Eastern Oregon University graduate

Eastern Oregon University graduate

CIRI descendant Whitney Leman graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a bachelor’s degree in media arts and a minor in business on June 15. In high school, she was an outstanding 2A Alaskan high school basketball player for the Ninilchik Lady Wolverines from 1999 to 2003, earning First Team All State honors and State All Tourney Team honors all four years. She was the first Alaskan female basketball player (in any division) to earn Player of the Year for three consecutive years. In her senior year she was an Alaska State finalist for the Wendy’s Heisman award and a nominee for the McDonald’s All American Team. Whitney played for the University of Alaska Anchorage and helped them to win the Great Alaska Shootout in 2003 and was named “Player of the Game.” She transferred to Eastern Oregon University and played with the Mountaineers, helping them to win two Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships in 2006 and 2007. The next year she ruptured her Achilles tendon, ending her career but was still able to travel with her team as an injured player. Whitney plans to return to Anchorage to live and work. Whitney is the daughter of CIRI shareholders Dan and Jamie Leman of Ninilchik, Alaska.