2022 Alumni Award Recipients

Dr. Peggy Anderson

Parade Grand Marshal

Peggy Anderson grew up in Portland, Oregon. She attended Woodrow Wilson High School where she lettered in golf and tennis. Peggy earned her Bachelor’s Degree at the College of Idaho where she participated in field hockey. After earning her Master’s Degree at the University of Oregon, Peggy was an assistant professor at Eastern from 1963 to 1972 where she started and coached the Women’s Basketball, Field Hockey, Volleyball, and Track and Field teams. 

Thanks to her leadership, in 1965 Eastern began competing in what became the Northwest College Women’s Sports Association. To accommodate the large number of women interested in playing volleyball, Peggy organized and coached three teams—each competing at a different level. The 1969 Eastern’s Volleyball “B” Team placed first in the NCWSA “B” Tournament. In 1971, Peggy’s last year coaching at Eastern the record for the college’s three Women’s Volleyball teams was 48-8. 

While completing her Doctorate in Exercise Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Peggy was offered a faculty position at the University of Arizona where she coached the women’s field hockey club team and started the Women’s Cross Country and Women’s Track and Field Programs. In 1981 she accepted a faculty position at New Mexico Highlands University where she developed the University’s Sports Performance Laboratory. 

In 1986 Peggy returned to Eastern as Athletic Director and Professor of Physical Education. She retired as Athletic Director in 2001 and as Professor of Physical Education in 2006. Peggy now lives in Vancouver, WA where she hikes, bikes and kayaks. 

Doctor Abio Ayeliya

Distinguished Alumnus

Doctor Abio Ayeliya is the Chief Executive Director and founder of Sabu Help International, a nonprofit organization that is focused on eliminating poverty and transforming lives through microloans, training and education in Africa. Doctor’s passion in education has led him to work in higher education for over fourteen years. He now works at Mt. Hood Community College as the Director for the Office of Student Life and Civic Engagement. Doctor Ayeliya provides consultation services for businesses, colleges, and NGOs.  

His main goal in life is to empower people so they can live a dignified life. Doctor holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern Oregon University, and a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from The University of Utah.

In his personal time, he enjoys playing soccer, hiking, biking and spending time with family and friends. He is married to his beautiful wife Andrea and has three kids and is now enjoying living in Oregon once again.  

Anne Hanford Olson & Marcia Hanford Loney, ’73

Dixie Lund Service Award

Anne Hanford Olson and Marcia Hanford Loney,‘73

Anne and Marcia grew up in the home which once stood at the opposite end of Ninth Street from EOU’s Grand Staircase. Each school day, the sisters climbed the staircase to attend JH Ackerman Laboratory School. They loved the beautiful staircase, their school, their teachers, and the many student teachers who practiced their new craft at Ackerman. 

Both sisters went on to graduate from La Grande High School. Anne then earned a Bachelor of Science in nutrition from Oregon State University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota followed by a long career in county and state public health. Marcia attended EOU (then EOC), once again climbing the staircase to reach campus. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English and spent her working years first in training and development/HR and later teaching ESL to people around the world.

The “college steps” have always held a special place in Anne and Marcia’s hearts. After retirement they began the Friends of the Grand Staircase effort, working with the university and many others to save this beloved architectural treasure.