Celebrating 10 years of impact at the School of Business (un)GALA

On March 6, UW Bothell’s School of Business gathered alumni, students, faculty and community partners for a special milestone: the 10th annual (un)GALA. What began a decade ago as a deliberately unstuffy fundraiser has grown into a signature event.

This year’s celebration was both a look back and a look forward. Guests filled the Activities & Recreation Center on campus to reconnect, celebrate student success and invest in the future. By the end of the evening, the community had raised nearly $72,000 to support scholarships, experiential learning and high-impact opportunities for UW Bothell business students.

A centerpiece of the night was the presentation of three awards honoring individuals and organizations whose leadership and generosity have helped shape the School of Business and its students.

Alumni Philanthropy Award: George Lampe ’10

The Alumni Philanthropy Award recognizes an alumnus who exemplifies the spirit of paying it forward through sustained engagement, generosity and leadership.

This year’s recipient, George Lampe, earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from UW Bothell in 2010. Since graduating, Lampe has remained deeply connected to the School of Business — as a donor, mentor and member of the Business Advisory Board. His philanthropic support, including significant contributions to accounting scholarships, has helped ensure that today’s students have access to the same opportunities that once shaped his own career.

In accepting the award, Lampe spoke about the importance of the UW Bothell community and why giving back feels personal.

“The reason I stay engaged is pretty simple: I love this community. Every time I’m here, I’m surrounded by friends and people who genuinely care about lifting each other up.

“I was once a student here, and I benefited from this community,” he said. “I found this to be a safe, supportive place where I could get the resources, connections and confidence I needed to discover who I was and to start my career. Now it’s a privilege to come back and pay that forward.”

Business Partner of the Year: Cascade Asset Management

The Business Partner of the Year Award honors an organization that goes above and beyond in its engagement with the School of Business, creating meaningful opportunities for students through collaboration, sponsorship and shared investment.

This year’s award was presented to Cascade Asset Management, a long-standing partner and dedicated supporter of the School of Business. Over many years, Cascade has strengthened student learning, expanded professional pathways and consistently championed UW Bothell’s mission through philanthropy and leadership involvement.

The award was accepted by Kristie Duffin, head of technology at the company, who highlighted the alignment between Cascade’s values and the school’s focus on people and community.

“Supporting the UW Bothell School of Business has always felt like a natural extension of Cascade’s values: investing in people, investing in education and investing in the community for the long haul,” she said. “We’re grateful for the relationship and feel it’s a privilege to be part of this group.”

Distinguished Impact Award: Ron Tilden

To mark the (un)GALA’s 10th anniversary, the School of Business introduced a new honor: the UW Bothell School of Business Distinguished Impact Award, recognizing sustained, transformational contributions to the school and its students.

The inaugural recipient was Ron Tilden, senior lecturer emeritus, whose influence on the School of Business spans nearly two decades. Tilden played a foundational role in launching and growing UW Bothell’s accounting program, mentoring countless students along the way. Together with his wife, Gail, they also established an endowed scholarship that continues to open doors for future business leaders.

Rather than focusing on his own achievements, Tilden used his remarks to celebrate the students who define the program’s legacy.

“What amazed me was watching what happened when we took a solid accounting education and layered it on top of our students’ grit, integrity and work ethic,” he said. “Those students went into the workforce and made an immediate impact.

“That’s exactly what a business school should do — enhance the economic vitality of its community.”

A community making impact possible

As the evening ended, one message was clear: The success of UW Bothell’s School of Business is inseparable from the people who believe in it. From alumni and donors to corporate partners and volunteers, the (un)GALA highlighted what’s possible when a community joins together around students.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this milestone evening possible. If you’d like to support the next generation of business leaders, consider a gift to the School of Business Excellence Fund.