Helen Sommers: An Oral History

UW honors Rep. Helen Sommers with Regents Medal
UW honors
Rep. Helen
Sommers
with Regents
Medal
The University of Washington - Board
of Regents, by unanimous vote last month,
presented Rep. Helen Sommers with the
first Regents Medal ever bestowed by the
university, for exceptional accomplishments
over her 36 years in the state legislature.
Sommers, who is retiring from office
after a 36-year career in the House, is an
alumna of the UW with bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in Economics.
The Regent’s resolution said Sommers’
“leadership in the House of Representatives
has been of immense benefit
to the citizens of the state, particularly
the impact her leadership has had over
many years in expanding higher educational
opportunities and ensuring the
well-being of the state’s public higher
education institutions.”
The resolution noted the 36th District
legislator’s accomplishments included
“development of a stable, well-funded
pension system for Washington’s public
employees; creation of the state’s system
of branch campuses to expand access
pg. 231
to higher education opportunities; and,
support for state funding of university
research, particularly the University
of Washington’s advanced technology
initiatives.”
The resolution also stated, “The
University of Washington is indebted
to her for her vision, leadership, wise
counsel and steadfast commitment to
excellence in all the University does in
providing high quality educational and
research programs to benefit the State
of Washington.”
The Regents Medal is an award that
will be given from time to time by the
Regents of the University of Washington
to recognize outstanding and exceptional
accomplishment by an individual or
organization, particularly in service to
humanity, a community, or to the UW
itself.
Congratulations to Rep. Helen Sommers
for this award and also for her
outstanding legislative career.