By Tina Hilding, Voiland College of Engineering & Architecture
PULLMAN, Wash. – Gaymond and Cindy Schultz of Reno, Nev., were honored recently by the Washington State University Alumni Association for cutting-edge work in the telecommunications industry and for mentoring students in the WSU Harold Frank Engineering Entrepreneurship Institute.
Alumni achievement
Gaymond Schultz received the Alumni Achievement Award for his successful career, service to the WSU Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture executive leadership board, and support of WSU students.
Originally from Davenport, Wash., he graduated from WSU in 1963 with a degree in electrical engineering. He founded Stratacom, a telecommunications company involved in the development, manufacture and standardization of wide area data networking equipment that used digital telecommunications infrastructure. Cisco Systems purchased Stratacom in 1996.
He founded Vina Technologies, which provided cutting-edge technology in multiservice broadband access to allow delivery of multiple voice and data services over one high-speed Internet line. Vina merged with Larscom Inc. in 2003.
Schultz also founded and was vice president of engineering for Seaport Imaging, a leading manufacturer of image processing equipment and software.
Honorary alumna
Cindy Schultz received the Honorary Alumna Award for opening the couple’s Los Altos, Calif., home to hundreds of WSU students from the Frank program over the years. She provided personalized mentoring, logistical support and hospitality to students interning with technology industry leaders in Silicon Valley.
The couple hosted numerous receptions to introduce students to WSU alumni in the Bay Area. With their support, the Frank program has flourished and achieved national recognition, including receiving a prestigious Kauffman Foundation Award.
The Schultzes received the WSU Foundation’s Outstanding Service Award in 2006.
The WSU Alumni Association created the Alumni Achievement Award in 1970 to recognize and honor alumni who have given outstanding service to WSU and/or outstanding contributions to their community and/or profession and/or nation. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the association.
The award has been bestowed on 512 alumni, .002 percent of the estimated quarter million people who have attended WSU. Cindy Schultz is the 110th person to have received an Honorary Alumni Award.
“We are so thankful to Gaymond and Cindy for their selfless dedication, generous hospitality and encouragement of our students, especially in the Frank entrepreneurship program,’’ said college Dean Candis Claiborn. “We are so pleased to be able to recognize both of them with these honors.’’
Contact:
Christina Rulffes Parrish, WSU Alumni Engagement, 509-335-6907, parrishc@wsu.edu