As a former actor for more than 20 years, I was a little concerned before seeing Columbia Basin College's production of Rent last weekend.  To put it simply, I shouldn't have been.  Nor should anyone else here in the Tri-Cities.  These kids did more than do the show justice. They discovered and showed the beautiful heart of this wonderful show.  It's not flawless, but it breathes and lives and dies on the stage, and that is exactly what makes live theater so magical.

Great performances by all, but a special nod to Ryan Thiessen and Jessica Ballard as Roger and Mimi.  They connect exceptionally, and in this humble actor's opinion are scratching the surface of being able to play these parts anywhere, on any stage.  To Ginny Quinley, John Tuttle and the entire production staff, thank you.  Smile deep and proud because you deserve it.  And fellow Tri-Citians, go see this show.  See it with open minds and open hearts.  See it as nothing more than people.  No agendas and no judgments.  Watch it with love in mind, and you never know, it might change your life.

A.J. James
Kennewick

TRI-CITIES-- So many people are asking for financial aid, that the financial aid office at CBC will be shut down for three weeks to deal with them all.

CBC estimates a 20 to 25 percent increase in the number of applications from last year.

The financial aid office actually merged with the student employment office to share some of the work load. Daphne Lightfoot says about 12 students came to check on the status of their financial aid in the first hours the financial aid office was closed.

"It's nationwide. It's not just at CBC. And I know it's a huge number. But people want to come back to school. It's just when you don't have work and there isn't a lot of work out there, people go back to school," said Lightfoot.

For right now, you can drop off financial aid applications in a locked blue box outside the financial aid office and check the status of your paperwork at the student employment office.

The Columbia Basin College Financial Aid office will be closed to the public July 26 – August 13 for processing, due to the increase in the number of applications for fall quarter financial aid.

During this time, students may check their financial aid status at the Student Employment office located upstairs in the H building, and can drop off financial aid documents in the blue box outside the Financial Aid office.

Fall quarter tuition is due August 11. If students have not received a financial aid award letter from CBC by August 11, they will need to pay their tuition in full or enroll in the Student Tuition Easy Payment Plan (STEPP) program. For more information about STEPP, visit columbiabasin.edu/stepp.

The annual Columbia Basin College surplus sale is set for July 29-31.

This year's items include: computer equipment, printers, media equipment, books, tables, chairs, desks, typewriters, televisions and a portable basketball hoop.

The sale will be held at 3414 Swallow St., just off Fourth Avenue in Pasco.

A bid catalog will be available at the door.

Preview and bidding is set for 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 29, 30 and 31.

Pickup will be from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 19, 20 and 21 at the same location.

For more information, call 542-4832.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

PASCO -- The Columbia Basin College women's basketball team ranked ninth nationally this year in grade point average among community college women's basketball teams across the nation.

The Hawk players compiled a 3.115 GPA during the 2009-10 season.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

Featured School
Columbia Basin College

This year, Columbia Basin College hosted their second annual "Arbor Day Tree Planting" event. Managed and planned by the campus Sustainability Committee, participants helped plant hundreds of trees, large and small, to beautify the campus and create a small nursery area for future growth and nursery stock. Those who attended learned proper tree planting techniques from community volunteers and the Department of Forestry and received small tree seedlings to take home and plant in their communities.

The Sustainability Committee is comprised of students, faculty, staff, and community members and truly helps their campus emulate Columbia Basin College President's favorite quote, "The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit."

Learn more about Columbia Basin College's sustainability efforts.

Campus Contact: Brittney Stephens, ASB Pres
Staff Contact: Brady Brookes
College Website: www.columbiabasin.edu

The Agriculture program at Columbia Basin College is designed to focus on education and prepare the next generation of agriculture professionals.

Students gain hands-on experience at Columbia Basin College.                                                                                     Photo by Dawn Alford, CBC

Courses are industry-driven and provide students with a deeper understanding of both the science and business of modern agriculture, natural resources and the food and fiber industry.

The college's ag program prepares not only aspiring growers of crops, but also students who are interested in other industries, such as marketing, agribusiness, ornamental horticulture and animal science.

Courses in horticulture, soil science, animal science, agribusiness and agriculture and food systems are combined with general education requirements in the two-year associate in applied science degree in agribusiness. This degree will meet the requirements for the first two years of a bachelor's degree at most universities in a wide range of agricultural majors, from agronomy to animal science.

Additionally, there are opportunities available to remain at CBC to complete a bachelor of applied science degree with an emphasis in agriculture. Scholarships and internships are available to all students based on their interests and qualifications, thanks to the generous support of agricultural companies in the Columbia Basin.

Founded in 1955, Columbia Basin College has served Benton and Franklin counties for more than half a century.

As a public institution, CBC continually expands and renovates programs and structures to meet the community's needs. The enrollment of the college has grown from 299 students in 1955 to more than 7,500 students per quarter today. Still, CBC maintains small class sizes, averaging between 22-50 students per class, and a talented, caring faculty.

Located in the Tri-Cities, Wash., population 150,000, CBC's main campus is in Pasco, and its Health Science Center is located in Richland.

CBC is accredited by the Northwest Association of Colleges and Universities and offers associate in applied science, associate in arts & sciences, and bachelor of applied science in applied management degrees, as well as one-year certificates, GED and High School completion.

The rock opera Rent had a successful 12-year run on Broadway and now you can experience the fabulous music of this bittersweet modern story, which is loosely based on the classic opera La Boheme, this weekend at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.

Here's what a few Tri-City theater fans had to say about it:

"After seeing La Boheme last Wednesday, I decided to see Rent, even though I did not like it when I saw it in New York a few years ago," said Laurel Piippo of Richland. "Comments from a friend made me want to see the local production. Also, Justin Raffa and Ginny Quinley are top theater people who consistently turn out great events."

Piippo said her friend told her, "I went to see Rent on Sunday. Although the subject matter is difficult, the music, dancing, acting and the production as a whole was terrific."

"At first I wondered if Ginny (Quinley, the director) had chosen a wrong play for the Tri-Cities, and I told her I would not like it. Well, I was wrong. I liked it and can recommend it even to my octogenarian friends."

Joyce Oates of Kennewick was blown away by the quality of the musical.

"We saw Rent opening night," she said. I got goose bumps after some of the solos. The performances were top notch and they put their all into it. We were truly awe-struck at the talent in this show."

Rent follows the lives of a group of artists living in New York's East Village during the 1980s and 1990s. Some are dealing with HIV/AIDS, some are just battling to make it in the entertainment business, and some are simply struggling to pay the Rent. Despite the problems, this tight group of friends have built a relationship based on love.

The music in the rock opera, which will be handled by music director Debi Eng of Kennewick, is energizing and lively.

So, if you're looking for some entertainment that will get you out of the blistering Tri-City heat this weekend, then head on over to CBC, 2600 N. 20th Ave., Pasco.

Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. July 23-24, 27, 29-31 in the CBC theater. Tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for students and senior citizens. Tickets at the door.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

TCAJoB: Tell me about the Small Business Development Center.

Davis: The Washington SBDC Network has been serving Washington businesses since 1980.  The SBDC started educational programs in our area in1980 and a center, still hosted by Columbia Basin College, was established in 1987. The WSBDC Network is supported by federal funds administered by the U. S. Small Business Administration, state and local cash and in-kind match.  Our center is supported by the federal dollars, cash and in-kind match from CBC, and in-kind match from TRIDEC.  The State of Washington also provides cash match directly to The Washington State Network.  Without the Federal funds, Columbia Basin College, and TRIDEC’s support, the Tri-City SBDC would not exist.

TCAJoB: What services do you offer?

Davis: The SBDC offers a variety of services.  Generally, they include many of the topics you need to grow and prosper your business.  They include: understanding how your business works – strategies for profit; analyzing your financial statements and determining your cost structure; projecting cash flow needs; developing a marketing strategy; gathering market research; developing a pricing strategy; valuing a small business for sale or purchase; preparing for expansion and growth; developing a business plan; gaining information about commercial loans, SBA guaranteed loan packages, and local loan funds (administered by the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments); and preparing commercial loan packages.

TCAJoB: Is there any cost for businesses to use the services?

Davis: The Tri-City Small Business Development Center services are free and confidential to business owners and managers in the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas of Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla Counties.  I tell prospective clients that we are free but not without cost!  The SBDC asks for a small amount of each client’s time. We rely on clients sharing financial outcomes and jobs saved and created to justify our existence to our various funders.  Again, this information is held in strict confidence and reported only as center totals.  In addition, we ask that clients respond to a very limited number of surveys that help evaluate our impact to the state’s businesses.

TCAJoB: What’s the most frequent type of request you receive?

Davis: For startup businesses, “Where do I start in starting my own business?” For existing businesses, “I need a loan.”

TCAJoB: How has the recession impacted the types of help business owners ask for?

Davis: While we have not felt the full impact of the recession in the Tri-Cities, we still have seen consumers become more conservative in their spending.  This has led to a tightening of sales, lower revenues, and a lower net profit.  Businesses have had to control their expenses better to stay in business.  In addition, lending has significantly tightened by commercial lenders.  This of course impacts the cash flow of all businesses.

TCAJoB: What’s the most frequent problem you see local small business owners experiencing right now?

Davis: Lack of cash…a tight cash flow.  Frequently this is coupled with not matching the best type of loan to what the funds are used to purchase.  For example, using a line of credit or credit cards to purchase equipment or expand a building.

TCAJoB: What advice do you give to them?

Davis: Know your financial position and financial records well.  From timely, accurate, financial statements, we can see how your business behaves and develop financial strategies to ease the pain or even grow.  We also recommend thoroughly analyzing your customer, who they are, where they are located, the needs you meet, and the problems you solve for them.  Once you have taken a second look at what you do for your customer and who they are, a more effective and possibly less costly marketing strategy can be implemented.

TCAJoB: What services do you offer that you think more small business owners should take advantage of?

Davis: Having someone look at their business through “new” eyes.  We help owners evaluate and improve their financial records to better understand the financial structure of their business and examine ways to improve cash flow and profitability.  Marketing plans can need to also be evaluated.  See question “2” for a more complete list!

TCAJoB: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Davis: Seeing clients succeed!

TCAJoB: How can business owners reach the Small Business Development Center?

Davis: To learn how the SBDC can help you solve your problems, contact me for an appointment at 735-6222 ext. 236 or by e-mail at bdavis@columbiabasin.edu.

The Columbia Basin College Women's Basketball team has ranked ninth this year in grade point average (GPA) among community college women's basketball teams across the nation.

The Hawk players compiled a 3.115 GPA during the 2009-10 season. Coach Cheryl Holden says academics is the highest priority.

"Our student athletes take their academics seriously. Their efforts in the classroom complement their efforts on the court. The two go hand in hand. I'm proud of what these women have accomplished."

The Hawks finished eighth at the 2010 Women's NWAACC Basketball Tournament.

CBC is bringing the 4 time Tony Award play, "Rent," to the Tri-Cities. Jordan Steele met up with the cast to show us one of their last rehearsals.

Winner of four Tony Awards. Book, music, and lyrics by Jonathan Larson.

July 16, 17, 18 (2 p.m.), 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30, 31

Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical based loosely on Puccini's opera La Bohčme. It follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York's East Village.

Musical Drama - Rated R, for strong language and sexual reference.

Everyone at Columbia Basin College is talking about a Craigslist posting -- and it's not even lewd.

In fact, it's not even clear that the statement in the posting is true, although officials at the Washington State community college say that it is quite true as a sign of the times. The listing (since removed from Craigslist, but provided in screenshot form to Inside Higher Ed by the college) says (spelling and punctuation verbatim): "so I heard that some people are registering for classes that are in high demand to sell their spots in them, and biology 160 is one of those classes. my roommate and i need into that class summer quarter so if anyone is currently enrolled in any of the bio 160 classes for SUMMER QUARTER and is willing to sell their spot on it or knows of anyone that is please please please let me know ASAP."

Whoever posted the ad did not respond to e-mail messages from Inside Higher Ed. And the college doesn't know who put it up or whether students are in fact selling their spots in courses. But courses are at capacity, and because of the way the institution handles registration, a scheme like this could work (and might have already worked).

Frank Murray, a spokesman for the college, explained that it did away with waiting lists a few years ago, because students were registering for too many courses, and getting on too many more waiting lists, and registration had become hard to manage. Now, once a course reaches capacity, no waiting list is used, but when someone drops out (through the college's Web site), someone who knew when that was going to take place could quickly grab the spot. This happens all the time, and Murray said that the college wasn't aware of the Craigslist ad until a local newspaper, The Tri-City Herald, wrote about it -- and that the scheme could well have worked by then. Shortly after the article ran, the ad disappeared.

Biology 160 is a course that students are indeed anxious to get into, Murray said. It is a general biology course with a lab, and is part of required sequences for health professions programs such as nursing, dental hygiene, physical and occupational therapy, and paramedic training -- all popular programs because the graduates have great job prospects.

The college has one classroom that can seat 120, and most seat only 40, Murray said. Instructors have been so concerned about turning students away that they have been letting some students stay in oversubscribed courses and sit in the aisles, but the college has had to be careful not to violate fire codes, so courses have indeed been closed, and whenever someone drops out, the spot is taken "within minutes." If any of that is due to selling of spots, he said that the college was "unaware" and certainly didn't encourage it.

Gwendolyn James, an assistant professor of English at the college, said she doubted that the posting was real. "It's true that demand for courses is going to continue to increase, but if you really think about it, students who are far enough along in their programs that they need very specific courses in a certain sequence in a given semester usually get to register ahead of everyone else because they have acquired more credits," she said via e-mail. "I suspect the Craigslist ad was probably generated by someone hoping to spawn some public outrage over the class cuts at CBC."

Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, said he has never heard of students paying others to drop courses, but he said that on some level, he was not surprised. "This is proof that rationing naturally creates a black market for the thing rationed," he said.

Admission is $17 for adults, $15 for students and senior citizens. Tickets at the door or CBC bookstore.

The modern-day rock opera has an adult theme with strong language and sexual references and is not recommended for children.

Are your children complaining about their teeth feeling sore?  Now is the time to get them checked out.  The Columbia Basin College dental hygiene clinic is providing cleanings exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments and sealants.  This summer, care is focused on patients ages 4 to 17.

The clinic is located on the Pasco campus and students in the dental hygiene program perform services at a reduced rate with supervision by registered licensed dental hygienist and a dentist.

Clinic hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 to 11 a.m. Fridays through Aug. 25.  For more information, or to set an appointment, call 542-4571 or go to columbiabasin.edu/dentalclinic.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

Four Columbia Basin College students traveled to Kansas City to compete at SkillsUSA, a national competition for technical skills.

Justine De Leon, Nicole De Leon and Andrew Willis placed 11th out of 13 college teams in the Automated Manufacturing Technology category, and Jacob Sachs placed 10th out of 14 college students in CNC Turning Technology.

The students’ CBC instructor, Rob Walker, said the competition was a great learning experience for them.  He said he hopes to prepare more students to compete at the state and national levels next year.

School's out for summer and now is a great time to schedule your children and teens for a teeth cleaning. The Columbia Basin College dental hygiene clinic provides cleanings, exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments, and sealants, and this summer care is focused on patients ages 4 – 17.

At the dental clinic located on the Pasco campus, students in the CBC Dental Hygiene program perform services at a reduced rate with supervision by registered, licensed dental hygienists and a supervising dentist.

Summer clinic hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays, and 8-11 a.m. Fridays through August 25.

Estimates are available to determine the needs of the patients, the timeframe for patient care, and the cost for services. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 542-4571 or visit columbiabasin.edu/dentalclinic.

PASCO -- The new nuclear technology program at Columbia Basin College will receive $166,389 from the Department of Energy to develop radiological protection technology classes.

It's the second boost the program has received this month.

Last week, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission awarded $100,000 to be matched by CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co. for curriculum development.

The DOE grant, part of $18.2 million awarded Thursday for nuclear education across the nation, will be used to buy equipment for the radiological protection technology program.

Students in the program will earn a two-year degree and are expected to be in demand at Hanford as health physics technicians or can continue their education to earn four-year degrees.

The nuclear technology program, which started offering classes in fall 2009, now will offer both an instrumentation and control option and also a radiological protection technology option.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

PASCO -- Cole Cook tried his hand at making theater a profession and loved it, although he categorized himself as a starving actor.

He lived in Seattle and spent a couple of years working in various productions up and down the Interstate 5 corridor between Seattle and Portland before moving back home earlier this year to work full time and save money to pursue a master's degree in theater.

But in the meantime he'll star in Columbia Basin College's summer showcase production of Rent, which opens July 16 in the CBC theater.

"Rent is a fabulous rock opera musical," Cook said. "I saw it on Broadway and in Seattle. It's the only musical that ever made me cry."

Cook is glad to be able to act without the pressure of having to make a living.

"It's very difficult for an actor to live in a big city, which is where all the professional theater companies are located," Cook said. "I was lucky and was able to get parts in several plays for a couple years in Portland and Seattle."

But without an acting union card the pay wasn't enough to support himself on theater alone. Still, he doesn't want to leave the acting craft behind.

"I was really awful when I was first starting years ago at CBC," Cook said. "But I love this life of entertainment, when you can forget about all the bad stuff happening in the world and pretend to be someone else for a while."

His character in Rent will be Angel, which is a sensitive, demanding role that requires good singing, dancing and acting, said CBC drama director Ginny Quinley.

"Cole didn't start out a natural as an actor," Quinley said. "But he worked diligently to hone his craft. Cole is proof that dedication and commitment can earn us our goals."

Rent is a Tony Award-winning musical loosely based on Puccini's opera La Boheme. It follows a year in the lives of eight friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York's East Village.

CBC's production also features actors Jessica Ballard, Stephanie Fanning, Bryan Foley, Rob Hanson, Robbie Heegel, Michele Solano and Ryan Theissen.

Quinley is co-directing with John Tuttle, and Justin Raffa is music director. Ronn Campbell is handling set design.

Cook's character, Angel, is a drag queen dying of AIDS yet he continues to hold his group of tight-knit friends together.

"I love this character because he lives each day as his last despite his condition and keeps his friends uplifted," Cook said. "The singing has been a challenge, and Justin Raffa has been tough, as well as a wonderful mentor."

Quinley said 10 years ago Cook was by no means a triple threat, which in theater-speak means an actor who can sing, dance and act. "But he sure is now," she said.

Rent won four Tony awards when it opened on Broadway in 1996. It also won the Pulitzer Prize for drama that year, along with the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award and an Obie Award.

Rent is much more than a historical piece on life in American during the 1980s and 1990s, Quinley said.

Critics describe it as a musical rush that's energizing, poignant, joyous and cathartic, and its music will stick with you for a lifetime, she added.

Because of strong language and sexual references, Rent is not a musical for children.

Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. July 16-17, 22-24, 27, 29-31, with a 2 p.m. matinee July 18.

Tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for students and senior citizens.

Tickets are available at the door or the CBC bookstore.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

Synergism is at work in the Tri-Cities as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the community, Hanford, contractors and Columbia Basin College create new opportunities for the future work force.

A $100,000 grant from the NRC helps push CBC's radiological protection classes steadily forward. And the grant will be matched by CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co.

The combined grant means opportunities for CBC students. It means an educated work force for Hanford contractors. And it means another milestone achieved in CBC's quest for continuing excellence.

"A $100,000 grant to start a program is a huge deal to us," CBC President Rich Cummins told the Herald's Annette Cary. With state funding cutbacks and existing programs being given priority, additional money for new initiatives is doubly precious.

It's also a great example of how the college -- despite economic challenges -- has deepened its ties to the community it serves under Cummins' leadership.

The NRC gave grants totaling nearly $5 million to 37 different institutions for nuclear education curricula development.

It targeted the money for programs in nuclear engineering, radiochemistry and radiobiology, health physics, materials and mechanical engineering, reliability and risk analysis, electrical engineering, safeguards and security, human factors and human reliability and fire protection engineering.

CBC's share will go to hire an instructor to form a program around radiological protection technology classes to train students as health physics technicians.

These are high-demand jobs at Hanford and plants in the nuclear field, including Energy Northwest north of Richland.

"The need is great in nuclear power and for remediation at Hanford," Derek Brandes, CBC dean of career and technical education, told Cary. "The average age of workers is 55."

The reason for the aging work force is, of course, the virtual shutdown of nuclear power development in the United States while the rest of the world forged ahead without us.

Now, new plants are being developed even as the need at Hanford is increasing.

Companies that have pledged to support the program with cash, equipment, scholarships, internships or other contributions include Energy Northwest, Battelle, the contractor for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland and Hanford contractors Washington River Protection Solutions, CH2M Hill and Mission Support Alliance.

CBC hopes to be designated a nuclear center of excellence. It's no easy undertaking.

But with help like this, and the track record CBC has earned, we all can have great expectations.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

PASCO -- Columbia Basin College will expand its nuclear technology curriculum with the help of a $100,000 grant from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The money, paired with a match from CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co., will be used to develop radiological protection technology classes to educate students as health physics technicians.

"A $100,000 grant to start a program is a huge deal to us," said CBC President Rich Cummins. State money favors existing programs and money for current programs has been cut.

The radiological protection technology program is the second program being planned in the college's nuclear technology degree offering, which enrolled its first class of 45 students in fall 2009.

Initially, a curriculum was developed for a two-year associate's degree in nuclear technology with an instrumentation and control option. Those graduates are qualified for jobs in nuclear operations.

The grant will allow students, including those who have just completed their first year of core classes, also to choose a two-year degree program with an emphasis in radiological protection.

Graduates from both programs will be in demand at Washington River Protection Solutions, said Dom Sansotta, the Hanford contractor's manager of work force resources.

It created its own training program in 2009 when it needed to find more health physics technicians, already in demand across the nation, as federal economic stimulus money ramped up environmental cleanup work at Hanford. The jobs started at about $20 an hour.

The CBC program will educate workers for its future, particularly as Hanford's vitrification plant to treat high-level radioactive waste begins operating.

"The need is great in nuclear power and for remediation at Hanford," said Derek Brandes, CBC dean of career and technical education. "The average age of workers is 55."

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has received applications for 18 new nuclear power projects, some with more than one reactor. But with little nuclear development in the United States in decades, the nation has skipped a generation of skilled nuclear workers, leaving the staffing of the planned plants uncertain.

Graduates of the two-year program can go to work immediately, can continue at CBC to earn a bachelor's of applied science in management or transfer to a four-year nuclear program, such as the one at Oregon State University, Cummins said.

CBC will be hiring a full-time faculty member to develop the curriculum for radiological protection technology.

It plans to continue applying for NRC grants to develop a total of five nuclear technology degree options. The NRC already has given CBC $240,000 for scholarships for students over the past two years.

CBC has estimated the cost of the nuclear technology program at about $2.1 million over five years. With no state money available, CBC has planned to pay for half of the program with the support of companies doing business in the Tri-City area and the rest with tuition and grants from agencies such as the NRC.

Companies that have pledged to support the program with cash, equipment, scholarships, internships or other contributions include: Energy Northwest, which owns the nuclear plant near Richland; Battelle, the contractor for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland; and Hanford contractors Washington River Protection Solutions, CH2M Hill and Mission Support Alliance.

But CBC's long-term strategy is to apply to have the college designated a nuclear center of excellence. That would require support of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and then approval by the Legislature.

"If we get the designation, we get high demand dollars from the state and also connect nationally" with other programs, Cummins said. "We want to be a player in energy education."

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

The song “No Day But Today” summarizes the theme of Rent, Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer-prize-winning Broadway musical based loosely on Puccini’s opera La Boheme.

The play follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York’s East Village.

During that year they live “the best of times, and the worst of times,” finding love and meaning in relationships and life while experiencing fear and loss as they deal with AIDS.

In addition to the primary stories of the friends, an ensemble of eight characters displays other parts of city life, including the plight of the homeless and of drug users.

Rent is much more than a history piece about the late ’80s and ’90s in the U.S. It is a “musical rush” — simultaneously energized, poignant, joyous, and cathartic. Through the flurry of songs and dance, the messages are clear: enjoy and cherish life — each day, each minute — and choose joy over fear as a state of being. It’s no wonder that Rent swept the 1996 awards, winning the Pulitzer prize for drama, four Tony Awards (one for best musical), the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk awards and Obie awards.

The cast of Rent includes Jessica Ballard, Cole Cook, Stephanie Fanning, Bryan Foley, Rob Hanson,  Robbie Heegel, Michele Solano and Ryan Thiessen as the friends, and is directed by Ginny Quinley and John Tuttle, with music direction by Justin Raffa.

Performances of Rent are at 7:30 p.m. on July 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30 and 31. A matinee performance will be July 18 at 2 p.m.

“A musical within a comedy” describes the second offering of the Showcase season, The Drowsy Chaperone.

The show opens with a man sitting in a chair, talking to the audience about how
fun musicals are. He then offers to play one of his favorite records, “the 1920s hit ‘The Drowsy Chaperone.’”

With great delight he does indeed play the record, and the characters spring to life from it. Big musical numbers from the classic musical, subtle references to many musicals written, and an interactive narrative from the man in the chair make this newly released musical entertaining for all ages.

Winner of six Tony awards in 2006, The Drowsy Chaperone is fresh off of its Broadway run and is full of fun. The cast includes Mark Barton, Joyce Bean, Chantelle Benicki, Paul Brooks, Sergio Bueno, Eric Eberle, June Gillespie, Heather Harvey, Molly Holleran, Mindy Krejci, William Lenske, Kevin Nettleton, Colleen Roddy, Greg Rose, Jim Salaba, Sam Schick, Korry Watkins, and Richard Reuther as “Man in Chair.”

The show is directed by Ginny Quinley with music direction by Val Wenner and choreography by Diana Howard Law. Scenic design for both shows is provided by Ronn Campbell.

Performances of The Drowsy Chaperone are Aug. 13-15, Aug. 17, and Aug. 20-22. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. except the Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. on Aug. 15 Tickets for both shows are $17 for adults and $15 for seniors and students. Ticket outlets include Adventures Underground bookstore in Richland, Shelby’s Floral in Kennewick and the CBC Performing Arts office in Pasco. They will also be available at the door if not sold out.

Chaperone is rated G/PG. and Rent is rated R for its adult language and strong sexual references. For more information call (509) 542-5531 or visit www.columbiabasin.edu/showcase.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, has donated $2,000 to the Columbia Basin College agriculture scholarship fund specifically to support an agriculture student from either Hermiston or North Franklin School District.  The scholarship will support a CBC agriculture program student for the 2010-2011 academic year.

The CBC Agriculture program provides science and business-based educational opportunities for students from Benton and Franklin counties, and students from the surrounding region.  The program also targets research and development initiatives for the Pacific Northwest agricultural community. 

Pioneer Hi-Bred has a seed corn and pre-commercial hybrid seed corn production facility in Hermiston, Oregon.
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PASCO -- A four-day seminar on improving communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills is planned this month at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.

The "Living a Purposeful Life" seminar is the latest in a series of seminars put on by on by CBC's Resource Center to help people overcome obstacles.

Sessions are from 6 to 9 p.m. July 6, 8, 13 and 15 in room B-104 at CBC. Cost is $25.

For more information, call 525-5525 or e-mail broseberry@columbiabasin.edu.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

"Living a Purposeful Life" is next in a series of 'Yes I Can' seminars provided by the Columbia Basin College Resource Center. The four-day seminar includes improving communication skills, decision-making skills, and problem-solving skills.

The 'Yes I Can' seminars were started to help anyone overcome obstacles to success. The cost is $25 for the entire series which meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, July 6, 8, 13, and 15 from 6-9 p.m. in room B-104 on the CBC Pasco campus.

For more information, call the Resource Center at 542-5525 or email broseberry@columbiabasin.edu.

State budget cuts are creating more problems for students who need financial aid.

The number of applicants who qualified for a State Need Grant but didn't receive one tripled this last academic year.

The Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board says there simply isn't enough money.

Students and administrators at Columbia Basin College are seeing the problem first-hand.

The school's Director of Financial Aid says nearly 2,900 students applied for financial aid this year, and more than 200 aren't getting the amount they're qualified to receive.

"We just have to give them the best that we can and that's what we tell them is, we'll award you everything we can if you're eligible for and everything that we have money to award. If we don't have it, we're sorry, we can't make it" said Ceci Ratliff, CBC's Director of Financial Aid.

Ratliff says about 200 more students applied for financial aid this year compared to last year.