WSU Presents Awards During Commencement
The following awards were presented at Washington State University’s College of Liberal Arts commencement ceremonies:
John “Jay” Wright, chairman of the psychology department, received WSU’s Distinguished Achievement Award. His work in physiological psychology has recently focused on the role of the brain in Alzheimer’s disease and memory dysfunction. He joined WSU in 1975.
Perveen Ali received the Distinguished Award for students. She graduated with two majors - anthropology and liberal arts - with an emphasis on women studies. She is a member of the scholastic honorary Phi Beta Kappa and has presented papers at national meetings and received numerous awards.
Lois Richards received the Distinguished Award for alumni. Richards recently retired from the U.S. Agency for International Development and has reached the highest Foreign Service rank possible in that agency. She graduated with a degree in sociology in 1962.
Jeanne Johnson, associate professor of speech and hearing services, received the William F. Mullen Excellence in Teaching Award. The award is given to those who complement their excellent teaching skills with outstanding support to students. Johnson is an expert in child language and is conducting research on children prenatally exposed to drugs. Johnson joined WSU in 1987.
Peter Mehringer Jr., anthropology professor, is the college’s first recipient of a Dr. Edward R. Meyer Professorship. The award reflects Mehringer’s superior performance in teaching, research and service in two of the award’s designated areas: world civilizations and natural environment-related science and policy. He joined WSU in 1971.
Madeleine DeBeer, a senior biology student at Gonzaga University, received a fellowship sponsored by the National Science Foundation. She will work with GU biology professor Robert Prusch this summer conducting research full time.
DeBeer is one of 12 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Fellows selected nationwide as part of the Council on Undergraduate Research program. The award provides a student stipend of $3,150 and $525 for living expenses.
Next spring the SURE Fellows will attend the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, where they will present their research findings to the undergraduate research community.
Craig Brookshire and Dan Whicker of the Inland Empire Chapter of the American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers were given the Tops Award for outstanding chapter performance toward achieving membership goals for the meeting year 1994-95.
, DataTimes MEMO: Compiled by Mary Beth Donelan. To tell us about your achievements, write to Achievements, The SpokesmanReview, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210, or 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.