About Tanya Rowe

In 2018, WSPRA established an annual scholarship to honor the memory of our friend and colleague, Tanya Rowe. Tanya served as Executive Director of Communications in Bellingham Public Schools until she died unexpectedly in November 2017. Starting in 2022, the Learning and Liberty Award winner will receive the Tanya Rowe Scholarship. The scholarship provides $2,500 toward professional development to use at the discretion of the award winner. This may include attending the NSPRA Seminar or WSPRA Conferences, obtaining their APR or purchasing communication equipment such as a camera. The winner is required to report back to the WSPRA board how they chose to use the scholarship.

Tanya was born March 29, 1974 in Toledo, OH. Tanya attended Gesu Grade School and graduated from Central Catholic High School in Toledo, OH, in 1992. She earned a B.S. at Eastern Michigan University and an M.A. at Western Washington University. She worked as a reporter for the Bellingham Herald, was a lecturer in the Journalism Department at WWU, and later worked for Bellingham Public Schools in Administration. Her most precious gift was her son Benton and she adored her brother Brad. Tanya loved the outdoors, running, mountain biking, hiking, yoga, and writing. She enjoyed working with the teachers, staff, and students of Bellingham Public Schools.