EVERETT — Boeing is creating a scholarship in the name of Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson, the first endowment for Washington State University in Everett.
The $30,000 contribution will award a scholarship each year to a student in a technical field who has demonstrated leadership skills.
“Ray Stephanson has dedicated his career to improving the lives of people in his city and state, and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to building the higher education capacity in Snohomish County,” Kevin McAllister, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a press release. “Boeing and our tens of thousands of employees in the state — thousands of whom are WSU graduates — are pleased to be able to create a lasting scholarship in his name that will help prepare local students for exciting STEM careers.”
The scholarship recipient will receive about $1,000 each year. The endowment is expected to grow over time. Boeing Vice President Bill McSherry plans to be at the open house of WSU in Everett on Tuesday with the mayor.
Stephanson, who has served as mayor since 2003, has been a vocal supporter of Boeing. He’s also been one of the civic leaders attempting to bring a four-year university to the county. He worked with the late WSU President Elson S. Floyd to establish WSU Everett.
“Ray Stephanson’s leadership for the last four decades in Everett, on the Everett City Council, as president of Puget Sound Regional Council and as mayor, has resulted in unprecedented success for citizens and industry in this region,” WSU Everett Chancellor Paul Pitre said in the release. “The scholarships that stem from this endowment will help students, families and industry.”
Earlier, Boeing gave WSU Everett $250,000 to buy state-art-of-the-art equipment for the engineering program. The university has named one of its engineering labs as the Boeing Innovation Studio.
Also, several teams of four WSU Everett students — one communication, one hospitality business management and two engineering — are each year selected as Boeing Scholars.
These students participate in a multidisciplinary design course in which they address a Boeing-sponsored project with engineering and business components. At the end of the year the project concludes in a formal presentation to a team of Boeing mentors.
If you go
Washington State University at Everett plans to hold an open house for its new campus Tuesday. A series of events are planned including a discussion on media, talks by university presidents and ceremonial ribbon cutting. For a schedule of events, visit https://everett.wsu.edu/openhouse/.
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