Central Washington University

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Central Washington University
Motto	Docendo Discimus
Motto in English	By teaching we learn
Established	1891
Type	Public
Endowment	US $13.3 million[1]
President	Dr. James L. Gaudino
Provost	Dr. Marilyn Levine
Admin. staff	500
Students	11,000
Undergraduates	10,300[2]
Postgraduates	498
Location	Ellensburg, WA, U.S. 47°00′07″N 120°32′24″W / 47.002°N 120.540°W / 47.002; -120.540Coordinates: 47°00′07″N 120°32′24″W / 47.002°N 120.540°W / 47.002; -120.540
Campus	Rural College Town 380 acres (150 ha)
Former names	Washington State Normal School Central Washington College of Education Central Washington State College
Colors	Crimson & Black
Athletics	NCAA Division II
Sports	13 Varsity Teams
Nickname	Wildcats
Mascot	Wellington P. Wildcat
Website	cwu.edu

Barge Hall, Central Washington University

Central Washington University, or CWU, is a publicly assisted university in Ellensburg, Washington in the United States. The university's three chief divisions include the Office of the President, Business and Financial Affairs, and Academic and Student Life (ASL). Within ASL are four colleges: the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Business, the College of Education and Professional Studies, and College of the Sciences.

Another key division within ASL is the Department of Student Success, which provides programs, events, services and activities that promote academic, personal and professional growth within and beyond the classroom. The Dean of Student Success is committed to developing and enhancing the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusiveness; creating connections between in- and out-of-classroom experiences; facilitating scholarly, creative, and professional-development opportunities; providing resources and services to help students navigate the CWU Community; and promoting student rights and responsibilities.

CWU is located about 110 miles (180 km) east of Seattle, Washington on Interstate 90 in Kittitas Valley. To the north the Stuart Mountain range towers over the valley. The Yakima River Canyon lies to the south and the Columbia River to the east. Snoqualmie Pass and Mission Ridge are close by and offer winter sporting opportunities. The historic town of Ellensburg is just 3 blocks from the university campus.

History [edit]

In 1890, the state Legislature established the Washington State Normal School (WSNS) in Ellensburg for “the training and education of teachers in the art of instructing and governing in the public schools of this state.” ^[3] WSNS originally opened on September 6, 1891, with classes held at the Washington Public School in Ellensburg.^[4] In 1893, the school's first building was constructed and named Barge Hall, in honor of the first WSNS principal, Benjamin Franklin Barge. Barge Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

The school became Central Washington College of Education in 1937, Central Washington State College in 1961, and, finally, Central Washington University in 1977. It continues to be one of the fastest growing universities in the State of Washington. University officers include Dr. James L. Gaudino, president; Dr. Marilyn Levine, provost; George Clark, chief financial officer; Sherer Holter, Chief of Staff.

Research [edit]

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• The university was home to the signing chimpanzee Washoe from 1980 until her death in October 2007; from 1993 at the university's Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute. This continues to be only one of the two institutions of its kind in the world.

• The Summer Institute for Theatre Arts, formerly the Drama Teacher's Summer Institute, was established in 1996. More than 500 teachers, representing 28 states and six nations, have attended the Institute for over ten years.

• The Science Honors Research Program offers undergraduate students an opportunity to conduct high level research on projects that they design, develop, and implement. The Science Honors Research experience provides CWU undergraduate students an unparalleled opportunity to prepare for graduate school and successful scientific careers

Athletics [edit]

CWU students, alumni, and varsity athletes are known as the "Wildcats" and their colors are crimson and black.^[5] CWU is part of NCAA Division II and is part of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.^[5]

The Wildcats won the Division 2 NAIA Football National Championship in 1995.

In 2008, Wildcat softball players Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace helped carry injured opponent Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University around the bases after she hit her first-ever career home run and injured herself running around the bases. CWU lost the game, ending the Wildcats' season. The story received national attention and the trio appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, CBS, CNN, and ESPN. They also won an ESPY award for Best Moment in Sports in 2008, were featured in Sports Illustrated, and are part of a national billboard campaign promoting sportsmanship by the Foundation for A Better Life.

Football [edit]

Football garnered much attention as being one of the most successful NCAA Division II teams in the northwest. In 2006, they moved to the North Central Conference, because the Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced it would discontinue its participation in football following the 2005 season. The football team shares an intense rivalry with Western Washington University (who will also be joining the NCC in 2006). Recently they've been competing in a game called the Battle in Seattle taking place at Seattle's CenturyLink Field before the even more traditional Cascade Cup game, although because of conference scheduling the two games were combined starting 2006. In 2008, The Great Northwest Athletic Conference reinstated football, and Central Washington along with Western Washington rejoined the conference, so the previous format of the Battle in Seattle being played at CenturyLink Field and the Cascade Cup was contested in Ellensburg. In 2009, Western Washington University disbanded its football team. In 2009, Central Washington University posted a perfect 11-0 record, the only Division II team to post a clean slate in 2009 regular season. Central Washington then lost to the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State, who were the eventual NCAA Division II champions.

Club Sports: Rugby [edit]

Of the variety of club sports offered by Central, the men's rugby team has been particularly successful. CWU established the men's rugby team in 1972.^[6] The rugby team plays and regularly defeats far larger universities, such as, the University of Washington, Washington State University, University of Oregon, and Oregon State University. Rugby at Central has been quite successful against these and other larger schools. The Wildcats play in the College Premier Division against the top college rugby programs in the country.^[7]

Rugby has gained the Wildcats national recognition due to its high level of success in the national playoffs. Their most impressive accomplishments include making the Sweet 16 in 1998 and 2001. In 2001, Central defeated North Carolina 52-17 in their Sweet 16 match, before losing to Penn State 14-12 in the Elite 8 (Penn State went on to play in the championship match). In 2007, the men's rugby team was ranked as high as 10th in the nation.

The Wildcats have also been successful in rugby sevens. The Wildcats won the 2011 Las Vegas Invitational to qualify for the 2011 Collegiate Rugby Championship.^[6] The Wildcats gained national attention for their rugby program when, led by Tim Stanfill, they finished fourth at the 2011 Collegiate Rugby Championship, a tournament broadcast live on NBC. That same year CWU Rugby finished 2nd (losing in overtime) at the USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships. Tim Stanfill was voted MVP of the 2012 Tournament and a member of the All-Tournament Team along with Forward Patrick Blair.^[8] Central Washington won the 2012 Northwest 7s tournament to qualify for the 2012 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships.^[9]

In 2012 CWU Rugby's Head 7's Coach and 15's Head Attack Coach Tony Pacheco was named as the Head Coach for the Collegiate All-Americans 7's program. Pacheco, a product of CWU Rugby (Class of '03), selected two CWU Rugby players, Tim Stanfill and Patrick Blair, as Collegiate All-Americans, joining Scott Anderson (Class of '99) in obtaining All American status as members of CWU Rugby.

Notable alumni [edit]

The following are some notable former Wildcats:

Sports [edit]

• NFL quarterback Jon Kitna — Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, and Dallas Cowboys. Led the team to an NAIA Div. II championship in 1995.
• CFL quarterback Mike Reilly — BC Lions, Formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks.
• CFL linebacker Adam Bighill — BC Lions.
• NFL tight end Jared Bronson — Miami Dolphins.
• MLB pitcher Dave Heaverlo — San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners.
• MLB outfielder Billy North — Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants
• Basketball coach Dean Nicholson [609 victories] who combined with his father, Leo [505 victories], to win 1,114 games at CWU, which is the most ever by a father-son duo in college basketball history.
• NCAA football coach Keith Gilbertson — University of Idaho, University of California, Berkeley, University of Washington. Played football for the Wildcats for one season in 1967, later graduating in 1971^[10]
• Joe Callero Head men's basketball coach at California Polytechnic State University and former head coach of Seattle University.

Government or Military [edit]

• USMC General James N. Mattis — United States Marine Corps. Commander of the United States Central Command 2010–Present. Class of 1972.
• Ron Sims — Current Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and former King County Executive.
• Astronaut Dorothy M. Metcalf-Lindenburger Currently, she is assigned to the crew of STS-131, her first expedition.^[11]
• United States Coast Guard Douglas Albert Munro (October 11, 1919 – September 27, 1942) is the only member of the United States Coast Guard to have received the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military's highest decoration.
• U.S. Air National Guard Brigadier General John R. Croft — Chief of Staff of the Wisconsin Air National Guard
• U.S. Air National Guard Brigadier General Myron N. Dobashi — Commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard
• Lieutenant Commander Craig Olson, Navy Blue Angels Demonstration #5 Lead Solo Pilot. A Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet instructor pilot at Naval Air Station Lemoore,. Decorations include: Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various personal and unit awards.^[12]

Business [edit]

• Douglas B. Wood President of Tommy Bahama Group Inc.
• Christine M. Day named "CEO of the Year" by Forbes Magazine. CEO of Lululemon Athletica an athletic sportswear company.
• Author Stephen L. Nelson — Author "Quicken for Dummies" and 150 other books in the series, over 5 million copies sold worldwide. Named “most prolific computer book writer” by Wall Street Journal.
• Inventor, CPA Roland "Sandy" Wheeler— Inventor of “Bowflex“(NYSE:NLS) in the 1980s he later went on to acquire Nautilus, Stairmaster and Schwinn Fitness.

Other [edit]

• W. Hudson Kensel, historian of the American West.
• David L Boushey American Stuntman and the founder of the United Stuntmen's Association, the International Stunt School, the Society of American Fight Directors, and is a member of The Hollywood Stuntmen's Hall Of Fame.
• Daniel D. McCracken a prominent computer scientist. He was a Professor of Computer Sciences at the City College of New York, and the author of over two dozen textbooks on computer programming.
• Actor Craig T. Nelson — star of sitcom Coach^[13]
• Actor Brian Thompson – known for his work in action films and television series
• Allan Byron Swift an Emmy award–winning broadcaster, served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1995. He represented the Second Congressional District of Washington as a Democrat.
• Singer Wanz - featured singer on Macklemore and Ryan Lewis hit song "Thrift Shop (song)"

360° panorama of a portion of the Central Washington University campus as seen on an August afternoon. Taken at the southwest corner of campus, buildings, from left to right: Mitchell Hall, current location of most of the school's registrar and general admissions staff; McConnell Hall and auditorium, home of the Theatre Arts department; Barge Hall, financial and administrative center of campus; and Shaw-Smyser Hall, the primary building for the College of Business.

Student Union and Recreation Center [edit]

On April 26, 2006, the school opened a $58-million Student Union and Recreation Center. The Student Union and Recreation Center is home to a full-sized rock-climbing wall, fully equipped gymnasium, and an outdoor recreation office, which rents everything from rafts, to snowshoes and ice axes.

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• Official website
• Official Athletics website
• CWU Brooks Library University Buildings Collection