WSU Students, Deans Receive Special Awards

Thu., Feb. 9, 1995

Compiled By Mary Beth Bonner.

Three Washington State University students and two college deans received awards during the 1995 WSU Martin Luther King Jr. Program.

Perveen Ali, of Athens, Ga., and Leon Strayer, of Silverdale, Wash., won the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award. Ali is pursuing a double major in anthropology and women studies. Strayer is an education and psychology double major.

Bernard Oliver, College of Education dean, received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award as a WSU employee. He has taught at WSU since 1991 and is the first African-American dean in the school’s history.

Shawn Mitchell, Spokane, received WSU President Samuel Smith’s Keeping the Dream Alive celebration plaque for students. Rom Markin, College of Business and Economics dean, received the plaque for employees. Mitchell is majoring in social studies and education. A 1991 graduate of Ferris High School, he is the son of James Mitchell and Rita Fry, both of Spokane. Markin came to WSU in 1961 and has been dean since 1980.

Talmadge Anderson, Department of Comparative American Cultures faculty member, was presented with the “Meritorial Achievement Award” from WSU’s chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, a primarily African-American sorority. He was honored for his service as coordinator and curator of the Heritage House at WSU and as founding editor of the Western Journal of Black Studies. He has been at WSU since 1970.

Two Spokane brothers were recently promoted while serving with the Marine Corps. Don LaPlante was promoted to gunnery sergeant and is stationed in Washington, D.C. Ron LaPlante was promoted to staff sergeant. He is a public relations officer and performs in The Commandant’s Own Drum and Bugle Corps. He also is also stationed in Washington, D.C.

Stephanie Sandberg, Spokane, is attending The National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. The program is for high school students who have demonstrated leadership potential and scholastic merit. She is a student at Ferris High School.

Stephen Aylor, Elk, has graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla with a doctorate in engineering.

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