Join 厙ぴ勛圖 with a gift to support student success and student hardship relief as part of #CougsGive Day on Wednesday, April 14!

厙ぴ勛圖 is raising dollars for the following funds as part of泭#CougsGive Day:

• 厙ぴ勛圖 Chancellor’s Excellence Fund
• 厙ぴ勛圖 Scholars Excellence Fund
• 厙ぴ勛圖 Emergency Hardship Fund

To donate, visit cougsgive.wsu.edu/tricities.

Every dollar goes toward supporting student success and preventing student hardship. It’s been a tumultuous year. Let’s celebrate our students with a donation that celebrates them!

 

SEB/ASWSUTC Student #CougsGive Day Sharing Challenge
Win Coug prize packs or a $200 Bookie gift card
Winners announced at noon (prize packs) and 8 p.m. (gift card)

Share a quick sentence or story about someone at 厙ぴ勛圖 who changed your life for the better on , or and tag @WSUTriCities AND #CougsGiveTC.

• Five students will be randomly selected to win a 厙ぴ勛圖 prize pack (announced at noon)
• One student will be randomly selected to win a $200 gift card to The Bookie (announced at 8 p.m.)

 

Alaska Airlines Faculty Challenge
Faculty can earn a $2,500 Alaska Airlines voucher for their department
Winner announced at 1 p.m.

The 厙ぴ勛圖 academic department with the most donations from faculty to one of the three泭厙ぴ勛圖 #CougsGive Day funds泭will earn a $2,500 Alaska Airlines flight voucher for their department.

 

HAPO Cares Challenge
Unlock a $500 HAPO matching gift
Announced at 3 p.m.

The first 10 gifts to the泭厙ぴ勛圖 Scholars Excellence Fund泭unlocks a $500 gift from HAPO Community Credit Union.

 

Show Your Cougar Pride Challenge
Win a Coug prize pack
Winner announced at 5 p.m.

Share on泭,泭泭棗娶泭泭about why you give to 厙ぴ勛圖 and tag @WSUTriCities AND #CougsGiveTC.

A winner will be selected to win a 厙ぴ勛圖 Coug prize pack.

 

CougsGive Employee Challenge
Unlock a $500 Advancement matching gift
Announced at 7 p.m.

The first 10 厙ぴ勛圖 employees to give to the泭厙ぴ勛圖 Student Emergency Hardship Fund泭will be matched by the 厙ぴ勛圖 Advancement team (up to $500).

 

厙ぴ勛圖 Chancellor Challenge
$500 and $250 additional gifts from Chancellor Haynes
Winner announced at 10 a.m. next day (April 15)

The top two泭厙ぴ勛圖 #CougsGive Day funds泭with the most unique donors will unlock $500 and $250 gifts, respectively, from Chancellor Sandra Haynes.

 

厙ぴ勛圖 nursing alum planned to do missionary work abroad, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed his plans

By Maegan Murray

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Prior to the onset of COVID-19, recently graduated Washington State University Tri-Cities nursing alumnus Nikita Fisenko had his heart set on traveling abroad as a nursing missionary in areas that otherwise would not have access to medical care.

He hoped to temporarily return to his native country of Uzbekistan to visit his homeland and relive his childhood. He hoped to also travel to Israel to apply both his nursing skill and evangelize to individuals and families.

���I believe there are countless needs around the world, and even in my hometown,��� he said.

In college, he worked hard to apply the hands-on learning he received both through the WSU nursing program and through clinical experiences. He studied abroad twice ��� once to Costa Rica as part of a health translation program, and a second time to Peru with fellow WSU nursing students to provide care to remote communities that otherwise might not receive it. He also completed additional clinical experiences at Kadlec, which wasn���t required for the WSU nursing program after completing the experience abroad in Peru. But he said he wanted to prepare himself as best he could as a future nurse.

His hard work and passion for the field led him to earn the Outstanding Bachelor���s of Science in Nursing Student Award last December ��� given to only one nursing student WSU systemwide.

After graduation, he took several months to complete a program through the Youth Bible Program in Everett, Washington, to prepare a spiritual foundation in his faith, where he read through the whole New Testament of the Bible. With the pandemic that began in March, his plans changed, but he secured a position locally where he could still apply quality care to the regional Tri-Cities community.

���Being a nurse is a gift, a blessing and a privilege,��� he said. ���Providing holistic care is the best care, and that means physical, social, mental and spiritual well-being.���

Quality care locally

Fisenko took on a registered nursing position with the emergency department at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland in Aug. 2020, where he has continued to put his background in healthcare to good use amid the pandemic.

���Since the onset of COVID-19, my nursing skills, knowledge and training have become the best tools and resources,��� he said. ���As new information is released about the virus, treatment plan, and precautions, each frontline worker must prioritize personal safety as the most essential.���

He said even with all precautions taken, however, there are still risks with the virus, for both him and his family. He said his faith has allowed him the mental clarity, drive and hope to continue to provide exceptional care and provide for his family.

���Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen,��� he said. ���Thus, I must stand strong in my faith that I will remain healthy and well, so I can continue to work and provide for my family.���

Compassionate care amid difficult times

Workload for nurses has certainly increased amid the pandemic. Fisenko said with the stress of the system and added stress by unhealthy individuals that otherwise would find themselves well, sometimes come unhappy patients.

He said he can add positivity to an otherwise undesirable situation through being compassionate and thorough in delivery of care, as well as with a positive attitude with those he serves and works with.

���When a patient arrives to the emergency department in critical condition, I realize it is my duty and desire to help and support the patient in the best way I know,��� he said. ���With the caring leadership of emergency doctors and compassionate nurses, I believe the patient is receiving the best care during their stay. Educating my patients about their health and care brings me joy and fulfillment. I want to give power of information and understanding to each patient, so when they go home, they know how to get better and continue to stay healthy.���

Plans post-COVID

Post-COVID-19, Fisenko said he still hopes to use his skill in medical care and background in faith outside of the regional Tri-Cities community. He also continues to grow his knowledge for wherever life may take him.

In addition to his fluency in Spanish, Russian and Ukrainian, he is working on adding American Sign Language to the list, which he hopes to apply locally and wherever his role may take him states-side.

���I pray that God blesses me with an opportunity to go on a mission to serve people spiritually and medically,��� he said. ���My desire is to go to Spanish speaking countries where I could l utilize my language skills. I also want to serve the deaf and hard of hearing communities.���

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Sharing the complete picture of humanity, especially the hard topics, so that one-day she can affect positive change.

That���s the reason photographer and Washington State University Tri-Cities alumna Madison Rosenbaum first picked up a camera. Shedding light on difficult social issues and providing a voice for the unheard is also what led her to document local protests following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

The images themselves do the talking, and they allow others to share their own stories, Rosenbaum said.

���There are seven billion people on this planet experiencing the world differently every day,��� she said. ���If I can provide a glimpse into those experiences for others intentionally or unintentionally seeking to better connect with humanity, then my artistry is serving the purpose I want it to.���

Photography as a catalyst

Rosenbaum said she hopes her photographs of this month help the community mourn the unjust deaths of African Americans, tell the stories of those still experiencing racism and inequality, and serve as a catalyst for positive change.

���As an artist and someone who identifies as white, I want to do better at providing a space for marginalized groups簫���for black, indigenous, people of color���to see themselves in art and to have their stories heard,��� she said. ���I will always be a believer that storytelling through photography can help be the bridge to connecting and understanding someone else���s lived experience with an open mind and open heart.���

Photography, she said, can often shed light on feelings, emotions, actions and even consequences where words may fall short. In her recent photographs of the protests, the portraits display the frustration, grit and pain experienced by many as they held signs stating ���Black lives matter,��� ���I can���t breathe��� and ���Together we stand.���

���In an age of social media, it is easier than ever to be vocal about social issues,��� she said. ���I hope those viewing my work are choosing to listen to the stories told by those in the photographs and take their stories to heart. Their experiences are valid and real.���

Building a foundation with education

While she didn���t know it at the time, Rosenbaum said choosing two seemingly unmatched degree programs to double major in at 厙ぴ勛圖, digital technology and culture and psychology, helped open her mind to how she could use creativity to shine light on social issues.

Through her digital technology and culture courses, she mastered and refined the skills and techniques that now allow her to capture color, angles, light and emotion in her art, and she learned the power of using art to shine light on important topics. Her psychology courses, she said, provided a foundational understanding of the human mind, and how humans interact and relate.

During her senior year, Rosenbaum was invited by digital technology and culture professor Peter Christenson to participate in the ���Women artists from the Columbia Valley��� exhibition, which featured 64 contemporary female artists and their work. As part of her submission for the exhibition, Rosenbaum collaborated with two other artists on images of mental health, and specifically her personal journey with depression.

���They were self-portraits that we each helped one another construct and produce,��� she said. ���Being in front of the camera as a model exploring something incredibly vulnerable was difficult, but I realized it was an outlet to discuss something that I was passionate about and often did not have the words for. It was the first step for me in understanding storytelling through photography and an experience I keep in mind always as I help others explore theirs.���

Telling stories

After that first exhibition, Rosenbaum began producing and participating in other photography and art projects that helped shed light on social, emotional and political topics.

She organized 厙ぴ勛圖��� first student-curated photo exhibition, which featured artist-submitted works on the topics of domestic and sexual violence, social injustice, racism, sexuality and inequality. She said while it made some people uncomfortable, it was well received by individuals who stated that it helped them explore hard to discuss topics.

After graduating from 厙ぴ勛圖 in 2015, she expanded upon a series of photographs she began as a student called ���,��� which features dozens of individual portraits and stories that explore vulnerabilities of humankind and examine sociopolitical barriers through an artistic lens. She began another series titled ������ on what life is like as an immigrant in 21^st century America, as well as a series specifically detailing struggles with mental health called ���.���

In March of this year, amid the COVID-19 health crisis, she began a series detailing individuals��� experiences from home and those who work on the frontlines in healthcare titled ���.��� The series features individuals from the Tri-Cities area, as well as others who live around the world. Many said they wanted to participate because they wanted to share their personal experiences, and also as a way to connect while everyone feels so isolated.

���When Madison asked me if I would be interested in participating in the project, my family and I [had recently] experienced a tragedy and I wanted to share a realization,��� said Carina Le籀n, a participant in the project. ���My life has suddenly become more precious, and I want to be more conscious of the moments I have with myself and with my loved ones.���

���I participated in ���Tales from Home��� because I wanted to give people the perspective of someone in the heart of the pandemic, one of the largest metropolitan hotspots in the world,��� said Maximilian VonderMehden, a 厙ぴ勛圖 alumnus and a nurse in Los Angeles. ���I wanted to give some perspective that even if the disease isn���t ���right at your doorstep,��� what we���re all doing still matters, still plays a part, and is still essential.���

Using art to open eyes

Rosenbaum said while some of her projects may make people uncomfortable, it is for the purpose of positive change, and it has helped to open her eyes to her own inherent thoughts and emotions.

���I want to challenge viewers and their biases,��� she said. ���I want to challenge my own views and biases. These stories have changed my life. I have become more educated about the histories and cultures and experiences of marginalized groups. I have become an advocate in my community. My work to dismantle white supremacy and examining my white privilege is a constant journey, but I am trying every day and in every story I share.���

Photography, Rosenbaum said, is a way to not only express herself, but to express the thoughts, emotions, struggles and triumphs of others.

���We can all be agents of change,��� she said. ���Blog. Write. Sing. Create. Photograph. Draw. Paint. No matter your craft, do it with intention.���

To view Rosenbaum���s work, visit .

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Life preparation. It was the thing that most drove Dana Dollarhyde to get a college degree and the thing that she said she is most grateful for her college experience from Washington State University Tri-Cities.

Dollarhyde chose 厙ぴ勛圖 for her college option because it was affordable ��� she received thousands in scholarships and also qualified for the College Bound Program, which would pay for her tuition in full. But it was 厙ぴ勛圖 staff and faculty that helped her find her passion for graphic design and marketing and a career pathway that made most sense for her personal goals.

���I knew I wanted to get a degree in something that I was going to use, not only career-wise, but also in life,��� she said. ���I wanted it to be something practical that I could apply directly to my life. 厙ぴ勛圖 helped me find that path and helped get me there. I found my ideal degree program.���

That program, she said, was digital technology and culture ��� an multimedia and arts-based degree that allows students to study and explore communication through media platforms. And it was the connections she made along the way that led to her success.

Finding her dream career

Dollarhyde had first decided on a pathway in computer science when she started at 厙ぴ勛圖 as a freshman. She took introductory courses in coding and other related fields, but realized the path wasn���t for her. She decided to take a course in digital technology and culture, which would allow her to build skills in graphic design, video production, photography and web design. The degree program proved to be a perfect fit.

She switched majors, intending to still use her experience in computer science, and instead dedicated full-force to a career path in graphic design.

In her courses, she was taught out to use programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere and more. She learned how to edit videos, take photographs using a DSLR camera and how to market herself digitally in the multimedia sphere.

Her professors, she said, were knowledgeable and supportive of her and her peers in their preparation for a career in multimedia fields.

���I really enjoyed my classes and my professors really cared about us succeeding in our field,��� she said. ���I was also able to make a number of connections that set me up for success.���

Connecting degree to real-life

As a student at 厙ぴ勛圖, Dollarhyde first worked for the financial aid office, and then in the Office of Admissions as a student ambassador. Through this role, she gave tours and educated prospective students about life as a student at 厙ぴ勛圖.

She was then connected with an opportunity to work as a student graphic designer with the Office of Student Life, where she used what she had learned in class to produce flyers, pamphlets, screen displays and more.

In combination with her role as a graphic designer, she also served as an orientation leader, where she worked with new students to educate them about all that 厙ぴ勛圖 has to offer and use her creative mentality to help come up with programming and activities.

By the end of her student experience, Dollarhyde was overseeing her fellow student leaders in the Office of Student Life, which provided an incredible learning opportunity where she also gained some management experience.

The small campus size, she said, made it easy for students to pursue leadership and other extracurricular opportunities ��� all of which were incredibly valuable to her college experience.

���The connections I made and the opportunities I had at 厙ぴ勛圖 were great,��� she said. ���I always had someone to connect with and talk to because of the things I got to be involved in on campus. It���s the real reason why I was successful.���

���厙ぴ勛圖 prepared me for real life���

After graduating in 2018, Dollarhyde is now pursuing a career in design, where she works as a marketer for Retter and Company Sotheby���s International Realty ��� a job connection she made as a result of her mentor at 厙ぴ勛圖.

Chris Meiers, vice chancellor for student affairs at 厙ぴ勛圖, saw that the company was looking for someone to fulfill the full-time position and connected Dollarhyde with a contact at the company and gave her a recommendation.

���He thought I would be a good resource for them,��� she said. ���They were looking for someone to do design and web ��� someone with a full skills set. He reached out to me and it worked out really well.���

She spends her days producing website, creating digital graphics and other design materials, creating videos for realtors and more.

Looking back on her 厙ぴ勛圖 experience, Dollarhyde said her experience at 厙ぴ勛圖 really did prepare her for the real world, especially in her field.

���厙ぴ勛圖 really prepared me for real life,��� she said. ���Looking back, it���s more than the degree you get. It���s the skills that you get, the connections you make. It���s the little things along the way that prepare you for something big.���

Interested in pursuing a degree in design or other multimedia field? Visit泭tricities.wsu.edu/cas/undergraduate/dtc.

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. – After taking one class at a time over a 40-year journey, Washington State University Tri-Cities business administration alumna Vanessa Moore said she now has a sense of professional security and knowledge she can utilize throughout the remainder of her professional career – especially with her position out at the .

After getting involved with a variety of business programming in the mid-1970s as a student at Hanford and Richland High Schools, Moore said she always had a yearning to go into business. She participated in the Cooperative Office Education program at her school, which was business-related, and also in Future Business Leaders of America.

She decided to attend WSU in Pullman because she liked the smaller university size as compared with other public schools and the close-knit community atmosphere where she began her degree in business administration. But shortly afterward, her plans diverged.

“My plan was to go for five years and get two degrees: one in accounting and the other in business administration,” she said. “But plans change.”

Switching gears mid-career

Moore got married in the spring of 1976 and afterward, decided to continue with an associate’s at Columbia Basin College in Pasco. There, while raising two sons, she took one class at a time before earning her associate���s. The slow process allowed her to focus on her family, while gradually working toward her degree. All the while, her husband managed his family’s business.

“I was fortunate to be a stay at home mom at the time, so I was able to take one class at a time and study,” she said. “I wouldn’t have to be away from home that much. I could fit study time in between. And all the while, I could make sure there was no financial burden on our family.”

In 1985, Moore returned to the workforce, holding various positions with Bank of America until taking a job with the prime contractor at Hanford. With improved financial security, she said complacency set in and she took a break from school. A few years later, however, she was laid off due to workforce restructuring.

Knowing that getting her bachelor’s would provide her with a safer foundation for if she were to ever experience that strain again, she decided to go back to school for her bachelor’s at 厙ぴ勛圖 in 2009. Once again, she would take one class at a time.

“I never wanted to be in that position again – not having a bachelor’s,” she said. “I remember looking at the job postings when I wasn’t working, thinking, ���Sure I have years of relevant experience, but you have to have a degree.��� It motivated me to get back in and go until I was finished. You always want to be prepared.”

Why 厙ぴ勛圖?

Moore said 厙ぴ勛圖 provided a great local option for higher education, in addition to the rigor and reputation of an established business program. She said many of her family members are also WSU Cougs. Moore���s brother, Duke Mitchell, also previously served on the WSU Advisory Council of Tri-Cities, in addition serving on the board at Columbia Basin College.

“Of the six of us siblings, four of us are Cougs,” she said. “It’s special knowing that you all have this connection to the same school.”

While studying at 厙ぴ勛圖, Moore said she relished the interaction that she got from the diverse group of students on campus, as well as her professors. The age range of the students, she said, provided her with a good atmosphere to feel comfortable with people her own age, but also to experience the younger side of life with more traditional-aged student.

Her older age, she said, also allowed her to connect to current events that she could then help to explain to some of her younger peers.

“I was able to provide my perspective of what it was like in the real-world, and I think some of the other students appreciated that,” she said.

She also enjoyed the classes, themselves. From her business programming, which is directly applicable in her current position as a staffing coordinator for the work-based learning department at , to her core-curricular classes ranging from history to science, she said there was always something applicable to her life to be gained.

Her business courses were taught by professors, who, in conjunction with their role as educators at 厙ぴ勛圖, also held current or former jobs out in the business sector.

And while on her educational journey, Vanessa use what she learned to co-found three companies and guide two charitable organizations through the non-profit solidification and requirements process.

A bachelor���s is worth it

Now, after spending many years completing her business administration degree and finishing this past semester, she said it feels surreal driving to work every day to PNNL and passing 厙ぴ勛圖 without having to go to class, but that the effort was worth it.

“I am very grateful for my experience here and the people I came to know and what I have gained as a result,” she said. “Getting my degree was important to me, and I wanted to finish it without accruing any student loans. The feeling of completion and accomplishment and knowing that I did well is so validating.”

She said she also wants to thank her family and employer, PNNL, for their support.

“My husband, Leonard Moore, was so supportive of it all and patient in understanding why it was important for me,” she said. “He, I and the boys kind of went on this journey together … I am also thankful to my employer for the tuition reimbursement program, and to my colleagues. My manager at work was so excited for me when I finished.”

Moore���s brother, Duke Mitchell, said seeing his sister graduate from WSU after all these years is inspiring.

���In my opinion, higher education is one of the primary keys to success in life for everyone, not only now, but throughout history,��� he said. ���I am so proud of Vanessa ��� She has raised children and helped raise grandchildren and she has always been a great role model for everyone throughout the years. Her graduation from WSU now is just one more example of her strength and character.���

���Don���t wait and lose out���

Moore encourages people to take advantage of the opportunities while they are younger.

“It definitely got harder as I got older,” she said. “The ability to stay up late and study and remember it all. I noticed a big difference in my 60s as compared to my 40s.”

She also encourages people to think about the earning potential and possibilities at stake without a bachelor’s degree.

“Think of the earning power that was lost and the opportunities,” she said of her years without a university degree. “There are a lot of benefits that come with a bachelor’s degree. Don’t wait and lose out on those opportunities.”

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Registration is now open for employers to sign up for a booth at the 2018 Washington State University Tri-Cities Career Fair, which will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20,泭in the Student Union and Consolidated Information Center buildings on campus.

Held each fall, the career fair is open to 厙ぴ勛圖 students, alumni and the general public. The career fair offers employers an opportunity to reach its staffing goals while allowing 厙ぴ勛圖 students to search for and connect with potential employment and internship opportunities. The career fair provides employers access to more than 1,900 students, local alumni and public job seekers.

Employers should register for the event before Sept. 17. The cost is $100.

泭is open until Sept. 17 for employers paying with a credit card.

Employers requesting to pay by check should contact the 厙ぴ勛圖 Career Development office at泭tricities.careers@wsu.edu.

Late registration costs $125 and is subject to space availability after Sept. 17. For late registration availability, employers should contact Jason Yi, 厙ぴ勛圖 career and internship coordinator,泭509-372-7613泭棗娶泭jason.yi@wsu.edu.

For more information about the Career Fair, visit泭/careerdev/careerfair.

 

Contacts:

• Jason Yi, 厙ぴ勛圖 career and internship coordinator, 509-372-7613, jason.yi@wsu.edu
• Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖 public relations specialist, 509-372-7333,泭maegan_murray@wsu.edu

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Washington State University Tri-Cities will honor 12 individuals as part of its 2018 Women of Distinction class during a gallery exhibition opening and reception at 4 p.m. on April 20 in the Consolidated Information Center Art Gallery on campus.

The 厙ぴ勛圖 Women of Distinction program recognizes female students, staff, faculty, alumnae and community members who have made notable contributions to the campus and their community through service, teaching or involvement.

���It is our honor and privilege to recognize exceptional female leaders, mentors and overall professionals that have given back to the university and their communities,��� said Chris Meiers, 厙ぴ勛圖 vice chancellor of student affairs. ���These are individuals who have improved access to educational opportunities, created pathways for others to be successful and generally provided incredible support to the next generation of leaders.���

Those being honored as the 厙ぴ勛圖 2018 Women of Distinction class include:

• LoAnn Ayers ��� United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties president and CEO
• Eadie Balint ��� 厙ぴ勛圖 professional development and community education coordinator
• Diahann Howard ��� Port of Benton director of economic development and governmental affairs and Tri-Cities Research District executive director
• Savanna Kresse ��� 厙ぴ勛圖 junior studying history and pre-law
• Kate McAteer ��� 厙ぴ勛圖 assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs
• Mysti Meiers ��� 厙ぴ勛圖 senior academic advisor
• Judy Morrison ��� 厙ぴ勛圖 academic director for the College of Education and associate professor of education
• Maegan Murray ��� 厙ぴ勛圖 public relations/communication coordinator
• Sarah Newcomer ��� 厙ぴ勛圖 assistant professor of education
• Darlene Scrivner ��� Columbia Basin College special assistant to the president
• Karen Sinclair ��� Mission Support Alliance project manager
• Dani Young ��� 厙ぴ勛圖 junior studying civil engineering

After the ceremony on April 20, all photos and biographies of the award recipients will be on display in the East Building hallway next to The Bookie, 厙ぴ勛圖��� student bookstore.

The honorees will also be highlighted on the 厙ぴ勛圖 Women of Distinction website at /women-of-distinction/.

 

Contact:

Danielle Kleist, 厙ぴ勛圖 specialist assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs, 509-372-7104, danielle.kleist@wsu.edu

泭泭

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Robb Zimmel remembers as a child watching his German relatives create concoctions from grapes and beets, onions and rhubarb. It wasn���t a stew, though, but wine that was cooked, bottled, capped with balloons and left to ferment.

���The balloons would get bigger and bigger,��� said Zimmel, a Washington State University Tri-Cities graduate. ���As soon as they deflated, my grandma would say ���it is time��� and they would gather to finish the winemaking process.���

Since that early age, he has been comforted by the memory of winemaking, inspired by some of the most beautiful women in his life. This summer, he will release wines on his own label after graduating as part of 厙ぴ勛圖��� first blended learning classes last year.

���I fell in love with that process, that romance, that wonderful feeling that came with making wine,��� he said.

Education ���changed my life���

While pursuing a full-time career as a flight paramedic in Portland, Ore., Zimmel followed his family���s example and made wine on the side. But after Sept. 11, 2001, he was called from the U.S. Army Reserves to serve overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He remembers calling his wife late one night in 2010 on a satellite phone from the middle of the desert: ���I can���t do this anymore,��� he said. She asked if he would be interested in putting his wine experience to use as a new career.

The day he got back to the United States, he headed to the WSU Vancouver campus where he studied for two years before transferring to 厙ぴ勛圖 to complete his degree in viticulture and enology.

���At WSU, I���ve studied with some of the nation���s best wine professors and worked with alumni who have studied all over the world,��� he said. ���My education at WSU changed my life.���

Winning ways ��� and wines

A little more than a year ago, Zimmel was recommended for a position in the tasting room at Barnard Griffin Winery in Richland by friend and fellow WSU viticulture and enology graduate Joel Perez.

Zimmel credits owners Deborah Barnard and Rob Griffin and their daughters Elise Jackson and Megan Hughes for his growth as a winemaker. Griffin would often invite him to bring in wine he made to be tasted and refined.

���Why would they go out of their way to help me?��� Zimmel said. ���But that���s just how they are. They are the most giving family I���ve ever met.���

���I���ve always been interested in the education part of the wine industry,��� Griffin said. ���I do it because I want the Washington wine industry to be great. If Washington wins, we all win.���

Embraced by family of vintners

With the support of the Barnard Griffin family and WSU, Zimmel said, he created the first batch of wine on his label, Cerebella. The name refers to a part of the brain and is a tie to his former career in the medical field.

He created 500 cases of wine in four varietals including a riesling, chardonnay, merlot and malbec. They will be available for purchase this summer.

To preorder or arrange a tasting, contact him through his Facebook page, Zimmel Unruh Cellars.

���I just can���t believe that day has finally come,��� Zimmel said. ���I���m a winemaker, and I owe it all to the people who have helped me along the way. It���s a dream come true. It really is.���