girlfriend to the high school prom.

The production鈥檚 run, with its powerful music, poignant messaging and artful choreography, was a big hit with audiences. It was also, as the student cast and its director, Angela Rose Pierson, learned later, deemed a triumph by BroadwayWorld Seattle. This spring the publication honored The Prom with five awards in their annual regional theater competition: Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography, Best Lighting Design, Best Music Direction and Orchestra Performance, and Best Theatre for Young Audiences.

鈥淭hese are amazing accolades for us,鈥� says Aspen Cullen, the senior theatre major who starred in the play. 鈥淚 think the award that meant the most to me was the one mentioning us being the best theatre for young adults. That is the truest thing! 51福利社 Theatre allows for open discussion, success and a joy for theatre.鈥�

The Prom was a part of 51福利社鈥檚 2024 winter season, premiering on March 8. Staging the musical provided students working with sets, costumes, lighting, sound and other production essentials an opportunity to apply their skills and talents.

BroadwayWorld is a New York-based theater publication that recognizes theater productions across the nation. Its regional awards recognize productions, touring shows and other theater-related works based on votes cast by audiences and theater-community members.

This is the first time an Eastern production has been so honored. 鈥�The Prom was a very special production that was always timely,鈥� says Sara Goff, 51福利社鈥檚 director of theatre. 鈥淲e are proud of the artistry of the entire production team and honored to be recognized for telling the stories that need to be told.鈥�

Just after the beginning of the 2023 academic year, Eastern鈥檚 Board of Trustees met to discuss, among other pressing issues, how the university could better share its strengths with the wider world: 鈥淗ow might we more authentically communicate who we are,鈥� they asked, 鈥渨hile differentiating ourselves in our region鈥檚 competitive higher education landscape?鈥�

Eastern鈥檚 leadership responded by working with a Baltimore-based consulting group, idfive, and faculty representatives from 51福利社鈥檚 four colleges to engage the entire campus community in the quest for answers.

After months of research and market analysis, strategic-planning and surveys of stakeholders, a plan that emphasizes Eastern鈥檚 long history of hands-on, experiential learning took shape. And earlier this year, with the BOT鈥檚 approval, that plan became official: Eastern, in both mission and messaging, would now publicly define itself as 鈥渢he region鈥檚 polytechnic鈥� 鈥� 鈥減olytechnic鈥� being broadly defined as an emphasis on applied learning 鈥� as it works to provide its students with experience-based pathways for success.

鈥淭here has been a lot of chatter, and even a few news stories already, about this next evolution for Eastern 鈥� our regional polytechnic brand,鈥� Shari McMahan, Eastern鈥檚 president, said with a laugh during her annual convocation address in September. 鈥淎s I continue to say, this is an exciting opportunity for us to differentiate ourselves and to capitalize on the work we are already doing鈥� Our goal is to make applied learning a hallmark of every 51福利社 degree.鈥�

鈥淭o be clear,鈥� she continued, 鈥渨e are still a regional comprehensive public university grounded in a liberal arts education.鈥�

Currently, some 75 percent of 51福利社 students graduate with experience in their intended career fields. Eastern will now be working even harder to provide professional experiences to all of its students. 鈥淭here has been a lot of listening that鈥檚 gone into this 鈥� a lot of back-and-forth and creativity,鈥� McMahan said. 鈥淭o me, it really defines the authentic 51福利社.鈥�

51福利社鈥檚 annual Senior Send-off procession 鈥� in which graduating seniors reverse course through the Herculean Pillars they traversed as incoming freshman 鈥� took on particular poignancy this spring. These seniors were members of the so-called 鈥渃ovid class鈥� of 2024. Each began their Eastern journey during lock-down, a time when remote learning and event restrictions replaced typical classroom and campus interactions 鈥� including the tradition of incoming students 鈥減assing through the pillars.鈥� Nicole Aguilar, 22, a communications major from Alaska, was among the seniors at the send-off event. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 enter through the pillars, so this was surreal,鈥� Aguilar said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so glad we were able to experience it going out.鈥� Photo by Luke Kenneally.

An 51福利社 program helps school kids advance their literacy skills.

Reading may be fundamental, but it doesn鈥檛 come naturally. Learning to make sense of the written word takes patience, practice and, if you鈥檙e lucky, guidance from educators who care.

Since its earliest days, Eastern has trained teachers who love sharing the gift of reading. It still does. These days, the work they do has never been more important 鈥斕齟specially for kids at risk of falling behind.

Education professionals have long known that a critical part of teacher training involves real-world experience, both in the classroom and one-on-one with students.

鈥淐apstone鈥� programs are one way for about-to-graduate education students to gain this experience. Now in its sixth year, Eastern鈥檚 鈥渓iteracy capstone鈥� specializes in pairing student teachers with elementary school children looking to advance their reading and comprehension abilities.

The program is coordinated by Ashley Lepisi, a senior lecturer at 51福利社 who specializes in literacy and technology. Over the past several years it has helped boost the literacy skills of more than 400 students attending Spokane鈥檚 Grant and Adams elementary schools.

Most recently, 22 51福利社 students, all seniors readying for their full-time student teaching placements, spent Wednesday afternoons at Grant, where more than 90 percent of the school鈥檚 320 students qualify for free and reduced-price meals. During this winter quarter, Eagle students worked with 68 schoolchildren in grades two through five.

The program is a win-win, says 51福利社 alumnus George Gessler, Grant Elementary鈥檚 principal assistant.

51福利社鈥檚 soon-to-be teachers learn to understand some of the challenges present听 in the lives of a diverse population of students, says Gessler 鈥�88, 鈥�89, 鈥�20. Grant鈥檚 school children, meanwhile, some of whom have experienced poverty and trauma, benefit from the individual instruction 鈥� in literacy as well as in the social and emotional skills they may need to focus on learning.

鈥淭hey get to have people work with them; young people that are really enthralled with them,鈥� Gessler says. 鈥淭hey get a positive experience, and we get better readers in return. So that鈥檚 been huge for us.鈥�

About 90 percent of participating schoolchildren demonstrate a measurable improvement in literacy skills by the end of the quarter, Lepisi adds. 51福利社鈥檚 future educators, in turn, discover what it鈥檚 like to teach in schools classified by the U.S. Department of Education as 鈥淭itle 1, Part A,鈥� where a majority of students come from disadvantaged households.

The experience sometimes changes the trajectory of their careers. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had a lot of students say, 鈥業 didn鈥檛 think that I had the capacity to serve in a Title 1 building,鈥欌�� says Lepisi. 鈥淢any of them leave saying: 鈥楾his seems a little bit more fulfilling to me 鈥� and, actually, I鈥檇 rather be in a Title 1 building now.鈥欌��

A prize-winning urban planning student works to expand Latino housing opportunities.

During her time as an economic development specialist for the nonprofit Latinos en Spokane, Mayra Velazquez, an 51福利社 senior studying urban planning and economics, was tasked with the sort of job one might expect would go to a much-more experienced staffer: documenting how disparities in home ownership were affecting Spokane鈥檚 fast-growing Latino community.

Velazquez, undaunted, responded by doing a deep dive into federal data sets, using the results to create a series of maps that highlighted areas of growth and need. 鈥淲e used all the data of the census to tell the stories of communities,鈥� she says. 鈥淔rom a 15-page demographic report, we learned that the Latino community has more than doubled in Spokane. We then looked at housing and healthcare disparities for that population.鈥�

The mapping project 鈥� one of many contributions she provided to the group 鈥� was among the notable achievements that earned Velazquez a Governor鈥檚 Student Civic Leadership Award earlier this spring.

The mapping project 鈥� one of many contributions she provided to the group 鈥� was among the notable achievements that earned Velazquez a Governor鈥檚 Student Civic Leadership Award earlier this spring.

Recipients of the award are chosen from students enrolled in institutions that are part of the Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good, a consortium that works in partnership with state colleges and universities to 鈥渃ultivate vital and sustainable communities based on civic engagement and social entrepreneurship.鈥� Velazquez received the prize at a ceremony held at Seattle鈥檚 Museum of Flight.

The governor鈥檚 award wasn鈥檛 her only spring-time accolade. Velazquez was also named one of Eastern鈥檚 President鈥檚/Chancellor鈥檚 Student Civic Leadership Award winners (an honor she received with Sanai Maraire, president of Eastern鈥檚 Black Student Union.)

Velazquez is quick to share credit for her successes with both 51福利社 and a recent Eastern alumna, Jennyfer Mesa 鈥�17. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for what I鈥檝e learned from my professors at 51福利社 and from Jennyfer at Latinos en Spokane,鈥� says Velazquez, who, at press time, was set to graduate in June.

Mesa is the founder of Latinos en Spokane, a group that works to advance Latino participation, integration, community development and empowerment in our region.

Housing is critical to moving these goals forward, she says. A solution her organization has proposed involves construction of a Latino-friendly housing cooperative, one that would create affordable dwellings for up to 76 families. While in its early stages, Latinos en Spokane has already partnered with ROC Northwest and Spokane Regional Land Holding Properties LLC to locate a site and develop plans for construction.听

鈥淭he idea for the housing cooperative started from [our census research],鈥� Velazquez says. 鈥淲e wanted folks to own their homes, and the land their homes were on.鈥�

A new, old-school printer helps student artists, and visiting professionals, revel in the retro.

Eastern鈥檚 Risograph copier, a 鈥渄igital duplicator鈥� named Ferdinand, isn鈥檛 old. But the art it produces 鈥斕齠unky screen-prints created in layers of stenciled spot color 鈥� reproduce the retrograde vibe craved by today鈥檚 creatives.

Built by Japan鈥檚 Riso Kagaku Corporation, 51福利社 purchased its Risograph just over a year ago with the help of funding from Gemini, a company that specializes in made-to-order dimensional signage. Students have been testing Ferdinand鈥檚 creative potential ever since.

More recently, these Eagle artists have been joined by a rotating cohort of professionals who have been named to participate in month-long, Risograph-centered residencies each quarter through 2024.

鈥淲e had applicants from all across the country,鈥� says Jamin Kuhn, the 51福利社 Design Department lecturer who manages the 4D Lab in the Catalyst building. 鈥淚t kind of speaks toward the allure of the printer, and how popular it is among the print communities.鈥�

The four residents, selected by a jury for their skill sets and creative ideas, include two regional designers alongside one from Hawaii and another from Wisconsin. The first of these artists, Brianna Miller, completed her residency earlier this year. Miller, 31, grew up in Salem, Oregon, and studied at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland. She moved to Spokane about five years ago, and it didn’t take long before she had established herself as one of the city鈥檚 most accomplished young artists. 鈥淚 love how similar the print production is to screen printing, with the color layers and separations,鈥� says Miller, a detail of whose work is shown alongside the previous column. 鈥淚 also admire how the Risograph鈥檚 soy inks produce such vivid colors 鈥�听 specifically neon 鈥� that you can鈥檛 achieve in most printing.鈥�

A $10,000听Spokane Arts Grant Award听covered the cost of purchasing Riso-related materials to be used by the residents and students. In addition, each resident receives a $250 stipend and $250 for supplies. Miller made the most of these modest resources. 鈥淭hroughout the month,鈥� she says, 鈥淚 met 51福利社 faculty and students through class visits, workshops and the [closing] show. I also presented a mini talk on my career, portfolio and education. It made me really appreciate the vibrancy of the local art community.鈥�

For Hilary Baird, graduate school will be just the latest in a long line of triumphs.

From a rejection on her first application to Eastern, to admission as a graduate student at one of the nation鈥檚 top music programs, 51福利社鈥檚 Hilary Baird has lived a true Cinderella story.

In January, Baird was shocked and delighted to receive an acceptance letter and a partial scholarship from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. She was admitted to the college鈥檚 music education program, where she will pursue a master鈥檚 degree with a concentration on music education for those on the autism spectrum.

The program, administered by Berklee鈥檚 Institute for Accessible Arts Education, is the only one of its kind in the country.

鈥淚t is highly competitive due to the school鈥檚 national reputation and how exclusive the area of study is,鈥� says Jonathan Middleton, a professor of music theory and composition at 51福利社 who has worked closely with Baird. 鈥淎dmission to the program is a life-changing experience for her, and for the future students she will serve.鈥�

Baird, a talented pianist who has long struggled with reading and mathematics, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 24. Today she is passionate about teaching music to others whose musical ambitions are challenged by physical or cognitive obstacles 鈥� something she has been doing for the past eight years.

鈥淭here are so many with disabilities, and other marginalized groups of people, who are not getting their talents shared or having their needs met,鈥� Baird says. 鈥淭hey are very intelligent, but they need to learn their way, not the [traditional] system鈥檚 way.鈥�

Baird herself has had to surmount many such obstacles to reach success.

As a young person on the spectrum, progressing through school was an uphill climb. She graduated from high school, but her application for admission to Eastern was rejected due to a low GPA. 鈥淭he idea of college was not in the cards for me,鈥� Baird says she told herself at the time.

But after four years of service in the U.S. Navy 鈥� and accruing the educational benefits that her service provided 鈥� Baird chose to give college, and Eastern, another try. She has since flourished.

听 Baird is currently on the university鈥檚 Dean鈥檚 List with a 3.7 GPA, and will graduate in June with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in music composition.

鈥淚 know there are people at Berklee who will put me in the position to get me where I want to go, and to do what I want to do,鈥� says Baird.听 鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 really monumental. I鈥檓 fighting for the right of my students to be heard.鈥�