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VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington State University Vancouver presented the Community Award of Distinction for Community Partnership to Val and Dan Ogden Nov. 8 at its annual Scholarship and Recognition Dinner.

The award for Community Partnership is given to an individual or organization whose leadership has made a significant impact on the community. The Ogden’s have devoted their lives to the service of others and to their community. Collectively they have championed the causes of children, the mentally ill, the blind, services for low-income individuals, the right to vote, higher education, low-cost energy, environmental and recreation programs, and the empowerment of women and girls.

The Ogden’s have also made a significant impact on the Washington State University Community. Both are graduates of WSU—as are two of their three children and some of their grandchildren. Dan was a faculty member at WSU Pullman for 12 years. As a state representative, Val was instrumental in securing capital budget funding to construct the �鶹��ý campus. She has served on the �鶹��ý Advisory Council since 2002.

Dan, who served for many years as chair of the local Democratic Party, and Val, who served in the State House of Representatives for 12 years, established the first graduate-level endowed scholarship at �鶹��ý. Their scholarship supports a graduate student in Public Affairs.

The Community Award of Distinction was established in 2009 by Chancellor Emeritus H.A. “Hal” Dengerink as part of Washington State University Vancouver’s 20th anniversary celebration. Dengerink believed strongly in the reciprocal relationship between the university and the community—when one thrives, both prosper. All community members are invited to submit nominations, and award winners are selected by a committee.

Previous recipients of the Community Award of Distinction for Community Partnership include Free Clinic of SW Washington; Peggy Hays, Family-to-Family program for the Division of Children and Family Services; and June Vining, executive director of the Trauma Intervention Program of Portland/Vancouver, Inc.

Scholarship and Recognition Dinner

�鶹��ý’s Scholarship and Recognition Dinner brings together scholarship donors and scholarship award winners for an evening of celebration. This year 120 scholarships were funded by a combination of $251,168 in scholarship donations and an endowed scholarship fund of $3.7 million.

“Three quarters of our students rely on some form of financial aid,” said �鶹��ý Chancellor Mel Netzhammer. “That can come in the form of loans, tuition waivers or scholarships. But scholarships are golden because they come without an interest rate and a repayment plan—they are simply a gift to further a student’s education.”

WSU is nearly two years into the public phase of the Campaign for Washington State University—a $1 billion comprehensive fundraising effort to increase support for students, faculty, research and outreach programs, and to leverage the university’s impact across the state, nation and world.

�鶹��ý is responsible for raising $20 million of the $1 billion goal. So far $13 million has been raised. The Campaign concludes in 2015.

“The Campaign funds raised in Vancouver will be used at �鶹��ý—first and foremost—for scholarships. This is our number one fundraising priority because of the great need our students have,” said Netzhammer.

If you are interested in supporting scholarships at �鶹��ý, please call 360-546-9600.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jennifer Miltenberger, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, 360-546-9604, jennifer.miltenberger@wsu.edu

Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@vancouver.wsu.edu