Alumni Standouts
Each September during Reunion Weekend, we honor and celebrate outstanding alumni for their achievements and devotion to the University.
The Distinguished Alumni Citation honors graduates whose professional achievement and service to community reflect the highest ideals of the University. The Lestle J. Sparks Medallion honors alumni for a lifetime of loyalty to the University. The Young Alumni Leadership Award honors graduates of the last 10 years for outstanding leadership in their vocation, community service or service to the University. Read on to get acquainted with this year’s honorees:
Pictured Back–Front, L–R, Jason Hunter ’95, Edward “Nick” Allis ’70, John Jelderks ’60, JD’64, Lee Pelton, Paul DeMuniz JD’75, Jennifer Miller ’97, MBA/JD’01, Charles Carter ’55, Laila J. Cook ’98, Sally (Grimm) Schaefer ’55, Heather C. Dahl ’95, Lisa Murkowski JD’85, Elizabeth Geiger Hartman ’80, (not pictured Claire (Howell) Bonilla ’95)
Distinguished Alumni Citations
Charles Carter ’55 was honored for his work in medicine and international service. A practicing ophthalmologist for more than 32 years, Carter has trained volunteers in Vancouver, Wash., schools to screen children for early signs of eye diseases. He has taken a month off each year to volunteer medical and surgical support to the indigent in rural Haiti and helped create the first-ever medical clinic in one of Haiti’s most remote mountainous regions. He has advised Eastern European ophthalmologists on innovative surgical techniques, volunteered for clinics in Sierra Leone, and is devoted to the success of the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Paul DeMuniz JD’75 was honored for his commitment to the law. As a justice of the Oregon Supreme Court since 2000 and named Chief Justice in 2005, DeMuniz makes decisions that affect the lives of every Oregonian. His distinguished legal career includes 10 years as presiding judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals and 15 years as both a public and private attorney. In private practice, he focused on complex civil and criminal cases at both the state and federal levels. He was appointed to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services and was named Mentor of the Year at the WU College of Law.
Mary Jaeger ’80 was honored for her dedication to health care and community service. A leader in advocacy for vulnerable populations in the Portland area, in 2000 Jaeger was appointed executive director of CASA for Children, a not-for-profit organization operating the Court Appointed Special Advocate program in Washington and Multnomah counties. Jaeger coordinates the efforts of more than 350 volunteers serving more than 750 children. She and her husband are active CASA volunteers themselves, having served as advocates for 11 children in the last four years. Previously Jaeger devoted much of her career to the elderly in nursing homes.
Lisa Murkowski JD’85 was honored for her commitment to public service. Murkowski is only the 33rd woman to serve the United States Senate. She was elected to the Alaska State House of Representatives in 1998 and rose to House Majority Leader in 2002. Her senate tenure has focused on issues including natural resources, health care, education, economic development and Alaska Native rights. She is also highly regarded for her community activism with groups including Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, Catholic Social Services, the Mayor’s Taskforce on the Homeless and Alaskans for Drug-Free Youth.
Sally (Grimm) Schaefer ’55 was honored for her dedication to community service. A former teacher, Schaefer has given her time and talents to a broad range of causes, from public schools, church, and the arts, to higher education, youth organizations and community social service groups. Among many other honors, Schaefer was named a First Citizen of Clark County for her involvement with groups including St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Friendship Force, Washington State Ecology Commission, Friends of Hospice and Women in Action. She has devoted particular attention to the Foundation for Family Television, dedicated to reducing violence on television.
Lestle J. Sparks Medallions
Edward “Nick” Allis ’70 served on the alumni board of directors from 1989 to 1994, on the board of trustees from 1998 to 2004, and as a class agent for the Class of 1970. He established endowed scholarships in honor of his father, Charles D. Allis, and his former boss, John Gray, as well as the Allis-Gray Scholarship at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management. He volunteered as project coordinator for the renovations of the Art Building and Eaton Hall’s fourth floor.
Elizabeth Geiger Hartman ’80 has volunteered as a class agent and with regional event organizing, past reunion committees and the alumni Career Network. She served on the alumni board of directors from 1983-88, including four years as president of the board, and served as the alumni association representative to the board of trustees from 1984-87.
John Jelderks ’60, JD’64 has been a member of the College of Law board of visitors since 1987 and served as its chair. He was the Alumni Association representative to the board of trustees from 1999-2002. He has been involved in the Law Heritage luncheon, the Career Network, Career Mentor Day, and the Willamette Forum. He is involved with Sigma Chi in numerous ways, currently serving as chair of the Sigma Chi Advisory Board. He was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Citation in 1995.
Young Alumni Leadership Awards
Claire (Howell) Bonilla ’95, global director of Microsoft Technology Centers, is instrumental in developing the corporation’s marketing and customer outreach strategy. She manages 13 technology centers worldwide. She served briefly as associate director of the Alumni Association board of directors and volunteers for the Career Network.
Laila J. Cook ’98, manager of development for Make-a-Wish Foundation of Oregon, is responsible for raising more than $1 million annually to help fulfill the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. She has served as class agent for the Willamette Fund, volunteer for the Career Network, and is an avid Cardinal and Gold booster.
Heather C. Dahl ’95, managing editor of Capitol News Connection with Public Radio International, directs congressional coverage for more than 200 public radio stations nationwide. She was selected to serve on the Congressional Radio and TV Correspondents’ Executive Committee. A former ASWU president, Dahl is a dedicated member of the Career Network.
Jason Hunter ’95, a senior engineer with Mark Logic, is the author of Java Servlet Programming and co-author of Java Enterprise Best Practices. He has become a very well known Java consultant, speaker, instructor and author. He stays involved with the University providing admissions support and working with the Career Network.