WSU News Service

Sandra Thomas transferred to Washington State University as a part-time Distance Degree Programs student in the fall of 1999 while maintaining a busy schedule as a mother, wife, political advocate and philanthropist.

While Thomas was a student, she served for two years with the Superintendent’s office in the Bellingham School District on the Parent Advisory Council. She was the Staff Appreciation chair for three years at Bellingham High School. Thomas is also a School Buddy mentor for a fourth-grade student through the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Program.

Thomas has been an advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at the state and federal level.

As part of her studies, Thomas completed an internship with Rep. Rick Larsen, (D-Wash.). Luke Loeffler, her supervisor, said “what made Sandy’s time with us exceptional was the amount she was able to give back to both the office and our constituents.”

Thomas is a member of the WSU Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society. She and her husband, a 1987 WSU grad, are season ticket holders for football, and men’s and women’s basketball games. Doug Thomas is also the president of the Greek Alumni Organization and is on the Board of Governors for WSU advocacy and fundraising. The couple has also endowed a student athlete scholarship for members of a fraternity or sorority at WSU.

After countless evenings spent studying together, Thomas feels she and her daughter, who will be attending WSU in the fall, have influenced each other academically. Earning her degree was a personal goal and she is excited to come to WSU for graduation. Thomas is looking forward to hanging her degree on the wall, next to her husband’s.

Her extraordinary academic achievements and community involvement and leadership allowed Thomas to become the first DDP student to receive the WSU President’s Award in 2009.