On Apr. 3, 1882, Eastern Washington University (EWU) was founded. Originally named Benjamin P. Cheney Academy for the wealthy transportation industrialist and founder of the American Express Company, who contributed $10,000 to found the school.

EWU is now a regional, comprehensive public university located in Cheney with programs also offered in Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Seattle, Shoreline, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver and Yakima. EWU has offered biotechnology courses emphasizing on the job training since 1983, and has spun-off several biotechnolgy and medical device companies based on EWU technology.