By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� In light of COVID-19 and to coincide with Giving Tuesday Now today, May 5, has donated $25,000 to the to support students experiencing hardship amid COVID-19 and beyond.

The funds will be used to help students and their families who have lost jobs, are experiencing furloughs, those who are having difficulties meeting their daily living experiences and other related hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

���This is an incredible gift from STCU for our students and their families and will go a long way in allowing our students to continue with their college education,��� 厙ぴ勛圖 Chancellor Sandra Haynes said. ���Studies show that if students have to take a break from college, they are much less likely to return. A higher education helps individuals secure a more stable future, rebound more quickly in the face of a recession and prepares them for the variety of life���s ups and downs. This gift will help many students continue with their education.���

As an organization founded by teachers, STCU honors its heritage by supporting education and sound financial decisions, said Ezra Eckhardt, president and CEO of the not-for-profit credit union.

���In this time of unprecedented need, STCU is grateful for the opportunity to help WSU students and their families in Tri-Cities,��� Eckhardt said. ���Staying on track with their WSU education will open doors for them, and benefit the entire community.���

Before the pandemic began, 37 percent of 厙ぴ勛圖 students reported that it was difficult for them to meet their daily living expenses and 7 percent of students indicated they were at-risk of homelessness.

���That number has likely increased exponentially since the pandemic began,��� said Jaime Heppler, 厙ぴ勛圖 executive director of advancement and community engagement. ���We are thrilled to partner with STCU to provide relief funds for students so that they can continue on with their schooling and secure a better future for themselves and their family.���

To give a gift to help struggling 厙ぴ勛圖 students, visit tricities.wsu.edu/give. 厙ぴ勛圖 is currently asking individuals to donate to the , which provides the university the flexibility to apply funds to students where needed.

 

Media contacts:

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

Elizabeth Burtner, STCU community relations manager, 509-628-1357 (cell), elizabethb@stcu.org

Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖 public relations/communication coordinator, 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Individuals will enjoy a delectable brunch, keynote presentation from a prominent WSU hospitality business alumnus, as well as a live auction and games as part of the annual Washington State University Tri-Cities Carson College of Business Point to Success Fundraising Brunch on March 7, as generously sponsored by Anthony���s at Columbia Point and proud partner STCU.

The brunch takes place from 10 a.m. ��� 1 p.m. at Anthony���s at Columbia Point on Saturday, March 7. Admission costs $100 per person before Feb. 27. After Feb. 27, admission costs $125 per person. To register and for more information, visit .

Admission also includes a signed copy of ���ROAR: How to Build a Resilient Organization the World-Famous San Diego Zoo Way,��� a book authored by Point to Success keynote speaker Tim Mulligan, chief human resources officer of late Paul Allen���s Seattle-based holding company Vulcan Inc.

Keynote speaker Tim Mulligan

Mulligan���s career has taken him all over the west coast, from the Tri-Cities, to the Starwood Hotels and Resorts, to the World-Famous San Diego Zoo, to now leading the human resources department of Vulcan Inc. The Hanford High School, WSU and juris doctor Gonzaga University alumnus has used his education wisely, asserting opportunities in the business sector that have led to more than he thought possible. All the while, he remained close to his roots, supporting WSU students in their journeys in business and helping them find jobs in business and other sectors.

���I went to WSU and graduated from the Carson College���s hospitality program with the hope of managing restaurants and hotels,��� Mulligan said. ���I never anticipated that I would take that amazing WSU experience and degree and see it lead me to a unique and exciting career as a lawyer and HR executive at such diverse companies and locations as I���ve been fortunate to experience.���

Robert Harrington, director of the WSU School of Hospitality Business Management, said stemming from Mulligan���s foundation as a WSU alum, to his travels across the country for a variety of exciting experiences, his presentation will lend a fascinating account of what is possible through a WSU degree in business, and how others may be able to follow in his footsteps.

���Tim will also talk about successful ways for building and maintaining a business,��� he said. ���It���s a great learning opportunity for our local business and affiliated community members.���

Generous community support

Harrington said each year, Anthony���s at Columbia Point generously donates their space, service and food for the annual WSU fundraiser so that all proceeds go directly to the local program. This year, STCU joins as a proud partner. The Lodge at Columbia Point also donates accommodations for the featured speakers for the event, as well as other services.

���It���s an incredible partnership that truly benefits local business students and faculty,��� Harrington said. ���This is an event that not only showcases what our students are currently doing in the business programs through 厙ぴ勛圖, but also what is possible when businesses support local education. They are supporting their future employees and the future of business. We are incredibly grateful for their support.���

 

Media contacts:

Robert Harrington, director of WSU School of Hospitality Business Management, 509-372-7487, rharrington@wsu.edu

Tim Mulligan, chief human resources officer of Vulcan Inc., 206-342-2382, timm@vulcan.com

Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖 public relations/communication coordinator, 509-372-7333, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Washington State University Tri-Cities will hold a comprehensive education summit for teachers and other educators on Saturday, Oct. 13, beginning in the Consolidated Information Center (CIC) on campus, which will welcome National Teacher of the Year and Washington resident Mandy Manning as its keynote speaker.

The summit will run from 8:30 a.m. ��� 3:30 p.m. where educators will explore topics within several strands including STEM education, English language learning, school safety and social and emotional learning.

Registration costs $12 and will include morning coffee, a full lunch, six clock hours and three sessions of the participant���s choice. Individuals may register at .

Manning teaches English to newly arrived refugee and immigrant students in the Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington. In her classroom, she uses experiential projects like map-making to help her students process trauma, celebrate their home countries and future and learn about their new community. As 2018 National Teacher of the Year, she encourages educators to teach their students to overcome their fears and seek out new experiences.

During the individual education summit sessions, participants will learn about innovative techniques that WSU researchers and other experts are studying and developing as current and future tools and strategies to use in the classroom:

STEM education:

• Virtual Reality in K-12 Classrooms
• Cybersecurity in K-12 Classrooms
• Preventing Fraud and Identity Theft, Promoting Safety
• Thinking 厙ぴ勛圖 STEM and Standards

English language learning (ELL):

• Engaging with Parents, Families & the Community to Support Student Success
• Academic Language: Important for All, Essential For ELLs?
• Engaging ELL Students with Comic and Trade Books

School safety:

• Suicide Prevention and Support
• Panel: Creating a K-12 Student-Based Health Center
• Panel: Integrated Approaches to School Safety: A Community Discussion

Social and emotional learning:

• Communities in Schools of Benton-Franklin (Student Support)
• Socioemotional Learning and Bullying Prevention
• Panel: Community and Classroom Support for Refugee and Immigrant Families and Students (with National Teacher of the Year)

This is the first year that 厙ぴ勛圖 has held and hosted a summit of this kind.

���We are thrilled to offer a comprehensive education summit where our local educators will be able to develop their awareness of strategies and gain tools to take back to their own schools and classrooms,��� said Judy Morrison, 厙ぴ勛圖 academic director of the College of Education.

���We worked to cater the sessions to focus on the future of education,��� she said. ���The fact that we get to hear and learn from the National Teacher of the Year on the strategies that she has utilized in her classroom is an immense asset.���

For more information, individuals may contact Morrison at 509-372-7176 or jamorrison@wsu.edu, or Lindsay Lightner, 厙ぴ勛圖 College of Education coordinator, at 509-372-7366 or llightner@wsu.edu.

The 厙ぴ勛圖 Education Summit is sponsored by STCU and 厙ぴ勛圖.