WSU News Archive

By Jud Preece, WSU Alumni Association

PULLMAN, Wash. – A total of 3,452 newly designed, all-crimson, Washington State University vehicle license plates – including 2,760 purchased by first-time WSU plate owners – have hit the road since the Department of Licensing began issuing the plates on Jan. 23.

Jud Preece, senior associate director of the WSU Alumni Association, said sales of the new Cougar plates prompted a 20 percent increase in the total number of Cougar plates issued in just 12 weeks, raising close to $80,000 in additional scholarship support for WSU students.

"The Department of Licensing reports demand for the new crimson plate is ‘off the chart,’” said Preece. "There’s no doubt Cougs love their crimson. And with spring graduation coming up, there’s no better graduation gift to give a brand new Coug alum.”

Inspired by the design of WSU’s "Ol’ Crimson” flag, the new plate features silvery-white WSU Cougar logo and lettering on a solid crimson plate. It is available at an initial cost of $40, plus regular vehicle registration fees and cost an additional $30 annually thereafter. Check your local DOL office for exact fees.

A full $28 of each Cougar plate fee is returned to the university each year as a tax-deductible donation to the WSU scholarship fund. In 2011, such personalized plate sales generated approximately $350,000 to fund student scholarships for WSU students. Preece said the WSU plate is the state’s number 1 selling organizational plate. More Cougar plates have been sold, which is more than the combined number of special design plates issued on behalf of all of our other public universities in Washington.

Vehicle owners do not have to wait until their license comes up for renewal before ordering the new WSU plate, which is also available for motorcycles. The Cougar license plate application can be downloaded from the Department of Licensing website at http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420499.pdf. The completed application can then be mailed or faxed back to the department or simply taken directly to a local vehicle licensing office. Personalized WSU logo plates are also available through the DOL website HERE.

Drivers who wish to receive gift credit from the University for their Plate Donation can visit alumni.wsu.edu/license or call the WSU Foundation at 1-800-448-2978.

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