By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

HERMISTON, Ore. ��� Washington State University Tri-Cities is partnering with Blue Mountain Community College for a direct student transfer program that will save students money, increase pathways for STEM careers and help students graduate on-track and on-time with a bachelor���s degree.

Through the 厙ぴ勛圖-BMCC Bridges Program, students do not pay an admissions application fee, nor do they pay for access to transcripts to transfer to 厙ぴ勛圖. Students in the program also benefit from in-state tuition rates once attending 厙ぴ勛圖.

Throughout their time at both schools, students work with an academic advisor at both BMCC and 厙ぴ勛圖 to develop a complete program of study. Through that process, students know what classes they need to take and what will directly transfer, helping to cut down on unnecessary classes that won���t transfer between the two institutions.

���We are excited to partner with Blue Mountain Community College to create access to a baccalaureate degree for more students,��� 厙ぴ勛圖 Chancellor Sandra Haynes said. ���With our close proximity to BMCC in Oregon, this program creates an ideal partnership between our two institutions to serve students in both areas and help students save on costs.���

Mark Browning, president of Blue Mountain Community College, said he is excited for the opportunities that the Bridges program presents for students from the Blue Mountain region.

“Bridges is what we hope to see for all our students who see a path to their future through a regional research university like Washington State University Tri-Cities,��� he said. “Blue Mountain students will now be able to pursue a complete program right here. The resources available through 厙ぴ勛圖 are now available to those BMCC students who enroll in Bridges ��� including those in a variety of STEM programs ranging from engineering, to computer science, to the sciences. Talk about a bright future.”

Requirements for the program

To qualify for the 厙ぴ勛圖-BMCC Bridges program, students must have taken less than 45 quarter credits at BMCC with a 2.5 or higher cumulative grade-point average. Additionally, they must be in the process of completing one of the following degrees: AAOT, ASOT/BUS or ASOT/CS.

To apply for the Bridges program, students should submit the Declaration of Intent on the . The 厙ぴ勛圖 Bridges academic advisor will follow up individually with students to set up meetings to talk about next steps.

When getting ready to transfer to 厙ぴ勛圖, students should submit the by Nov. 15 for spring admission, or by Jan. 31 for fall admission, to ensure they are eligible for merit-based awards.

Students to feel right at home

厙ぴ勛圖 is the closest four-year public university to BMCC students in Hermiston, making it a great option for students interested in earning an excellent education close to home, Browning said.

At BMCC, more than 41% of students are students of color and the majority are the first in their family to attend college. Similarly at 厙ぴ勛圖, nearly 48% of students are students of color and nearly 44% are the first in their family to attend college.

���We look forward to welcoming a bunch of new Timberwolves to the Coug community where they will feel right at home,��� Haynes said.

Crossing the Columbia to become a Coug

BMCC and 厙ぴ勛圖 alumnus Kyle Kopta said he enjoyed the ease of the transfer process from BMCC to 厙ぴ勛圖 and also benefited from in-state tuition rates as a Hermiston, Oregon, resident.

���My pathway through BMCC and 厙ぴ勛圖 was the perfect fit for me,��� he said. ���It allowed me to accomplish my personal and professional goals in the most timely and affordable way possible.���

Kopta is a Hermiston High School graduate who decided to attend both BMCC and 厙ぴ勛圖 due to the programming available through both institutions, as well as both schools��� proximity to his hometown. Interested in a multimedia degree, Kopta said he was able to complete his pre-requisite courses at BMCC, followed by his upper-level major courses for the digital technology and culture program at 厙ぴ勛圖.

���Both institutions set me up for success in my career,��� he said. ���I hope others take advantage of this incredible opportunity and enjoy it as much as I did.���

For more information about the Bridges program, visit or contact 厙ぴ勛圖 Bridges academic advisor Rafa Pruneda at rpruneda@wsu.edu.

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Individuals will have the opportunity to meet with a variety of regional employers from across the Tri-Cities and inquire about current and future jobs and career opportunities as part of the Virtual Columbia Basin College/厙ぴ勛圖 Career Fair that takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 20.

The career fair will take place from 10 a.m. ��� 2 p.m. online via a platform called Handshake. To attend, 厙ぴ勛圖 students should register at . Members of the public should register at .

The career fair is free and open to the public.

More than 30 employers are registered to participate. Individuals will have the opportunity to meet with those employers via individual virtual rooms. Attendees can jump from room to room to explore a variety of career opportunities.

For more information, contact AJ Andrade at aandrade@columbiabasin.edu or 509-543-1449.

 

Media contacts:

Jay Frank, Columbia Basin College assistant vice president for communications and external relations, 509-544-2038, jfrank@columbiabasin.edu

Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖 director of marketing and communication, 509-372-7333 (office), 619-403-3618 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� School is back in session at Washington State University Tri-Cities on Monday, Aug. 23, with in-person classes and COVID-19 requirements in place. Among many updates, the campus features a new academic building, renovations to an existing space to allow for a new learning commons for students and an expanded Veterans Stories Memorial.

���We are thrilled to welcome students back to campus after over a year-and-a-half of offering virtual learning.��� Chancellor Sandra Haynes said. ���We have safety measures in place for students, employees and visitors and we look forward to a fantastic fall semester. Students and the community will find the new spaces particularly welcoming.���

In-person learning

With the exception of a few classes, 厙ぴ勛圖 classes will be offered in-person and at normal capacity.

Updated COVID-19 requirements

Starting Aug. 23, students, employees and visitors will be required to wear masks while indoors at all WSU locations, per the new mandate announced this week by Gov. Jay Inslee.

Employees must declare their vaccination status via an internal WSU process by Aug. 23, and be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or file for a religious or medical exemption by Oct. 18, per the state mandate.

Students must provide proof that they have initiated or completed the vaccination process or must request an exemption for medical, religious or personal reasons by Sept. 10. After any of the three currently approved vaccines receive full U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, personal exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be an option. Students will have 45 days following the FDA approval date to provide proof of vaccination (or initiation of the vaccination) or file for a medical or religious exemption.

New and renovated facilities

Construction for Collaboration Hall, 厙ぴ勛圖��� new academic building, is complete and will host classes beginning Monday. The building features a range of state-of-the-art teaching laboratories, classrooms and collaboration spaces ��� including the addition of a grandstand staircase ideal for presentations and an outdoor amphitheater that seats 100 individuals. A grand opening celebration for Collaboration Hall will be held from 4 p.m. ��� 6 p.m. on Sept. 22.

The 厙ぴ勛圖 library was renovated this year to house expanded study spaces and support resources for students. The traditional library was moved upstairs and a range of student services, study spaces and collaborative areas are now hosted downstairs in the learning commons where students can access academic support such as tutoring, writing assistance, academic advising, career services, and TRIO Student Success Programs.

Thanks to generous donations from Cliff Thorn Construction, several subcontractors and Eric and Susan Schmieman, the 厙ぴ勛圖 Veterans Stories Memorial was expanded to feature raised flags for each of the military branches with lighting for evening times and a seating area.

New Crimson Coug Cart courtesy of STCU ��� press reveal event 12:30 p.m. on Monday

STCU has generously donated a $25,000 Coug-branded golf cart, named the ���Crimson Coug Cart,��� to 厙ぴ勛圖 that will be unveiled at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23, at Collaboration Hall as part of a press event. The golf cart will be used for a variety of purposes around campus – from events, to campus tours and more.

With the golf cart, STCU will host random acts of kindness days sporadically throughout the year where they will offer prizes to individuals on campus, in addition to supporting a range of campus events.

Week of Welcome activities and events sponsored by STCU

Throughout the first week of school, students will enjoy a range of celebratory events and activities sponsored by STCU that will welcome them to campus. For a full list of activities as part of the 厙ぴ勛圖 Week of Welcome sponsored by STCU, visit .

 

Media contacts:

Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖 director of marketing and communication, 509-372-7333 (office), 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu

In-person learning planned for fall
厙ぴ勛圖 will offer fully in-person learning this fall! Scheduling will be adjusted for regular classroom capacities and laboratories will move back to their normal capacities.

Interested in applying to attend 厙ぴ勛圖? The application is open through the summer!
Apply:
Degree programs: tricities.wsu.edu/degree-offerings
Chat with admissions: tricities.wsu.edu/admissions/contact-connect

Dear 厙ぴ勛圖 campus community,

Ensuring that proper safety measures are in place using updated guidance from health authorities and research regarding transmission, 厙ぴ勛圖 is expanding its plans to offer most of its courses in-person in fall 2021.

The decision to increase the number of in-person classes for fall is partially based on the recent decision to expand eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to all individuals over the age of 16, beginning Thursday, April 15. Additionally, we expect that the����will be possible in college classrooms come fall.

Research has shown that equidistant three-feet spacing provides a controlled environment. Studies have also shown that outbreaks are not occurring in the classroom, but rather in social settings.

Course plans for 厙ぴ勛圖 this fall:

• Classes up to 36 students will be offered 100% in-person
• Lab sections with increased ventilation will be offered 100% in-person
• Computer lab sections will be offered 100% in-person, but will be reduced in size to 15 students per section
• Classes with 37-64 students will have an in-person component (Hyflex or hybrid)
• Classes of��65 students or more will have virtual delivery

Face coverings will be required in fall 2021 for all areas of the 厙ぴ勛圖 campus and facilities will maintain sanitation protocols between use.

Students who are unable to attend in-person for health reasons will have virtual access to courses.

For employees with a medical condition that impacts your ability to work on campus, please contact Disability Services to inititate the reasonable accommodation process at��HRS.disabilityservices@wsu.edu��or��509-335-4521. In addition, the following information may be helpful:

Employees should also use the following resource for more information:

These plans for in-person learning are subject to change, based on the health conditions and regulations regionally and state-wide leading up to the fall 2021 semester. We will continue to keep faculty, staff, and students updated this spring and throughout the summer.

I continue to thank our students, faculty, and staff for their patience and adaptability throughout this last year, which was characterized by uncertainty that has kept all of us on our toes.

Sincerely,

Sandra Haynes, Ph.D.
Chancellor of 厙ぴ勛圖

By Sherwin Francies, College of Education, and Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. – Students of color trust colleges and college leadership less compared to their white peers, according to ��developed by education researchers at Washington State University Tri-Cities and Indiana University.

The researchers��� results showed campus leaders were the least trusted among college personnel. Approximately 29% of first-year Black students said they did not trust their college leaders, while 16% of non-Black first-year students said the same.

Black students surveyed also expressed lower trust in all campus personnel by about 10% when compared to non-Black students.

For the study, the researchers examined data from a special addendum of the National Student Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) that asked college students at 29 institutions across the U.S. to rate items such as out-group trust, college trust, social institutional trust, media trust and civil society trust.

���We have been talking about these issues and the need to do large-scale work around trust in higher education for some time now,��� said Shannon Calderone, assistant professor of educational leadership at 厙ぴ勛圖. ���There hasn���t been a lot of research to date that looks at college student trust. Certainly, one of the most concerning findings was around this difference in trust for students of color.���

Calderone worked with Kevin Fosnacht, associate research scientist at Indiana University���s Center for Postsecondary Research.�� Their trust study was released in conjunction with the NSSE���s 2020 Annual Results series.

Lack of trust among students of color

According to the report, campus leaders were the least trusted among college personnel. Approximately 30% of first-year Black students said they trusted campus leadership very little or did not trust them all at a rate two times that of non-Black students.�� The report went on to suggest that observed trust gaps between Black and non-black students are of a magnitude that is ���rarely seen in educational research.���

The consistency in students��� trust levels, as reported in their freshman year, suggests that trust assessments are likely formed to some degree before they enter college.�� However, the study findings also indicate a slight decrease in trust between freshman and senior years, which suggests that the college experience does has an impact on student trust, Calderone said.

���It has us thinking about what we can do to help bridge that gap,��� she said. ���Moving forward, we are starting to draw a couple of conclusions as to what campus leaders can be doing to support and address some of these trust disparities ��� like increasing student voice and bringing students to the table in decision-making in explicit and forthcoming ways.���

Calderone said colleges and universities must do better at creating a welcoming environment specifically for students of color, and particularly Black students. She said universities can strive to include greater representational diversity among faculty and students on campus, as well as create opportunities and structures that will elevate the voices of students of color in campus-wide decision making, among others.

���The size and magnitude of the trust gap that we see gives us a clear indication that campus diversity and inclusion efforts must be taken seriously, adequately resourced, and prioritized,��� she said.

Small steps for large progress

Fosnacht said there are small shifts that institutions can make that go a long way for students as a whole.

���There can be a lot of bureaucratic processes in higher education, particularly in financial aid,��� he said. ���If a student applies for financial aid, given the lack of trust we see, it is better to offer a detailed reasoning for why they are denied financial aid, if that is the case, instead of a blanket ���no, you did not qualify.��� It���s important to have letters that explain why.���

The researchers encourage colleges to take intentional steps towards learning more about the state of trust and student well-being on their campuses. They said intentional efforts to understand why students maintain a lack of trust in college institutions will signal to students that colleges see the importance of student well-being and will better inform how colleges respond to the stated needs of all students.

���There are no short-term solutions or magical interventions that will correct the trust disparities we see,��� Calderone said. ���Campus leaders are better served thinking about the totality of the student experience as a starting point for reversing these trust gaps.���

Next steps in evaluation of college trust

The work in gathering student data regarding college trust and the analysis of its impacts on higher education institutions will continue in the years to come, Fosnacht said.

���We want to look at outcomes ��� specifically, whether or not trust influences students��� intent to return, how it affects engagement practices, as well as how students engage with the college environment,��� he said. ���Those results can really shape our attention and the types of interventions that are best for students.���

KENNEWICK, Wash. ��� The Association of Washington Business, in partnership with the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Washington State University Tri-Cities, and Columbia Basin College, launched a new online portal connecting employers and students for internship opportunities.

The is an online resource in which employers and educators may post an unlimited number of internship opportunities and have access to an intern candidate database for free. The Tri-Cities is one of two locations in Washington where the project is being piloted. A similar pilot project is underway in Spokane.

Washington state employers often struggle with the current workforce shortage. The Washington Workforce Portal will allow employers to fill positions that align with the skillsets of students in our academic programs and trade schools across the state. In return, young people will gain experience through real world, work-based learning opportunities.

“Internships and other career experiences are a great way in which students can grow, cement their skills, and use what they learn before officially entering the workforce full-time,” 厙ぴ勛圖 Chancellor Sandra Haynes said. “With this workforce portal, all college students, regardless of campus, will have a centralized place to be paired with businesses and organizations for a range of experiential learning opportunities.”

Both regional Tri-Cities businesses and students can now access the portal.

For more information and to access the Washington Workforce Portal, visit .

 

Media contacts:

Austin Regimbal, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, 509-491-3238, austin.regimbal@tricityregionalchamber.com

Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖 director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

New agreement helps students save on costs

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

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 厙ぴ勛圖, which saves students costs.

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

Students also benefit from one-on-one support throughout their educational journey from both CBC and 厙ぴ勛圖 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

厙ぴ勛圖 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 厙ぴ勛圖 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 厙ぴ勛圖.

���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, 厙ぴ勛圖, or any other institution, we are committed to helping each student find their best path forward.���

Students see direct benefits

Dawn Hughes, a current 厙ぴ勛圖 education student and alumna of Columbia Basin College, said transferring from CBC to 厙ぴ勛圖 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 厙ぴ勛圖. 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 厙ぴ勛圖, 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, 厙ぴ勛圖 assistant director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617 (cell),��maegan_murray@wsu.edu

New grants mark 35,000 students served since 2002

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� The Washington State University Tri-Cities GEAR UP program is the recipient of two $20 million grants that will support two cohorts of students in their quest to attend college and other post-secondary options.

The program, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a federally-funded program that provides academic support for students in middle school through their first year of post-secondary education. Students benefit from college readiness resources, mentorship, advising, professional development, tutoring, and more.

���The 厙ぴ勛圖 GEAR UP program has been very successful receiving new awards and preparing students for post-secondary opportunities,��� said Silvia Clark, 厙ぴ勛圖 GEAR UP One Vision Partnership director. ���I am excited to partner with the same partners we have worked with throughout the last decade and a half. We have enjoyed working with teachers and administrators to make college and post-secondary dreams become a reality for so many students.���

One of the two new grants, the One Vision Partnership grant, totals $20 million and serves 13 middle schools and 13 high schools. The schools are located in the following school districts: Evergreen, Pasco, Kiona Benton, Prosser, Mabton, Finley, Columbia, Clarkston, North Franklin, and Ephrata. The new One Vision Partnership grant marks the first time that the 厙ぴ勛圖 program will serve the Evergreen School District in Vancouver, Washington.

The other grant, known as the Harvest of Hope, totals $23 million and will serve 14 middle schools and 12 high schools. The schools are located in the following school districts: College Place, Dayton, Kennewick, Moses Lake, Othello, Prescott, Soap Lake, Touchet, Walla Walla and Warden.

For students like Maria Yepez Perez, an undocumented student and the first in her family to attend college, the GEAR UP program provided opportunities to further her future that she never could have imagined.

���GEAR UP not only set me up for success for college, but I was able to grow as a leader, thanks to this program,��� she said. ���Within the program, I was able to take on leadership roles, which helped me increase speaking in public and be a resource for my community. The staff at GEAR UP were not only our mentors setting us up to apply for colleges and universities, but were also our support system as many of us came from different backgrounds.���

Michelle Parvinen, director of the Harvest of Hope 厙ぴ勛圖 GEAR UP cohort, said working in the GEAR UP program is incredibly rewarding.

���Upon learning what I do for work, people say, ���Oh, you have a feel good job,������ she said. ���I do. Education is the great equalizer. It is also about opening students��� eyes to opportunities beyond what they see in their community and helping them figure out how they can get there.���

Achieving what was initially perceived as impossible

Yepez Perez came to the United States with her family from Mexico at the age of 9 years old. She said she knew the United States had more opportunities, especially for education, but she had never heard the terms ���bachelor���s degree,��� ���master���s degree��� ���doctorate,��� or ���juris doctorate��� before. She didn���t know that college was an option.

But bound and determined to get the most of her education, she learned English and excelled in school. In middle school, she connected with GEAR UP, which opened many doors, even as an undocumented student.

���When I first heard about college and universities through GEAR UP, I thought that path was not for me due to my immigration status,��� she said. ���As I continued to attend meetings, I realized college was for me and I belonged, regardless of my immigration status. It would not be easy, but it was not impossible.���

Rafael De Leon Vela, who currently oversees the Pasco high school sites for GEAR UP, said for many students that would be the first in their family to attend college, and especially for undocumented students, it can be scary to leave home to live and learn miles away. Yepez Perez was no exception. But he was able to work directly with Yepez Perez and her parents to develop plans that would make college obtainable and help break some of the perceived barriers.

���Maria was a young and rising scholar with aspirations to attend WSU,��� he said. ���Her parents were unsure, but she was capable. I worked them into her plans, sharing resources, introducing them to former students from their neighborhood that attend Chiawana High School, as well as educating them on how to pay for it all ��� This student went on to earn scholarships, College Assistance Migrant Program dollars and was undocumented. Huge.���

Yepez Perez not only went on to be successful in college, she also returned the favor of working with the 厙ぴ勛圖 GEAR UP program to help provide support for students just like her. She served as a tutor for GEAR UP���s summer programming.

Yepez Perez recently graduated with her bachelor���s degree from WSU and is now applying to law schools.

���As advice to high school students, be involved in programs like GEAR UP,��� she said. ���Stay that extra hour after school and join conversations. Even if there is not a seat at the table, bring your own. You will be surprised at the thousands of opportunities that could cross your path. These programs are a privilege to have in high schools. Not every school has a program like GEAR UP.���

Track record of success, even in times of COVID-19

Since its beginnings in 2002, and with the addition of the two new grants, the 厙ぴ勛圖 GEAR UP program will have served more than 35,000 students.

Services provided through the program range from direct college advising and mentorship, to tutoring and support for academic courses, to extracurricular programming like summer camps, to help with the financial aid application process and other vital supports for college. The program also offers resources and support for parents of students who aim to attend college.

Amid COVID-19, the program has had to switch many of their methods online, providing access to college readiness supports and strategies through Zoom and other virtual platforms.

���Our site managers are amazingly innovative,��� Parvinen said. ���They have come up with some great strategies to provide virtual resources and support. They have set up their own Google classrooms and participate virtually in classrooms to provide additional support for the teachers and students.���

Connections with the schools make it possible

Of the 20 school districts that GEAR UP currently serves, dozens of school site managers work directly with the local schools and teachers to provide college ready resources, financial aid support, and others that help make college not only possible, but also so that students become champions of their own success.

���Being able to be a part of students��� growth and making those connections beyond the classroom and surface level to establish a relationship where students become successful is the most rewarding,��� said Ryan Engel, a GEAR UP site manager at Kamiakin High School.

Engel remembers working with a student who wanted to attend Columbia Basin College. The student was on-track to qualify for a College Bound Scholarship and attend CBC, but then realized he was missing a credit of geometry that he needed in order to graduate. Engel quickly got him connected with a GEAR UP geometry tutor, who was able to help him successfully complete his packet for geometry on-time for him to walk.

���So many people impact our work on a daily basis with students, from the main office at 厙ぴ勛圖, to tutors who are generally college students, to our teachers and our administrators,��� Engel said. ���All of these people work on all levels to allow GEAR UP within their school districts to really create something that is unique and special for all students and families to really take advantage.���

Jennifer Reyes, a GEAR UP site manager of Warden High School in Warden, Washington, said working with GEAR UP has led to many meaningful relationships with students and staff at her school and always leads to something new and exciting. She said she is elated about the future of the 厙ぴ勛圖 GEAR UP program.

���I am truly lucky to be able to work and connect with so many students with different backgrounds,��� she said. ���I am excited for all that is to come.���

For more information about GEAR UP and college pathway opportunities through 厙ぴ勛圖, visit tricities.wsu.edu/outreach.