WSU Tri-Cities Presents Land Grant Awards to Faculty, Staff at Commencement

TRI-CITES, Wash. — Washington State University Tri-Cities presented three Land Grant Awards during commencement Friday (May 13) at the Three Rivers Coliseum in Kennewick.

The Land Grant Award, established by the university in 1994, acknowledges individuals for excellent leadership and outstanding service to WSU Tri-Cities.

Recognized and presented with medals during commencement were a faculty member, an adjunct faculty member and a university staff professional.

Bette Ward, the faculty recipient, serves as coordinator of the Teacher Education Programs offered at the Richland campus. She came to the Tri–Cities as a faculty member at the former Tri-Cities University Center in 1987. Two years later, that facility became the WSU campus in Richland. Ward has served as academic program coordinator for teaching and learning and previously was a classroom teacher in both the LaGrande, Ore., and Pasco public schools.

Robert M. Mahan received the Adjunct Faculty Land Grant Award, recognizing his contributions to the university’s programs in engineering and computer science. He is a staff scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland and has taught courses in the Tri-Cities since the 1970s.

The Staff Land Grant Award was presented to Don Frame, systems specialist in the campus’ computer services department. Frame, a WSU Tri-Cities staff member since 1994, is responsible for telecommunications on the campus.