UWAA service award honors Desert Scholarship Patrons Committee
Front row, left to right: Patty Kulberg, Kay deMars, Kay Larson, Back row, left to right: Cheryl Johnsen, Jan Johnsen, Isa Nelson, Beth McKinnon, Joyce Gibb, Carole Johnson, Gail Richards, Deb Crump, Pat Moriarity, Sandy Dyer. Not pictured: Christy Austin, Dorothy Byers*, Linda Carson, Chris Clawson, Sheila Cushen*, Lori Albert Gonzales, Kathy Hodge, Margaret Kelso, Carol Linblad*, Marilyn Metz, Roberta Moore*, Sarah Phillips.
*deceased
Dawg Days in the Desert is a popular, long-running UW Alumni Association tradition that celebrates everything Husky in the Palm Springs area every March. For the past 18 years, one of the most impactful programs of this glorious purple-and-gold celebration has been the Desert Scholarship Luncheon.
The Desert Scholarship Patrons Committee—led by current committee chairwoman Kay deMars and founding committee chairwoman Kay Larson—has dedicated much of its time to advocating for and philanthropically supporting scholarships for UW students. The planning committee is composed of 19 stalwart female ambassadors, many of whom are in their eighth decade and have been long-standing UWAA volunteers and supporters since the 1950s.
The committee has worked throughout the year to prepare for and deliver this treasured Dawg Days in the Desert springtime event, which features a silent auction and access to compelling University content and speakers.
After nearly two decades of delivering the Desert Scholarship Luncheon and raising almost $500,000 for their endowment, these incredible leaders have decided to sunset this tradition and pass the baton to the next generation of volunteer leaders and programming aspirations.
At right are the members of the Desert Scholarship Patrons Committee, who created an incredible legacy of dedication for fundraising to support UW students:
This honor from the UW Alumni Association recognizes extraordinary volunteer leadership within the UWAA and those who embody the UW’s values and public service mission.