PULLMAN, Wash. – More Washington state drivers than ever before are seeing red – in the form of Cougar Crimson.
Since the new crimson Washington State University vehicle plates went on sale in early 2012, they’ve been selling at a clip that outpaces all other specialty plates in the state. Today, the new crimson plate has been mounted to the bumpers of more than 7,000 vehicles from Makah Bay to Newport and from Blaine to Goldendale.
Sally van Boheemen, the WSU Alumni Association’s 1st-vice president and mother of a proud WSU grad, said sales of the new plate over the past 12 months have driven the total number of active WSU plates on Washington roads to 16,257, making it by far the most popular of the state’s specialty license plates. “In the first year, the support and enthusiasm for the Cougar Crimson plate has just been incredible, generating an impressive additional $110,000 in scholarship funding for WSU students thus far.” said van Boheemen. ”As a Coug parent, I truly understand the importance of scholarship assistance and finding ways to support current and future Cougs.”
Lisa Heard, a WSU senior majoring in business management and recipient of the WSUAA Scholarship Award said she didn’t hesitate to purchase the new plate for her car – a crimson-colored Mercury Cougar.“When I heard about it, it was a done deal. I was ready to buy them right away,” Heard said. There’s no plate like it in the state of Washington. That crimson is so easy to spot. It helps our students and shows our Cougar pride.”
Nearly 800 of the new crimson plates carry personalized monikers, like “CUGRFAN,” “WSUGIRL”, “509COUG”, “TLG8ING” and “COUG RV.” There’s even a personalized plate bearing the moniker “PHARMER.” And while it may sound like a plate created by someone with agricultural interests, it’s actually the brainchild of an upcoming graduate of the WSU College of Pharmacy.
Inspired by the design of WSU’s “Ol’ Crimson” flag, the Cougar Crimson plate features a silvery-white WSU Cougar logo and lettering on a solid crimson plate. A full $28 of each Cougar plate fee is returned to the university each year as a tax-deductible donation to the WSU scholarship fund.
The plates are available through local Washington Department of Licensing offices or online at dol.wa.gov. Additional information about the plates is available online at alumni.wsu.edu/license.
To view more Crimson Plates, check out a Facebook Album here
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Contact:
Jud Preece, WSU Alumni Association, 509-335-6905, jpreece@wsu.edu