WICHE’s anniversary celebration in Washington took place on Higher Education Day, March 26, 2003, at the State Capitol Campus in Olympia.

Some 150 guests attended the reception, including the presidents of every one of the state’s four-year institutions, as well as many of their trustees and regents. In addition, many members of the Senate and House committees on higher education were able to attend.

Brief remarks by state WICHE commissioners Marc Gaspard and Sen. Don Carlson were followed by a presentation by Executive Director David Longanecker. After the WICHE event, which was catered by the high school students from the state’s New Market Vocational Skills Center, most of the guests went to a Higher Education Day reception at the governor's mansion.

^ Sen. Don Carlson and members of Washington Student Lobby

^ Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board members: Marc Gaspard (executive director), Bob Craves (chair)

^ WICHE Commissioners Deb Merle and Marcus Gaspard

    

^ David Longanecker (WICHE Executive Director), Lee Huntsman (Interim President of University of Washington)
    

^ Sen. Don Carlson (WA), David Longanecker (WICHE), Lee Thompson (UW Dir of Gov Relations), Bob Craves (Chair HEC board)