Three Outstanding Cougars Receive WSUAA Alumni Achievement Award

PULLMAN, Wash. – This past weekend, three graduates of Washington State University were presented with the WSUAA Alumni Achievement Award for their contributions to their communities, to WSU and to their fields.

Rick Ellingson was presented the award on Friday, Oct. 5 at WSU’s Feast of the Arts Event in Pullman. Sheikh Ghazanfar received the award on Saturday, Oct. 6 at the WSU School of Economics Homecoming BBQ, and Richard Oltman was presented the award on Saturday at Olympia’s 26^th Annual Oysterfest.

Ellingson graduated from WSU in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics. He is currently vice president of Bargreen-Ellingson in Tacoma, Wash. As a leader in the foodservice industry, Ellingson is serving as president of the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association and the FEDA Board of Directors. He currently is serving on the WSU Foundation board of trustees and on the advisory board for the School of Hospitality Business Management

Ghazanfar earned three degrees from WSU: A bachelor’s with honors in Business Administration in 1962, a master’s in Economics in 1964, and a doctorate in Economics in 1969. He has served over 35 years as a teacher and advocate for higher education and has enriched the lives of many students while serving as professor of economics at WSU. He currently holds the post of Professor Emeritus of Economics and director of International Studies at the University of Idaho. He is considered a renowned expert in the field of Islamic studies and its influences on western cultures.
 
Oltman graduated from WSC in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in Military Science and Tactics.  The founder of Olympia’s Oysterfest, Oltman envisioned and created the seafood festival to promote the seafood industry in the state of Washington. Oysterfest is now in its 26^th year and during that time it has contributed over $500,000 to citizens of Mason County in the form of grants, scholarships, and literacy programs for students. Oltman and his wife, Patricia, are both Life Members of the WSU Alumni Association.

The WSUAA Alumni Achievement Award was created in 1970 by the WSUAA Board of Directors to recognize alumni who have given outstanding service to WSU and made contributions to their professions and communities. The award also serves as encouragement to alumni to provide perpetual service to Washington State University. Out of an estimated 250,000 total WSU graduates, Ellingson, Ghazanfar, and Oltman are the 462^nd, 463^rd, and 464^th Alumni Achievement Award winners.

Jud Preece, WSUAA senior associate director; Richard Ellingson; and  Terry Umbreit, director WSU’s School of Hospitality Business Management

Sheikh Ghazanfar and WSU Provost Bob Bates

Richard Oltman