Alumni launch service effort, celebrate anniversaries

By Kelly Brantner, Alumni Association

SAA-Birthday-80PULLMAN, Wash. – Alumni leaders launched a Cougar Day of Service initiative last weekend by packing split pea soup and seasoned red bean packages, some of which have already been distributed to the victims of the Oso, Wash., landslide.

“It was extremely rewarding not only to see the teamwork and drive of our leadership, but to know the pleasure of helping the community,” said Ken Locati, president of the Washington State University Alumni Association.

StoreHouse-service-project-500Cougs giving back will continue as alumni leaders return home with Cougar Day of Service toolkits and lead their local alumni chapters across the country in community service projects. To get practice while in Pullman, they worked with StoreHouse, which seeks donations of local commodities such as peas, lentils, garbanzo beans, wheat and barley to be distributed to those affected by famine, war, poverty and natural disasters both locally and abroad.

The group’s Leadership Council and Board of Directors were in Pullman for the biannual leadership conference, during which members also celebrated the Lewis Alumni Centre’s 25th anniversary. The open house featured displays depicting its 25-year history and future. It was the first in a series of silver anniversary events that will culminate at a reception on homecoming weekend.

Alumni Association Board members presented $10,000 to the Associated Students of WSU Cougar Leadership Scholarship in support of the $100,000 the group is raising to mark the 100th year of ASWSU next fall.

SAA-Birthday-500Student Alumni Ambassadors also hosted a birthday celebration for WSU, which is 124 years old.

“We celebrate WSU’s birthday each year by handing out cake on Glen Terrell Mall,” said Ashley Vu, SAA president. “This is one way we can commemorate our school and bring people together on WSU’s special day.”

The student group also hosted the “We Bleed Crimson” blood drive.

“We had a great turnout of donors. It was a great day of Cougs giving back,” Vu said.