South Sound couple recognized with WSU alumni award

Two Shelton residents have been honored by Washington State University Alumni Association for service to their community, state and WSU.

Michael and Virginia Jessemey McCarty received the WSUAA Alumni Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the alumni association, according to a news release.

“We feel very honored,” Virginia McCarty said. “What I appreciate about WSU is when you run into a Cougar, everyone is connected.”

Michael McCarty recently retired as chief executive officer of the Association of Washington Cities. Virginia McCarty is the owner of McCarty & Associates marketing firm, which she founded in 1986.

They are lifetime members of the WSUAA and they created the Jessemey/McCarty Family Scholarship in WSU’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.

Michael McCarty has been manager of the Thurston Conservation District, administrator for the city of Shelton, past president of the Washington City Management Association and board member for the National League of Cities. He was appointed by former Gov. Chris Gregoire to a select committee on the state budget and was invited to be part of a state delegation that met with President Barack Obama and his cabinet.

Virginia McCarty is founder and owner of the event center Events at 16 Maples. She has worked for WSU Athletics sports information, Sunkist Inc. and Swimming World magazine. She is a founding member of the Centennial Guild to support Mason General Hospital in Shelton and was a 2006 recipient of the American Business Women's Award presented by the hospital foundation.

She is a member of the professional advisory board for WSU’s Murrow College and mentors students and graduates.

“We always believe in giving back,” McCarty said. She said their college and their community “are what made us what we are.”

This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 1:19 PM with the headline "South Sound couple recognized with WSU alumni award."