Washington state celebrates National Career
and Technical Education Week
In February, students and faculty in career and technical education programs across the state celebrated National Career and Technical Education week.
At Skagit Valley College, students from area high schools participated in career panel discussions, visited professional/technical programs and toured the Mount Vernon campus.
Skagit’s theme for the week was, “Career Tech: Education for Success,” which emphasized the role that career and technical education and its business/industry partners play in helping youths and adults achieve career success.
This message was echoed by Bates Technical College through local television and news media, as they communicated the increased value of technical education in today’s workplace to the public.
According to the Association for Career and Technical Education, research shows that many of the country’s fastest-growing occupations require the technical skills and knowledge taught in career tech education programs. Research also illustrates that among high school graduates entering the workforce with a technical education background earn more than those without any technical education or training.
Skagit Valley College welding students build
and launch aluminum rowboat
Skagit Valley College welding students, under the direction of their instructor Michael Baker, launched an eight-foot aluminum rowboat that the class designed, lofted, cut, formed, fit and welded. The students are enrolled in the college’s Aluminum Welding/Fabrication for the Marine Industry class at the Mount Vernon campus. They launched the boat in the college’s retention pond with classmates and instructors on hand.
“Aluminum welding skills are critical in the marine industry,” said Department Chair Dan Nelson. “The rowboat project provided an excellent opportunity for our students to demonstrate that they possess the skills they will use on the job site.”
Six students were involved in the various phases of the three-week construction process which took approximately 70 hours to complete. The boat is an all-welded design with all components custom made, including seats, oarlocks and cleats. The construction took place in the 56,000 cubic foot Gerald Osborne Welding Center fabrication facility at the Mount Vernon campus.
 Skagit Valley College welding students launch their newly finished eight-foot aluminum rowboat. (From left to right) Chris Fleming, Mount Vernon; Richard Pacheco, Oak Harbor; Mike Kenny, Anacortes; Joe Bassford, Mount Vernon; Eric Simonsen, Anacortes; Daniel Goodfellow, Mount Vernon.
Fulbright Visiting Scholar from Morocco brings Islamic viewpoint to BCC, community
 For the third consecutive year, Bellevue Community College has been awarded a grant from the prestigious Council for the International Exchange of Scholars of the U.S. Fulbright Program to host an international scholar-in-residence.
Joining BCC for spring quarter is Dr. Ahmed Radi, of Morocco, who will share his expertise in Islamic and Moroccan culture with the college and the local community.
Dr. Radi is a Professor of English at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakesh, Morocco, and has authored three books – “Re-Reading Joyce, Aesthetics and Politics in Virginia Woolf's ‘To the Lighthouse,’” and “Ephemeral Fragments,” a volume of poetry, as well as numerous scholarly articles. Since 1992, he has served on the editorial board of “Signs,” a journal on Moroccan culture.
At BCC Dr. Radi will present lectures on Islamic and Moroccan society and culture, and work with faculty to enhance BCC's curriculum on Islam.
Dr. Radi also will be available for presentations and discussions in the community. To arrange a presentation, contact Diane Douglas at (425) 564-2550 or by email at ddouglas@bcc.ctc.edu.
Pierce College and the University of Washington, Tacoma offer new nursing program
Pierce College and the University of Washington, Tacoma will offer a new, dual admission nursing program. Beginning Winter 2007, students earning an associates degree in nursing from Pierce College interested in continuing their education and earning a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing may apply to be dually admitted to Pierce College and the University of Washington, Tacoma.
“The joint admission program is designed to promote student success by creating a seamless educational pathway from an associate to a bachelor’s degree,” said Sharon Fought, nursing program director at the University of Washington, Tacoma. “The benefits for students are that they'll receive financial aid to cover enrollment and expenses at both institutions, joint advising and the opportunity to jump start their career development.”
During the fifth quarter of study, Pierce College nursing students may enroll in a two-credit synthesis course at the University of Washington, Tacoma that will familiarize them with the university’s nursing program using campus resources to increase successful program completion. In addition, a two-credit course will be completed in the summer preceding their enrollment in the bachelor's degree program.
While dually admitted, students will benefit from the use of both campus resources and will be afforded the same privileges as being singly enrolled in either institution.
BCC students now may qualify for dual enrollment at UW Bothell, pathways to UW Bothell degree programs
A new agreement between Bellevue Community College (BCC) and the University of Washington, Bothell will make it possible for eligible BCC students to take classes and use resources at both schools concurrently and qualify for guaranteed admission to all three UW Bothell degree programs: Business Administration, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences and Computing & Software Systems.
The agreement, which takes effect with the Spring 2006 quarter, was signed by UW Bothell Interim Chancellor Steven Olswang and BCC President Jean Floten on March 23.
The agreement builds on an ongoing relationship between BCC’s Business Division and the UW, Bothell Business School, both of which are founding members of the Bellevue Entrepreneur Center and have offered student consulting services to underserved minority- and women-owned small businesses.
LCC Parliamentary Debate squad wins
national championship
Lower Columbia College’s Forensics Team received a gold award for the best performance in Parliamentary Debate in their division at the Phi Rho Pi National Community College Forensics Tournament held April 10-15 in Kansas City, Missouri. Sixty colleges from all over the country attended, with 95 teams entered in the debate division.
Lower Columbia won the most debate sweepstakes points of the 44 schools in the small and medium school category.
Lower Columbia also won a bronze award for overall (all events – not just debate) sweepstakes in the small school category. This is the college’s first overall sweepstakes award.
Two LCC teams won medals to collect the sweepstakes awards.
Students Sarah Todd and Skyler Gregory won a Gold Medal. They posted a 4-2 record in preliminary rounds with victories over: Chabot College, Hayward, CA; Longview Community College, Kansas City, MO; Northwest College, Powell, WY; and William Rainey Harper College, Palatine, IL
In the Bronze Round, the pair defeated Solano College, Fairfield, CA, 3-0; and in the Gold-Silver round, they defeated Okaloosa Walton College of Niceville, FL, 2-1.
Collin Anderson and Kambra Johnson won a Bronze Medal for their 4-2 preliminary round record. The LCC Forensics Team is coached by Michael Dugaw, LCC speech and history instructor in his 33rd year at the college.
This is the 2nd time LCC has received a gold sweepstakes award in debate. The first time was in 2000.
Lower Columbia College won the 2006 National Championship in Parliamentary Debate at the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament in Kansas City, MO, April 15. Pictured are, from left, Kambra Johnson, Skyler Gregory, Sarah Todd, Collin Anderson and Coach Mike Dugaw.
Machining pathways partnership founder wins
state Excellence in College Tech Prep Award
Doug Roulstone, founder of the Machining Pathways Partnership at Snohomish High School, has received the Washington Tech Prep Excellence in College Tech Prep award for 2006.
Roulstone, a retired U.S. Navy officer who co-owns Damar Machine Co. in Monroe, formed the Machining Pathways Partnership in 2004. Working with a group of industry organizations, Roulstone led the effort to provide a computer-based, high-tech machining, programming and engineering design course for students at Snohomish High School in labs filled with advanced equipment donated by corporate sponsors.
Students in the program can earn up to 35 college credits at Everett Community College in advanced manufacturing technology through the Tech Prep program. This year, more than 100 Snohomish High School students have been involved with the program.
The award was presented at the Washington Tech Prep State Conference March 2 in Pasco.
The selection committee cited Roulstone's work in creating a program that meets the demand for skills in the machining field and the partnerships he'd developed to support the program.
Lake Washington Technical College student wins
co-first place award in “Extreme Redesign: The 3D Printing Challenge”
Dimension, the world’s leading provider of desktop 3D printers, recently announced the winners of its second annual “Extreme Redesign: The 3D Printing Challenge.” Lake Washington Technical College’s engineering graphics/mechanical design student Bruce “Buzz” Cherry of Mountlake Terrace was awarded co-first place in the post secondary category.
Bruce’s electronic toothbrush wall mount design was rated by judges from Harley-Davidson, S.C. Johnson and Smart Design as one of the best out of more than 500 high school and college student entries submitted world-wide. For his efforts, Bruce was awarded a $2,500 scholarship at the National Design Engineering Show (NDES) in Chicago on March 20. Winning designs were unveiled at the Dimension 3D Printing booth at the NDES show on March 21.
Tacoma Community College publication
wins
national recognition
Tacoma Community College’s Student Planner earned top national recognition from the National Council on Marketing and Public Relations at the NCMPR annual conference this spring.
The 2005-2006 planner received a first-place Gold Paragon Award. Lee Busselman, TCC marketing and communications director, accepted the award on behalf of the college at the NCMPR conference in Austin, Texas.
The Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications at community, junior and technical colleges. It is the only national competition of its kind that honors excellence exclusively among marketing and public relations professionals at two-year colleges. NCMPR is an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges.
Marketing and Communications staff and their roles in the publication included: Bridget Baeth, proofreading; Laura Chipman, cover design; Kiril Farkov, CD interface; Sakura Moses, publication coordination; and Phiny Tuy, page layout. Busselman served as art director and project leader.
Skagit Valley College’s Rip Robbins elected to
Pacifica Radio National Board
 Rip Robbins, general manager of Skagit Valley College’s radio station, KSVR, was recently elected to the national board of directors for Pacifica Radio, one of the national radio networks to which KSVR subscribes.
Pacifica Radio is a non-commercial network known for its emphasis on community involvement and providing a voice to underrepresented viewpoints. KSVR is one of only five full-power college and community radio stations in Washington state to offer Pacifica Radio network programming. The station has been an affiliate since 1997.
Robbins, of Bellingham, has been with SVC since 1994 and has been general manager since 1995. In addition, he was instrumental in the station’s affiliation with Pacifica and Radio Bilingue the premier Spanish-language radio network.
Robbins began his term with the Pacifica Radio board of directors in March and will serve for two years. During his term, he will represent approximately 80 Pacifica-affiliated stations.
Bates Receives SBDC Silver Star Award
Brett Rogers, director of the WSU Small Business Development Center (SBDC), presented the SBDC Silver Star Award to Bates Technical College President David Borofsky at the college’s board of trustees meeting April 19.
The Washington SBDC Silver Star Award was first introduced during the network’s 25th anniversary of serving clients, and is presented to clients and stakeholders who have helped promote and expand the scope of services, training and opportunities to small businesses statewide.
For the convenience of South Sound area businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs, Bates Technical College houses the Tacoma Business Assistance Center (TBC) at the downtown campus. TBC partners include the SBDC, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, the Small Business Administration, and the Washington State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises, and the college’s Business and Management Training Center. All are located in the same facility.
Skagit Valley College student earns first Associate
in Visual Arts Degree
 Skagit Valley College has announced that Charity Gandolfo, of Anacortes, has earned the college’s first ever Associate in Visual Arts (AVA) degree. In addition to earning an AVA degree, Gandolfo has earned an Associate in Arts – University and College Transfer degree since beginning her studies at SVC in 2003.
In her artist’s statement, Gandolfo commented, “I’ve always been passionate about art but mostly from the history side. Only recently have I ventured into the studio arts and it’s been truly eye opening. The experience has been transformational. … I don’t ever want to ‘become’ an artist. I want to always be on the path to ‘becoming’: a student - learning, exploring, traveling, but never ending the journey.”
Cascadia Community College Foundation establishes Tjossem family endowment
Cascadia Community College Foundation announced the establishment of a new endowed scholarship for Cascadia students. The Tjossem Family Scholarship is being funded by Bob and Linda Tjossem.
Bob Tjossem has been actively involved with community and technical colleges during a long career as an attorney and community leader. As an assistant attorney general, he helped craft legislation that created the community college system in 1967. More recently, he was a member of the advisory and planning groups that spearheaded creation of Cascadia Community College, the newest community college in Washington. He was appointed by Governor Lowry to be a member of Cascadia’s first board of trustees.
The scholarship will be awarded annually to students at Cascadia studying the sciences, math or economics who have demonstrated talent and perseverance.
Bates opens new Diversity Center
Dr. David Borofsky, president of Bates Technical College, formally opened the new Diversity Center at Bates Technical College during an Open House at the downtown campus on February 28.
The Diversity Center promotes an atmosphere of open communication, respect and trust, and provides Bates students and staff as well as members of the community, a comfortable place to meet and learn about the diverse and rich cultures of the area. Student leadership and diversity workshops are being offered in the center, and a resource library is under development.
Skagit Valley College medical assistant student
scores among nation’s best
Skagit Valley College medical assistant graduate Melissa Tolar, of Sedro-Woolley, recently completed her National Medical Assistant Certification Exam and scored among the nation’s best. While a composite score of 425 was needed to pass, Tolar achieved a 740. In the clinical procedures category, she was nearly perfect, scoring a 99%, with only 1% of students scoring higher. In addition, she scored a 98% in administrative procedures and a 96% in general procedures.
While attending classes in SVC’s medical assistant program, Tolar was president of the Medical Assistant Mentors Club and was the departmental choice for student of the year.
Medical assisting is an allied health profession, in which practitioners function as members of the healthcare delivery team and perform administrative and clinical procedures. With their unique versatility, medical assistants are proving to be the allied health professional of choice for this decade and beyond.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assisting continues to be projected as one of the fastest growing occupations.
Help for students taking fewer credits: financial aid
for those with full-time lives and part-time classes
Thousands of aid-eligible students attend college each year and receive little or no aid because they enroll for just one class.
Highline Community College is offering a rare opportunity to students who attend the college less than half-time – taking four or five credits – by awarding a total of $38,000 in grant funds to new and current students attending spring and/or summer quarters.
The Washington State Need Grant is usually available only to eligible students who are registered for six or more credits. However, the 2005 Legislature directed the Higher Education Coordination Board (HECB) to conduct a pilot project to extend eligibility to less-than-half-time students.
Highline applied and was selected as one of only six community colleges in Washington state to participate in the pilot project, and is the only college in King County to offering this source of funds for college.
The other schools in the pilot are Clark, Columbia Basin, Peninsula, South Puget Sound and Spokane Falls community colleges; The Evergreen State College; and Pacific Lutheran University.
A study by the General Accounting Office (www.gao.gov/highlights/d03905high.pdf) found that compared with other adult students, the typical less-than-half-time adult student was more likely to work full-time, be married, and have a household income over $30,000.
The GAO study also found that while 75 percent of these students said that they expected to complete a degree or certificate program when they began their education, most leave school without actually completing one.
The state hopes to learn from the pilot project how many students might be eligible if the grants were extended statewide and the best ways to identify, serve and retain this population.
SCC automotive tackles new fuel technology
The delectable odor of freshly cooked French fries wafting across Spokane Community College is not part of a Deep Fry 101 culinary arts class, nor is it the latest gustatory creation coming out of the cafeteria.
It is, in fact, a special project SCC automotive instructor Bryan Ricco’s students have been working on since early January – retrofitting a 1997 Ford F-250 pick-up truck with a vegetable oil fuel tank.
When a local police officer approached Ricco about taking on the project, he jumped at the chance. “With the increasing interest in alternative fuel sources, such as biodiesel, we thought it would a great chance for students to work on up-and-coming technology,” Ricco said.
The two-tank fuel system, which is manufactured by Greasecar™ Vegetable Fuel Systems, can only be used with diesel-powered cars and trucks. The diesel engine is started up first and runs until the vegetable oil is heated. Once heated, the vegetable oil’s viscosity becomes similar to that of diesel oil and can be injected into the engine instead of the diesel fuel.
According to the manufacturer, vegetable oil fuel reduces toxic emissions, recycles a common waste product and can reduce fuel costs. Some studies also show vegetable oil has better lubrication and detergent qualities than diesel oil.
The cost of vegetable oil fuel tank kits range from $795 to $1,200. The fuel usually is free since restaurants typically prefer giving away old fryer oil instead of paying for its disposal. The retrofit involves adding another fuel tank, plus electrical and metal fabrication work, Ricco says. “It’s pretty straightforward, but we’re taking it slowly so we can really understand the technology,” he adds.
Lake Washington Technical College receives advertising awards
Lake Washington Technical College (LWTC) has been recognized with three awards in the 3rd Annual Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA) sponsored by HMR Publications Group.
LWTC received an award of merit for their 2005 radio campaign, a bronze award for the LWTC Web site, and a silver award for their television ad series.
SIAA recognizes the creativity and communication accomplishments of the service industry. Over 1,500 entries were received and represented all 50 states and four foreign countries. A national panel of judges evaluated and rated entries in ten groups of twenty-five categories. Judges reviewed every entry for execution, creativity, quality, consumer appeal and overall breakthrough advertising content.
Lake Washington Technical College was also been recognized with four awards of merit in the 21st Annual Admissions Advertising Awards sponsored by the national newspaper of admissions marketing, Admissions Marketing Report.
LWTC received an award of merit for their 2005 radio campaign, television ad, direct mail advertising and recruitment display. The Admissions Advertising Awards is the largest educational advertising awards competition in the country.
This year over 2,200 entries were received from more than 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools from all 50 states and several foreign countries. Judges for the Admissions Advertising Awards consisted of a national panel of admissions marketers, advertising creative directors, marketing and advertising professionals and the editorial board of Admissions Marketing Report.
CSI awards at Lake Washington Technical College
Every year the Construction Specifications Institute’s (CSI) Academic Affairs committee from the Puget Sound chapter office selects students from colleges and universities in the Puget Sound region to receive chapter scholarships.
Scholarship awards include a one-year student membership in CSI, chapter education programs and dinners at no cost, Certified Document Technician (certification class tuition, and one-on-one mentoring by industry professionals. Nine architecture, engineering and construction students in the Puget Sound area have been awarded the 2006 scholarships.
Lake Washington Technical College is proud to announce that eight students have been awarded these scholarships. The eight students are: Leah Ashley of Everett, Lewis Black of Monroe, Ryan Furness of Edmonds, Jay Freeland of Seattle, Silvia Hatfield of Lake Forest Park, Jeannie Hood of Woodinville, Dria Littlehawk of Kirkland and Lauren West of Bellevue. All eight students are enrolled in the Engineering Graphics Program.
The CSI Academic Affairs committee also awarded Nick Vann of Seattle a special $1,000 cash scholarship award for his dedication to the organization and participation in activities over the past year.
Gene Fosheim, architecture and engineering instructor at Lake Washington Technical College, as well as a CSI Academic Affairs Committee member and CSI Puget Sound Chapter Board of Directors member, recommended these nine students based on their interest, GPA and participation in school and community activities.
Cascadia Community College awards
President’s Lifelong Learning Award
Cascadia Community College has awarded Donna Thompson the 2005-06 Lifelong Learning Award. Thompson is a founding faculty member for Cascadia, and has been active in many aspects of college activities in and out of the classroom.
The President’s Lifelong Learning Award was established by the college in 2004 to recognize outstanding employees for continued intellectual and professional growth. The $1,500 award that accompanies the selection is intended to be used for professional development costs.
BCC student stage production wins
Kennedy Center honor
The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival invited the Bellevue Community College Drama Department to present its production of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy “Urinetown” in February at the American College Theatre Region VII Festival in Pasco.
The Kennedy Center invitation recognized BCC’s “Urinetown” production as representative of the best graduate and undergraduate theatre in seven states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Alaska.
BCC’s production was one of only four invited from among all the region’s college and university drama programs. Community college productions are rarely invited.
Forty BCC students made the trip to Pasco in February for the six-day event, where they presented “Urinetown” and took part in acting competitions. The students also attended workshops and lectures and attended plays written by other students.
The musical was previously presented at BCC as the Fall 2005 student production.
Winner of three Tony Awards, the highly-regarded “Urinetown” portrays a drought-stricken future where urination is no longer free.
BCC’s production of the musical is directed by Drama Instructor Tammis Doyle, Seattle; with technical and musical direction by BCC faculty members Brian Healy, Seattle; and Julie Denninghoff, Bothell; respectively. Lead roles are portrayed by students Danny Osborne, Issaquah;, Teya Patt, Seattle; Ashlyn Smith, Kirkland; Bradetta Vines, Seattle; Josh Moore, Renton; Sean Payne, Kent; and BCC faculty member Michael Warner, of Bellevue.
Clover Park Technical College announces “Math to Careers” conference
Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) announces the first annual 2006 “Math to Careers” Middle School Career Conference from 9:00 a.m. to 1:05 p.m. on May 9 at the main campus.
The “Math to Careers” conference is a half-day event designed to help junior high school students explore different career options, and experience first-hand how math and science are applied in the workforce.
“It is never too early for students to start thinking about their future,” said Dr. Sharon McGavick, CPTC president. “This event will feature real-life opportunities for students thinking of pursuing a future through technical education.”
The pilot conference is expected to welcome more than 500 junior high school students from the Tacoma and Bethel school districts. Eighth and ninth graders will participate in walking tours, hands-on workshops and live demonstrations.
“This is the first time an opportunity like this has been available to junior high students in Pierce County,” said Janet Holm, event manager and CPTC Marketing Coordinator. “Students will have the chance to experience through a positive learning experience how vital math and science skills are to their futures.”
For more information about the first annual “Math to Careers” Middle School Career Conference, or how a school can be involved in next year’s event, please contact Janet Holm, CPTC Outreach and Marketing Coordinator, at (253) 589-5545 or email Janet.Holm@cptc.edu or visit the Web site www.cptc.edu .
Do you have an item for the next "All in the Family?" Email the Creating Opportunities staff at: ezine@sbctc.ctc.edu.
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