CWU football: ‘Cats trying to find right receivers | Daily Record

Senior Justin Helwege is the top returner on a CWU wide receiving corps that must replace three senior starters from 2010. Brian Myrick/Daily Record

By: Josh Petrie
Published: Aug. 20, 2011

Central Washington University needs a go-to wide receiver.
The Wildcats will have three new starters to replace 2010 seniors Kollin Hancock, Chris Smith and Jamal Weems. Who those men will be, and who will emerge as a marquee threat, were still up in the air during the second week of fall camp.
“We keep moving guys in and out of the one (first team) huddle, trying to get lots of guys a look,” head coach Blaine Bennett said. “We’re looking for that person, or those players, that can play at a high level, can make plays, that know what they’re doing, can catch the football, can make big plays with the ball in their hands, and I think it’s still a work in progress. We’re still trying to find those guys who can do that for us.” (READ MORE…)

CWU president named to state panel | Daily Record

CWU President James L. Gaudino to serve on state Steering Committee on Higher Education.

By: For the Daily Record
Published: Aug. 20, 2o11

ELLENSBURG — Central Washington University President James L. Gaudino will serve on the state Steering Committee on Higher Education. The committee will determine the duties of the Council for Higher Education, a new agency that will replace the Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The Higher Education Coordinating Board will be eliminated next July under a bill the Legislature passed in May. The bill also established the steering committee to describe and recommend the purpose and function of the Council for Higher Education to the Legislature, according to a news release from CWU. (READ MORE…)

CWU, United Way Host Second Annual Community Day August 20 | CWU Public Affairs

By: Valerie Chapman-Stockwell
Posted: Aug. 16, 2011

Mark your calendar for the second Annual Community Day! at Central Washington University. CWU is partnering with the with the United Way Day of Caring to host a fun-filled, family-friendly day of events on August 20, from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., at various venues on Central’s Ellensburg campus.

The organizers of Community Day hope to promote good will and a sense of community among CWU, the City of Ellensburg, Kittitas County, and United Way. Events and information tables are designed to allow a better understanding of the services available from these institutions.

Community Day will also provide an opportunity to meet key officials and familiarize the general public with Central’s facilities. CWU Events External Outreach Specialist Laurie Clark hopes to encourage the community’s participation in future campus events.

Family members will enjoy participating in the multitude of events planned for Community Day. The CWU aquatic center will be open to the public at no charge from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Information about CWU Outdoor Pursuits and Rental will also be available. Central students from the Don and Verna Duncan Civic Engagement Center will host hands-on children activities and international students will teach children games played in their home countries.

You can get a head start on the football season by watching scrimmages in Tomlinson Stadium by Ellensburg High School, Kittitas High School, Cle Elum-Roslyn High School, and CWU teams beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The world-renowned Chimpanzee and Human Communications Institute (CHCI) will hold two chimposiums. These are one-hour, educational workshops involving chimpanzees who have acquired American Sign Language skills. CHCI will donate a portion of its ticket sales on Community Day to United Way. Call 509-963-2244 for more information or to register.

The public is encouraged to once again support United Way’s “Stuff the Bus,” a program that provides school supplies for local families in need. In addition, representatives from local United Way agencies, such as the American Red Cross, Central Washington Disability Resources, Hospice Friends, HopeSource and others will be available to provide details about their services. There will also be information tables about local and county resources.

Demonstrations and safety information will be presented by the Ellensburg Police Department, Kittitas County Fire and Rescue, and CWU Police Department. CWU’s Air Force ROTC will be available to answer questions about its program. Free chili and corn bread will be served beginning at 11:30 a.m., for as long as it lasts.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets to the Ellensburg Rodeo, as well as “Pay One Price” amusement ride tickets, fair posters, and season passes to the Kittitas County Fair.

At 3:00 p.m., all activities, information tables and displays will close so everyone can attend “Chill Out and Rock Out” in Tomlinson Stadium with local favorite, the Dave Rawlinson and Friends. Free ice cream will be available to the first 500 people.

Parking is free in all university lots on weekends.

In 2009, United Way of Central Washington was established, linking Kittitas County and Yakima County together. This move, which cut the costs of campaigning and donations, allows for more education, more food, more compassion, and more service.

CWU volleyball looks to move up | Daily Record

Central Washington University setter Carlee Marble serves during a volleyball match last season. The Wildcats look to improve upon a fifth-place finish in last year’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings.

By: Josh Petrie
Published: Aug. 16, 2011

On Day 1, the message was clear: get better.
The Central Washington University volleyball team’s two senior captains were in agreement Monday afternoon that the Wildcats didn’t perform as well as expected in the 2010 season.
“Our goals were definitely not accomplished last year,” outside hitter Meg Ryan said. (READ MORE…)

CWU football ranked 22nd in first poll | Yakima Herald Sports

By:YH-R Sports
Published: Aug. 15, 2011

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Central Washington was ranked 22nd in the first national NCAA Division II football coaches poll released Monday.

The Wildcats, with six returning offensive starters and five returning defensive starters from last year’s 8-3 squad, has debuted in the national top 25 for four straight years. (READ MORE…)

CWU Camp Day 2: All on the lines | Daily Record

CWU Camp: Day 2 | Central Washington University nose tackle Mike Reno (45) breaks through the offensive line during Thursday afternoon’s practice on campus. Reno, a Kittitas High School product, is one of four returning senior defensive linemen this season, all of whom were in-state recruits. Brian Myrick/Daily Record

By: Josh Petrie
Published: Aug. 13, 2011

Chances are Central Washington University will win the battle up front this football season, on both sides of the ball.
Of the Wildcats’ 11 listed returning starters, eight are offensive or defensive linemen. Eight current offensive linemen, as well as current defensive lineman Donnie Johnson, have started at least once on the CWU O-line. The ‘Cats also have four senior defensive linemen, including three ends, who have combined for 83 starts in crimson and black. (READ MORE…)

CWU Jazz Alumni Honor Moawad With Big Band CD Release | CWU Public Affairs

By: Robert Lowery
Posted: Aug. 11, 2011

The students of iconic CWU jazz professor emeritus John Moawad are paying tribute to him in the way he would most appreciate, with a jazz album. Jazz alumni volunteered their time last spring to create a thirteen-tune big band CD to honor the late Moawad, the recognized dean of Pacific Northwest jazz educators. “For You,” funded by a grant from the Puget Sound Energy Foundation and Jazz in the Valley, will support jazz scholarships from the John Moawad Scholarship Endowment. The CD is available at the CWU Foundation web site, on CD Baby, and iTunes.

The alumni jazz band has traditionally closed Ellensburg’s “Jazz in the Valley,” a summer music festival conceived by Moawad protégé Jim Sisko in his master’s thesis. Competition for a seat in the festival’s John Moawad All Star Big Band has always been fierce and the musicians loyal. So it’s not surprising the alumni band donated their time and talent during two marathon-recording sessions in the Central music building last March.

The CD features new musical settings of traditional jazz standards such as “Body and Soul,” “Stompin’ At The Savoy,” and “Georgia On My Mind” plus an up-tempo jazz rendition of “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Jazz alumnus Norm Wallen resurrected and carefully restored several other Moawad favorites from Moawad’s personal archives.

CWU alumni performing on the CD are: Bruce Babad, Matt Schneider, Mike West, Bob Bradley, and Greg Metcalf, saxophone; Sisko, Mike Mines, Greg Lyons, Jake Bergevin, and Alan Paxton, trumpet; and Wallen, Terry Freeman, Greg Schroeder, Jeff Sizer, trombone. The rhythm section was comprised of Trevor Johnson, guitar; Reuel Lubag, piano; Wayne Bliss, bass; and Garey Williams, drums. Chris Bruya, CWU’s director of jazz studies, conducted the band.

The lineage of jazz bands at CWU began in 1947, making it one of the first collegiate jazz programs in the nation. After performing in the band as a student, Moawad returned to Central a decade later to direct the jazz program, which he led for thirty years. His dynamic leadership inspired hundreds of aspiring teachers and musicians, and many of them remained close to the man they came to know as “Coach.” To further honor Moawad, Coach’s Coffee House was created in Wendell Hill Hall, across the street from the music building.

Moawad received the CWU Distinguished Professor Award in 1984 and was inducted into the Washington Music Educators Association Hall of Fame in 1998. He died in November 2009 at the age of 72.

More news coverage for CWU’s amazing online paramedics degree program | KIMA TV

CWU Gets First Ever Online Paramedics Degree Program

By: Sarah Navoy
Posted: Aug. 10, 2011

ELLENSBURG — Students who earn a paramedics certification can now earn a bachelors degree online. The program is the only one in the nation that focuses solely on paramedicine.

The program director says the need for paramedics is greater than ever, making this program not only convenient, but necessary. (READ MORE and WATCH VIDEO…)

Raiders give hardworking rookie a chance | ProSportsBlogging.com

Kelly rumbles into endzone as a player at Central Washington University

By: Erik Olsoy
Published: Aug. 7, 2011

It was late in the fourth quarter of a blowout win for Kamiak High School’s sophomore football team.  I was the starting quarterback, but had just been taken out of the game to give our backup some playing time (this game was his only time at quarterback that year).  On first down, our coach called a simple passing play – quick slants.  Our quarterback took the snap… dropped back… and panicked.  He handed the ball to his running back, Bryson Kelly.
Kelly was looking for someone to block, but found himself holding the ball in a congested backfield on what was supposed to be a passing play.  He looked confused for a split second, then frantically dashed around the right side of the line, smashing through a linebacker’s attempt to tackle him, before dragging  a cornerback and safety on his back for five yards and a first down.  Though he was probably only 160 pounds, Bryson was the heart of the team, and we relied heavily on his “be the hammer, not the nail” running style on offense.  When it came down to football, it didn’t matter if it was practice, it didn’t matter if we were in a close game, didn’t matter if we were up or down by twenty, Bryson was always locked in, ready to go, and ready to prove that he was the toughest guy on the field. (READ MORE…)

CWU Offers Online Bachelor’s Degree to Paramedics | CWU Public Affairs

By: Valerie Chapman-Stockwell
Posted: July 29, 2011

Paramedics now can earn a bachelor’s degree online from Central Washington University. Paramedics who have earned two-year certification can complete CWU’s Bachelor of Science in Paramedicine from anywhere in the U.S. The program is the only one in the nation that focuses the last two years of study on paramedicine rather than general health sciences and one of the few Paramedicine bachelor’s degrees that is accredited.

The director of the program, Dr. Keith Monosky, said the degree-completion program is going online just when demand for the degree is spiking in emergency medical services (EMS) professions.

“Increasingly the profession is seeking degree holders whose education prepares them to be leaders and to shape the future of EMS,” said Monosky, noting that the online venue dramatically increases the ability of the program to meet student demand. “This opportunity will fill a void that’s been created with the disappearance of degree-awarding paramedic programs in Washington state.”

Monosky said the program’s emphasis on problem-based learning extends beyond the prehospital care environment, in which paramedics receive training during the certificate process. The bachelor’s degree cultivates additional, more complex knowledge such as advanced pathophysiology, in which students learn to understand disease entities rather than simply to identify them. Program curriculum covers research in emergency medical services (EMS), health policy and EMS in response to terrorism. The program also teaches financial and systems analysis, as well as strategic planning.

The enhanced paramedicine program is open to students who have completed a two-year associate’s degree along with a paramedic certificate. Paramedics with a certificate from an accredited educational institution could be admitted with advanced standing.

CWU’s paramedicine program has been training individuals in prehospital emergency medical care since 1973 and is one of the few baccalaureate degree-awarding paramedic programs in the country accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). In addition, for the past five years, nearly 96 percent of CWU graduates have passed the National Registry Exam for Paramedic on their first attempt. All program completers receive employment offers when they graduate.

For more information, go to www.cwu.edu/~nehs/paramedics/index.php, or call 509-963-1912.