Deb Bowen has been named the 2011-12 Outstanding Alumna of Columbia Basin College.

Bowen has been the executive director of Junior Achievement of the Greater Tri-Cities for 15 years.

The program serves 10,000 students annually in 11 school districts, private schools and other organizations.

Bowen is a 1976 CBC graduate. She is a founding member and longtime board member of the International Children's Reading Foundation. She received the Crystal Apple award for dedication and service to education. She also established the Junior Achievement of Greater Tri-Cities Endowment, which so far has collected more than $600,000.

Bowen earned her bachelor's in business administration from Central Washington University and her master's in business administration from the University of Washington.