PULLMAN, Wash. – Scholarship funds from the Washington State University license plate, the number-one specialty plate in the state, hit a new record of $613,283 in the 2016-2017 academic year, according to the WSU budget office. All of the proceeds go to scholarships for students in the WSU system.
“It’s a thrill to see Cougar pride expressed so earnestly across the state and in a way that benefits the education of future Cougs,” said Tim Pavish, executive director of the WSU Alumni Association, which manages the WSU plate program.
Of the 44 specialty plates issued by the state Department of Licensing, the WSU plate is the most popular, followed by plates for the Seahawks, the Law Enforcement Memorial and some other state university. According to the latest licensing figures, WSU plates account for 22,935 of the 147,895 specialized plates currently registered in the state.
The Coug plates have been among the most popular in the state since they hit the road in 1994. Since the WSU Alumni Association took over management of the plate program in 2007, the number of plates has nearly doubled. Sales surged in 2011 after the association redesigned the plate to feature silver-white lettering on a crimson background. The plate also features the Cougar Head Logo, which Reddit users last year voted best college football logo.
Costs and fees for new specialty plates vary, but $28 of each WSU plate goes towards scholarships. Plates can be obtained from local licensing offices. For further details, visit alumni.wsu.edu/license.
Media Contact:
- Tim Pavish, executive director, WSU Alumni Association, 509-335-1980, pavish@wsu.edu