But students at Columbia Basin College say the education their getting is top notch.

"They try to put emphasis on trying to get you ready and trying to have an open mind and learning that stuff that way you'll be ready for whatever challenges that are out there" said Edward Torrez, Freshman.

According to the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, that's much more than many other students can say.

The study involved 585 community colleges from 48 states including Washington, and found many colleges are not challenging their students enough.

But at CBC, it's a different story.

"They give us really tough questions and we have to answer those and we have to research for that, and all that stuff is really difficult, and I like to work those kind of questions" said Harry Panchal, Freshman.

Students at CBC say their teachers have high expectations, and that motivates them to do good work.

All incoming freshman at CBC must also attend a new student orientation.

This helps them get to know the campus and all the resources available to them.

"They know where tutoring is. They know the importance of tutoring. Their professor reinforces the message for tutoring. We have our professors working at the tutor center. There's a lot of engagement kind of strategies that we have to put in place to make students successful" said Richard Cummins, CBC President.

President Cummins also says the school's professors are all required to have a masters degree in their discipline.

And students at CBC say their professors are always available for help.

"The student is the focus of all our activities at CBC and trying to make individuals successful is what we're all about" said President Cummins.

Columbia Basin College was not one of schools that participated in the survey.
 

Talk to theater professionals about the quality of a play and they’ll tell you about production values, depth of characterization or range of performance.

The average ticket-buyer usually doesn’t have much interest in these topics. They just want to know if the play was any good. Was it funny? Did it make you think?

Talk to theatergoers about Columbia Basin College’s production of The ‘M’ Word and they’ll tell you it is a good play. It’s funny. It will make you think.

In fact, if you don’t leave the theater wanting to have a serious conversation about prejudice and tolerance, there’s probably something wrong with you.

This script by William Missouri Downs had us laughing out loud and pondering social issues aptly earning its subtitle, “A comedy with a serious message.” Thanks to Director Ginny Quinley and Assistant Director Nathan Morris, CBC succeeded in sharing this message with us.

The male lead in The ‘M’ Word is played by John Manley. Manley is an experienced, talented CBC actor who finds depth and range in the character of the confused Chris Osmond.

Stephanie Fanning plays Manley’s counterpart at the University of Wyoming where they both are college professors in the English department. Playing the liberal, tolerance-preaching, but over-critical Dorothy Cloud, Fanning was consistent and realistic.

Quinley and Morris put together a cast using nine of CBC’s finest. Every member of the cast from the energetic, fun-loving Annie played by Raquael Torres, to Manley, did an outstanding job.

Watch for Robert Chisholm who plays Dr. Mumford, dean of the English department. His realistic performance of the stodgy dean is high-caliber, adding to the overall quality of the show.

Look for Chance Rush as Buster. This talented thespian broke every heart in the theater with his varied performance of a boy who struggles with how homosexuality fits in his conservative upbringing and how one deals with broken dreams.

Set Designer Ronn Campbell crafted a set that convincingly represents the kind of environment we find our characters living in whether it is a car, office or restaurant.

Also, adding to the production’s modern feel, are the costumes designed by Verna Schwilke. She produced clothing that gives a sense of having been chosen by the characters themselves, rather than having been given to the actors to wear.

The ‘M’ Word plays for one more weekend, Nov. 14-15. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m.

If you want to see a good play that makes you laugh and think, don’t miss closing weekend.

— Katrina Carlson is an Tri-City actress who’s performed in many local community theater productions, as well as with the Washington East Opera and Richland Light Opera companies.

PROSSER -- The plan to build a new Prosser High School to ease overcrowding could expand educational opportunities for students outside the district's boundaries.

Columbia Basin College in Pasco wants to use part of the existing facility as a satellite campus once the new school is complete.

"It will be an opportunity for everybody," said Prosser Superintendent Ray Tolcacher. "If this all comes together as we hope it will, it'll be a real plus for the quality of life for this part of the county."

Plans to put a bond before voters in March to pay for the new high school still are being finalized. The school board hasn't approved a resolution for the measure, but that's expected to happen soon.

A new facility is needed because the existing school on Prosser Avenue is so cramped the district is leasing space in a nearby church to accommodate all the students.

There are about 900 students at the school, and it was built for several hundred less than that, Tolcacher said.

The lease is costing the district $1,500 a month plus utilities, Tolcacher said.

The district also plans to move its administration offices into the existing high school if the bond passes. The superintendent and business offices now are in leased space downtown, which costs $2,700 a month including utilities.

Several departments moved out of the old administration building on Park Avenue earlier this school year because of space issues there.

The new high school will be built on land the district owns near Art Fiker Stadium.

Rich Cummins, CBC president, said his school is committed to reaching more people in the community. Sometimes distance alone -- Prosser is about 30 minutes from the Tri-Cities -- makes it difficult for students to take classes, he said.

"The big idea is that CBC is a community college. Our fundamental mission is to remove barriers to access," he said.

The plan is that CBC would use Prosser High's vocational building and some science classrooms for a satellite campus. Exactly which classes would be offered there still is being worked out, Cummins said.

The Prosser School Board is having a study session on the bond issue at 6 p.m. Monday in the staff development room, 1500 Grant Ave.

Officials haven't yet finalized the bond amount or rate.

A $43.6 million bond to build a new high school and upgrade three elementary schools and the middle school failed at the polls in 2005. But the new school is needed now more than ever, said Warren Barmore, school board president.

"The students need better facilities to learn in," he said. "Our primary goal is to get better learning conditions for our students in Prosser."

Columbia Basin College will offer four classes for the U.S. Coast Guard license for a maritime captain's license and maritime captain's license upgrade.

The license is needed to have fishing charter and sight seeing passengers on your boat. It will allow captains to carry up to six paying passengers.

The 63 hours of training will include: rules of the road, radio operations, survival techniques, distress signaling, terminology, equipment, charting, boat registration and documentation, and much more.

Session one will be held Dec. 1-5, 8-12, and 15-19. Testing will be Dec. 20. For Session 2, the license upgrade, the dates are Feb. 6, 7, 8.

For more information, contact Donna Campbell, 542-4806 or dcampbell@columbiabasin.edu.

All three school districts, Pasco, Kennewick and Richland also support the school. Funding for each student that attends the STEM school will follow them from the district they would be going to.

The stem school will be at the old CBC campus in Richland. They hope to open classes to 100 students in the fall of 2009 if they can raise $300,000 more.

"It gives a new option for students that might want a smaller more personalized school. It allows us to attract students that maybe don't think of themselves in terms of STEM careers into the STEM field and that is critical for the Tri-Cities because we have so many technical company's here," said Jacqueline Fernette, Secretary of the WA STEM Foundation.

The school will start with 100 ninth graders next year. They will add another class each year until they have 400 students.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2009 Martin Luther King, Jr. Spirit Award. The 18th Annual Bell-Ringing Ceremony will be held Monday, January 19, 2009, at Columbia Basin College. The MLK Spirit Award will be presented at the ceremony.

The nominations should include a brief description of the nominee and his or her contributions to positive, social change in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Nominations are due December 19.

Nominations should be mailed to:
Andrew Crawmer
Columbia Basin College
2600 N. 20th Avenue
Pasco, WA  99301

Or email to:  Andrew.crawmer@columbiabasin.edu

Columbia Basin College announces the launch of its new web page, A Greener CBC. A Greener CBC focuses on the efforts the College is making to lessen its environmental impact, announces upcoming "green" events, has tips for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint, and a quiz to test your eco-friendly knowledge.

Coinciding with the launch of A Greener CBC is National America Recycles Day, celebrated annually Nov. 15. To recommit to our recycling efforts, CBC is introducing 16 new recycling centers on the Pasco campus and three at the Health Science Center in Richland to allow easy recycling access for everyone, everywhere. Each center will have bins for recycling paper, plastics, and cans. Two hundred new bags for recycling paper will also be distributed to offices on both campuses. The new recycling centers will be on display Wednesday, Nov. 12 in the HUB during the All Campus Feed from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Since the 1980s, CBC has made strides to improve its sustainability. In recent years these efforts have been increased by using the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System for all new construction. The new B building currently under construction is being built to meet a minimum silver standard, and as of now meets the gold standard. Other efforts made include our Agriculture program’s commitment to biofuel research in hopes of finding an oilseed crop that is both profitable for Columbia Basin farmers, and reduces petroleum consumption and United States dependence on foreign oil.

Ancestral tradition in rhythmic drumming and dance with flowing Native American regalia and bellowing chants will be the scene during two dance performance on Monday, Nov. 10, on the Columbia Basin College HUB Main Stage at 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. 

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, CBC will host a variety of public cultural events during November, showcasing the rich heritage of local/regional Native Americans.  Below is a complete list of upcoming activities:

Mon., Nov. 10 – HUB Main Stage - 10:30 a.m. & 11:45 a.m.
The American Dance Group will perform traditional Native American social dances.  The authentic dancers and singers ranging from all ages will wear traditional handmade regalia which were passed down through the generations.

Wed., Nov. 12 – Gjerde Center - All Day
A traditional tepee will be erected in the Gjerde Center for public viewing.  

Nov. 13 thru 28 – Displays in the HUB Atrium, Library, A Bldg., and Diversity Commons (Thornton Ctr)
Courtesy of the Wanapum Heritage Center, historical artifacts from their museum will be on display throughout CBC for public viewing.

All events are open to the public at no charge.  These events are sponsored by CBC Diversity/Outreach, College Assistance Migrant Program, and the ASCBC.

Artist Hiroshi Fuchigami will present his clay sculptures at the next Esvelt Gallery art exhibit on the Columbia Basin College campus, Nov. 10 - Dec. 4. Fuchigami, originally from Japan, is currently an assistant professor of art at Santa Rosa Junior College in California.

Fuchigami’s clay forms have holes that suggest a sense of "void." The spaces are left to be interpreted by the viewer, and each person’s interpretation is a metaphor for the infinite kernel of wisdom that lies sleeping within all of us.

Fuchigami will offer a two-part artist workshop, Monday, November 10.  The workshop will be held from 10 a.m. - noon, and continue from 2 - 4 p.m. in room P-101 on the CBC Pasco campus. Fuchigami will be demonstrating both hand-building and throwing techniques. He will also show slides tracing his artistic development in different media to the clay sculptures to be seen at Esvelt Gallery.

An artist’s reception will be held November 10 at 7 p.m. in Esvelt Gallery. Both the reception and workshop are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"I had been an at-home mom for 23 years," she said. "I didn't know who I was. ... Being a mom was a great job, but after being a mom, who am I?"

She was on the verge of her second divorce, and her confidence had been shattered as she faced a life in which she had to take care of herself for the first time.

Farnsworth, now 61, started to find answers last year when she saw a pamphlet for Columbia Basin College's Don't Quit workshop.

The workshop is a five-week intensive course on building self-esteem, budgeting, time management, study skills and career choices.

The workshop costs $75, but partial scholarships are available for some low-income people. The class meets from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday for five weeks starting Monday.

Coordinator Bonnie Roseberry said the purpose is to help people just like Farnsworth find direction and purpose when they've experienced life stresses such as divorce, death of a loved one, losing a job or finances spiraling out of control -- the kinds of stresses that can send someone into a slump and crush their self-confidence.

"It's like getting thrown off of a horse," Roseberry said. "Some people get up easy. For some, it's not so easy. Don't Quit is an empowerment program for getting back on track."

Roseberry said participants will do a lot of self-exploration -- finding their passions, strengths, interests and skills, while also doing exercises to build their self-esteem.

Because of the time commitment, the workshop attracts many people who are unemployed, she said. For some, the workshop may lead to a new career path. Others may decide to pursue an education.

But Roseberry emphasized that Don't Quit isn't a job search workshop. The goal is to help someone find a direction, not to help them apply for work.

Farnsworth already was working in the hotel industry and enjoyed it, but was laid off from her job in August. Before that, Don't Quit helped her look at some other options, like going to school to become a nail technician.

She had thought about being a beautician, but she has bad knees and couldn't stand all day at a job. It was Roseberry who suggested nail technician as an alternative where Farnsworth could sit. She plans to start school after Jan. 1 when she can get financial aid.

Another benefit of going through Don't Quit was hearing from other people like her, she said.

"I found out I'm not the only one going through these situations," Farnsworth said. "It is the best thing for anyone to go through. If you're down, if you're not sure where you're going to ... just don't quit. Hang in there."

For one thing, fact is much more unpredictable than fiction.

For another, the lack of a happy Hollywood ending in most lends much food for thought.

And to the third reason, I love documentaries. Even if you don’t agree with the conclusions of the filmmaker or makers, a good documentary makes you think.

Some of the most interesting interviews I have done in my career have been with documentarians. The first one was a few years ago when I had the opportunity to talk with Jean Bach, who did a movie about a photograph taken on the steps of a building in Harlem in 1958. Most of the world’s greatest jazz musicians were there and her movie was called A Great Day in Harlem.

The last interview was two weeks ago when I spent part of an afternoon with Roy Disney and the producers of a new sailing film titled Morning Light. Look for that one here in the next couple of weeks.

The point being people who do documentaries are fascinating, and I never miss a chance to talk with them.

Until now.

Matt Mathesius of Columbia Basin College in Pasco sent me an email a couple of weeks ago telling me about a special event at CBC this Wednesday night.

Writer/producer Greg Bennick who did a documentary Flight from Death is going to make an appearance at CBC along with his film. Bennick’s film studies the work of anthropologist Ernest Becker who contends the human race suffers from death anxiety and it is at the base of our behavior, specifically aggression and violence.

The theory is certainly fascinating. Admission is free -- who can resist that? -- and after the film Bennick will discuss the documentary and answer questions. What’s not to like?

I have a screening of the new James Bond film this week and Clint Eastwood’s The Changling and cannot get away. But you can.

Mathesius tells me getting a documentary writer/producer or director is going to be an annual event. I promise I’ll make it next year.

Meanwhile, would those who attend write and let me know what you thought and what I missed.

Discrimination comes in many forms. Sometimes it's race-oriented while at other times, it's age, gender or sexual.

And sometimes it even shows its ugly face in the shallowness of beautiful people versus the not-so-beautiful.

And then there's the discrimination of religious choice. Such is the focus of Columbia Basin College's next production, The M Word, which opens Nov. 7 at the CBC theater on the Pasco campus.

The M Word, written by William Missouri Downs, is about a Mormon professor who is hired by the University of Wyoming for its English department.

Believe it or not, this play is categorized as a comedy/drama, which proves that humor truly can be the best medicine for what ails you.

It's a darkly comic look at the University of Wyoming 10 years after the brutal killing of gay student Matthew Shepard.

In a news release, the university described the play as an examination into the collision between perception and reality while also poking fun at campus politics.

The M Word premiered at the Wyoming college with rave reviews and is one of five plays up for the 2008 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival award.

Downs will be on hand to conduct a forum on the play following the Nov. 8 production. He'll also conduct a workshop on playwriting from 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 8. There is no cost, but preregistration is required. Call 542-5531. The workshop is open to ages 18 and older.

The M Word is rated R for strong language and not recommended for children.

PASCO -- Andres Enriquez said there wasn't much need for him to learn English when he was working 10 to 14 hours a day in the fields after emigrating from Mexico nearly 20 years ago.

"I hardly ever interacted with other people," he said. "I was disconnected from the world. The first few years, I didn't see the need because I could find enough people who spoke Spanish."

It was seven or eight years before Enriquez realized he'd have to learn English if he wanted a better job and a better life.

More than a decade later, the 36-year-old Pasco man is teaching others how to read, write and speak English as a part-time instructor at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.

More than 2,600 adult students learned literacy, English as a second language and other skills through the college's Basic Skills program in the 2007-08 school year, said Meg Molton, dean of basic skills and transitional studies.

Gov. Chris Gregoire proclaimed this week Adult Literacy Week, and Molton and Enriquez are hoping that telling his story will inspire others to follow his path to English literacy.

Enriquez said the turning point in his life came when he was ordered to rest for a few days after a minor workplace accident. He went to the library to find something to occupy his time.

But what he found was a door to a new life when he met a recruiter from Washington State University who told him about the school's Spanish-language General Equivalency Diploma program.

It was the first time anyone had planted the seed in his mind that he could get his equivalency degree and maybe get a better job.

Enriquez lived in Teloloapan, Guerrero, Mexico, until he was 17. His father worked rented land, growing food for his family.

Enriquez went to school up to ninth grade, but his family couldn't pay to educate him beyond that. He said in Mexico public education is free only until sixth grade. Families pay a portion of the cost of education from sixth through ninth grade, but have to pick up the entire tab for anything beyond ninth grade, he said.

"That is the case for many of our ESL students," Molton said. "That's why they come to us not only to learn English but also need literacy skills because they couldn't go to school beyond sixth or ninth grade."

Enriquez came to Prosser because jobs were scarce in his native town.

"It's hard," he said. "If you don't have an education, you're pretty much out of luck."

Molton said with few people who can't afford an education, trying to build a better life becomes a conundrum.

"The continuation of that is they're here without an education so they're restricted to agricultural work," she said. "We're hoping by increasing their literacy skills they can go on to other jobs, thereby helping the economy of the state of Washington and their families. They need literacy skills in order to get good jobs ... because more and more good jobs are requiring a higher level of education."

A total of 26 percent of people in Franklin County and 13.8 percent in Benton County have less than a high school education, according to the 2007 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For people who speak Spanish at home, that number jumps to 60.2 percent in Franklin and 62.8 percent in Benton.

For Enriquez, getting his GED was the first step toward his bachelor's degree and starting his own business.

Once he started, Enriquez put his nose to the grindstone and got his GED at WSU in Pullman. But he still didn't speak English, and after he came back to Prosser and was turned down for a job because he lacked adequate language skills, he found the ESL program at CBC.

He started at Level 1 -- the lowest level of English literacy -- and worked his way up to proficiency.

Then he got an associate's degree in electronics technology before going back to WSU for his bachelor's degrees in management information systems and foreign languages. He decided on Spanish as one of his majors to gain better written skills in his native tongue.

He spent time working for the Washington State Migrant Council and WSU before deciding early this year to come to Pasco and start a computer repair business that also helps Hispanics learn how to use and understand computers.

"My goal is not only to make money, but to help the community," he said. "When people come, I try to educate them so they know more about their systems."

He also started a bilingual magazine, Mi Gente, to provide information about community resources.

And he took the part-time job at CBC teaching ESL and computer skills.

"In the ESL program, if we can help people to learn we can help them get better jobs, help their kids and help their families," Enriquez said.

For more information about CBC's Basic Skills program, call 542-5501.

PASCO, Wash-- Avoiding the dentist can lead to more serious health problems, but if you don't have health insurance it can also be very expensive. If you can't afford to go to the dentist there's a program in the Tri-Cities that can help you out.

At Columbia Basin College, dental hygiene students will clean your teeth for only $30. Experienced hygenist watch over the students.

At CBC they spend two years learning how to clean teeth. Besides cleaning they can do X-Rays and flouride treatments.

Often times problems in your mouth can indicate problems elsewhere in your body and that's why cleanings are so important.

"We have patients come in for an initial screening appointment which is a no charge visit. We can establish what there needs are and then we can be better able to determine how long it will take for them to be a patient in our clinic," said Lynn Stedman, CBC Dental Hygiene School.

You can make an appointment at the CBC Clinic for Monday, Wednesday, or Friday.

An autobody technology professor at Columbia Basin College held a hybrid workshop to educate people Wednesday night.

There are pros and cons in owning one, Rhody Hayes says.

Some people are looking for the best gas mileage.

Others pay the extra $3-8,000 dollars because the hybrids produce cleaner emissions.

As much as hybrid technology is intriguing to consumers, it creates headaches for mechanics.

But experts say what really matters is the driver's behavior.

"If you take a hybrid car and you drive it properly, you can probably get at least 20 to 30 to 40 percent above what's stated on the sticker as far as fuel mileage," says professor Hayes.

Professor Hayes says hybrids also have an 'auto-stop' feature.

So, if the car is in idle at a stop sign, it's not burning any gas.

If you missed out on Wednesday's workshop, call Columbia Basin College to see when the next hybrid lesson is.

The Columbia Basin College Foundation and the "Don't Quit" workshops are the recipients of a $5,000 donation from Davidson Companies, a regional investment company.

Corporate donations of $105,000, in honor of company chairman Ian Davidson, commemorate the 50th anniversary of Davidson's joining the firm in 1958. The Great Falls, Montana firm has 1,000 employees in 17 states, including the D.A. Davidson and Co. office in Kennewick.

"It's been such a difficult year financially for nonprofit organizations that we really feel strongly that it's important to provide additional support to them," Davidson says.

The donations are being made to nonprofit agencies in eight states. The donation to
CBC's "Don’t Quit" workshops is a needed boost to those in our community going through tough times in their lives. The workshops cover issues of self-esteem, time management, budgeting, career choices, and study skills. The next "Don't Quit" workshop begins November 3.

Andres, then living in Prosser, would work 8-10 hours a day on the farm; then attend ESL classes at CBC’s Chase Center and on the CBC campus at night. The following year, he decided to leave farm work and began attending college full-time while working two part-time jobs to support himself. For two years, while Andres attended ESL classes, he also worked part-time in the ESL department as a paraprofessional (computer lab assistant) and held a second job off-campus on weekends. 

Andres credits the ESL department in helping him accomplish his goal of earning a degree. 

“They (CBC ESL staff) were a resource even when I moved on to college-level courses,” states Andres. 

In 1998, Andres earned an AAS degree in Electronics Technology before transferring to Washington State University where he ultimately earned two bachelor’s degrees in Management Information Systems and Foreign Languages.

Giving back has been a theme in Andres’ life. After completing his degrees, Andres returned to the Lower Valley to work in the Information Technology department for the Washington State Migrant Council. He later received an opportunity to work at the HEP department at WSU.

Last year, when he returned to the Tri-Cities, Andres opened a computer repair business in Pasco and began volunteering in the community. He now gives back by providing training to low income families on how to use their newly refurbished computers provided to them by the Realizing Every Community Asset (RECA) Foundation.

In winter of 2008, Andres came full circle by becoming adjunct faculty within a department that he considers his family. 

“Here (CBC Basic Skills department) is where I learned the value of education. I’m proud to be back and be part of the ESL community; here is where I took my first baby steps to a career and where people were very helpful to me,” states Andres. “Now I get to give back by teaching ESL and computer classes in the same department.”

Now that his computer business is well-established, Andres is working on a new project—publishing his own bilingual magazine MI GENTE. He seeks to provide the Spanish-speaking community information on services that are available to them such as: education, health, and community services. Andres is taking this one step further by providing internship opportunities to CBC’s Adult Basic Education (ABE) and ESL students. 

“There are a lot of ABE students from other countries whose skills are underutilized--some that are really talented,” states Andres. “They’re already working towards a better education and an internship will serve as experience they can use towards a career.”
Andres has always remembered what the HEP tutor told him, about the way to a better job. And now he is teaching others:  Better Skills. Better Jobs. Better Lives.

Recently divorced? Lost a loved one? Lost a job? Having self esteem problems? Just can’t get it all together? The next Columbia Basin College ‘Don’t Quit’ workshop could be just what you need to get back on your feet.

The Don’t Quit, five-week workshop covers budgeting, time management, self esteem, study skills, and career choices. The next workshop begins November 3 and runs through December 5.

For more information, call the CBC Resource Center at 509.542.5525 or email
broseberry@columbiabasin.edu.

Columbia Basin College’s Dental Hygiene program is offering low-cost preventative dental procedures for children to adults.  Cleanings, exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments, whitening trays, and limited restorative treatments are available in the Pasco campus clinic Monday through Friday. 

Call 542-4571 for an appointment.

Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent.

A  one-day Northwest eLearning Community Conference will present about 20 sessions on a variety of topics related to using technology in teaching, learning, and student success on Friday, October 17 at Columbia Basin College.

The keynote speaker will be George Siemens, a prominent writer and researcher on learning, networks, technology, and organizational effectiveness in digital environments. He is the author of Knowing Knowledge, an exploration of how the context and characteristics of knowledge have changed and what it means to organizations today.

The NWeLC is a consortium of eLearning users groups from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, with representatives from a wide range of colleges and universities.

Cost is $25 for the pre-conference workshop sessions only; $45 for the Friday sessions only.  For the pre-sessions on Thursday and the conference on Friday, the combined cost is $55.  See the NWeLC website at www.nwelc.org for registration and full conference schedule.  Registration will also be available on site.

Thornton just retired this June, but he had the vision for this building and that was realized in 2005 when the $20-million building first opened.  The building has new classrooms, science labs, technology labs, and a courtyard.

Thornton says it's a unique building and he likes being associated with unique things.  Thornton explains, "I'm very happy to have my name associated to this building because, as I mentioned in my remarks, it's a very unique building that really symbolizes our mission in a number of different ways."

Lee Thornton may have retired but he says his spirit is still at CBC and now his name will be there forever.  He lives on the west side now and is still in the education industry, working as a consultant for the Northwest Commission for Colleges and Universities.

Date/Time:  October 15, 11:30 AM
Location:  West End of New B Bldg.

Columbia Basin College’s latest building renovation has reached a landmark.  The B building, which began its renovation in June, has progressed to the point when the highest structural element is ready to be swung into place.

A Topping Off ceremony will be held October 15, at 11:30 a.m. near the west end of the new B building.  “Topping off” is a custom that Norwegian ironworkers brought to the United States in 1898.  A small tree is hoisted to the top of the building as a symbol that announces not only the workers' pride in their accomplishment, but also symbolizes the workers' respect for nature's contribution to the building process.  It also symbolizes that the hard part is done.

While there is still a great deal of work ahead, putting the last beam or truss in place signifies a major milestone in the project.  The original 14,578-square-foot building has been gutted and reconfigured with a new 4,400-square-foot addition.  The $5 M project will provide classroom and faculty offices for Business Education, Criminal Justice, and Paralegal programs.  Completion date is planned for May 2009.

The conference will be on Friday, with three pre-conference workshops on Thursday afternoon.  Full conference information and registration is available on the NWeLC web site.  The conference begins Friday at 9 a.m.

The keynote speaker will be George Siemens.  Siemens is a prominent writer and researcher on learning, networks, technology and organizational effectiveness in digital environments. He is the author of Knowing Knowledge, an exploration of how the context and characteristics of knowledge have changed and what it means to organizations today.

There will be about 20 sessions on a variety of topics related to using technology in teaching, learning and student success.

The NWeLC is a consortium of eLearning user groups from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washinton states, with representatives from a wide range of colleges and universities.

What is the truth about suicide? That’s what the Columbia Basin College Associated Student and CBC Counseling/Advising Center will try and answer with the showing of the film, The Truth about Suicide, Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Following the 30-minute film, a group discussion on suicide will answer questions. The discussion will be led by Kristi Haynes of the Benton Franklin Youth Suicide Prevention program.

Showings and discussion will be at 9:15, 10:30, and 11:45 a.m., Tuesday in the CBC HUB Congress room. The public is invited to attend and there is no admission charge.

Learn the differences between digital and film cameras and how to compose a good picture using a digital camera during this introductory course.

Course fee is $55.  To register, visit the Student Services Center or call 542-4806 for more information.