News

Portland State University is honoring Gary Salyers with the Outstanding Alumnus Award tomorrow, May 4, 2004, at the 15th annual PSU Salutes ceremony. PSU Salutes takes place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at PSU's Smith Union Ballroom, Smith Memorial Student Union, room 355 (1825 SW Broadway).

PSU Salutes is the University's annual event recognizing and honoring outstanding PSU alumni, faculty and friends for their dedication and continued support of both the University and the Portland community.

The Outstanding Alumnus Award will be given to Gary Salyers in recognition of his visionary approach to education and his distinguished service career. Salyers worked for over 35 years in Oregon schools as an educator and an elementary school principal. He has held numerous offices and in 1985 was nominated Oregon Elementary Principal of the Year. Salyers was also the first Oregon principal to receive the National Distinguished Principal Award. On top of this, he has been a stalwart supporter of Portland State University throughout the years.

"Gary has proven over the years to be an outstanding leader and educator, a tireless worker in all educational endeavors," said Kelly Hood, president of the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators. "He is active in association business at the local, state, regional and national levels, while at the same time continuing to provide exemplary leadership to teachers, students and parents in his school."

Portland State University, Oregon's only urban university is the largest and most diverse in the state system. The University's position in Oregon's economic and cultural center allows for deep community engagement and the creation of partnerships with hundreds of organizations throughout the region-partnerships that give PSU students valuable learning opportunities as they solve real-world problems of business and community. Portland State offers more than 100 undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees, as well as graduate certificates and continuing education programs. PSU serves more students and confers more master's degrees annually than any other Oregon university.

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Release Number: 04-057