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06/17/09

T.R. GratzT. R. Gratz named to college admin position
A 15-year veteran of the Centralia College faculty has been named Interim Dean of Instruction for Academic Transfer.  T. R. Gratz, the former director of the college's long-running and award-winning "blue&gold" student newspaper, will assume his post July 1.

A 2000 "Exceptional Faculty" award recipient, Gratz has been the college's journalism instructor and has taught English at the college since his arrival in 1994. Under his leadership the "blue&gold" was a perennial award-winning publication as judged against other two-year college student newspapers throughout a multi-state region. Gratz recently moved the student newspaper publication to an Internet-only digital newspaper to increase accessibility and provide readers with instant access to college news. The move to an electronic platform, however, was already on Gratz's agenda as a means of teaching students the systems they will need for electronic publications and for strictly-Web-based news and information delivery systems.

In making the announcement, John Martens—college vice president for Instruction—noted Gratz has a strong academic background, a commitment to the college, and demonstrated leadership skills. The college will continue publishing the "blue&gold."

06/17/09
Summer quarter starts June 22
Summer quarter at Centralia College begins on Monday, June 22, giving many students the opportunity to get the skills they need to increase their employability. Students looking to start or continue their journey toward a four-year degree may use the summer quarter to help them reach that goal and do so at a lower cost. Enrollment is now underway and will continue through Monday. Late registrations may be accepted through Thursday, June 25.

Despite potential record high summer enrollment, college administrators say many classes still have room for those who sign up soon. "We've tried to anticipate a larger number of students who need advanced career or technical training," said Dr. Jim Walton, college president. "Economists say employment numbers aren't expected to rise until late spring or early summer next year, and we felt summer was an ideal time to let unemployed or underemployed people get a head start for better results when the jobs do come back."

Among the classroom subjects available for summer quarter are: accounting, health care, business and business office technology, criminal justice, nursing assistant, welding, and others. Many academic courses are open for summer enrollees.

There is a wide range of online classes available. The summer quarter online classes run from June 25 through August 17. Students at Centralia College or Centralia College East may register online or in person at the Enrollment Services office. For further information call Centralia College at 736-9391, ext. 221, or Centralia College East in Morton at 496-5022.

06/12/09
College offers homebuyer assistance class
Home ownership can be a source of financial security but for some the home buying process can be daunting and a financial drain. Centralia College is offering a series of Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) homebuyer seminars that can open the door to financial packages that make purchasing a home more feasible.

There is no charge for the class and anyone currently planning to purchase a home is encouraged to attend. Homebuyers who complete this class may qualify for the $8,000 tax credit plus up to $10,000 in down payment assistance.

The two-night seminar is held in the Centralia College Science Center, room 108, and is led by Nita Cook of Madrona Mortgage, and Diane Weaver of REWARD Int'l Real Estate. The class covers budgeting, building credit, financing, real estate procedures, inspections, escrow and insurance. Guest speakers will include certified home and pest inspectors, insurance professionals, and title company professionals. In addition, this free five-hour class is required by WSHFC for new buyers to qualify for state bond down payment assistance. To qualify, the buyers cannot have owned a primary residence in the last 3 years and must earn less than $95,000 per year; Buyers have until 12/1/09 to finalize a home purchase for this current stimulus package.

For information on class dates and to register call: 360-791-7355, or visit http://www.DianeWeaver.net.

06/03/09
Centralia College Commencement set for June 12
In the afternoon of Friday, June 12, some 450 Centralia College students will formally complete at least part of their education when the college holds commencement exercises. Some will earn transfer degrees and enter a four-year university in the fall; some will receive associate degrees that open the door to career opportunities. Other students will be awarded certificates that they'll use to compete for good jobs, while still others will celebrate hard-earned GED diplomas, the equivalent of high school completion. About 200 students will take part in commencement as a sign of their achievement. Hundreds of friends and family members will be on hand to share that moment and the event will be telecast on Cable TV, Channel 3, in the Centralia/Chehalis area. It is also signed for the hearing impaired. You may also view the live video of the commencement site.

In addition to Dr. Jim Walton, Centralia College president, speakers will include Jean DeSpain, the 2009 Centralia College Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient, and former newspaper executive Tom Koenninger, one of Centralia College's first trustees and a current member of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Tad Roeder, president of the Associated Students of Centralia College, will also speak and music student Sarah Edwards will perform a musical selection.

Dr. Michael Grubiak, vice president of Student Services, will present Outstanding Student Awards to recipients Evan Hedlund, Devon Kuhlmann, Lori Taylor, Rodney Tennison, and Nicole Wall.

A reception, sponsored by Student Programs, will follow the ceremony and will be held in the college cafeteria.

This year marks a new site for the mid-June commencement exercises as the ceremony moves to a grassy area just north of the clocktower between the Kirk Library and Kemp Hall, just steps off the Aadland Esplanade. There are no restrictions to the number of guests who may attend.

"For each graduating student," observed Walton, "this day has a special meaning and will be remembered for a lifetime."

06/02/09
Centralia College welders show artistic side

welding student
The welding classes at Centralia College will hold their third annual "Welding Art Show" on Monday, June 8. The welding lab and exhibits will be at the Technical Arts building of the college. It's located at the corner of West Walnut and King Streets. Welding instructor Ken Cotton said most of the nearly 30 welding students have artistic or useful projects they have fashioned as they learn their skills, and all are anxious to show off their one-of-a-kind handiworks.

"We've found that students really sharpen their detail skills while they work on projects that have particular value to them," Cotton explained. "Whether it's a barbecue or a statue of an elk, their involvement with the subject helps them become better welders."

The student welding art show will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., and visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite pieces of work. The student winners get prizes furnished by local firms that work with the welding department. Area vendors will also have displays at the art show to illustrate the value of the program to area businesses, and to let the community know what special services they might find available locally. There are dozens of different projects in this year's show, and Cotton says some of the artwork, painted saw blades, decorative tools, and new variations on old designs are fascinating. Each year the number of visitors has grown, and the college expects up to 300 people to drop by on Monday to see the work on display. There is no charge to visit this exhibit of student welding skill and the public is cordially invited. For further information, contact Cotton at 736-9193, ext. 391.

06/01/09
Land Survey Scholarships at Centralia College
The Northwest's largest surveying and engineering association has again recognized the professional stature and value of the Civil Engineering program at Centralia College. The Land Surveyor's Association of Washington (LSAW) has made available to the college two full-year scholarships for promising survey technology students for the upcoming 2009-10 academic year.

LSAW is the largest membership organization of surveyors, cartographers, and other civil engineers and technicians in the region. The association has about 1,500 members including licensed public engineers, mapmakers, GIS and GPS specialists, and professional field, geophysical, and marine survey technicians. The group strives to ensure that the best industry standards are taught to engineering and technical students in the Washington college system. Centralia College has been able to provide LSAW scholarships in the past and this new award reaffirms the career value of the technical programs in place.

Civil Engineering assistant professor Ann Alves says an LSAW education committee will award the new scholarships to a pair of second-year students in the Centralia College program after academic reviews. There are currently about 16 students eligible, while another dozen are finishing up their associate degree studies this month. Alves says many civil engineering students plan to continue their education to earn four-year degrees. "We are seeing more students than usual continue for BS degrees," Alves said. "It's partly due to the country's economic downturn. Today, the four-year degree still gets the best jobs, and most technicians now need a two-year associate degree to compete for the technical positions."

The Department of Labor predicts a strong, continuing demand for engineers, surveyors, and technicians, but those with at least associate degrees or certificates will land the bulk of the available jobs. For further information on the Civil Engineering Technology program at Centralia College, call Alves at 736-9391, ext. 334, weekdays.

05/21/09
College averts layoffs in balancing budget
Laying off of faculty or staff to balance the budget isn't part of the game plan at Centralia College, nor will any of the college's degree or certificate programs fall victim to involuntary elimination as the college absorbs more than $1 million in budget reduction imposed by the state.

"The fact that we did not go through the process of involuntary separation of faculty or staff is remarkable," said Dr. Jim Walton, college president. "Our goal was to protect as many of our instructional programs from elimination, and to shield faculty and staff, as much as possible, from termination." While the college might claim success in reaching those goals, balancing the budget isn't without pain. The college's leadership team recognized last August that there was going to be a dramatic budget reduction but had no idea what the extent of those cuts would be. At that point the decision was made to not fill any vacant positions until the level of cuts could be ascertained. Walton said that when an employee resigned the position was not filled and others picked up tasks so that critical functions would not be lost. Some in-house services, such as some janitorial work, was lost or the level of work was reduced. Faculty vacancies were also left unfilled and class assignments were taken over by other instructors. Increasing numbers of students took advantage of online classes.

"The levels of cuts we have been asked to make are unprecedented," said Walton. "The severity of the budget reduction will leave us short-handed in several areas and will require others to take on additional work. There is no doubt that some of the services we have provided will no longer be available. It is unfortunate but there is no way we can continue to operate at the levels we have the past few years." Walton did praise the willingness of college employees to pick up additional responsibilities to preserve core functions of the college.

The first round of cuts, for the current fiscal year, were mandated by the Governor in late 2008 and amounted to $535,000; the second round, pegged at $841,000, are in effect now for the start of the college's new fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2009. The college's annual budget is about $12 million. Part of the mandated reduction will be offset by a 7 percent increase in tuition, which goes into effect fall quarter. The budget cuts, however, are coming as the college experiences record enrollments. Increasing numbers of people are turning to Centralia College to train for new jobs or to begin their quest for a four-year degree as the economic conditions worsen.

"This huge demand for services comes as the state is taking away our ability to provide those services," said Walton. All four-year schools in the state are facing dramatic budget cuts and have curtailed enrollments and reduced the numbers of classes offered. "We are working diligently to meet the increasing demand," said Walton. "Our message is that we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that the classes students need will be available."

05/06/09
Centralia College students aid in passage of cost-saving law
Centralia College students proved to be instrumental in the passage of a law that may assist students in finding low-cost sources for college textbooks. Lenn Lund, vice president of Government Affairs for the Associated Students of Centralia College, enlisted over 100 fellow students in a campaign to support enactment of the law, which was signed by the Governor on Tuesday, April 28.

The new law will require college bookstores to provide certain information including the ISBN number for college books four weeks before class starts. Students testified that delays in the release of textbook information prevent them from finding used books, and may put them in a position of having to purchase new books at full cost to have them in time for the beginning of class. Generally, used textbooks can be purchased through Web sources at a lower cost, but students need to have updated and accurate book information in order to have a book in hand by the beginning of class.

"Textbooks are a major cost to students and can sometimes cost more than $200 each," said Lund. "The Student Government at Centralia College, working with students from other colleges, was seeking policy changes that would help students without adding to the state budget crisis. The students began working on this issue last fall and "Senators Dan Swecker, and Derek Kilmer and Representative Mike Armstrong were all willing to help make this proposed law a reality," said Lund. The law goes into effect July 26. "It has been a great experience to see students get involved in the law-making process and getting their voice heard," said Lund.

05/05/09
Legislature confirms Centralia College leaders
The 2009 Washington state Senate, among its end of session actions, confirmed the appointments of community and technical college trustees. Some 43 appointments and re-appointments to the State Board and several community and technical colleges were made by Governor Gregoire and submitted to the senate this year.

Centralia College trustees confirmed for their first term were Dr. Joe Dolezal, a Centralia optometrist who has been active in college affairs and served as a director of the Centralia College Foundation; and Joanne Schwartz, Community Development Director for the City of Chehalis and a long time education and community advocate. Both have already begun their participation in the work of the Centralia College board. Reappointed to the Board of Trustees for another term was Margaret Sundstrom of Randle. Sundstrom has served a full term and has also been board chair for a year.

"The important community involvement and dedication of each of our trustees makes our board especially strong," said Dr. Jim Walton, college president. "The college benefits enormously from their collective experience and their confirmation will serve to strengthen the leadership they provide," Walton added. The new and returning trustees are each appointed for a five-year term.

05/01/09
Workshop set for financial and estate planners
The Centralia College Foundation, in partnership with Providence Centralia Hospital and the United Way of Lewis County, will host an in-service workshop for professional financial and estate planners. The “Continuing Professional Education Seminar” will be held on the Centralia College campus on Thursday, May 28, from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Accountants, attorneys, and financial or estate planners will need to register for this important workshop by May 11 by calling the foundation staff at 736-9391, ext. 290. Attendees will earn CPE, CFP, EA or CLE credits for participating. The seminar will be held in the college boardrooms, Hanson Hall, corner of Walnut and Rock Streets in Centralia. Training and discussion topics include Creative Giving and Planning, Medicaid and Long-term Care, Ethics and Charitable Planning, Social Security Retirement, and Focus on Fixed Income. Presenters include Lon Dufek, David Armes, N. Elizabeth McCaw, Jeffrey Parkin, and Derek Burger. Registration is $50 per person and includes admittance for one, appropriate professional training credits, all course materials, a continental breakfast, and lunch. Reservations are required. Those with questions or needing further information should contact the foundation office prior to the registration deadline.

04/21/09
Centralia College offers insider's look at Iran

New Faces of Iran

An Iranian student at Centralia College, Golnaz Koloushani, maintains that the typical American image of everyday Iranian people is negative, inaccurate, and fostered by media bias. Koloushani, who was born in a smaller city outside Tehran and studied in Britain, says the vast majority of Iranians have a surprising level of understanding and respect for their U.S. counterparts. As one of our international students, she is bringing a special program to Centralia College next week to prove her point.

The program, "The New Faces of Iran," along with a documentary on the people of Iran, will be presented in the new Science Center (SCI), Room 121, on Thursday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m. Koloushani says the impression of an armed populace that simply hates all Americans is, for the most part, a fiction without any basis in fact. She understands the governments of the two nations are not on friendly terms, but believes there is more admiration and sympathy between the two peoples than media accounts would indicate.

"You get the idea from television," Koloushani explains, "that Iranian women must still cover themselves from head to toes, and are treated like property. That just isn't true." Koloushani also wants to dispel the myth that all Iranians are armed Muslim militants and the nation lives by outdated social, moral, and even business standards.

She has gathered a small panel of experts on Iran to answer audience questions and discuss the actual lifestyle of the average Iranian citizen. The panel includes Negin Almassi, a manager at Senior Service of King County and co-chair of the Iranian American Community Alliance; Ali Ghambari, Tehran native and Seattle area entrepreneur, also a member of IACA; Dr. Sam Farahani, professor of international relations at Portland State and Pacific University; and program coordinator Golnaz Koloushani.

The public is invited to attend the free program, which is co-sponsored by Centralia College, International Programs, and Phi Theta Kappa, the college honor society. Refreshments will be served. For further information, call International Programs at 736-9391, ext 625.

04/20/09
Centralia College East celebrates 25 years
The Morton campus of Centralia College will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a reception for the community on Friday, April 24. The informal party begins at 7 p.m. and former students, faculty, friends of the college, and the public are welcome. The event will be held at the Centralia College East campus at 701 Airport Way, Morton. Activities are slated to include refreshments, speakers, and live music provided by Vann Cantin and Ray Woods. A collection of early CCE photographs will be posted, and those correctly identifying people in the photographs—generally former students or faculty—will be entered in a drawing.

Centralia College East (CCE) began in a number of classrooms at Morton High School, in much the same manner as the first classes of the parent college were held in borrowed classrooms at Centralia High. Both campuses have matured rapidly, growing with demand and providing essential educational service to their communities. The role of CCE is expected to expand even faster in the next few years as more and more classes are offered online or in a hybrid format combining computer learning at home and face-to-face classes in the Morton facility.

Associate Dean April Doolittle is encouraging past students and staff from the Morton area to drop in during the anniversary party on Friday. "It's a good chance to meet the current staff and faculty," Doolittle noted, "and a fine time to renew friendships with former classmates and teachers."

04/14/09
Free services on Citizenship Day, April 18
Free services will be available at the upcoming Citizenship Day. (See Coming Events for time and location.) Volunteer immigration attorneys, paralegals and interpreters offer FREE citizenship application assistance to legal permanent residents in Washington. Voting rights, safety and job opportunity are just a few of the benefits that citizenship brings. On April 18, the English as a Second Language department at Centralia College will host Citizenship Day and will provide free services to legal permanent residents in Washington state who are seeking the American dream.

Citizenship Day at the college will be staffed by volunteer immigration attorneys, paralegals, interpreters and other community members. These teams will prepare naturalization applications at no cost. The site coordinators for the event are Steffani Powell from Seifert Law Offices in Olympia and Judith Aguilar, assistant professor at Centralia College.

The Washington New Americans program—administered by OneAmerica (formerly Hate Free Zone) in partnership with the Washington Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)—will present Citizenship Day in four Washington cities. This is the second of three citizenship days in 11 Washington cities.

Information on becoming a citizen and Citizenship Day is available at http://www.wanewamericans.org/.

Citizenship Day offers workshops that provide assistance to legal-permanent state residents eligible for naturalization. The Washington New Americans Program promotes successful immigrant integration by connecting Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) to the information and services they need to successfully pursue citizenship and become active members of our community. The goal this year, through the new partnership with the Washington New Americans program, is to assist 600 people with filing naturalization applications by June 30. After the first Washington Citizenship Day by AILA in 2006, the concept has been replicated in 25 states. For more information, call (360) 736-9391 ext. 696.

04/10/09
New art exhibit opens in Washington Hall gallery

Karen PriceThe schedule of art exhibits at Centralia College continues with an East Lewis County painter opening this week. Showing in the gallery corridor of Washington Hall is Packwood artist Karen Price. Her 25-piece show will hang until April 30. Price is a multi-discipline artist in painting, three-dimensional art, and music. Her formal education was is clinical dietetics, but her real loves are artistic expression and music. She seems to have brought all her myriad talents to the works shown currently on the campus.

The compilation of graphic work represents work done over many years and ranges from breathtaking neo-realism to a form of impression that nearly borders on mid-20th century cubism. Fortunately for us all, Price has thoughtfully furnished a brief comment in each case describing the creative processes she felt during the execution of various works. Once having the concept explained, the viewer can go back and reexamine the painting from a new perspective; both the "before and after" visions help understand and appreciate the work in different ways.

Price's checkered art career came about more normally than one might expect. "I grew up in a family that was talented in music and art," she explained. "It was something I took for granted. But I had younger siblings and I felt I had a responsibility to be self-supporting as soon as possible. So I graduated from the UW in dietetics and worked in a hospital setting."

Retracing her journey into the serious art world, Price admitted it wasn't until she had kids and became a stay-at-home mom she found the time and inspiration to return to her art and music. "From that point on," Price laughed, "I spent a lot of time at my various interests in art." Besides painting, Price works in pottery, fabric, other fiber arts, and is working on new graphic media in inks and water-based permanent colors. As for the creative process she describes for us to better enjoy her work, she says the first image takes a little more effort because, as she explained, "I'm not a linear thinker. I'm more a circular thinker, I suppose, so my concepts and creations don't follow any set artistic patterns." We're happy they don't; at this exhibit there's a pleasant surprise around every corner!

04/08/09
Mohandas Gandhi interviews on Centralia College campus
Bernard Meyer, who portrays Mohandas K. Gandhi, will appear on the Centralia College campus to launch the spring quarter Lyceum on April 8. Meyer is just back from India and Vietnam where he attended peace conferences and presented Gandhi's philosophy and practice and spoke on how Gandhi would react to the world of 2009. The character Gandhi will converse with Dr. Don Foran, the college's ethics and literature professor. The Lyceum is a time-honored series of lectures, debates, or discussions of current events or issues. The public is encouraged to attend and share in the presentation. The Centralia College Lyceum takes place Wednesday, April 8, beginning at 1 p.m., in Washington Hall, room 103, on the college campus. There is no charge. See Lyceum Series for more information.

04/07/09
Special breakout sessions planned for college job fair
Two special breakout workshops are planned for this year's Job Fair on April 15, to help jobseekers beat the odds. At 10:30 a.m., WorkSource specialist Marcella Willis will conduct a workshop for jobseekers in which she'll deal with "Job Searching in Tough Times." Willis says she'll address positive steps that can be taken to increase a person's chance of finding a good job.

Among the topics will be networking; finding the hidden job market; putting together a useful resume for the work you're seeking; and other subjects that may keep you on the employer's "A" list when an opening does pop up.

At about 11:15 a.m., Centralia College psychology assistant professor Atara MacNamara will lead a workshop on "The Psychology of Job Hunting." MacNamara calls herself a "positive psychologist," so don't be surprised to learn ways to keep an optimistic attitude and your enthusiasm high. There are many ways to make and keep a solid impression on a prospective employer, and MacNamara is apt to deal with those subjects as well. Both workshops will be held in room 106 of the Health & Wellness Center; the job fair will take place in the gym, also located in the Health and Wellness Center. See Coming Events for more information.

04/06/09
New scholarships to benefit Centralia College students
Centralia College students who will earn an associate's degree in the 2008-09 academic year may apply for scholarships that could top $10,000, at City University of Seattle (CU-Seattle). The new scholarship plan was announced last week by Gov. Christine Gregoire and Lee Gorsuch, City University of Seattle president.

City University will make some $10 million available to community and technical college graduates in Washington to help put a new level of skilled professionals in the field as the state recovers from the present recession. The scholarships are for tuition only and will help transfer students working toward a bachelor's degree. Centralia College students who earn transfer degrees in June will be eligible to apply for a CU-Seattle scholarship. Most could earn their bachelor's degrees in just six quarters.

The "Scholarships for Tomorrow's Careers" program provides 600 scholarships of $10,800 each for community and technical college transfer students. Scholarship funds will also be used to provide 400 qualified laid-off workers with scholarships to upgrade their professional skills.

The program gained the enthusiastic support of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the Employment Security Department. "After last week's budget announcements, City U's offer to relieve the financial burden for students couldn't have come at a more advantageous time," said Charlie Earl, SBCTC executive director. "We are striving to help as many students as possible, and these scholarships will help many of our transfer students achieve their dreams." More information on the program is available at: www.CityU.edu/transferscholarshipprogram/, or contact the Centralia College Financial Aid office for additional details.
04/01/09
Centralia College holds auditions for "Biloxi Blues"
Early in his career, playwright Neil Simon showed signs of the genius that would mark his illustrious career, but never quite so emphatically as "Biloxi Blues." Simon wrote the poignant comic masterpiece while taking basic training in that old-south locale before shipping out in WWII. Visiting Director Todd Jasmin has chosen the Simon classic as the spring play this year, and has issued a casting call for local actors and actresses who would like to tackle this charming, gritty, and biting reminiscence of those long-ago wartime years. The play contains some adult language and mature themes.

Auditions are for six men, ages 18-22; one man in his mid 40s; one woman 18-22; and one woman 30-40. Auditions will be held on Monday, April 6 from 3-5 p.m. and again Tuesday, April 7, also from 3-5 p.m. Tryouts will be at Wickstrom Studio Theatre in Washington Hall on the Centralia College campus.

Production dates for this wonderful bit of Neil Simon humor are May 7-10 and May 14-16. Those who wish to try out may contact Jasmin at 736-9391, ext. 301 or by email at tjasmin@centralia.edu.

04/01/09
Centralia College hosts reception for Malawi dignitaries

Nkhomas and MsiskasCentralia College will host an informal reception for a pair of visiting dignitaries from Malawi, Africa. The Rev. Matiya Nkhoma and his wife Mariya have been on an extended visit to southwest Washington to discuss ongoing work at their home in Chinteche on the shores of Lake Malawi.

The reception for the distinguished visitors will take place at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, in the boardrooms at Centralia College. The honored guests will remain for the 5 p.m. start of the regular meeting of the Centralia College Board of Trustees so they can meet briefly with members of the board. The reception and the board meeting to follow are both open to the public, which is encouraged to attend.

Nkhoma is a veteran teacher, community leader, and clergyman in the east-central African nation. The Rev. Nkhoma was one of the primary influences of the establishment of the University of Livingstonia, near the couple's home city. Nkhoma was also instrumental in convincing former Centralia College President Hank Kirk and his wife Jenny to spend several years in Malawi, helping build the new university into a reality.

The University of Livingstonia and Centralia College enjoy a strong mutual "sister college" relationship. Faculty from each college have visited and taught at the other, and both Centralia College and the people of the Lewis County area have helped with gifts and donations to help the growing four-year African university survive its first difficult years. Malawi is regarded as the fifth poorest nation in the world; the average worker—when employment can be found—generally earns less than an equivalent US $30 a month. For that reason the support of Northwest residents has been crucial to Malawi. The enormous contribution of talent and resources made by the Kirks and other local supporters has been central to the success of one of Africa's youngest universities.

03/31/09
Secretary of State Sam Reed to visit Centralia College
Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed will be at the college on Monday, April 13, as part of College Civic Week observances across the state. Reed will appear on the campus to exchange information and ideas with students about civic responsibility. Reed's presentation will be held in Washington Hall Room 103, from 10-10:45 a.m., and the public is invited.

Director of the college's Student Life and Involvement Center Shelley Bannish said Reed's visit will focus on community involvement as a regular function of each person's social behavior patterns. "People often think of voting as the central part of their responsibility," Bannish said, "but there are any number of actions we can take that have a lasting effect on our communities. We believe Secretary Reed will bring that kind of a wider message to our students."

03/30/09
"Kinship" parents face unique social and financial stresses
One of the fastest growing and disturbing social phenomena in the Lewis County area is that of adults raising the children of their near relatives. The most visible of these is grandparents stepping in because the birth parent—often a single son or daughter—is unable to provide a stable home or the parenting skills needed. Sometimes the "kinship" parent situation is caused by economic factors, drug or alcohol abuse, counter-social behaviors, or simply an inability of the birth parent to provide essential family security and parenting skills.

Across the state there are an estimated 53,000 youngsters being reared by relatives because of factors that negatively affect the actual parents. More often than not, when a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or even a sibling assumes the responsibility of parenting a child from within the family there will be financial, social, and emotional complications that follow.

A coalition of concerned agencies including Centralia College, Twin Star Credit Union, and Family Education and Support have established a free, seven-week course to help families in a "kinship" situation cope with the financial stresses brought about by an unexpected additional responsibility as a full-time parent. The once-a-week classes will use the proven curriculum "Financial Literacy" from Powerful Families to provide insights for those families that find themselves in a parenting role.

The ten weekly classes will be held at the Chehalis Twin Star location at 1555 S. Market Blvd. Participants will learn key financial principles, the ins and outs of credit, fundamentals of budgeting, how to create a savings plan, and other essential financial strategies that can ease the family crisis into which they may have been thrust. The classes offer one college credit but are free to all qualified "kinship" parents, the tuition being paid by Family Education and Support. Classes will be held from 10 a.m. until noon on Wednesdays, beginning April 8. For additional information or to register, call Linda Wilcox at 736-9391, ext. 464.

03/20/09
College opens massive science center, open house scheduled

New Science CenterThe talk among Centralia College staff is that the new $32 million Science Center is absolutely astounding. Faculty who will be teaching within the walls and behind the glass of the three-story structure toss in adjectives including awesome, impressive and beyond imagination. Somehow, the words fail to describe the quality of the building that positions Centralia College as a leader in science education in Washington State.

"This new building will make a tremendous difference in the quality of learning at Centralia College," said Dr. Steve Norton, assistant professor of biological sciences. "Expanded labs and enhanced equipment encourage us to be more ambitious, more innovative, more curious." He said that the new facility "removes constraints of time and space that have limited student experiments. Motivated students can pursue independent research projects with a faculty mentor" without having to tear down or put away projects to make room for another class.

And students will get a first-hand look at what it is that faculty and staff are drooling over when the building opens to students on March 30, the first day of spring quarter. It is expected that more than one-third of the college's student body will take classes in the new building. The public will be able to get its view of the building's grandeur on April 16 when the Centralia College Foundation hosts an open house, which runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Tours will be provided and refreshments will be served.

You might want to wear comfortable walking shoes as you take in the 70,000-square foot edifice, the largest structure on the college campus and among the largest educational buildings belonging to any of the state's two-year colleges. "It certainly is impressive," said Dr. Jim Walton, college president. "This Science Center, coupled with the outstanding faculty we have on staff, means that science students will receive the highest quality education possible. Top to bottom it's impressive and we invite everyone to come and take a look."

The building will house the college's sciences programs, labs, lecture halls, meeting rooms, and faculty and administrative offices. The nursing program will also take up residence in the building. There is an astronomy observation deck and the greenhouse, the working lab for the botany program, located on the third floor. The round room on the southeast corner is a "university-style" lecture hall that seats up to 96 students. The Science Center, an 18-month construction project, also qualifies and has applied for gold standard certification through the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, known as LEED. The gold standard rating demonstrates all of the innovative ways to conserve energy and to be environmentally friendly. "Green" features of the complex include sustainable construction materials, energy-efficient exterior lighting and landscaping that promotes water conservation.

03/18/09
New science center readied for students
The doors of the Centralia College New Science Center (NSC) will open to students March 30 for use as the cutting-edge science complex by students in a variety of studies.

It is expected that well over one-third of the college's student body will be taking classes in the new 70,000-square foot structure, the largest building on the college campus. In addition to all of its science programs, the three-story structure will house the college's nursing programs, science labs, a third-floor astronomy deck and the college's 1500-square foot greenhouse used in botany and earth sciences programs. The large round space on the southeast side is a large "university style" lecture hall with a 96-student seating capacity.

The NCS was conceived to help reverse a regional and national trend of too few science majors joining the country's research labs and production work forces. In an effort to educate students in science, technology, engineering, and math, known as STEM science fields, the college successfully sought and obtained funding for the new center. It is a facility that will help meet the demanding challenges of the STEM initiative for many years into the future. In addition to the core STEM fields, the new center will house portions of other disciplines such as Energy Technology, Allied Health Sciences, academic science requirements, and other science-based learning.

carbon footprintAs the new $32 million center was being designed, college officials determined to make it the region's first example of a truly low carbon impact, energy efficient, and sustainable-resource building. Initially aiming at a nationally-recognized LEED "silver" rating for energy efficient "green" building standards, the complex has now qualified for the U.S. Green Building Council's prestigious "gold" certification. The LEED standards indicate "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design." See related article »

The rating system considers six major areas: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. The Centralia College project has scored high enough to surpass the "Gold" engineering and construction standards. Certified buildings often use key resources more efficiently, have healthier work and living environments, and contribute to better learning and productivity. The savings incurred over time due to the lower-than-average standard operations costs, a lowered carbon footprint, and higher overall learning outcomes by science students, further mitigates many construction costs. USGBC studies suggest a 2 percent added up front investment to meet certification requirements might have as much as a 20 percent yield in reduced operating and energy costs over the life of the building.

The college's long-standing Ehret Hall and Batie Science Center were razed to make room for the new science center; Lingreen Hall, located just east of the new building, is slated for demolition during spring quarter. A community grand opening, which includes public tours of the new science center, is scheduled for April 16.

03/18/09
Spring Lyceum explores broad range of topics The popular Lyceum series at Centralia College is patterned after an ancient tradition from Athens, Greece. In the heyday of Greek power and culture, scholars and soldiers would gather on the Lyceum fields to discuss philosophy, arts, politics, and events of the day. Soon common people were coming to listen to the literati and to learn more about the world beyond the Greek isles. Some even began to exchange ideas with the learned leaders and teachers, unleashing a first trickle of intellectual freedom on the world.

In the most recent incarnation of this long-ago tradition, students and the community may gather each Wednesday at Centralia College's Washington Hall to listen to scientists, philosophers, free thinkers, and artists discuss almost anything old or new under the sun. When appropriate, members of the audience may ask questions or share their thoughts or concerns on the subject. Those are often the moments that make Lyceum sparkle.

The Spring Lyceum Series kicks off on April 8 as Dr. Don Foran of Centralia College interviews Bernie Meyer, an astonishing lookalike and disciple of India's revolutionary pacifist, Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi.

On April 15 Lyceum fast-forwards three-quarters of a century to this winter's gigantic financial bailout of national banking and lending institutions. A member of the Washington Legislature will discuss "Wall Street vs. Main Street" to put the question in perspective. You may not get your dollars back, but you'll know better where they may have gone!

In the weeks that follow, Lyceum will entertain a poet who practices physical therapy, film maker John DeGraaf, animal behaviorist Dr. James Ha, legendary storyteller Will Hornyak, and other equally fascinating people.

Make it a point to keep Wednesday afternoons at 1 p.m. free for your seat at Lyceum. The spring series, which runs weekly through June 3, is free and open to the public. Check the college calendar for details.

03/17/09
Spring quarter begins March 30
Spring quarter classes begin on March 30. This may be one of the most important spring kickoffs in the 83 years the college has been registering students. Open registration for spring quarter is now underway and the college is accepting students. You may sign up for classes in the Student Center Building, at the corner of Centralia College Blvd. and Rock St., Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

During a handful of economic downturns over the decades, the college has welcomed an influx of students who needed professional or technical training to be in a position to qualify for better-paying jobs or to keep an existing job. That trend is perhaps more true today than ever. As more companies face layoffs, it will take more and better training to qualify for or keep jobs that exist. Many people who include a four-year college degree in their career plans are taking advantage of work stoppages to get more of their essential studies completed. Many of these academic students use a temporary—or even long term—work layoff as an opportunity to pick up needed credits for transfer to a four-year college or university. With grants and other financial aid available to qualifying students, an economic recession may be a most opportune time to build on an academic inventory.

Job-related training in fields such as computers, civil engineering, energy technology, and criminal justice may enable students to upgrade their skills or work into a new, high-demand field more quickly than they might expect. The college also offers individual certificate programs to provide certifiable training in highly specialized fields. Individual certificate programs are especially valuable to workers in fields where technical growth may help secure an established job.

Those needing to improve their employability, wish to select a new career path, or want to use these uncertain times to expand their academic credentials are urged to contact the college as soon as possible. For professional workforce training or academic transfer information, and to contact a faculty member in a field you are interested, call Enrollment Services at 736-9391, ext. 221, or see Programs of Study.

03/02/09
Lady Blazers league champions
The Centralia College women's basketball team clawed its way to the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) league championship, reaching that perch with a 66-52 win over the Tacoma Community College Titans. The talented Lady Blazers posted a 15-1 league record and a 23-3 record overall.

Tournament action begins March 5 in Kennewick with a first-round game against Columbia Basin, the fourth place team in the East division. That contest will begin at 4 p.m. Game action can be followed at www.nwaacc.org/basketball/championship/ and going to the Cybercasts link. The NWAACC link also has the bracket pairings for the tournament.

The Lady Blazers lone league game loss came at the hands of South Puget Sound Community College, but the Blazers rebounded from that game to beat SPSCC in the rematch and twice defeated Lower Columbia College, the Division's second best team. Columbia Basin, even though it is seeded fourth, is the defending champion and considered one of the tougher matchups the Lady Blazers could have faced to open the tournament.