By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri-Cities celebrated the opening of its first fully state-funded academic building in over 30 years as part of a ribbon cutting celebration on Sept. 22.

The grand opening of Collaboration Hall featured remarks from university leaders, light refreshments and open tours of the building.

Hands-on, career-relevant learning

The building, which officially opened on the first day of fall classes this year, features a range of state-of-the-art science teaching laboratories, three large interactive classrooms, study and collaborative areas, an open atrium ideal for presentations and events, as well as an outdoor amphitheater that seats 100.

���سԹ� Chancellor Sandra Haynes said the building was designed and constructed with student success in mind.

“Being a STEM-focused campus, this building, complete with labs specific to the full array of science disciplines, will enhance students’ education, resulting in graduates even more prepared to meet the demands of the workforce,” she said. “At ���سԹ�, we partner with a range of companies and organizations that contribute to groundbreaking research, technology development and overall community growth. As signified in its name, this building will help further academic and industry collaboration and truly help prepare our students for future careers rooted in regional needs.”

The teaching laboratories featured in the building include:

• A physics laboratory
• Two biology laboratories
• A chemistry laboratory
• An anatomy and physiology laboratory
• An environmental science laboratory
• An innovation and design laboratory

Funded by state and local support

The construction of Collaboration Hall was made possible by $3 million in design funding and $27 million in construction funding from the Washington state Legislature.

In addition to state allocations, financial contributions have been made by university leadership by naming study, collaborative and learning spaces:

• WSU President Kirk Schulz and First Lady Noel Schulz | Noel and Kirk Schulz Academic Support Lounge
• ���سԹ� Chancellor Sandra Haynes | Sandra Haynes Collaboration Space in Honor of First-Generation Students
• WSU Regent Lura Powell and Art King | Lura Powell and Art King Lounge – Supporting First-Generation and Underserved Students and STEM

The following individuals and organizations also committed to naming seating on the grand staircase located in the atrium of Collaboration Hall. The naming of each step pays tribute to ���سԹ� students and the regional community:

• Washington River Protection Solutions | “Investing today for the challenges of tomorrow”
• Central Plateau Cleanup Company | “Building our future workforce step by step”
• Patrick and Tia Jensen | “In honor of first-generation students”
• Phil and Diane Ohl | Ohl Family Foundation | “We always find our way back home, Go Cougs!”

Haynes said the ���سԹ� campus community is incredibly grateful for the generous state, private and organizational support.

“It’s a stunning and functional space that, as a result of our state and community contributions, is one of the most valuable assets for our campus in fulfilling our educational mission,” she said.

Serving community needs

Collaboration Hall lives up to ���سԹ�’ historical roots. The Tri-Cities campus dates back to the 1940s when it began as the General Electric School of Nuclear Engineering to provide educational advancement to engineers and others working at the Hanford Nuclear Site amid the Manhattan Project. Collaboration Hall was constructed to provide an educational space that would prepare regional students for current and future regional, state and national needs.

Kirk and Noel Schulz, both engineers, said the building is a prime example of a facility that capitalizes on WSU’s land-grant mission of providing exceptional learning, research and community service.

“For a campus that thrives in providing excellent STEM education, Collaboration Hall at ���سԹ� is a fantastic place for students to learn, grow and excel, all in partnership with our regional industry,” Kirk Schulz said. “We want to thank the Washington state Legislature and the many individuals and organizations that made this facility a reality. It is a space where students will learn foundational and practical skills that will be applied to serve regional, state and national needs.”

For more information on Collaboration Hall, visit tricities.wsu.edu/collaborationhall.

Those interested in providing a gift or naming a space in the building should contact Jaime Heppler, ���سԹ� senior director of development, at 509-372-7207 or jaime.heppler@wsu.edu.

President and First Lady Schulz, Chancellor Haynes hope their investments will inspire others to support new building on Tri-Cities campus

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University President Kirk Schulz and First Lady Noel Schulz, and ���سԹ� Chancellor Sandra Haynes, are the first to donate for naming rights for the new state-of-the-art academic building currently being constructed at ���سԹ�. The building is on-schedule to open this fall.

Kirk and Noel Schulz committed $50,000 in funding to name the “Noel and Kirk Schulz Academic Support Lounge.” Haynes, a first-generation college graduate, donated $25,000 to name the “Sandra Haynes Collaboration Space in Honor of First-Generation Students.”

The state-funded academic building features eight science teaching laboratories, two large active learning classrooms, a large open-concept atrium ideal for presentations and events and a variety of study and collaborative areas. As a late addition to the exterior, the building will also house an outdoor amphitheater.

The WSU leaders hope their contributions will inspire others to follow in their footsteps and give to support the new building, which stands to prepare students for future careers in the sciences, health and medicine, engineering and other technical fields that are critical to the growing Tri-Cities region.

“Donating to this building is an investment in our students’ futures, and by doing so, contributing to the future of our region,” Haynes said. “I hope others will join us in contributing to this building.”

Noel and Kirk Schulz Academic Support Lounge

The Noel and Kirk Schulz Academic Support Lounge will provide greater access to academic and student support services and a dedicated beyond-the-classroom space for faculty and students to meet and collaborate.

“My wife, Dr. Schulz, is spending two weeks a month in the Tri-Cities working with ���سԹ�, working with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on the Advanced Grid Institute and helping the engineering program and the Tri-Cities grow and thrive,” Kirk Schulz said. “As the new building was coming up, we were talking to people about making investments and naming opportunities and Noel came home and said, ‘Hey, I think we should participate in this. Given what is taking place in the Tri-Cities, this would be a really opportune time.“

Kirk Schulz said the Tri-Cities is a hub for STEM education, with reputable expertise in energy, agriculture and environmental sciences. Earlier this year, ���سԹ� announced it would be launching a new institute centered on energy and the environment. The campus is also a part of three focusing on nuclear science and technology, advanced grid and bioproducts.

“We want to help take the building to the next level through our support of the faculty and student support lounge,” Noel Schulz said. “It’s really about all of us chipping in to make WSU, as a whole, better.”

Sandra Haynes Collaboration Space in Honor of First-Generation Students

Chancellor Sandra Haynes understands the significance of being the first in her family to go to college, like so many ���سԹ� students. More than 40% of ���سԹ� students are the first in their family to attend college.

Haynes said her investment and dedication of the collaboration space celebrates first-generation students and serves as a reminder that, on the other side of adversity, is success.

“It is so important to make sure that those students feel very supported throughout their college careers,” Haynes said. “They are taking a leap of faith and they are doing something that no one in their family has done, before. I’m contributing to this building because I want our students to be able to learn in a state-of-the-art facility with state-of-the-art equipment. It feels great to be giving back to the campus that has given so much.”

Haynes said the new building will be significant in growing the campus’ STEM-focused programs and curriculum, which stand to benefit regional industry.

“The industries in this region are highly STEM-focused,” she said. “This building will benefit regional industry by providing well-prepared graduates in these fields and welcoming regional companies and organizations in for shared experiences ranging from presentations, to partnerships for projects and more.”

Naming opportunities and other support

Mike Connell, acting vice president and CEO of the , said when WSU leaders choose to make personal investments in the future of the university, they are truly leading by example.

“The most recent investments by the Schulzes and Chancellor Haynes will open doors for students at ���سԹ� while inspiring others to join their lead in adding to WSU’s already world-class student experience,” he said.

For more information on the new ���سԹ� academic building and naming opportunities, contact Jaime Heppler at Jaime.heppler@wsu.edu or by phone at 817-243-6019.

For more information about the new ���سԹ� academic building and to access a virtual tour. visit tricities.wsu.edu/academic-building.

 

Media contacts:

Jaime Heppler, ���سԹ� senior director of development, 817-243-6019 (cell), Jaime.heppler@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, ���سԹ� director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu

Initial step in launch of future energy institute led by ���سԹ�

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Longtime Tri-Citian Bob Ferguson, who served as the first deputy assistant secretary of nuclear programs for the , made a $500,000 gift to support Washington State University Tri-Cities’ first endowed faculty position in energy and environment.

The position represents the initial step in the development of a future institute at ���سԹ�. The institute will be dedicated to understanding and shaping the region’s diverse energy resources, and will directly leverage WSU’s research strengths in water resources, environment, agriculture, policy and economics.

“The professorship and institute will focus on partnerships for research in the energy industry, fostering community discussions and relationships for policy development at the state and national levels, and developing curriculum to support future workforce needs across various energy sectors,” ���سԹ� Chancellor Sandra Haynes said. “We are incredibly grateful to Bob for his generous gift and its vast potential impacts for the Tri-Cities region and Washington state as a whole.”

Ferguson said the Tri-Cities region is already a leader in the energy sector, contributing de-carbonized power through nuclear, solar, wind, hydropower, and biofuels. To build on this foundational strength, Ferguson wanted to provide a substantial gift to launch ���سԹ�’ first endowed faculty position, and encourages others to join in donating to the effort.

“This institute would solidify the Tri-Cities as a hub, probably the first one, ever, that can link all of these energy sources, from basic research to full demonstration,” he said. “Energy is the source of all economic development. We need a curriculum. We need a workforce for the future. ���سԹ� is uniquely positioned to integrate all these areas. WSU could lead this effort for the state and the nation.”

Established foundation in energy

Ferguson’s storied career in nuclear energy began in 1957 at , where he trained and worked as a reactor physicist and reactor operations supervisor at the B Reactor – the world’s first large-scale nuclear reactor, located in the Tri-Cities. He worked his way up to the position of deputy assistant secretary of nuclear programs for the U.S. Department of Energy before making his way back to the Tri-Cities to serve as CEO for the Washington Public Power Supply System — now called .

Ferguson was actively involved in early discussions for the expansion of the Tri-Cities campus into a fully-fledged WSU campus. The campus began in the 1940s as the General Electric School of Nuclear Engineering, where it offered graduate-level programs for those working out at the Hanford Nuclear Site. In 1989, it became a WSU campus, first serving upper-level undergraduate and graduate programs and now offering full four-year bachelor’s and graduate programs in a range of fields.

“This gift is a culmination of the vision we had when we established ���سԹ� here,” Ferguson said. “This is a way to support research that WSU is doing now, as well as investing in what it could be doing in the future.”

WSU President Kirk Schulz said leveraging what each WSU campus does best — by utilizing local assets, such as the unique location and surrounding community of each campus — is the most effective way to deliver on WSU’s land-grant mission and provide optimal service to the state.

“For Tri-Cities, the clear differentiator is the confluence of nuclear, solar, hydro, biofuels, and wind power,” he said. “Bob’s gift will help transform ���سԹ� into an energy headquarters for our entire state and region.”

Because WSU is a Carnegie Research 1 university and because of its existing relationship with the through its joint nuclear, biofuels, and power grid institutes, the Ferguson gift will be a major boost for energy-related research at WSU, said Christopher Keane, WSU vice president for research.

“Bob’s gift will advance ���سԹ� research capabilities, the university’s capabilities in energy systems and WSU’s collaboration with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,” he said.

Continuing momentum with future investment

Ferguson’s gift launches an effort to raise $2 million in additional funding to fully support the endowed faculty position. The campus plans to conduct a nationwide search for the position in fall 2022.

“The lead commitment for this faculty position is an important milestone,” said Mike Connell, acting vice president and CEO of the . “Through this generous investment, Bob will inspire other individuals and industry partners to get involved and fuel an energy research hub that will have both a regional and national impact.”

Mike Wolcott, WSU associate vice president for research, said Ferguson’s reputation brings a level of prestige to WSU’s mission and will be instrumental in attracting the best talent to the region for the position and the program.

“Expanding on this foundational vision will allow us to have a greater impact on the future of our energy systems and the economic development that will be associated with its build-out,” Wolcott said. “WSU has tremendous breadth and depth to offer in many facets of energy-related topics.”

Regional legislators are also excited about the potential for the professorship and a nationally-recognized energy institute.

“Bob Ferguson’s leadership and generosity is remarkable and makes me proud to be a Tri-Citian,” said Washington state Rep. Matt Boehnke. “I can’t wait to see the research and ingenuity that comes out of the energy systems institute, as well as the leaders that are developed as a result of the new professorship.”

For more information in supporting the professorship and future institute, contact Jaime Heppler, ���سԹ� senior director of development, at 509-372-7207 or Jaime.heppler@wsu.edu.

 

Media contacts:

Jaime Heppler, ���سԹ� senior director of development, 509-372-7207, Jaime.heppler@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, ���سԹ� director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617 (cell), Maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Lori Wollerman Nelson, ���سԹ�

A team at Washington State University Tri-Cities is researching the impact that a type of fungus could have on vineyard growth and associated nutrient uptake, which could lead to less watering and less fertilizer required for a successful grape crop.

Tanya Cheeke, assistant professor of biology, was awarded a $25,000 grant by the Washington State Grape and Wine Research Program to support a series of greenhouse experiments, as well as a two-year $40,000 grant to support a field experiment from the BIOAg program of the WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Cheeke is working with graduate student KC Cifizzari and undergraduate Dylan Hartwig on the project specifically to understand the role that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, or AM fungi, play in plant nutrition and production for grapevines.

���سԹ� 85 percent of all plant species, including most crop plants, have an intimate relationship with AM fungi, Cheeke said. The naturally-occurring soil fungus forms a dense network of connections with the plant by inserting tiny threads, called hyphae, into its roots. Through this shared connection, the plant sends food to the fungus and the fungus increases water and nutrients available to the plant. AM fungi usually enhances plant nutrient uptake from the soil.

Cifizzari said they are including phosphorus treatments to see if the grapevines grown with AM fungi do just as well as plants that are only given fertilizer. If grapes grow as well with additional AM fungi and a lack of additional phosphorus as the grapes given only phosphorus, then adding AM fungi could reduce how much fertilizer vineyard managers need to apply to their vines, they said.

“The nice thing about AM fungi is that they are living organisms and the treatment should be self-renewing,” Cheeke said. “With fertilizers, you have to reapply regularly to get the same effect. That can be expensive.”

Merlot grapes are a popular varietal in Washington and were shown to respond more strongly as part of a greenhouse experiment by Cheeke and her team as compared to another varietal studied – Chardonnay.

Cheeke said the variability between varieties of crops is not uncommon, however, the researchers also caution that greenhouse conditions don’t necessarily mimic field conditions. Future research will investigate this further. A second greenhouse experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of different commercially-available AM fungi products is ongoing this fall.

“We will compare the growth of grape vines grown with three commercially-available AM fungi products, soil from a natural sagebrush habitat, and soil from a 50-year old vineyard,” Cheeke said.

The results of this study could help Cheeke know which AM fungi products to recommend to vineyard managers, if results prove successful.

Both Cheeke and Cifizzari are interested in the role that AM fungi could play in sustainable agriculture. Agricultural crops usually have reduced colonization of AM fungi because practices like applying fungicides and tilling the soil can deplete naturally-occurring sources of these fungi. Without their fungal helper, agricultural crops can require more water and fertilizer to be productive and can be more susceptible to plant diseases.

“Grape growers are very interested in the potential benefit of AM fungi, but they need more information to feel comfortable using it.” Cheeke said.

“Adding AM fungi to vineyard soils could be a way to make agriculture better for the health of the land and the people who work it,” Cifizzari said.

New agreement helps students save on costs

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Columbia Basin College and Washington State University Tri-Cities signed a new agreement on Monday, Nov. 16, that creates a seamless pathway for students to complete their first two years at CBC and transfer to ���سԹ�, which saves students costs.

Students significantly save on costs, as students in the program do not pay for the transfer application to attend ���سԹ�, do not pay for the cost of their transcripts to transfer, and tuition is also frozen from their first semester enrolled at ���سԹ�. In other words, if tuition rates increase anytime while enrolled at ���سԹ�, students continue to pay the tuition rate from their first semester at ���سԹ�.

Students also benefit from one-on-one support throughout their educational journey from both CBC and ���سԹ� from their first term in the program. They work directly with academic advisors from both institutions to solidify complete programs of study. This helps to ensure that students complete their degree programs on-time and reduce the likelihood of taking courses unnecessarily that won’t directly transfer.

Close partnership a win for all students

���سԹ� Chancellor Sandra Haynes said she is excited to sign a new agreement with CBC, as it helps reduce the complications and cost to students who wish to first attend a community college and then transfer to a four-year university.

“Our two institutions work together to create seamless pathways so that students can get the most out of their educational experience and graduate on-track, on-time and career-ready,” she said. “With ���سԹ� serving freshman, transfer, first-generation, low-income and non-traditional students, we are opening more doors to meet students where they are, today.”

Woods said CBC is also excited to strengthen its partnership with ���سԹ�.

“Many of CBC’s graduates choose to become Cougs, while staying right here in the Tri-Cities,” she said. “This agreement smooths that transition. Whether a student chooses to pursue a four-year degree at CBC, ���سԹ�, or any other institution, we are committed to helping each student find their best path forward.”

Students see direct benefits

Dawn Hughes, a current ���سԹ� education student and alumna of Columbia Basin College, said transferring from CBC to ���سԹ� provided a great local and affordable option that was a best fit for both her and her family.

“I moved to Tri-Cities in 2006 and was raising a family,” she said. “When I decided to go back to school, it fit our budget and our busy schedule. It was also convenient because I could take classes in-person, locally.”

Hughes said she received tremendous support from both her instructors at CBC and ���سԹ�. When she started school, her sister was diagnosed with cancer. She served as her sister’s bone marrow transplant and was going to have to miss some school.

“My professors were so supportive through that,” she said. “Professors from both programs are that way. They want you to succeed.”

Apply to Bridges

Applications are open now for the Bridges Program. For more information and to apply, visit tricities.wsu.edu/bridges. To qualify for the Bridges Program, students must apply in their first year at CBC and complete the “Declaration of Intent” form. Have questions or want to meet with someone about your options? Email tricities.bridges@wsu.edu.

For more information about CBC, visit . For more information about ���سԹ�, visit tricities.wsu.edu.

By Maegan Murray, WSU Tri‑Cities

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri‑Cities will now offer in-state tuition rates to students in Umatilla County, Oregon, through a new program called the “I‑82 Advantage.”

“With our proximity to Oregon, just across the Columbia River, it only makes sense to provide greater access to an excellent university education in such close proximity,” WSU Tri‑Cities Chancellor Sandra Haynes said. “This program applies to all prospective students who reside in Umatilla County.”

The program will save residents from Umatilla County thousands in tuition costs. By paying in‑state rates, tuition will cost $11,144 per year, compared to the $26,087 that an out-of-state student would pay for non‑resident tuition.

Those interested in attending WSU Tri‑Cities for spring 2021 are encouraged to apply by Nov. 15. Individuals interested in attending WSU Tri‑Cities in fall 2021 are encouraged apply by Jan. 31.

Applications can be completed online at . After completing the application for admission, prospective students from Umatilla County should complete the WSU Tri‑Cities I‑82 Advantage application to qualify for in‑state tuition rates. Apply for the I‑82 Advantage program at .

Students applying to WSU Tri‑Cities should also make sure to complete the WSU Tri‑Cities scholarship application by Jan. 31 at .

For more information about the I‑82 Advantage program, visit tricities.wsu.edu/admissions/i82advantage.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this cost-saving option for local students in Umatilla County, Oregon,” Haynes said. “We continually try to identify ways where we can meet students where they are. The COVID‑19 pandemic presents additional financial challenges for many local families. We do not want it to prevent students from achieving their dream of attending college that will help in setting them up for success for their future.”

WSU Tri‑Cities will also continue to offer what is known as the Border Bill program. The State of Washington’s Border Bill allows Oregon residents who live in specified counties, or who have recently moved to Washington from those counties, to attend WSU Tri‑Cities part‑time (8 credits or less per semester) and pay resident tuition rates. The specific Oregon counties whose residents are eligible for this benefit are: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Multnomah, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco and Washington. The application to apply for that program is located at tricities.wsu.edu/finaid/tuition-waivers.

For those with concerns about COVID‑19 and returning for any in‑person learning, all WSU Tri‑Cities classrooms are now equipped to offer virtual instruction, regardless of whether a class is offered in‑person or virtually.

ACT and SAT scores are also not being used as a factor for admissions decisions through spring semester 2022.

For more information about WSU Tri‑Cities, visit .

 

Media contacts: 

Maegan Murray, ���سԹ� assistant director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, WSU Tri‑Cities

RICHLAND, Wash. – In light of the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order by Gov. Jay Inslee, as well as K-12 schools not returning to in-person learning throughout the state, Washington State University Tri-Cities launched a new website dedicated to educational children’s activities and a new reading program where kids virtually read along with ���سԹ� faculty and can earn WSU prizes.

�ճ����website features a variety of do-it-at-home activities ranging from those that pertain to WSU and Coug spirit, such as creating your own Butch T. Cougar mask, to science experiments and other fun activities using supplies that most families likely already have and use in their home.

Additionally, through the new “Super Coug Readers” program in partnership with The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, children can watch videos of ���سԹ� faculty reading their favorite books. Children can also earn prizes for completing a Super Coug Readers reading calendar and/or completing a “Super Coug Readers Bingo” challenge.

The project is being led by the ���سԹ� community engagement team in partnership with the ���سԹ� College of Education and The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia.

“As a public university, we saw an opportunity to provide children and their families with fun and educational activities that are safe and readily available to complete in their own homes, especially during this unusual time,” said Jaime Heppler, ���سԹ� executive director of advancement and community engagement. “Many parents, such as myself, are looking for engaging activities for their kids. This new website and reading program provide activities that foster learning and curiosity. We are excited to offer this as a resource for our regional families.”

Benefits of reading aloud with your kids

Elizabeth Barnes, executive director of The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, said children who read for at least 20 minutes per day score in the 90^th percentile in standardized tests, are successful in school, are more likely to graduate from college and become successful in life.

“The skills and knowledge you gain from reading or being read to from birth are astronomical,” she said. “This is a very natural partnership for The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia and ���سԹ�, as both organizations are trying to better the community through education.”

Barnes said children reading along with ���سԹ� faculty presents a great way for children to be exposed to different educational opportunities and careers that are available in the regional Tri-Cities community.

“What kind of impact could an engineering professor have on a young girl and her parents if they were to hear ‘Rosie Revere, Engineer,’ for the first time?” she said. “What kind of connections to the real world could this have on a family that may never have contemplated a life for their daughter in the sciences?”

Reading with industry experts – ���سԹ� faculty

Sara Sorensen Petersen, a ���سԹ� clinical assistant professor of education and board member with the Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, said she and her fellow faculty members are excited to provide educational opportunities for regional students to learn from faculty members in a range of fields and from a range of backgrounds and cultures.

“Speaking as a mom and an educator, it is great for kids to see others than mom and dad reading, as well as see professionals in their communities and learn a bit more about what they do,” she said. “We have female science professors, for example, that could inspire young girls to think about a career in the sciences. It’s just a great tie-in and presents a great opportunity for our local families.”

A free resource for families

The new Cougar Family Fun website is available for free and accessible to the public.

Additionally, The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia is supplying ���سԹ� with an assortment of children’s books that will be given out at the ���سԹ� Cougar Cupboard sponsored by Lamb Weston food pantry, in addition to food pick-up locations in Pasco and Kennewick for ���سԹ� students and their families.  on pick-up locations and how to donate can be found online.

 

Media Contacts:

Jaime Heppler, ���سԹ� executive director of advancement and community engagement, 509-372-7207, jaime.heppler@wsu.edu

Sara Sorensen Petersen, ���سԹ� clinical assistant professor of education, 509-372-7395, sarapetersen@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, ���سԹ� public relations/communication coordinator, 509-372-7333, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri-Cities will break ground on its new $30 million academic building at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, on the vacant lot across from the Consolidated Information Center (CIC) on campus.

While the event is not open to the public, members of the media are invited to attend.

The 40,000-square-foot building will house a suite of teaching laboratories, classrooms, collaborative meeting spaces for students and faculty, study spaces, as well as a grand staircase that will feature open seating for lectures and presentations. The building is being funded by the Washington state Legislature.

“This facility will present many transformational learning and collaborative experiences for all ���سԹ� students,” said ���سԹ� Chancellor Sandra Haynes. “While the focus of the building is the sciences, nearly all ���سԹ� will take courses in the building, and all are welcome to use the variety of study nooks, collaborative spaces and more that came highly requested by our study body.”

Haynes said the building design is the result of feedback they received as part of a variety of open forum sessions with students, faculty and staff about what they wanted to see in the space, as well as how the facilities could best be utilize for learning.

The new academic building is expected to open in fall 2021.

The teaching laboratories in the new facility will include:

• A physics laboratory
• Two biology laboratories
• A chemistry laboratory
• An Anatomy/physiology laboratory
• A geology laboratory
• A multidisciplinary laboratory
• An engineering classroom

Collaborative spaces include:

• An active learning room
• A team-based classroom
• Office spaces
• Three small-sized solution rooms
• Two medium-sized solution rooms

As part of a groundbreaking ceremony, individuals will hear remarks from ���سԹ� Chancellor Sandra Haynes; WSU Regent Lura Powell; engineering student Adriana McKinney; ZGF principal architect Taka Soga; Chip Tull, vice president of Hoffman Construction Company; as well as Zachary Harper, vice president for the Associated Students of ���سԹ�.

Light refreshments will be served.

Individuals interested in partnering for betterments, laboratory equipment and technology and more for the building, should contact Jaime Heppler, ���سԹ� executive director of advancement and community engagement, at 509-372-7207 or jaime.heppler@wsu.edu.

For more information about the ���سԹ� academic building, visit tricities.wsu.edu/academic-building.

 

Media contacts:

Jaime Heppler, ���سԹ� executive director of advancement and community engagement, 509-372-7207, jaime.heppler@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, ���سԹ� public relations specialist, 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu

RICHLAND, Wash. –  Washington State University Tri-Cities students will present semester and course research and art projects as part of the Undergraduate Research Symposium and Art Exhibition Dec. 9 and Dec. 11-13.

Sessions will take place from noon – 1 p.m. each day in Consolidated Information Center (CIC) 120, with the exception of Wednesday’s session, which takes place from noon – 1 p.m. in the CIC Art Gallery.

“Students have the opportunity to publicly present course and research projects that not only provide hands-on opportunities to explore topics within their field, but also projects that bridge into community partnerships to solve real-world problems,” said Allison Matthews, clinical associate professor of psychology and coordinator for the symposium.

Some of the academic areas highlighted during the symposium include: the sciences, digital technology and culture, fine arts, history, mathematics and psychology.

Some of the projects featured during the symposium include:

• The exploration of American roots, including topics such as immigration, migration and ethnic identity
• Nutrient limitation of microbial and algal biofilms in Cascade streams
• Drawing and paintings that depict a variety of themes, including topics of expressing the evolution of humanity, nostalgia for the past or hope and/or fear for the future;  and spirituality, mythology, or emotional state

For more information, contact Matthews at 509-372-7146 or almatthews@wsu.edu.

 

Media contacts:

Allison Matthews, clinical associate professor of psychology and symposium coordinator, 509-372-7146, almatthews@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, ���سԹ� public relations specialist, 509-372-7333, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Three individuals were honored this year as 2019 ���سԹ� Women of Distinction for their notable contributions to the campus and community through service, teaching and/or involvement.

The 2019 ���سԹ� Women of Distinction recipients were recognized this fall as part of a ceremony at the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center.

A huge congratulations goes out to these fantastic individuals who have given greatly to ���سԹ�, its students and their community!

Tanya Cheeke – ���سԹ� assistant professor of biological sciences

Tanya Cheeke is an assistant professor in the School of Biological Sciences at ���سԹ� where she studies using symbiotic fungi to help native plants get re-established in disturbed landscapes. Her work has the capacity to repopulate native plant environments, especially after incidents of natural disasters such as wildfires. Tanya is the recipient of thousands of dollars in research grants and formerly was honored as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, Carl Tryggers Postdoctoral Fellow, Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results Fellow, as well as a visiting scholar at Indiana University. In addition to her research, Tanya works extensively to mentor students in the biological sciences program. She mentors students who were selected for the Chancellor’s Summer Scholars Program, in addition to regularly mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in her lab throughout the school year.

Bernadette “Bernie” Gagnier – ���سԹ� wine science student

Bernie currently studies integrated plant sciences with an emphasis in viticulture and enology at ���سԹ� where she plans to graduate May 2020. She served for nearly five years in the  Marine Corps. As a student veteran at ���سԹ�, Bernie led the effort in partnering with Bombing Range Brewing Company to initiate a partnership with the Patriots’ Club and Veterans Center at ���سԹ� to provide hands-on opportunities for student veterans in beermaking, which also led to the organization donating more than $2,000 back to student veteran-related services. She serves as a tasting room attendant and participates in local events and limited production at Kiona Vineyards and Winery. Additionally, she works at the WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser, where she works with associate professor Michelle Moyer on nematicide efficacy evaluation, nematode management and rootstock evaluations as it pertains to wine grapes and vineyards.

Dashia Hopp – Co-owner of Bombing Range Brewing Company

Dashia and her husband started Bombing Range Brewing Company in 2017, paying tribute to the Hanford Site and those who have served in the Armed Forces. Shortly afterward, they were approached by the ���سԹ� Patriots’ Club and Veterans Center, asking if they would like to partner with the organizations for a unique opportunity that would allow student veterans to partake in the beer brewing process, but also as a means to give back to student veterans. The effort has led to the release of two “GIPA” beers that sold out within the first two weeks of release, a visit from former U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis and the donation of more than $2,000 to support student veterans at ���سԹ�. A few months ago, she and her husband opened a restaurant called “The Dive Restaurant and Bar” in Richland near their Bombing Range Brewing Company location. She and her husband also earned the “2017 Entrepreneur of the Year” award through the Richland Rotary Club, and were nominated this month for the “Excellence in Customer Service Award” by Visit Tri-Cities.

For more information about the ���سԹ� Women of Distinction program, visit tricities.wsu.edu/women-of-distinction.