By Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities听

RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� Up to听50听students can now check-out laptops through Washington State University Tri-Cities as part of a new laptop loan program launched by the Associated Students of 黑料社 Tri-Cities, the campus鈥� student government.听

AS黑料社TC saw a need for technology support for students听this summer听and voted to dedicate $9,700 of funds toward purchasing 20 new laptops that students听can听check-out听free of cost听for use throughout their educational experience at 黑料社 Tri-Cities.听

Additionally, Cadwell recently donated 30 laptops听to 黑料社 Tri-Cities听for听student use,听some听of which will be听awarded听to students听for permanent ownership听and the others will be rented out through the AS黑料社TC program.听The Cadwell laptops are all previously听used, but听have been听refurbished听and have new hard drives.听

鈥淚n the 21st听century, having a reliable computer is necessary to succeed in higher education, whether you are taking classes in-person, hybrid, or online,鈥�听AS黑料社TC President Robin听Kovis听said. 鈥�AS黑料社TC decided to jump start this program because we know the demand for reliable technology surged with the virtual shift.鈥�听

Kovis听said AS黑料社TC will be working with the Office of Advancement to ensure that the program continues well into the future.听

鈥淲e hope that this new program will help to close some of the equity gaps within higher education,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ore than anything, the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted some of the deep economic inequalities our country still faces today 鈥� Our campus community is not immune to these financial hardships. Many students and family members who support students听have experienced the brunt of this economic slowdown during the pandemic.听We felt it is our duty as student leaders to cushion that impact in any way we could.鈥�听

The AS黑料社TC laptop loan program is being offered to 黑料社 Tri-Cities students in addition to a separate 黑料社 systemwide program offered at no cost to students through the 黑料社 Provost鈥檚 office that allows students to apply to check-out a听听or听.

Kovis听said they are听excited听that Cadwell donated additional laptops, as it means that even more students will have access to technology, even beyond COVID-19.听

鈥淕enerous donations like this from individuals and businesses within our community are ultimately what will ensure the long-term success of our laptop program,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause of Cadwell鈥檚 donation, the reach of the laptop rental program is now much greater.鈥�

Students can听apply听to check-out a laptop through听the听听located on the听黑料社 Tri-Cities Student Support Services website at听tricities.wsu.edu/current-students/support.听

Those interested in giving to the AS黑料社TC laptop loan program should contact Laura Sanchez, 黑料社 Tri-Cities director of campus student support services, at laura.sanchez1@wsu.edu.

 

Media contacts:听

Robin听Kovis,听Associated Students of 黑料社 Tri-Cities president,听robin.kovis@wsu.edu听

Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities assistant director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617,听maegan_murray@wsu.edu听

By Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities

RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� is the recipient of a $35,000 grant from , which operates the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 . The grant will be used to provide relief to students experiencing hardship amid COVID-19 and to support technology needs for instruction and academics.

The funds will be used for an assortment of purposes, ranging from individual student support amid financial hardships and struggles, to purchasing vital equipment for faculty to use in conducting virtual instruction, to providing students with technology resources ranging from laptop computers to Wi-Fi Hot Spots so they have reliable technology and broadband service to successfully attend and complete their courses.

鈥淚n a time with so much uncertainty and when many of our students and their families have lost their jobs or have had their hours reduced, more students are experiencing unanticipated hardships that negatively impact their ability to continue with their college education,鈥� said Sandra Haynes, Chancellor of 黑料社 Tri-Cities. 鈥淭hese funds will go a long way in supporting students on their road to obtaining a higher education degree and setting them up to succeed in their lives.鈥�

Numerous studies have shown that students who obtain a college degree earn $1 million more on average over their lifetime than those without a degree, have greater career stability and versatility and are more resilient during economic recessions, Haynes said. Many 黑料社 Tri-Cities degree programs, she said, are rooted in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, which makes the gift a great fit for supporting students who will go on to professionally serve at organizations such as PNNL.

鈥淭his is one small thing we can do to provide relief to so many students on their road to educational and professional success,鈥� said Steven Ashby, director of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 鈥淓arning a college degree is an important achievement and sets students up for success for generations to come. Our community benefits when we support educational success.鈥�

The 黑料社 system partners with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in an assortment of areas, ranging from research, to academic and STEM-based collaborations and more. In 2018, 黑料社 and PNNL solidified their partnership through the establishment of the , which focus on Nuclear Science and Technology, Advanced Grid and Bioproducts.

鈥淭hese funds support our region鈥檚 students who will go on to become our nation鈥檚 future scientists, engineers, communicators, designers and more,鈥� said Paula Linnen, executive director of external affairs at PNNL.

 

Media contacts:

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

Greg Koller, public affairs, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 509-372-4864, Greg.Koller@pnnl.gov

Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities assistant director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu