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Gonzaga University is a private catholic university located in Spokane, WA. Founded in 1887 by Father Joseph Cataldo, SJ, as an academy for local Native Americans, Gonzaga sits on over 150 acres along the Spokane River. The campus features over 105 buildings in a blended (but not contradictory) style of architecture. Spokane, known as the “Lilac City” celebrates the purple shrub with a Lilac Festival each May. It is a sister city to Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan and celebrates ‘Japan Week’ annually. The region is tech-savvy and forward-thinking in its economic base (clean/green energy and technology) having transitioned from traditional manufacturing and trade. Among its distinguished alumni, Gonzaga was the alma mater of Bing Crosby.