Through planned giving to WSU Vancouver, Joni and Mike Shaw are helping others enjoy the opportunities they had for a college education and a good start in life.
The Shaws are Vancouver residents. (“WSU Vancouver is almost in our backyard,” Joni said.) They have seven adult children and eight grandchildren, with whom they love to spend time. In addition to travel, gardening and volunteering, Joni said, “we love to host parties. We spend lots of time cooking in our outdoor kitchen, and we are always game for a college football game.”
Joni attended Clark College in Vancouver, and Mike attended WSU Pullman, graduating in 1973 with a degree in communication. They explain what the university means to them and why they are remembering WSU Vancouver in their estate planning.
What is your history with WSU Vancouver?
Mike: We now live in Vancouver, within two miles of the campus. Other than walks on the local campus, our first exposure to WSU Vancouver was looking for Cougar Gold Cheese for Christmas gifts.
Joni: We have volunteered the last couple of years at Wave the Flag for the first day of school to welcome new and returning students. The enthusiasm people have, waving and honking as they go by—you smile knowing you have brightened their day.
How did you become supporters?
Mike: It was a chance encounter. Last year we had the good fortune of sharing a corner with Nate Coston, director of development, during a not-so-busy time of day. Nate shared what he does at the university, I shared why WSU is so important to me, and we decided to talk a bit more about opportunities that we might be able to help with at the local level.
Why did you decide to donate to scholarships at WSU Vancouver?
Joni: Six of our seven adult children have college degrees; the seventh had a successful run as an Army Ranger. We were fortunate to be able to help our children get through college with little to no debt. We’d like to help make the college experience easier for some other people in our community.
Mike: I developed lots of lifelong relationships with people I met in Pullman. As we began estate planning, we talked about what was important to us beyond making sure that our grandchildren had access to a college education. Because WSU Vancouver is in our backyard, it seemed like a logical place where we might be able to make a difference. Our scholarship will support single parents or veterans majoring in hospitality business management.
What inspired you to make WSU Vancouver part of your estate plan?
Mike: We did a lot of brainstorming about how to help students who could have been us 40 years ago. What did we need then, what would have made a difference for us? WSU Vancouver has invited us to events to meet like-minded Cougs who want to see the Vancouver campus grow. We have felt welcomed in a community of our neighbors. It’s our goal to make someone’s college experience a little bit easier every year—starting this year with a smaller scholarship and leaving a substantial perpetual scholarship through estate planning.
What do you hope WSU Vancouver will accomplish in the near future?
Joni: We’d love to see more adults returning to school to finish degrees that were put off for a variety of reasons. I think we’d love to see opportunities for local area high school students to visit the campus and see what a great educational opportunity is available right here in Salmon Creek. Outreach to people who may not know how to navigate the process to return to school but have the desire is an area that needs to be explored and supported.
What would you tell other alumni/donors considering support of WSU Vancouver through their estate?
Mike: Look back on what valuable lessons you learned in college; how could your experience have been made different with a little bit of extra help from someone whom you didn’t know but who could make a difference in your education?
What is your fondest WSU memory?
Mike: Honestly, I have too many to list, I would say at the top of the list is going back for Dad’s Weekend with two of our sons who are also WSU graduates. The memories made are priceless. Sharing the experience of their college and fraternity years in the same places I went 20-some years before—it’s something extraordinary. I imagine there are a few grandchildren who will also find their way to Pullman, and then we will be three generations strong.
Joni: Walking on the campus for the first time and seeing the camaraderie with all the people who have gathered for a home football game—it’s as if being a Coug makes you an automatic member of a great group of people. I cannot tell you how many times we’ve heard “Go Cougs” while travelling with some Coug gear on. It’s not something I’ve seen with any of the other colleges our kids have attended.
Will you continue to engage with WSU/WSU Vancouver?
Both: Absolutely! We will continue to be wise stewards of our money; we will work to grow it in ways that will make sure not only our grandchildren have the opportunity to attend and thrive in a four-year college environment but will allow us to share these opportunities with others who may not have the family support our offspring have.