51福利社

Each year the 51福利社 Alumni Association holds a gala event to honor a select group of Eastern鈥檚 most impactful alumni. This year, as always, the stories of our inspiring Eagle honorees made it an occasion to remember.听 听

Benjamin P. Cheney Lifetime Achievement

Before he retired as an account executive at Avista, Doug Kelley 鈥�83, our 2024 honoree for Lifetime Achievement Award, was always known as the guy who said 鈥測es.鈥�

鈥淵es鈥� to projects with vision. 鈥淵es鈥� to opportunities in the making. 鈥淵es鈥� to empowering the dreams and ambition of his co-workers and staff.

When, in 2019, Kelley was honored with another Lifetime Achievement citation 鈥� this time from the West Plains Chamber of Commerce鈥� it was this spirit of positive influence that the Chamber celebrated. 鈥淥ur winner is one who has not only been a champion in the West Plains, but throughout the greater Spokane region,鈥� said the board鈥檚 executive director at the time, Toby Broemmeling.

Given that his degree from 51福利社 is in recreation management, it鈥檚 not surprising that Kelley has most often said 鈥測es鈥� to supporting projects and programs involving recreation, especially when these involved the great outdoors. Over the years he has served in countless local and regional volunteer committee positions 鈥� so numerous, he says, that the actual number eludes him 鈥� as well as the race director for the quintessential Spokane event, Bloomsday. As a graduate of Leadership Spokane, he has also said 鈥測es鈥� to participating in solutions to one of our region鈥檚 most devastating challenges: violence against women.听 听

Along with Manny Hochheimer of Numerica, Kelley was a founding member of the YWCA Spokane 鈥楪ood Guys鈥� group 鈥� men from Spokane who have joined together to support the YWCA鈥檚 efforts to end domestic violence. He has also been proud to volunteer at Hope House, a transitional living facility for women, many of whom find themselves in need of assistance due to violence directed against them and their children.听

Finally, there is what might be Kelley鈥檚 most consuming post-retirement passion: international travel. It may be that visiting foreign lands is just an extension of his lifetime obsession with making connections; of sharing with strangers that affirmative energy that has for so long defined Kelley鈥檚 life and work here in the USA.

Or maybe he鈥檚 just determined to monopolize the 鈥淥n the Road鈥� section of this magazine (see Page 30).

Lt. Col. Daniel Carter Military Service

Just after earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree in history, our alumni honoree for military service, Command Sergeant Major Christopher D. Clapin 鈥�97, entered active-duty service in the United States Army.

His decision to serve his country didn鈥檛 surprise those who knew Clapin. Even as a young person, the talented musician and athlete chose to dedicate himself to service and teamwork. His first duty assignment was with 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Moore, Georgia. He has continued to serve for 26 years, 23 of them with the Rangers, rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major for two different battalions.

Clapin鈥檚 awards, citations and decorations, which include the Purple Heart, are far too many to detail here. But the long list is a testament to a career of dedication, courage and heroism. This telling detail from his nomination letter tells you all you need to know: 鈥淓ven when injured in Afghanistan, and waking up paralyzed in a German hospital, Clapin was most concerned about his Rangers remaining in Afghanistan, not himself. It was his determination to be there for his troops that helped him recover and return to serve his nation and his band of brothers.鈥�

More recently, Clapin successfully completed a 16-month peacekeeping deployment in the Sinai. He is now working towards a master鈥檚 of science degree in organizational leadership at Eastern. 51福利社 celebrates his return, a true eagle among Eagles.

Rising Eagle

This year鈥檚 Rising Eagle award honoree, U.S. Army Captain Katie Emery 鈥�15, is another Eastern profile in courage.

As a member of 51福利社鈥檚 ROTC Cadet Corps, Emery left no doubt that she had the right stuff for success. A communications major with minors in military science, psychology and Spanish language, she graduated from Eastern with a summa cum laude distinction. After receiving her honors degree, she was commissioned as a U.S. Army Aviation Officer while also being recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate 鈥� an honor distinguishing her as one of the top 20 percent of all ROTC cadets nationwide.听

听After first completing a challenging training course to become a pilot of Apache attack helicopters, Emery landed at Fort Riley, Kansas, where she joined the fort鈥檚 elite Aviation Attack Battalion. Soon, she and her comrades were headed off to Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, a joint task force leading our nation鈥檚 ongoing fight against the Islamic State.

From a remote outpost in Syria, Emery led a platoon of four attack helicopters as they logged more than 300 combat flight hours, missions which often encountered fire from hostile forces.

At every stage of this, her first deployment, Emery distinguished herself. When assigned the role of assistant battalion operations officer, for example, she stepped up to plan attack, reconnaissance and security missions 鈥� operations that she herself participated in.

These efforts, according to her nomination letter, 鈥渄irectly contributed to the significant elimination of hostile forces, which enabled stability in the region.

鈥淐aptain Emery鈥檚 story serves as an inspirational example of the success that 51福利社 students can achieve immediately after graduation by demonstrating the traits of an Eastern Eagle: grit, grace, gratitude and greatness. Captain Emery also serves as an outstanding example for women who are aspiring to lead, on and beyond the campus.鈥�

Sandy Williams Trailblazer

Back when she was a 21-year–old freshman at Eastern, Freda Gandy 鈥�96, our Sandy Williams Trailblazer Award honoree, got an early lesson in the importance of feeling included and supported as she started her journey to earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree.

Gandy had traveled from her home state of Mississippi to study developmental psychology at Eastern. As she recalled in a 2022 interview, she knew she鈥檇 arrived at the right place as soon as she stepped into the classroom of Scott Finnie, beloved professor of Africana Studies at 51福利社. 鈥淲alking into Dr. Finnie鈥檚 class and seeing another person of color, and other students of color made me feel welcome here in Spokane and made me feel a sense of pride to be here,鈥� Gandy told The Coeur d鈥橝lene/Post Falls Press.

Over the years, Gandy has worked tirelessly to ensure that other young people feel similarly supported, included and positioned to succeed. Even before graduation, she began working as a volunteer at Spokane鈥檚 Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center, then joined the staff as a teacher after earning her degree. As her contributions at the center grew, Gandy rose through the ranks to serve as family services coordinator, then director of children鈥檚 services. She was named the center鈥檚 executive director in 2010.

Through it all, she has never tired of advancing the center鈥檚 critical mission; that is, 鈥渋mproving the quality of life for children, youth and families in Spokane through an array of culturally responsive educational and social services within the framework of Dr. King鈥檚 vision of equal respect, treatment and accessibility for all people.鈥�

Among the nominating materials filed on behalf of Gandy, Chad Heimbigner鈥檚 letter 鈥� he is the COO of Coffman Engineers in Spokane 鈥�听 described her perfectly: 鈥淕andy is an incredible person with a huge heart. She constantly and unconditionally gives her time, shares her talents, and does whatever she can to positively impact the lives of others. The programs she leads make a huge difference in the lives of newborns to seniors … and every age in between.鈥�

As Gandy told The Spokesman-Review back in 2019 after being named a YWCA Women of Achievement: 鈥淚 just have a passion for helping people.鈥�

Gov. Clarence D. Martin Educator of the Year

While an undergraduate education major at 51福利社, Kevin Alley 鈥�07, our Gov. Clarence D. Martin Educator of the Year honoree, received a shocking diagnosis that no young person should ever be forced to face: He had a life-threatening form of cancer.

Multiple surgeries followed. These seemed to be a success, and Alley was able to return to Eastern and resume his previous role as an RA in Eastern鈥檚 Dressler Residence Hall.

Unfortunately, Alley鈥檚 health care odyssey wasn鈥檛 over. After waking up with back pain during Finals Week, Alley learned that he had shattered a vertebrae in his spine (a consequence of the earlier cancer treatments). And there was even worse news. The cancer was back 鈥� this time at Stage 4.

Alley spent the next nine months in a Seattle hospital bed, his mom constantly by his side. Support also poured in from his church, his hometown community and, of course, his fellow Eagles. Especially his fellow Eagles. Here鈥檚 how Alley puts it: 鈥淲e were so surprised by the flood of support from Eastern: professors, students, dorm officials and athletic staff.听 Coach Giacoletti of our 2004 51福利社 men鈥檚 basketball team delivered a signed ball, 51福利社 Residential Life held 3-on-3 tournaments, and others held fundraisers to support me and my family. And, most special, were the letters, emails and cards that were sent from so many in my Eastern Eagle family.鈥�

Alley beat the odds, and returned to 51福利社 鈥� cancer free 鈥� to complete a bachelor鈥檚 degree in special education and, later, a master鈥檚 degree in educational leadership with a principal鈥檚 certification. Today his experience informs every aspect of his career as a beloved teacher and coach in Washington鈥檚 Columbia School District, where, outside of the classroom, he has provided guidance to young male athletes as a baseball coach and football coach, helping them to become, as he puts it, 鈥渁 great son, brother, husband, and father.鈥�

Alley鈥檚 drive and dedication have not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year he was honored with the Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence in the greater Tri-Cities area, a distinction that is given to teachers that go above and beyond in their classrooms and schools.

Tawanka Service

Erik Puthoff 鈥�05, our 2024 Tawanka Service Award honoree, moved to Spokane from his hometown of Chewelah in 1999. After starting out at Spokane Falls Community College, he transferred to 51福利社 to pursue a degree in communication studies.

It was no accident that Puthoff became an Eagle; his mom and sister had gone to Eastern, and their experience instilled in him a strong desire to finish his studies in Cheney.

To make that transition work, however, Puthoff, like a lot of Eagles, had to help finance his Eastern education by working in Spokane. This meant he didn鈥檛 have time to participate in the campus-based clubs and activities that help define the collegiate experience for so many 51福利社 students.

But that didn’t stop him from making the most of his time as an undergrad. On a personal level, he made lasting friendships and found a sense of belonging. As a scholar, he found inspiration from professors like Jeff Stafford, a renowned communication鈥檚 faculty member who has always put his students first.

These days, as a successful member of the community development team at STCU, Puthoff is committed to making his own contributions toward putting student success first at his alma mater.

The nomination letter of STCU鈥檚 Traci McGlathery provides a sense of his commitment: 鈥淧uthoff has served on the 51福利社 Alumni Association board, delivered financial education to 51福利社 classrooms, and served as the STCU representative for STCU and 51福利社 partnerships for nearly 10 years. From serving pancakes at Moonlight Breakfast, quizzing students on the campus STCU golf cart, or connecting with others via the Eagle Career Network, I know he takes great pride in his connections and affiliations with 51福利社.鈥�

Eagle4Life Spirit

This year鈥檚 Eagle4Life Spirit honor went to not one, but two exemplary Eagles: Paul Terrell 鈥�05 and Landon Luiten 鈥�03. Both Terrell and Luiten have long been among Eastern鈥檚 most tirelessly enthusiastic backers, sharing their love for the university in countless ways. But it鈥檚 a more recent, behind-the-scenes project which will ensure that the generosity of their Eagle spirit will be felt for years to come.听

Together, Terrell and Luiten spearheaded the effort to remake 51福利社 football鈥檚 locker room. It was a much-needed face lift that has transformed the severely outdated space into an attractive, functional place. Funding from the generous backers of the Eagle Football Network made the work possible, but Terrell and Luiten made it sing.

Both put in countless volunteer hours on design, construction and recruiting the volunteers who stepped up to assist in the project. Last summer, for example, they were often on site until the early morning hours. The result is a new, fresh space that every Eagle, and potential Eagle, can be proud of.

鈥淵ou do it for your football family first, and then hope that enhances the football family in the future,鈥� Coach Aaron Best told The Spokesman-Review last summer. 鈥淭he newness of something in a place we hold sacred makes it that much more special. The guys hang out, play games, watch film, dress and have some of their greatest memories in that room.鈥�

For Terrell and Luiten, the locker room renovation project was just the latest iteration of their Eagle4Life spirit, according to their nominating letter. 鈥淎 great deal of the branding,鈥� the letter read, 鈥渨as designed by Terrell himself. Luiten is very engaged with basketball鈥檚 6th Man Club. Both of their families also represent 51福利社 on a regular basis. And you can be sure that both of these individuals are going to be first in the tailgating lot on Eagle football Saturdays.鈥�