PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University will make its campus more beautiful, and celebrate its history and employees on Cougar Pride Days, March 28-April 5.
Cougar Pride Days, expected to be an annual event, will include campus beautification and cleanup projects. Faculty, staff, students and area residents who volunteer may plant flowers, shrubs and trees, spread bark mulch, and pick up litter to ready the campus for spring.
“This is a tangible way people can work together as volunteers to help assure our campus is in tip-top shape,” said WSU President V. Lane Rawlins. “In addition, saluting the history of WSU and its outstanding staff and faculty will give the public a total picture of what a great university we have.”
Cougar Pride Days will kick off the morning of March 28, the 112th anniversary of WSU’s creation by the Legislature. On the same day, the Student Alumni Connection will serve WSU birthday cake from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Compton Union Building.
Also on March 28 in the CUB, the WSU’s Women’s Leadership Forum will be held from 9 a.m.-noon, with former Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts as the speaker. The first woman governor of that state (1991-95), Roberts also was its secretary of state and served as a state legislator. The annual Women’s Recognition Luncheon follows the forum, beginning at noon in the CUB. WSU Women of Distinction Awards and the WSU Woman of the Year Award will be presented during the luncheon.
The President’s Employee Excellence Awards reception and ceremony will start at 11 a.m., March 29, in Lewis Alumni Centre.
The annual Faculty Honors Convocation for WSU faculty is scheduled for 3 p.m., April 4, in Bryan Hall Theater. This event includes presentation of the Eminent Faculty Award, Sahlin Faculty Excellence Awards and the Marian E. Smith Faculty Achievement Award. The Distinguished Faculty Address presenter will be recognized.
Cougar Pride Days has historic roots in Campus Days, an early tradition of WSU that included improving the appearance of the young campus and creating school spirit.
Rawlins and the President’s Cabinet approved the event. WSU’s Department of Facilities Operations and the WSU Student Alumni Connection are coordinating it.
“The reaction to this activity from its inception has been completely positive,” said Ev Davis, director of Facilities Operations and Cougar Pride Days coordinator. “Those I’ve talked with have an attitude of ‘I want to help. Just tell me where and when – I will be there.’”
In mid-February, a Web site for Cougar Pride Days will be posted. It will provide information about event activities and tell how to sign up for work projects.
For more information, contact Davis at (509) 335-9024.
