Eastmont Foundation

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The Eastmont Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization through the IRS and the State of Washington.

There are a number of ways you can make a gift to the Eastmont Foundation, including:

Mail in Cash, Check, or Money Order payable to:

Eastmont Foundation
c/o Eastmont Administration Office
800 Eastmont Avenue
East Wenatchee, WA 98802

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Select Community Rewards and then search for: Eastmont Foundation.

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Gifts of Stock

Gifts of marketable stocks or mutual fund shares that have appreciated can have an immediate impact on a program or school within the district while creating a favorable income tax deduction for you based on the assets' current value.

Gift Planning

Planned gifts or estate gifts are an effective way to manage your affairs, plan for the future, and make a meaningful gift to the Eastmont Foundation. Common gift planning strategies include bequests, charitable gift annuities or remainder trusts, donor advised funds, gifts of life insurance, or real property. Many gift planning strategies can provide a reliable source of income and/or tax benefits for the donor. The Eastmont Foundation would be willing to help decide what option would work best for you. Please call for more info.

Creating an Endowment

An endowment establishes a fund managed by the Eastmont Foundation, which provides perpetual, annual support for the Eastmont Foundation. For as little as $25,000, an endowed fund may be established to support a school program, athletic program or initiative of your choosing.

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Board of Directors

2023 Distinguished Alumnus: Dr. Alder Keleman Saxena, Class of 1998

Dr. Alder Keleman Saxena

EHS Class of 1998

The Eastmont Foundation is proud to announce Dr. Alder Keleman Saxena, Eastmont High School Class of 1998, as the Distinguished Alumnus for 2023.

While attending EHS, Alder was a member of National Honor Society, Knowledge Bowl, Yearbook Staff, Women’s Swim team, National Merit Scholar, Academic Top Ten, and a Valedictorian.

After high school, Alder attended Scripps College in Claremont, CA. She spent 2 semesters abroad - 1 in Chile and 1 in London and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Latin American Studies. She was awarded the Thomas J Watson Fellowship.

In 2003, Alder began her graduate studies at Yale. Her field research was conducted near Almos, Mexico where she examined the production of maize and associated crops. She completed 2 Masters degrees from Yale - Masters of Science in Forestry and Environmental Science and Masters of Arts in International Relations in 2006. She was awarded the Mickey Leland fellowship and a Yale Fox International Fellowship and spent 2 years living and working in Mexico, expanding her research to Central Mexico and Chiapas and then 1 year with the UN-Food and Agricultural Organization in Rome.

She began her doctorate work and research in the highlands of Bolivia in 2009 focusing on local cultures and traditional crop production in rural communities. Alder completed her Ph.D. from Yale University in 2017 in Environmental Anthropology. She has conducted post-doctoral research and lectured and taught at Aarhus University in Denmark and Yale NUS College in Singapore. Alder is currently an Assistant Professor of Environmental Anthropology and Sustainable Food Systems at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona. Her research is focused on local cultures and traditional crop production in rural communities mainly in Mexico and Bolivia.

Alder has been awarded NUMEROUS grants and prestigious awards. She has also authored and co-authored over 50 academic papers, book chapters, and other articles. She is married to Dr. Alark Saxena (also an Assistant Professor at Northern Arizona University, School of Forestry) and has 2 children. She was nominated by her parents, Bruce and Karen Keleman.

Past Distinguished Alumni Recipients

2022 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Colonel Sarah S. (Droz) Babbitt
EHS Class of 1996

The Eastmont Foundation is proud to announce Colonel Sarah Babbitt, Eastmont High School Class of 1996, as the Distinguished Alumnus for 2022.

While attending EHS, Sarah was active in Future Community Leaders and served as Treasurer. She was also a 1996 Apple Blossom Top Ten Royalty Candidate. She graduated from Washington State University in 2000 with a degree in Criminal Justice and was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program. After 911, Sarah was among the first military personnel deployed in late September 2001 to Seeb Air Base in Muscat, Oman, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Colonel Babbitt also attended the prestigious Naval War College in Newport, RI and has also achieved two Masters of Arts degrees and a Master of Science in National Security Studies.

Colonel Babbitt’s resume is extensive and impressive. Her commands have taken her to Texas, Arizona, South Korea, Utah, Guam, and even to Pullman, WA, to serve as a Unit Admissions Officer and Commandant of Cadets for their Air Force ROTC program.

In July of 2015, Colonel Babbitt took command of the 18th Security Forces Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. Comprised of 450 Security Forces personnel, it is the largest conventional Security Forces Squadron in the world and the largest combat wing in the Air Force. Since July of 2017, she has been stationed at the Pentagon, serving as Executive Assistant to the J-5 Chief of Staff, Deputy Executive Assistant to the Director, Joint Staff, and for two years as Chief, Operations and Training Division, Security Forces Directorate, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon.

As of May 24, 2022, Sarah will be assuming a Security Forces command position at Peterson Space Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, CO.

Colonel Babbitt’s award was accepted on her behalf by her mother, Susan Droz Rankin, at a small ceremony in early June to be held at the Eastmont Administration Office Board Room.

2021 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Luke D. Davies, MPH
EHS Class of 2005

Eastmont Foundation proudly announces Luke Davies, Eastmont High School Class of 2005, as the Distinguished Alumnus for 2021.

Luke returned to the Wenatchee Valley in January when he took over the position of Administrator of Chelan-Douglas Health Department. He is the youngest person in our state to serve in this position and comes in at a time of intense transition with COVID-19.

He grew up in Orondo, Washington. While attending Eastmont High School, Luke was active in Sports Medicine and held the office of student president of the Washington Career and Technical Sports Medicine Association (WCTSMA) and was a member of the Varsity Cross Country, Track and Wrestling teams.

Luke’s experience growing up with migrant workers in North Central Washington inspired him to pursue his studies in public health to address and reduce disparities in health. He received a Bachelors in Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Seattle Pacific University. Then he earned a Master’s in Public Health in Leadership, Policy, and Management from the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington. He has over 10 years of experience providing coordination, program management, and monitoring and evaluation to build the capacity of indigenous and international partner organizations to provide services to underserved communities. His involvement includes a wide variety of local and international programs including community development, disaster management, medical education, health systems strengthening, implementation science, violence against children, gender-based violence, maternal and child health, national health surveys and mass vaccinations. He has supported work across countries in the Caribbean, South-East Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa as well as here in Washington State.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions for the EHS Graduation Ceremony, Luke will be presented with his Distinguished Alumnus award during a private ceremony later this month.

2019 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Ms. Julie Stimpson-Lewis
EHS Class of 1976

Eastmont Foundation proudly announces Julie Stimpson-Lewis, Eastmont High School Class of 1976, as the Distinguished Alumnus for 2019.

While attending EHS, Julie was active in drill team and served as Co-Captain her senior year. She then went on to attend the University of Washington where she received her Bachelors degree in Biology Education and Earth Sciences. She completed her graduate work at Western Washington University.

Julie’s story really begins in 1984 when she gave birth to her first daughter, Teresa. Due to a complicated pregnancy, she required a blood transfusion and became infected with HIV. When she was finally diagnosed in 1990, she was given only a few years to live. By that time, she had already given birth to two other children, Laura and Ryan, who both had a 25% chance of being born HIV+. They were both extremely fortunate to not be infected with the virus.

After her diagnosis, Julie spent 10 years in the public sector, working with the Spokane Regional Health District and the Spokane AIDS network.

Thanks to advanced medicine and healthcare available here in the U.S., Julie has lived despite her odds. 30 years later, in 2014, Julie had outlived her prognosis. Wanting to find a way to celebrate her amazing journey and use her passion for community health, she launched the 30/30 Project with the support of her family. The project aims to build 30 health centers around the world that will operate for at least 30 years.

To date, the 30/30 Project, in partnership with Construction for Change, have completed 18 facilities in 9 countries, across four continents with 10 under construction. These facilities provide access to quality, affordable healthcare to those who need it most – other women, girls and families who haven’t had the same access to healthcare that Julie had.

Some of these projects include:

BABES Network/YWCA: 1 project, Seattle, WA
Dandelion Africa: 1 project, Kenya
Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC): 1 project in Bududa District, Uganda
Health Builders: 1 project in Rwanda
Integrate Health (formerly Hope Through Health): 5 projects in Kara Region, Togo, West Africa
Kizimani: 1 project in Kangundo, Kenya
Matibabu: 1 project in Kenya
Med25 International: 2 projects in Mbita, Kenya
Ndlovu Care Group: 1 project in Limpopo, South Africa
Optimize Health: 1 project in Madhya Pradesh, India
Partners in Health: 2 projects Nsambe, Malawi and Neno district, Malawi
World Relief: 1 project in Kent, Washington

Julie was the 2015 recipient of the Nelson Mandela Changemaker Award, presented by the Africa Rising Foundation, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and PTTOW (Plan To Take On the World).

2018 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Mr. Dennis Michel
EHS Class of 1971

Mr. Dennis Michel is a graduate of the Class of 1971. While attending EHS, Dennis was a member of the Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble and the “by invitation only” ALL Northwest Orchestra. His 8th grade band teacher stated that he “already played the bassoon like a professional".

Dennis holds degrees from Eastern Washington University and Yale University. His principal teachers include Wendal Jones and Arthur Weiseberg. In 1996, he was the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship for advanced study at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, where he studied with Milan Turkovic. During this time, he also performed with the Vienna State Opera.

Currently, Dennis is second bassoonist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Chicago Chamber Musicians. He serves as head of woodwinds at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Since 1988, he has spent his summers teaching and performing at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. He previously held the position of Principal bassoonist of the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Opera. He was also the founding member of the Arioso Wind Quintet.

Dennis has also performed with the Da Camera Society of Houston, on the chamber series at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and numerous summer festivals including Tanglewood, the Bard Festival in New York and Summerfest La Jolla where he was a featured artist for 10 seasons.

He lives in Oak Park with his wife Peggy, an active freelance oboist and teacher. He was honored during Eastmont Senior High School’s graduation ceremonies on June 8, 2018.

Information taken from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra webpage.
Photo credit: Todd Rosenberg

2017 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Dr. Christy McKinney, PhD
EHS Class of 1987

After graduation, Christy attended the University of Washington, became a Peace Corp volunteer in Ethiopia from 1997-99, received her Masters of Public Health from Tulane University in 2002, and then completed her formal education with a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Washington in 2006.

Christy is currently an Associate Professor in the Division of Craniofacial Medicine, Department of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine at the University of Washington. She is also an investigator in Seattle Children’s Research Institute’s Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, and part of the Seattle Children’s Hospital Craniofacial Center.

Her research interests are focused on craniofacial, oral, and nutritional health in young children. Dr. McKinney currently studies the unique intersection of oral clefts, maternal nutrition, infant feeding and global health. She spearheaded the development of the NIFTY cup - an infant feeding cup for infants with breastfeeding difficulties such as infants with oral clefts and preterm infants in low resource settings - with a team of multidisciplinary experts from Seattle Children’s, PATH, the University of Washington and Laerdal Global Health. Her global research collaborations involve partners in Thailand, India and Ghana.

Dr. McKinney’s current work also includes pediatric dental research. She is the primary investigator of a grant from the National Institutes of Health investigating the extent to which children are exposed to the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) during dental treatment. She is also involved in studies that employ innovative dentist-based approaches to establishing lifelong dental care practices in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

An active mentor for junior faculty, Dr. McKinney is the Associate Director of the Institute of Translational Sciences (ITHS) KL2 Career Development program, which trains KL2 Scholars through weekly seminars and small group sessions. She is also the Director of the six-week Summer Institute in Clinical Dental Research Methods in the University of Washington, School of Dentistry, which trains junior faculty from around the world.

Regarding her education from Eastmont High School, Dr. McKinney states:
Eastmont High School generously hosted several exchange students when I was in high school. Getting to know them inspired me to spend a year as a Rotary International Exchange Student in Nigeria the year after high school. I had a marvelous time. This transformative experience led me to spend two years volunteering in the U.S. Peace Corps in Ethiopia after college. It was in Ethiopia that I decided to pursue a career in public health.

When asked what her advice to graduating seniors would be, Dr. McKinney had this to say:
Persist. No matter the career path you choose, persistence and kindness will take you farther than you can imagine. I would have never guessed that I would end up as a health researcher and professor while I was in high school. Follow what makes good sense to you and who you are, even if you are not initially entirely clear where it will lead you.

Dr. McKinney was nominated by long-time family friend, Pat Malone. She is the daughter of Leon (former band instructor at Eastmont High School) and Bonnie McKinney. Dr. McKinney is married to Dr. Lance Young, an ER physician in the Seattle area.

2016 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Lt. Colonel William "Bill" C. Taylor, US Army
EHS Class of 1995

After graduating from EHS in 1995, Bill attended West Point Military Academy and graduated 4th in his class in 2000. He has received multiple military honors including the Commendation Medal with Valor for Heroism in Combat, Meritorious Service and the Bronze Star. Bill has earned two masters degrees and served on the faculty of West Point as an assistant professor of U.S. Foreign Policy, American Politics and Political Analysis.

In his spare time, he has published several works including the book "Military Responses to Arab Uprisings and the Future of Civil-Military Relations in the Middle East: Analysis from Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria." On June 1, 2016, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He with his wife and two children are preparing for his new assignment as a Middle East Intelligence Analyst at Central Command in Tampa, Florida.

2015 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Lori Andre-Van Lith
EHS Class of 1994

Lori was a honor society graduate and attended Eastmont schools since kindergarten starting at Grant Elementary, Sterling Intermediate School and Eastmont Junior High School. During her years as an Eastmont student, she had the privilege of many great and influential teachers, coaches, counselors and principals that gave her many positive life skills.

Throughout her four years of lettering in high school swimming, she was a leader in encouraging the other team members, a leader in team spirit, and a leader in the state swim competition every year.

Currently, Lori has her own mental health counseling service in Wenatchee. She has helped many students and adults in our valley. She was instrumental in the Suicide Coalition going forward in our valley and has made life changing differences for many students.

Lori has been facilitating a state funded, research-based group for moderate to high risk youth at Chelan County Juvenile Justice Center for 12 years. She teaches social skills, anger management, and moral reasoning to help these youth make better decisions and gain personal power and skills to be successful at home, in school, in our community, and in life. She has been influential in reducing recidivism in Chelan County.

Information collected from The Scratching Post Graduation edition.

2014 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Mr. Jeff Mason
EHS Class of 1989

Jeff Mason, Class of 1989, holds a Bachelors of Science in Physics from Seattle Pacific University 1994. He has been a teacher at Newport High School in Belleuve, Washington from 1994 to present.

He works with the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club each year to improve education and literacy in impoverished countries by delivering and installing computes and computer network systems with the assistance of 14 high school students. Jeff and his team of Cisco Networking Academy students have traveled to Slovakia, Turkey and Anitgua 2004 to present..

Jeff was Bellevue School District's Career & Technical Educator of the Year in 2006 and was University of Washington Computer Science and Engineering Inspirational Teacher in 2012. His students have also won numerous national Cisco NetRiders IT Skills competitions..

Jeff is married (Christi) and has two sons (Luke and Sam) and his father, Ron, is a retired Eastmont High School Science teacher.

2012 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS - FIRST YEAR OF THE AWARD

Donna Doud Wright
EHS Class of 1958

This plaque is not going in a box in an attic. On the same day that the Eastmont High School class of 2012 received their diplomas, Donna Doud Wright, a mbmer of the first EHS graduating class of 1958, received the first Eastmont Foundation's Distinguished Alumnus Award from Dr. Garn Christensen.

"That will go in a special place for sure," said Wright, who has lived a highly-decorated life. "I'm of a generation that loves certificates. My wall is covered with certificates of appreciation and things that I've done. I'm pretty proud of my wall full of certificates and plaques."

Julie Kuntz, Eastmont Foundation Alumni Committee Chairperson, was instrumental in Wright's selection. "It's a real honor and a real surpise because there were 104 in our graduating class," Wright said. "What made me distinguished? Some of the members of our class were pretty dinstinguished, I think, so I'm humbled and honored to receive this."

In her letter to Superintendent Christensen, Kuntz wrote: "I felt very strongly that the first recipient of this prestigious award should go to a member of the first graduating class of Eastmont Senior High School...The majority of our EHS traditions began with this group of students. As a fellow alumnus of EHS, I am grateful for their legacy."

Among the traditions that the class of '58 was able to choose were the school colors, the wildcat mascot, and the fight song. "Probably as 16, 17-year old young people, we probably didn't realize the depth of it," Wright said. "It was exciting...I was glad to be part of the school."

Wright was more than just a part; she completely immersed herself in Wildcat pride and extra curricular activities. Wright was the layout editor for the Emo Echo yearbook and exchange editor for the Wild Chat school newspaper. She was also a member of Music Makers, Girls League, Honor Society, EHS Drill Team, Assembly Club, Pep Club, and Future Homemakers of America. She also particpated in music, drama, and ASB.

As she reflected on her award and her time during EHS's budding years, she pondered over what 'distinguished' means. I've had a lot of opportunities to meet a lot of people," Wright said. "I may not be the most distinguished person, but I have touched a lot of distinguished people over my lifetime, so that might make me a distinguished person."

Article was written by Matthew Ockinga and printed in the Eastmont School District's Newsletter Eastmont Focus in June 2012.

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