By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri-Cities will host a free seminar discussion on exclusion and segregation in the mid-Columbia region on Tuesday, Jan. 26, as part of the WSU Common Reading Program.

This event, which takes place from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. online, coincides with the launch of the third book in the “Hanford Histories” series that documents historical accounts and realities of the Hanford Site and surrounding regional area.

Both the book and event parallel themes in this year’s WSU Common Read book, “Born A Crime” by Trevor Noah, who lived in racially segregated areas in South Africa.

“As part of the Common Reading program, WSU freshman read an assigned book that introduces students to the value of research, power of ideas and interconnected ways in which disciplines across WSU approach similar issues,” said Tracey Hanshew, ���سԹ� history faculty and coordinator for the event. “Because these conditions and societal views mirror local mid-Columbia history, the seminar contributes to the student experience by highlighting the common community value of the Common Reading program.”

As part of the event, ���سԹ� history faculty Robert Bauman and Robert Franklin, as well as Laura Arata, history faculty at Oklahoma State University, will specifically discuss racial segregation and resistance to discrimination in the mid-Columbia region.

“Racial segregation and exclusion are realities that some may find hard to admit occurred even in our own Tri-Cities regional community,” Bauman said. “The book provides a glimpse into some of those realities by exploring first-hand accounts from those who lived through them.”

The new book, “Echoes of Exclusion and Resistance: Voices from the Hanford Region,” draws reflections from a number of oral histories on the experiences of non-white groups in the Hanford region, such as Wanapum tribal members, Chinese immigrants, World War II Japanese incarcerated individuals and African American migrant workers from the South. The book was edited by Bauman and Franklin.

“While writing it, we had no idea how relevant conversations surrounding this book would be to today’s political and sociological context,” Franklin said. “These are true stories of individuals who provide a perspective of what it was like living and working in the Hanford area.”

Following the seminar presentation, a question and answer session will follow.

For more information about “Echoes of Exclusion and Resistance” and to order the book, visit .

 

Media contacts:

Tracey Hanshew, ���سԹ� scholarly assistant professor of history, 509-372-7390, tracey.hanshew@wsu.edu

Bob Bauman, ���سԹ� professor of history, 509-372-7249, rbauman@wsu.edu
Robert Franklin, ���سԹ� assistant director of Hanford History Project, 509-372-7678, robert.franklin@wsu.edu

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

By Becky Kramer, Carson College of Business

RICHLAND, Wash. – COVID-19 turned the team project in ��Marketing Management 495 class on its head.

The assignment required students to develop strategies for bringing tourists in their 20s and 30s to the Tri-Cities in Central Washington. But as the project got underway, the state’s “stay home, stay safe” orders took effect.

“Last semester, we had a very devastating external factor, and that was the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Giese, clinical associate professor of marketing at ���سԹ�. “The impact on the tourism industry has been astronomical.”

Responding to the crisis became a learning opportunity, Giese says. Her class rose to the challenge, crafting plans to draw millennials to the Richland-Kennewick-Pasco area as Washington’s economy reopens.

Visit Tri-Cities, the area’s visitor and convention bureau, will incorporate the students’ ideas in its future planning, says Michael Novakovich, the president and chief executive officer.

“We’re all seasoned marketers here, and we think the students did some really outstanding work,” said Novakovich (’10 Bus. Admin., ’16 MBA). “They identified some things we are already working on, validating our efforts. And they had unique ideas as well.”

Tourism is a $500 million industry in the Tri-Cities, employing more than 6,300 people. The area is home to wineries, golf courses, live music venues, art galleries, and tours of the Manhattan Project B Reactor and the decommissioned USS Triton submarine.

With 269,500 residents, the Tri-Cities has a competitive advantage for attracting tourists as Washington’s phased reopening continues, according to Novakovich. “We offer urban experiences without the high-population densities people want to avoid at this time,” he said.

Drawing on the Tri-Cities attributes

Students suggested ways for Visit Tri-Cities to increase the area’s allure for millennial travelers. Among their recommendations:

• By offering activities and spaces for children, wineries can become family destinations for travelers.
• Social media is an important way to reach millennial audiences, and Visit Tri-Cities can capitalize on that through the use of social media influencers and hashtags, contests, and raffles to promote user-generated content that can be shared and reposted.
• The “Tri-Cities” label may not resonate with people from other parts of Washington. Helping define what the Tri-Cities is could increase the area’s draw for travelers.
• Creating a Tri-Cities Pass would open prospective tourists’ eyes to the area’s attractions, while offering a discount for bundling activities.

Before Washington’s “stay home, stay safe” order went into effect, Novakovich took the class on a bus tour of the Tri-Cities. “I was flabbergasted by all of the stuff you could do—I felt like a tourist in my own town,” said, Abraham Mendoza (’20, Bus. Admin.), who grew up in Pasco.

He and teammates Valexa Hernandez, Valerie Long, Brittany Stanton-Dameron, and Cade Timmons crafted a Tri-Cities Pass for 20-something, cost-conscious travelers. It included options such as kayaking or paddleboarding on the Columbia River, a visit to the B-Reactor, a wine cruise, local cuisine, and a farmers’ market.

“We combined what we thought were the Tri-Cities’ main attractions and made it easy for people to purchase a pass to go do those things,” said Long, a senior from Richland. The students hope the Tri-Cities Pass becomes a reality.

“If they put something like this together,” Long said, “I’ll definitely be buying it.”

Exposing students to the tourism industry

Besides benefitting Visit Tri-Cities, the students’ ideas will be shared with the Washington Tourism Alliance, says Andi Day (’91 Hist.).

Day is the vice chair of the alliance, a nonprofit that promotes Washington’s tourism industry, and executive director of the Long Beach Peninsula’s Visitors Bureau. She’s also the initiator of the class project on destination marketing, which she suggested at a Carson College National Board of Advisors meeting.

“We welcome opportunities to expose students to the tourism industry and this facet of marketing,” Day said. “It was great to get their perspectives as well.”

Day was particularly interested in the students’ Tri-Cities Pass. The alliance is working on a similar passport idea to promote in-state tourism as COVID-19 related restrictions ease.

“One of our campaigns is about exploring your own backyard,” she said. “We’re fortunate to live in a really beautiful state, and we see it as a way to promote safe travel. We can direct tourists to less crowded areas, away from large events to safer activities.”

 

Media contact:

Joan Giese, ���سԹ� clinical associate professor and business and marketing insights coordinator, 509-372-7036, joan.giese@wsu.edu

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

By Addy Hatch, WSU College of Nursing

The WSU College of Nursing will offer new scholarships for undergraduate nursing students in Yakima and the Tri-Cities, thanks to a $100,000 gift from Yakima Federal Savings and Loan Association.

The scholarships will support low-to-moderate income nursing students who intend to pursue their nursing careers in Yakima and the Tri-Cities. Yakima Federal Savings and Loan is endowing two scholarship funds with $50,000 each, one intended for Yakima students and the other for students in the Tri-Cities.

The WSU College of Nursing’s Yakima program opened in 1982, and has about 100 undergraduate students working toward their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The program is located on the campus of Yakima Valley Community College. The nursing program at ���سԹ�, established in 1990, has about 75 undergraduate students; the program also offers graduate degrees.

“We’re grateful to Yakima Federal Savings and Loan for this support of our nursing programs in Central Washington,” said Mel Haberman, Interim Dean of the WSU College of Nursing. “Yakima, Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla counties are all designated health professional shortage areas. Support for students with demonstrated financial need will help us attract and retain students who want to serve that region.”

“Yakima Federal is pleased to partner with the WSU College of Nursing in providing scholarships benefiting area nursing students, which will in turn increase the number of healthcare providers in our community for generations to come,” said Leanne Antonio, president and CEO of Yakima Federal.

The WSU College of Nursing is celebrating its 50^th��anniversary this year. The college has five locations statewide and about 10,0000 alumni. The college was named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education in 2017 by the National League for Nursing.

Yakima Federal Savings and Loan has been serving Central Washington since 1905 and has 10 branches throughout the region.

RICHLAND, Wash. – The Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation will donate $1 million to the Washington State University Viticulture & Enology Program, the first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Announced at the annual Auction of Washington Wines Gala on Aug. 19 in Woodinville, Wash., the donation will be dedicated to teaching labs and facilities as well as scholarships for viticulture and enology students.��

Half of the $1 million donation will support the build-out of the Life Science Teaching Laboratory at the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center,����— a state-of-the-art facility that is one of the most technologically advanced wine science centers in the world and attracts exceptional researchers and students — on the ���سԹ� campus in Richland, Wash. The remainder will fund viticulture and enology student scholarships, $100,000 every year for five years. In recognition of the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation’s gift, the atrium of the Wine Science Center will be named in their honor: The Wine Spectator Atrium.

Wine Spectator, , is a print and online publication, with approximately 3 million readers worldwide. It examines the world of wine from the vineyard to the table, exploring wine’s role in contemporary culture and providing expert reviews.

“We are elated to have the support of such a pre-eminent authority on wine,” said WSU President Kirk Schulz. “Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation’s generous donation is an investment in the WSU viticulture and enology program and showcases the caliber of research work that is at the forefront of our Drive to 25,”

“Washington State University has demonstrated a leadership position in wine education in the United States, and we are therefore proud to recognize the university’s high achievement with our commitment,” said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher, Wine Spectator.

Washington wines are recognized for their quality and value, evident through data published by Wine Spectator magazine. For the past six years, Wine Spectator has rated more Washington wines 90 points or higher and at a lower average price than any other wine-producing region in the world.

WSU’s viticulture and enology program,��,�� is a comprehensive education and research program that prepares students for successful careers in the wine industry and supports the needs of the region’s winemakers and grape growers. Multidisciplinary, science-based, and hands-on, the viticulture and enology program offers students technical, scientific, and practical experience in every aspect of the grape-growing and winemaking process.

 

Media contact:

Marta Coursey, director, WSU CAHNRS Communications, 509-335-2806 marta.coursey@wsu.edu

Kaury Balcom, WSU Viticulture & Enology, 509-572-5540,��kaury.balcom@wsu.edu

Lori Rosen, Wine Spectator, 212-255-8910,��lori@rosengrouppr.com