WSU expands Crawford Distinguished Stewardship Award and celebrates recipients

OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University has expanded one of its most prestigious awards for multicultural graduate students. 

Six outstanding students were awarded the Forrest C. Crawford Distinguished Stewardship Award for 2022-23, earning a gift of $1,000 and financial support for their final year of school to help them earn their degree. The expansion of the award and additional financial support is new this year, thanks to donor contributions.

“It has been my goal to encourage undergraduate support towards graduation and completion,” said Michiko Nakashima-Lizarazo, Center for Multicultural Excellence director. “The natural progression is for undergraduates to pursue graduate level work where our center has established a support system that includes mentoring, recognition, and financial assistance. With the incredible support of our donors these students will continue to contribute to our communities by having advanced their degree.”

The outstanding award recipients have completed their education in a manner consistent with good practice, improved processes, leadership roles and supported civic engagement and multiculturalism with direct impacts on the WSU campus or community.

This year’s honorees are:

  • Cesar Castro, candidate for the degree of Master of Professional Communication

  • Killupintu Garrison, candidate for the degree of Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership

  • Kathleen Nuñez, candidate for the degree of Master of Accounting

  • Callie Oyama, candidate for the degree of Master of Professional Communication

  • Bessie Pettigrew, candidate for the degree of Master of Education in Higher Education

  • Anna Robbins, Master of Professional Communication, graduated April 2022

Established in 2013, the Dr. Forrest C. Crawford Distinguished Stewardship Award honors Dr. Forrest Crawford, the former WSU assistant to the president for institutional diversity and a retired teacher education professor. The award reflects Crawford’s commitment, energy and leadership, especially in regard to diversity initiatives.

To learn more about how to give to this and other scholarship funds at Weber State University, visit www.give.weber.edu.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.

Author:

Kennedy Jones, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7948 • kennedyjones1@weber.edu 

Contact:

Michiko Nakashima-Lizarazo, Center for Multicultural Excellence Director 
801-626-7330 • mnakashima@weber.edu