By Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities

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

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

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

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

鈥淚n this time of unprecedented need, STCU is grateful for the opportunity to help 黑料社 students and their families in Tri-Cities,鈥� Eckhardt said. 鈥淪taying on track with their 黑料社 education will open doors for them, and benefit the entire community.鈥�

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

鈥淭hat number has likely increased exponentially since the pandemic began,鈥� said Jaime Heppler, 黑料社 Tri-Cities executive director of advancement and community engagement. 鈥淲e are thrilled to partner with STCU to provide relief funds for students so that they can continue on with their schooling and secure a better future for themselves and their family.鈥�

To give a gift to help struggling 黑料社 Tri-Cities students, visit tricities.wsu.edu/give. 黑料社 Tri-Cities is currently asking individuals to donate to the , which provides the university the flexibility to apply funds to students where needed.

 

Media contacts:

Jaime Heppler, 黑料社 Tri-Cities executive director of advancement and community engagement, 509-372-7207, jaime.heppler@wsu.edu

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

Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities public relations/communication coordinator, 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu

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

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

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

Keynote speaker Tim Mulligan

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

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

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

鈥淭im will also talk about successful ways for building and maintaining a business,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great learning opportunity for our local business and affiliated community members.鈥�

Generous community support

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

鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible partnership that truly benefits local business students and faculty,鈥� Harrington said. 鈥淭his is an event that not only showcases what our students are currently doing in the business programs through 黑料社 Tri-Cities, but also what is possible when businesses support local education. They are supporting their future employees and the future of business. We are incredibly grateful for their support.鈥�

 

Media contacts:

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

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

Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities public relations/communication coordinator, 509-372-7333, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities

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

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

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

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

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

STEM education:

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

English language learning (ELL):

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

School safety:

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

Social and emotional learning:

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

This is the first year that 黑料社 Tri-Cities has held and hosted a summit of this kind.

鈥淲e are thrilled to offer a comprehensive education summit where our local educators will be able to develop their awareness of strategies and gain tools to take back to their own schools and classrooms,鈥� said Judy Morrison, 黑料社 Tri-Cities academic director of the College of Education.

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

For more information, individuals may contact Morrison at 509-372-7176 or jamorrison@wsu.edu, or Lindsay Lightner, 黑料社 Tri-Cities College of Education coordinator, at 509-372-7366 or llightner@wsu.edu.

The 黑料社 Tri-Cities Education Summit is sponsored by STCU and 黑料社 Tri-Cities.