The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation (WTHP) has recognized the strong and unique partnership between the Downtown Pullman Association (DPA) and Washington State University’s Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) by bestowing the DPA with an Excellence on Main Award.
The award was presented during WTHP’s statewide Places Conference on Oct. 8 in Ellensburg, Wash., with both Jessica Perone, CCE associate director of engaged learning, and DPA Executive Director Bobbie Ryder present. The entire CCE staff was honored by DPA for its achievement during CCE’s Campus Community Forum on Oct. 26.
DPA submitted the nomination in the organizational excellence category noting its exceptional collaboration with CCE that has transformed student engagement with downtown leaders and businesses. The nomination states the collaboration has led to lasting partnerships, leadership opportunities, and a shared vision for a vibrant downtown.
“We are honored to be part of this recognition,” said Perone. “It is great knowing that both of our organizations value our long-term partnership, and that we are helping to meet the needs of downtown Pullman.”
Washington State Main Street Program Director Breanne Durham said at the Excellence on Main ceremony that the partnership is a model for how Main Street organizations and higher‑education institutions can work together to build vibrant, resilient communities.”
Connecting students through service-learning
Through the creation of many service-learning projects, CCE has led hundreds of students downtown to help with activities such as DPA’s Downtown Trick-or-Treat, Lentil Fest Friday, holiday window painting, a downtown jigsaw puzzle competition, and numerous beatification and cleanup projects.
The nomination highlights the 2026 Greek Week Downtown Cleanup, when more than 200 students spent four hours power washing Pine Street Plaza and Triangle Alley, cleaning storefronts, sweeping sidewalks, and preparing downtown for spring and summer. Greek organizations also raised $10,000 for the Downtown Pullman Association to support revitalization efforts.
CCE has also been working with DPA on a zero emissions project that encourages students (and everyone) to leave their cars at home and walk downtown. As part of this project, CCE takes students to their downtown service projects on foot, showing them that it is a lot closer to campus than many realize.
Investing in their community
When students arrive downtown to volunteer, Perone said DPA leaders are always there to give them a warm welcome and educate them about the history of Pullman and the current happenings within the Pullman business community. She is noticing the relationships being built between them are resulting in more students wanting to volunteer downtown.
“It has been great to see more students feeling comfortable downtown,” Perone said. “They are not only gaining a sense of belonging to campus, but downtown, too.”
Ryder said that sense of belonging is a special thing. As DPA noted in its nomination, Pullman is unlike most main street communities in that nearly half of its population consists of WSU students. While that brings a lot of energy to campus, it is challenging to connect students with the broader community. It is why the success the CCE and DPA have achieved together is worthy of recognition.
“I’m so delighted we were able to recognize the Center for Civic Engagement with this award and celebrate their staff, WSU students, and downtown Pullman,” said Ryder. “We feel this collaboration is so important because once students have experienced what downtown Pullman has to offer, they tend to take some ownership of it.”
