�� Tri-Cities

�� Tri-Cities Career and Internship Fair connects job seekers with regional employers

Kyle Kopta — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 22:14:49 +0000

Students and community members looking to launch or advance their careers will have the opportunity to connect directly with regional employers at the Washington State University Tri-Cities Career and Internship Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 21. The event will be held in the Consolidated Information Center on the �� Tri-Cities campus.

Hosted in partnership with WorkSource and Columbia Basin College, the event will bring together employers representing a variety of industries. Participating organizations include Bechtel, Central Plateau Cleanup Company, Energy Northwest, Gesa Credit Union, Hanford Tank Waste Operations and Closure, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and others.

Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their resumes and be prepared to speak with recruiters about current openings and internship opportunities.

“Events like this allow students to build confidence, explore career opportunities and make meaningful connections, while also giving employers an opportunity to see the talent and potential we have here at �� Tri-Cities and throughout our community,” said John Navarro, �� Tri-Cities Career Center coordinator. “It’s about bringing people together, creating connections and helping employers see what’s possible when we work together as a campus and as a community.”

The fair is open to both students and members of the public. Employers interested in reserving a booth must register by Oct. 16.

View additional information, including registration details for employers and attendees.

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Kennewick School District names �� Tri-Cities its 2026 Community Partner of the Year

Kyle Kopta — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 22:38:05 +0000

Kennewick School District has named Washington State University Tri-Cities’ College of Education, Sport and Human Sciences as its 2026 Community Partner of the Year, recognizing the college’s collaborative efforts to strengthen teacher preparation, professional learning and student career pathways.

In a news release announcing the award, the Kennewick district highlighted multiple partnership programs between the two entities that have benefited teachers and students, including the designation of Kennewick’s Park Middle School as a “Teaching Laboratory School” last March.

As a , Park Middle School hosts �� Tri-Cities education students for practicum training in real-world classrooms, working and learning under the guidance and mentorship of experienced teachers. Rather than being attached to just one class, teaching candidates at Park Middle School spend their second semester rotating and observing instruction across 25 active classrooms, gaining exposure to many subjects and teaching approaches.

“Each year, the partnership brings as many as 80 qualified teaching candidates into KSD schools,” the announcement said. “But the collaboration extends well beyond student teaching placements.”

The announcement also highlighted ��’s accessible career paths for aspiring teachers already learning or working in the Kennewick School District. For example, through the �� Tri-Cities Alternative Route program, paraeducators can pursue teaching degrees while continuing to work in Kennewick schools. Graduating students from Kennewick high schools, meanwhile, can also explore education careers through the Teaching Bridge Pathway partnership.

In addition to supporting a strong local hiring pipeline for new teachers, �� Tri-Cities education faculty routinely collaborate with Kennewick School District professionals on research and curriculum related to bilingual education, special education, STEM teaching and more. As a gesture of shared commitment, roughly 20 Kennewick district administrators conduct mock interviews each semester with graduating �� Tri-Cities teaching candidates — helping them be better prepared for post-college success.

John Mancinelli, academic director for the College of Education, Sport and Human Sciences, accepted the award during the Kennewick School District’s annual all-staff assembly in August. He congratulated his �� Tri-Cities colleagues and thanked Kennewick School District teachers and administrators for their longstanding support and collaboration.

“To be selected from the many community partners KSD works with is a great compliment, and we are very grateful for the recognition,” Mancinelli said. “Our desire is to lead quality education with our regional partners, and this award tells us that we are on the right track!”

Learn more about the different teaching pathways, graduate degrees and professional add-on certifications available through �� Tri-Cities.

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From classroom to laboratory: �� Tri-Cities alumna partners with BSEL research team

Kyle Kopta — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 01:22:23 +0000

By Flynn Espe

Eighteen years after earning her degree from Washington State University Tri-Cities, high school science teacher Katy Andrewjeski (’08 Elem. Ed.) found herself back on the Richland campus this past summer. Instead of learning about classroom management and teaching pedagogies, however, this time she was donning lab safety gear and helping researchers explore new methods for turning agricultural waste into bioplastics.

For two days a week over an eight-week period, Andrewjeski joined Professor Bin Yang and other researchers at the Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory to observe and participate in their work.

The opportunity was made possible thanks to the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust’s , which allows middle and high school science teachers to engage in innovative research projects at leading science institutions under the guidance of a professional mentor. In doing so, partnering teachers gain authentic laboratory experience meant to elevate their classroom teaching on scientific processes and discovery.

Left to right: Do-gyun Kim, Miki Santosa, Bin Yang, Katy Andrewjeski and Zach Johnson.

Under Yang’s mentorship, Andrewjeski conducted research on the bioconversion of agricultural residues, including corn stover and wheat straw, into high-value bioplastics and biofertilizers. Specifically, the research involved applying enzyme catalysts to the plant material as a first step in the conversion process.

“Their cell walls are made mostly of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, so the pre-treatments we were applying were meant to break down those [complex carbohydrates] into simpler, fermentable sugars,” Andrewjeski said.

By maximizing the number of fermentable sugars, she said, the plant waste becomes a more effective feedstock for certain bacteria that convert them into a polymer type known as polyhydroxyalkanoates, or PHAs for short.

“When people consume more sugar than their bodies need, the surplus is stored as fat. Similarly, some bacteria store excess carbon as PHAs, and PHAs can be used to make biodegradable plastics,” Andrewjeski said. “So the goal is to increase PHA production.”

For Andrewjeski, who teaches at Connell High School in rural Franklin County, the experience was particularly eye-opening. Not only does she live and work in a highly agricultural community, she also helps operate a family farm that recently switched over to corn and wheat production.

“I had no clue that corn stover and wheat straw, which are two waste products from our farm, could be used to produce biofuels or biodegradable plastics,” Andrewjeski said.

Whereas she and her husband have long focused on hay and cattle ranching, financial considerations caused them to change course last season.

“The hay market has not been the greatest, so we’ve had to pivot and make some other decisions — just trying to stay alive, which is not easy for a family farm these days,” she said.

As irrigation farmers, Andrewjeski says she and her husband typically pasture their corn stover after harvest before discing the remains back into the soil. Some growers sell their waste materials as feedstock, while others dispose of them through practices such as burning. But with biofuels and bioplastics becoming more commercially feasible alternatives to petroleum-based products, she said, farmers stand to benefit financially from the introduction of new markets.

At BSEL, Yang has played a significant role in making those economic changes possible, directing cutting-edge research efforts focused on converting agricultural residues, plant biomass and lignin into renewable fuels, chemicals and other high-value bioproducts. He was recently selected to Biofuels Digest’s , highlighting the most influential global figures driving scientific and commercial progress toward biobased fuels, products and solutions.

Despite her lifelong love of science, Andrewjeski said she had never taken part in real-world lab research prior to participating in the Murdock-funded program.

“Most science teachers don’t have that experience, which is odd,” Andrewjeski said.

As such, much of her initial on-site training involved shadowing �� Pullman graduate Do-Gyun Kim, a postdoctoral researcher who joined the BSEL team last spring after completing his Ph.D. in biological and agricultural engineering.

“She was very interested in the real research work, so I made sure to show her my workflow and explain the daily tests,” Kim said.

“Dr. Kim was great about showing me how to do everything,” Andrewjeski said. “There were a lot of people I would see periodically who would come through and make sure I had the help that I needed — Dr. Yang being one of them as well.”

The project was also beneficial for BSEL staff and faculty, as Andrewjeski and her husband — who also visited the lab at the end of the summer project — offered valuable insight from the agricultural business side of things.

Teachers selected for the Partners in Science program participate in two summers of research, as well as attend two Murdock-hosted conferences each year, including a January research symposium where they present their findings. With one summer under her belt, Andrewjeski plans to return to BSEL at the end of the current academic year to complete the project. In the meantime, she looks forward to bringing some of her lab experience into the classroom at Connell High School.

“That’s one of the things I’m most excited about, taking what I learned through my summer research and turning it into authentic learning experiences for my students,” Andrewjeski said.

One classroom project she’s already begun working on will mimic the work she did at BSEL by having students investigate the composition of plant biomass.

“Rather than simply teaching those concepts from a textbook, students could work through a simplified version of what I did in the lab — developing questions, making predictions, analyzing samples, collecting data and using that evidence to draw conclusions,” Andrewjeski said. “I want students to understand that science isn’t just about getting the right answer.”

To help facilitate that new curriculum, Andrewjeski was recently honored with ��’s .

“I will be receiving funding for my classroom that I can use to purchase the lab equipment that we’re going to need,” she said.

On a deeper level, Andrewjeski says she also hopes to demonstrate to students how modern science and technology connects to the world around them.

“I hope my students see that the science they’re learning has applications beyond the classroom. It creates relevance, and that’s important to kids,” Andrewjeski said. “They can look at something as familiar as a cornfield and begin asking questions about chemistry, biology, sustainability, agriculture, engineering and how these things really do come together.”

Yang, meanwhile, plans to visit Andrewjeski’s classroom later this year to talk about his team’s work at �� Tri-Cities.

“Katy and I hope this partnership will help bridge the gap between scientific discovery and STEM education, bringing cutting-edge research into the classroom and creating meaningful opportunities for both teachers and students,” Yang said.

In addition to her time in BSEL, Andrewjeski also returned to �� Tri-Cities this summer as an online student in the Educational Leadership program. She’s currently seeking an add-on certification, with courses that she hopes will eventually contribute toward her doctoral degree.

“�� Tri-Cities has given me so many opportunities — getting my education degree all the way to this program, so it’s a really big deal for me,” she said.

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H2C Day connects students with industry leaders and career insights

Kyle Kopta — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 20:42:45 +0000

By Flynn Espe

Dozens of employees from Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure (H2C) visited the Washington State University Tri-Cities campus Wednesday, sharing career advice, industry insights and networking opportunities with students during a special H2C Day event.

Throughout the day, �� Tri-Cities students had the opportunity to connect with professionals working at Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure (H2C).

The day began with a series of classroom visits, in which H2C employees spoke to students about their own professional journeys, as well as new and emerging career pathways related to students’ fields of study. Students then gathered in two locations for a trio of panels centered on artificial intelligence in the workplace, engineering innovation at H2C and tips for entering the professional workforce. Other representatives, meanwhile, chatted with students about jobs and internships during a free networking picnic outside the Student Union Building.

H2C is one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s prime contractors at the Hanford Site north of Richland. With a workforce of roughly 2,500 employees, the company is responsible for the safe retrieval, treatment and eventual disposal of radioactive and chemical waste stored in Hanford’s underground tank farms.

While students gained many insights about H2C’s workplace culture, company values and large-scale environmental cleanup efforts, much of the career advice that permeated across the various panels and presentations applied to a wide range of industries and job types.

In the panel on AI and emerging technologies, H2C panelists touted the importance of entering the professional workforce with curiosity and courage to ask questions.

During a panel on career navigation, students got to hear directly from managers about organizational structure, leadership, collaboration and building a successful career.

“One of the most valuable assets is curiosity. We undervalue being curious, and the benefit of being young in your career or just starting out is you don’t know everything,” H2C Business Services Director Corey Chun told the audience. “Somebody coming in and asking a simple question — ‘Why?’ — can really transform how we look at things and how we ultimately do things.”

After attending the panel on engineering and innovation, student Kolby Smith, a senior environmental and ecosystem sciences major, said he appreciated the opportunity to not only ask specific questions about hiring tips and resume-building advice, but also to learn more about the wide range of work happening at H2C.

“One of the things they highlighted that was impactful was the scale of innovation that they do, from something as small as changing the color on wrenches so they can be easier to see through a camera to large-scale management of fluid systems — or even policy,” Smith said. “It can be something as small as a wrench to something as grand as how we govern safety with nuclear waste. That’s cool, and seeing that scale of innovation is inspiring and encouraging for somebody who wants to go into that field.”

Wrapping up the day’s events, H2C President Ken Langdon joined Executive Vice President for �� Statewide Campuses Sandra Haynes in Collaboration Hall for a moderated discussion about leadership and career success, in which the two speakers drew from their own personal histories and life lessons.

“At �� Tri-Cities, we are proud to serve as a bridge between education, industry and our community. Our students come here not only to earn degrees, but to prepare for meaningful careers and meaningful lives,” Haynes said in her opening remarks. “That mission is strengthened when organizations like H2C invest their time, expertise and energy in engaging directly with you, our students.”

H2C President Ken Langdon (left) and Executive Vice President for �� Statewide Campuses Sandra Haynes (right) closed H2C Day with discussion moderated by AS��TC President Romeo Ross (center).

Langdon, who also met with students during a special lunchtime meet-and-greet, said he welcomed more opportunities to engage with students to grow their understanding of the career opportunities available at the Hanford Site to help support the cleanup mission.

“We have an important task ahead of us to continue innovating to safely clean up the Department of Energy’s largest environmental challenge so that we can transform the Hanford Site for a new mission,” said Langdon. “There are tremendous opportunities for today’s students as the workforce of tomorrow to take Hanford into a new era.”

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�� Tri-Cities Fall 2026 Education Summit registration now open

Kyle Kopta — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:03:34 +0000

Registration for the Washington State University Tri-Cities annual Education Summit is now open. Sponsored by STCU, the summit will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10, and feature award-winning Pasco teacher Gabriela Whitemarsh as the keynote speaker.

The summit is open to administrators and teachers and will cover a variety of issues and perspectives in K-12 education, spanning multiple tracks and professional development sessions under this year’s central theme, “The Connected Future: Integrating AI, Technology and the Human Work of Learning and Wellbeing.” Participants will have the opportunity to earn up to six clock hours with STEM, Leadership and Equity options.

Keynote speaker Gabriela Whitemarsh, winner of the 2026 Washington State Teacher of the Year award, is a bilingual mathematics teacher at Pasco High School, from which she also graduated. Throughout her 18-year career, Whitemarsh has championed and advanced equitable access to education opportunities for students of all backgrounds. In 2018, she launched the Advanced Multilingual Mathematics Program, designed to help students new to the United States pursue college-level math courses while working toward English language proficiency. Her keynote address will highlight the importance of keeping human relationships at the center of teaching, especially amid technological change and disruption.

The Education Summit will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the �� Tri-Cities campus in the Consolidated Information Center (CIC), located at 2780 Crimson Way in Richland. Doors will open at 8:45 a.m., and lunch will be provided.

Those who plan to attend must register by Oct. 1. Registration costs $35 until Sept. 26, after which the price will increase to $45. Spots fill fast, so we encourage early registration. Click here for more information and to register.

The Education Summit is hosted by the �� Tri-Cities College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences.

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New partnership launches training network for entrepreneurs and businesses

Kyle Kopta — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:39:01 +0000

Washington State University Tri-Cities Cougar Tracks and the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce have partnered to launch the Resilient Business Builders Network, a new initiative��that will provide training, networking opportunities and professional development for entrepreneurs, small business owners and nonprofit leaders across the Tri-Cities.��

��The initiative is designed to help organizations adapt to changing workforce and economic conditions while strengthening the region’s long-term economic vitality.��

“Cougar Tracks exists to be the workforce training partner for this region — not just for one industry, one career stage or one kind of organization, but for all of us,”��said��Cougar Tracks Director Michelle��Hrycauk‑Nassif. “This��joint��undertaking��with the Tri-Cities Regional Chamber��is how we bring that commitment to life in a way that is collaborative and directly connected to the Tri-Cities community.”��

Under the partnership, Cougar Tracks will develop and deliver seasonal programming, while the Tri-City Regional Chamber will provide workforce and economic data and promote opportunities through its network of more than 900 member organizations.��

“Partnerships like the Resilient Business Builders Network are essential to the long-term economic vitality of the Tri-Cities,” said Austin Regimbal, vice president of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. “By joining forces with �� Tri-Cities Cougar Tracks, the Chamber is advancing our mission to support small business growth and ensuring that high-quality workforce training is accessible to organizations of all sizes across our region.”��

Workshops are expected to begin this fall and will center on planned topics such as practical AI adoption strategies for business and teams,��leadership��development��and��other workforce-related��skills. Cougar Tracks will also host networking events to��facilitate��connections between Tri-Cities professionals and the next generation of regional leaders.��

Community��feedback will shape programming��

To help��identify��emerging workforce needs, the network will gather input through a regional survey and a team of��volunteer��“Business Catalysts.”��

Workforce needs survey: Tri-Cities business leaders, professionals and community members are invited to share their training needs and priorities. Survey responses will directly shape upcoming workshops. Participants who complete the workforce needs survey will be entered to win a $200 Cougar gear gift bag.

Business Catalyst application: Business Catalysts are local professionals committed to supporting small business success. They help identify timely workshop topics and may serve as instructors, facilitators or panelists.

“Business Catalysts are the force behind the Resilient Business Builders Network experience,” Hrycauk‑Nassif��said. “They spark ideas, accelerate connections and help ensure our programming reflects the real needs of the Tri-Cities business community.”��

Community members interested in learning more about��Cougar Tracks and��the Resilient Business Builders Network can visit the Tri-City Regional Chamber’s Small Business Fair from 3 to 6 p.m.��on��June 9 at the Tri-Cities Business and Visitor Center, 7130 W.��Grandridge��Blvd., Kennewick.��

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New master’s degree expands horizons for �� wine science students

Kyle Kopta — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:55:09 +0000

By Angela Sams

Beginning this fall, students can pursue an advanced degree in viticulture and enology at Washington State University.

Offered via the university’s��Tri-Cities campus, the new master’s degree helps solidify �� as a global leader in graduate-level wine science research by preparing students for successful careers in an evolving industry.

“The wine industry increasingly recognizes the need for a workforce with deeper education, stronger scientific understanding, and the critical thinking skills required to address complex challenges, from climate change to shifting consumer preferences,” said Jean Dodson Peterson, founding chair of ��’s��. “This is the right time for us to lean into that need. An advanced degree in viticulture and enology fills an important gap and will help strengthen the future of the industry.”

Previously, �� V&E students could pursue a master’s degree in either food science or horticulture. While aspects of both disciplines are woven into the new degree, the curriculum takes a more targeted approach by focusing on Washington’s unique wine grape growing region and climate.

“Our team is excited to continue engaging as affiliate faculty in horticulture,” Dodson Peterson said. “This is not about creating a new silo. It is about strengthening our college by building on existing partnerships and creating new opportunities for collaboration.”

Dodson Peterson and a team of V&E faculty used survey results from current graduate students, recent alumni, and industry members to guide their curriculum development process. The result is a flexible degree that allows students to focus on enology, viticulture, or a mix of both.

�� also partnered closely with the��, a government agency that supports and represents wineries and grape growers throughout the state.

“Building on the legacy of pioneers like Walt Clore and Chas Nagel, the Washington wine industry continues to advance through a commitment to research and education. This program represents an important step forward in that tradition,” said Kristina Kelley, the commission’s executive director. “The industry will benefit from a growing pool of highly trained professionals with specialized technical expertise who understand how to collect and analyze vineyard and winery data to support informed, fact-based decision-making.”

The new degree is designed to be completed in two years. Students will take a heavy courseload during their first year and work on their graduate research projects throughout both years.

“The viticulture and enology department’s dedication to the thoughtful development of this degree is commendable,” said Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of ��’s��. “The degree’s combination of curriculum, research, and hands-on learning will ensure our students are competitive, knowledgeable, and career-ready in an industry that is undergoing significant change. I’m eager to witness the many new opportunities it will offer.”

Among the required core courses are a science writing workshop, a seminar focused on career development and current V&E topics, and a statistics class covering principles of experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation. Students can choose from more than a dozen viticulture- or enology-focused electives, depending on their individual research focus and interest.

With cross-institutional collaboration now becoming the norm, graduate students will be encouraged to work with their counterparts at other universities around the world, Dodson Peterson said.

“A graduate degree teaches students how to think critically and solve problems while instilling in them a passion for lifelong learning,” she added. “Our department focuses on conducting research in industry settings and establishing collaborative industry relationships. This approach helps students better understand industry challenges while showing them how to put innovative, data-driven solutions into practice.”

Watching the degree come to fruition has been both fulfilling and exciting for Dodson Peterson, who is especially grateful for the encouragement of �� leadership.

“As a team, we felt truly supported throughout this process,” she said. “I hope the changes we are making, from integrated learning opportunities and more industry-connected conversations to expanded research capacity, will have a lasting impact on the economic sustainability of the wine and grape industry in Washington and beyond.”

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Hands-on STEM Discovery Day inspires young learners at �� Tri-Cities

Kyle Kopta — Thu, 21 May 2026 21:56:36 +0000

By Flynn Espe

The Washington State University Tri-Cities campus was buzzing with youthful energy and excitement as more than 170 visiting students from Finley Elementary School took part in a special STEM Discovery Day event on May 14. Throughout the morning, groups of students in grades three through five cycled through various labs and classroom spaces, each set up with a hands-on activity led by university faculty and staff.

Groups of third-graders rotated through five activities involving rockets, perception, sensory play, decoder wheels, and the human heart. Students in grades four and five, meanwhile, explored 3D pens, robotics, electrical circuits, electronic music, and aerodynamics. Through it all, instructors prompted students to consider how science and technology play a key role in shaping the world around them.

By mixing water and Alka-Seltzer tablets in a plastic film container, Finley Elementary third-graders launched makeshift rockets as part of a chemistry experiment.

Outside, in the campus amphitheater, Sara Egbert introduced a group of third-graders to rocket building by referencing NASA’s recent Artemis II mission, which sent four U.S. astronauts on a 10-day, 700,000-mile voyage around the far side of the moon and back.

“This rocket has to have super amazing fuel,” Egbert, a �� Tri-Cities instruction and classroom support technician, said. “So there are engineers who make fuel that’s super-efficient and lightweight and won’t run out, because if you’re in space and your gas runs out, you’re in big trouble!”

Students then got to create their own miniature rockets with the help of a basic chemistry experiment: mixing water and Alka-Seltzer tablets to create carbon dioxide. By combining the ingredients in a sealed plastic film container, students stood back and watched as the pressure build-up caused their makeshift rockets to launch into the air with a satisfying pop. Egbert concluded by asking students what they might try in a future experiment to make their rockets fly even further.

“We need young scientists to come and help solve the problems in the world and to ask the good questions,” Egbert said. “So I hope you all go into science.”

Over in the Floyd building, Tyler Hansen, assistant professor of teaching and learning, taught a classroom of fifth-graders how to build electrical circuits using paper, copper tape, LED lights, and batteries.

“Circuits are how we carry electricity from one place to the other,” Hansen said. “They go only one direction, and specifically, it always goes from positive to negative.”

As part of the STEM Discovery Day, Finley Elementary fifth-graders learned how to build electrical circuits using paper, copper tape, LED lights, and batteries.

Student Alex Vasquez later cited Hansen’s activity as his favorite activity of the day, saying he enjoyed getting to see his experiment succeed after applying multiple red lights to the paper circuit.

“We got to turn on the lights without using switches,” Vasquez said.

Fifth-graders Tegan Bennett and Jace Gutzmer both enjoyed the music lab and 3D pen activity stations, where they combined STEM learning with creative expression to make beats and 3D-printed drawings.

“It was pretty fun,” Bennett said.

As the day’s events wrapped up, students gathered around the outdoor basketball court for one last demonstration led by Professor Joseph Iannelli from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, who quizzed the group on the difference between science and engineering.

“Science is about learning how nature works. Engineering is to take that knowledge and build items,” he said.

Demonstrating the relationship between science and engineering, Professor Joseph Iannelli and two of his students fly drones for Finley Elementary School students.

To illustrate his point, he produced a small remote-controlled drone as an engineered application of wind and force. Finley Students then got to watch as he and two university students flew drones around the space — cheering on as Iannelli carefully maneuvered his blue quadcopter through a basketball hoop.

The half-day event was made possible thanks to a generous grant from Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities (WHWF-TC), a nonprofit aimed at empowering women and children in the Tri-Cities region. The goal of the event was simple: Introduce young learners to the joys of STEM subjects in the hopes that some will go on to pursue science and technology professions later in life.

“You want kids to understand what the possibilities are for their future,” said Alysia Johnson, WHWF-TC executive director, who came to observe the opening and closing sessions. “This could help solidify what they want to do when they grow up, so these experiences are important.”

James Kindle, career connected learning coordinator for Educational Service District 123, agreed. As one of the outside organizers behind the event, he said the choice to target rural elementary school students was deliberate, noting that most STEM programs tend to focus on the high school age.

“And sometimes that’s more reactive than proactive, so with something like this this we’re planting the seed,” Kindle said. “We know that STEM is very important, especially for future jobs coming down the pipeline, and the more we can expose students to these types of activities the better. Because now they’ll go home and they’ll talk to their parents about the cool things that they got to do today.”

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Chasing bees and crafting community: environmental science grad finds her colony at �� Tri-Cities

Kyle Kopta — Wed, 20 May 2026 20:08:16 +0000

By Flynn Espe

Washington State University Tri-Cities graduate Rachel Holland spends a lot of her time��thinking about the��little��things��—��specifically,��insects.��She also��enjoys��sharing her fascination for these six-legged��invertebrates��and��their��remarkable��biodiversity��with��others.��

“There are parasitoids who lay their eggs in other insects, bees that sneak their eggs into other bees’ nests,” Holland says. “There are ants which wage wars with termites, sneaky beetles who find ways around their rivals for mates, and bees that turn rotting flesh into honey. I��don’t��think��I’ll��ever learn everything about them, which is exciting.”��

That��chitinous��curiosity is��shaping her next big step.��Having just completed her��bachelor’s��degree in��environmental and ecosystems sciences,��she’ll��be��continuing��this fall��as a��graduate student��in��the��Master of Science in Entomology program,��conducting��research on native bees��through��the��in Prosser.��

“My specific research will be on alfalfa fields,” she says.��“I’ll be going to Walla Walla half the time and then to Prosser��to see if the pesticide that they’re using is harmful at a greater rate than another pesticide they’re using on the leafcutter bees and the alkali bees.”��

Her path to this moment has been a rewarding, if��not quite typical, one. As a nontraditional, first-generation college student, Holland’s first attempt at college ended on a sour note. After graduating from high school in 2007, she went straight into taking classes at Columbia Basin College, but with little motivation or direction, her grades suffered and she dropped out shortly thereafter.��

Life moved on.��Holland got married and��soon��focused on raising a family. While her husband went to trade school and into the��workforce, Holland��worked as a stay-at-home mom and��embroidery artist,��selling intricate��craft��pieces��both locally and online.��Eventually,��Holland��decided she was ready to��pursue��a college��education��—��and hopefully find her��career��passion��—��once again.��

Although the plan was always to start at CBC and finish her bachelor’s degree at �� Tri-Cities, she didn’t begin with environmental studies in mind.��

“I originally was going to do elementary education with a history minor,” Holland says.��

Her��academic focus��began to��shift��when she found herself��unexpectedly enjoying��two lab classes��during her final CBC quarter.��One was��an environmental science lab that involved growing wheat under various conditions. The other was an entomology lab, which��included a final assignment that��had students catching insects in the wild��and pinning them for identification.��

“As soon as I had that net in my hand, I was ready to go,” Holland says. “The hands-on��part of it really transformed how I saw the world, and I thought, ‘I can��actually��do science.’”��

Not content simply to��pass her��classes,��Holland��succeeded in��graduating��from CBC��with honors��— no easy task, considering she��was still carrying her 2.0 GPA from years earlier.��

“I had to drag that 2.0 out of the mud,”��Holland says.��

Arriving��at �� Tri-Cities,��her��momentum��continued.��Having��switched��majors,��Holland��found��that environmental and ecosystem sciences offered��a satisfying blend of��physical science��with coursework��exploring��the��delicate interplay��between��manmade��and natural systems.��

“It covers so many bases but includes the human aspect of it, which is what I really like,” Holland says.��

Outside of class,��she��began��building friendships and community��wherever she went.��She��got involved in campus clubs,��serving in leadership roles such as��Environmental Club event coordinator and co-president for the��Women in STEM Club.��

As a senior, she��also��served as the Associated Students of �� Tri-Cities senator��for the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences,��advocating for students on a��range of��issues like campus recycling��and��a native plant garden for hands-on learning.��

The �� Tri-Cities Craft Club, which Holland co-founded, won the Student Organization of the Year award in 2025.

One of��Holland’s��proudest accomplishments��involved joining up with��friend and classmate Evalena Dalsbo��to launch and��nurture��a brand-new campus Craft Club, where��they and others could share��and spread��their love for the crafting arts. The club grew in popularity as��students of all��backgrounds��met up��for��sewing,��sculpting, embroidery, and��other seasonal craft projects.��Their team��went��on��to win the��“Student Organization��of the Year”��award at the 2025 Student Excellence Awards.��

“That club is really fun because everybody can come in there��— engineers, psychology majors, English majors, people I would not meet in classes,”��Holland says.��

Last May, Holland was honored as a recipient of the 2026 �� Tri-Cities Award for Distinguished Career in Leadership.

Alongside her club involvement,��Holland gained��additional��experience��as��a��lab teaching��assistant��and��student intern��for the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures’��Energy Ambassadors Network.��It all added up��to��Holland��being honored last month as one of three recipients of the 2026 �� Tri-Cities��Award for Distinguished Career in Leadership.��

If it all sounds like a lot to juggle,��it was. Fortunately, Holland says, she had��a strong support��network��— including her husband and��two��kids,��now in the fourth and sixth grades.��

“It’s definitely been a group effort,” she says.��

She��also credits��the��helpful guidance she received from the�� Tri-Cities TRIO��Student Support Services team.��

Case in point,��Holland��says she still recalls the stress��and uncertainty��she felt at the beginning of her junior year,��when an overpacked course load had her questioning her degree path.��“I was taking an ecology��lab, statistics��lab, and organic chemistry lab — and then another class that did not have a lab attached to it,” Holland says. “That was, on paper, only 15 credits.”��

Not knowing if��she’d��made a��poor scheduling��decision or��simply needed to��push��through, Holland��says��a��drop-in��meeting��to the��TRIO��office��brought her clarity��and relief.��TRIO��staff��confirmed��she’d��taken on an unusually��heavy course��load��and��walked��her through the steps of how to��revise��her schedule.��

“I��couldn’t��have made that decision without TRIO being like, ‘You’re��not insane.��This is��actually really��hard what you decided to do,’” Holland says.��

TRIO staff came through again this past year��when��she��was��still considering��grad��school.��By talking through the process��and working with staff on a step-by-step��plan, Holland felt��better��prepared to��ask her professors the right questions��and��ultimately apply.��

Having completed her bachelor’s degree in environmental and ecosystems sciences, Holland is continuing her academic journey as a �� graduate student in the Master of Science in Entomology program.

Now,��as a graduate student,��Holland says��she’s��looking forward to��doing more of what she loves — exploring the vast world of insects and��engaging with other scientists in a laboratory setting.��She’s��also excited to be working at the intersection of ecology and agriculture.��

“A major component of agriculture is insects, whether that is beneficial or pest,” she says. “I can see myself continuing to do research and make changes at the government level like in��the��Washington State Department of Agriculture��or through education.”��

When asked about advice she has for��others��starting their own college��journey, Holland��encourages students to��seek out��professors��for academic and career��advice��and��to take advantage of new opportunities.��

“Go to meetings that you��probably don’t��think you belong in. Go to an engineering meeting even if��you’re��not an engineer,” she says.��“If you see an opportunity and you think,��‘I might want to do that,’ just do it.��What’s��the worst��that can happen?”

The post Chasing bees and crafting community: environmental science grad finds her colony at �� Tri-Cities appeared first on �� Tri-Cities.

Kennewick Public Hospital District dedicates $20,000 to social work scholarships for �� Tri-Cities students

Kyle Kopta — Wed, 20 May 2026 19:15:23 +0000

Washington State University Tri-Cities has received a $20,000 gift from the Kennewick Public Hospital District to establish scholarships for students pursuing careers in social work.

The funding supports �� Tri-Cities’ development of a new Bachelor of Social Work program, which aims to address the region’s growing need for qualified social work professionals. Social workers play a vital role in advocating for individuals and families across healthcare, education, and other public institutions, often serving people from historically underserved communities.

“We are very thankful to the Kennewick Public Hospital District for entrusting us with this generous gift,” said RoseAnne Droesch, director of the Bachelor of Social Work program. “These scholarship funds will help remove financial barriers for future �� Tri-Cities students who are committed to helping people across the region. This support reflects our mission to expand access to social work education, strengthen the workforce in Washington state, and prepare graduates who will address critical unmet needs. It sends a powerful message that their work matters and that our community stands behind them as they step forward on this educational path.”

The donation is made possible thanks to the Paul G. and Mabel Richmond Endowment Fund, which the hospital district oversees. The Richmond family was deeply committed to strengthening healthcare services in the Tri-Cities and supporting students entering health-related professions. Income generated by the fund allows the KPHD to continue investing in critical fields such as social work and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at �� Tri-Cities.

“We hope our $20,000 contribution eases the educational path for students in ��’s first-ever social service program — allowing them to focus on their mission of providing care for those in need without worrying about how their bills will be paid,” said Wanda Briggs, longtime KPHD board member. “We strongly support higher education because it’s an ideal collaboration with partners throughout the Tri-Cities who strive daily to improve healthcare and access for everyone.”

The post Kennewick Public Hospital District dedicates $20,000 to social work scholarships for �� Tri-Cities students appeared first on �� Tri-Cities.

������ Tri-Cities

������ Tri-Cities Career and Internship Fair connects job seekers with regional employers

Kennewick School District names ������ Tri-Cities its 2026 Community Partner of the Year

From classroom to laboratory: ������ Tri-Cities alumna partners with BSEL research team

H2C Day connects students with industry leaders and career insights

������ Tri-Cities Fall 2026 Education Summit registration now open

New partnership launches training network for entrepreneurs and businesses

Community��feedback will shape programming��

New master’s degree expands horizons for ������ wine science students

Hands-on STEM Discovery Day inspires young learners at ������ Tri-Cities

Chasing bees and crafting community: environmental science grad finds her colony at ������ Tri-Cities

Kennewick Public Hospital District dedicates $20,000 to social work scholarships for ������ Tri-Cities students

�� Tri-Cities

�� Tri-Cities Career and Internship Fair connects job seekers with regional employers

Kennewick School District names �� Tri-Cities its 2026 Community Partner of the Year

From classroom to laboratory: �� Tri-Cities alumna partners with BSEL research team

�� Tri-Cities Fall 2026 Education Summit registration now open

New master’s degree expands horizons for �� wine science students

Hands-on STEM Discovery Day inspires young learners at �� Tri-Cities

Chasing bees and crafting community: environmental science grad finds her colony at �� Tri-Cities

Kennewick Public Hospital District dedicates $20,000 to social work scholarships for �� Tri-Cities students