Seattle – November 3, 2011 – Washington State University (WSU) Vancouver alumnae Paris E. Powell of Ridgefield, Wash., was presented the WSU Foundation’s Outstanding Service Award during the Foundation’s Annual Meeting in Seattle, Oct. 21. Powell contributes many hours of time and effort to help advance the mission and reach of WSU in southwest Wash., including participation in and leading efforts to keep alumni connected and involved in their alma mater after graduation.
The WSU Foundation’s Outstanding Service Awards are given annually as a public testimonial to individuals who have made outstanding singular or collective contributions in service to the WSU Foundation and WSU.
“Paris’s commitment to Washington State University and to our Vancouver campus is remarkable by any standard, but particularly so for someone who graduated fewer than 10 years ago,” said WSU President Elson S. Floyd. “Her energetic leadership and dedication is making a tangible difference in the engagement, outreach and overall alumni experience at WSU Vancouver.”
Powell is vice president of the WSU Alumni Association’s southwest Wash. chapter, is a member of the WSU Vancouver business department’s advisory board, and is a mentor to accounting students at the WSU Vancouver campus. In addition to participating in several alumni and outreach events in the Vancouver area each year, she hosts networking events for WSU alumni and has participated in each of the five Cougs in the Community events in southwest Wash., where WSU alumni and friends conducted a service project in the local community.
Powell also teams up with Chapter President Sarah Brown to organize official viewing parties for football and basketball games, as well as charter buses to take area alumni and friends to football and basketball games. This summer, Powell also coordinated a Wine by Cougs alumni gathering and wine tasting at K’Syrah in Camas, Wash.
Powell earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in accounting and finance at WSU Vancouver in 2002. She now serves as business valuation senior manager at a Portland-based CPA firm, Perkins & Co. In addition to her many volunteer activities with WSU, Powell is active in her community as well, primarily in financial literacy issues. She is involved in financial ministry at New Heights Church and presents budgeting and credit sessions for ROAR, the WSU Vancouver new student orientation program.
Also receiving an Outstanding Service Award in 2011 was Doug Thomas of Bellevue, Wash., and Thomas Quann of Puyallup, Wash., who received the Outstanding Faculty Service Award.