Press Releases

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Want to learn about history at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in a new way? There’s an app for that! The Fort Vancouver Mobile application will make its public debut 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 9, in conjunction with a Brigade Encampment and National Get Outdoors Day. Admission to the event is free.

The free app—funded by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Clark County Commissioners and Washington State University Vancouver—is the first interpretation-oriented app in the National Park Service system. This research project has been developed by a core of about 20 scholars, many in the creative media and digital culture program at WSU Vancouver, with the support of students as well as new media professionals in the region and bolstered by the volunteer efforts of more than 100 people throughout the community. WSU Vancouver faculty member Brett Oppegaard is coordinating the project, and fellow faculty members Sola Adesope, John Barber, Steve Fountain, Dene Grigar, Will Luers and Michael Rabby have contributed to the project.

While many apps provide textbook-like information about people or places in history, or connect...

VANCOUVER, Wash. – For those tired of science fairs riddled with foaming volcanoes and half-sprouted bean plants, the scientific work of Cascade Middle School students participating in the Partners in Discovery of the Columbia River Watershed GK-12 Project comes as a welcome divergence with real-world implications. Testing the relationship between different kinds of land use and water quality at Burnt Bridge Creek, the Cascade Middle School students’ study will be one of many innovative GK-12 projects showcased from 6 - 8 p.m. May 23 in the Firstenburg Student Commons at Washington State University Vancouver. This event is free and open to the public. Parking is free. 

Cascade Middle School is one of nine schools from Battle Ground, Camas, La Center and Vancouver to participate and showcase student work from the Partners in Discovery GK-12 project. The project, "Global Change in a Local Context," develops and supports learning environments where sixth – ninth grade teachers and students partner with WSU Vancouver graduate student scientists to investigate the implications of growth and change on the Columbia River and its watershed.

By pairing middle school...

Business Growth MAP awards for Showing Significant Leadership Abilities were given to Dana Olson and Joseph Zimmerman

VANCOUVER, Wash. –The Business Growth Mentor and Analysis Program in the College of Business at Washington State University Vancouver celebrated the end of a successful semester last Thursday with awards and presentations.

Business Growth MAP provides high-level consulting services to help businesses and non-profit organizations in Southwest Washington grow and create jobs in our community. The program pairs business students, faculty mentors and recent business graduate advisors with businesses that are looking to grow. The program consulted with 21 businesses spring semester.

Michele Bloomquist, co-owner of Heisen House Vineyards said she had her fingers and toes crossed that her business would be accepted into the program.

“I am...

From left: Peter Olsen, Shaynne Goodwin, Brooke Quick, Carrie Shinn, Bernie Rodriguez

Students from the College of Business and the Collegiate DECA chapter at Washington State University Vancouver recently competed at the International Career Development Conference in Utah and the Western States Collegiate Sales Competition in California.

Representing the WSU Vancouver Collegiate DECA chapter, five business students competed April 21-24 at the International Career Development Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Business students Shaynne Goodwin, Peter Olsen, Brooke Quick, Bernie Rodriguez and Carrie Shinn competed against more than 900 international university students.

Quick and Olsen competed as a team in the Business Ethics competition. Together, the students performed well enough to advance to the finals—scoring in the top 10 among finalists....

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Joining the national effort to connect military kids with the children of other active military families in their community, Washington State University Extension has launched Operation Military Kids Vancouver. Developed by local community and military organizations and Peggy Gresham, WSU Extension regional team coordinator, OMK Vancouver will serve the needs of youth from the National Guard, Army Reserve and other military families living in civilian communities and experiencing deployment.

Through its partnership with the WSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Program, OMK will offer military youth in Vancouver the opportunity to connect through educational activities, summer camps, community volunteering and traditional 4-H club programs. This programming will encourage military youth to form relationships and develop valuable life skills that will assist them with the challenges facing their families before as well as after deployment.

Although Vancouver is not directly connected to a military base, the National Guard and Reserve families, veterans and former military kids living in the area understand the necessity for such a program in...

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington State University Vancouver will graduate a record 979 students at its 2012 commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. May 12 at the Sleep Country Amphitheater. Karen Schmaling, vice chancellor for academic affairs, will preside over the ceremony. Washington State Supreme Court Justice Steven C. González will give the keynote address. WSU Vancouver will present five special awards during the ceremony.

BACKGROUND ON THE CLASS OF 2012

The graduating class of 2012 is represented by nine doctoral candidates in the areas of education, American studies and psychology.

The 121 master’s candidates will receive degrees in accounting, business administration, computer science, education, environmental science, history, mechanical engineering, nursing, public affairs and teaching.

The remaining 849 bachelor’s candidates will receive degrees in anthropology, biology, business...

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Are you planning a career in a health related field? Attend Washington State University Vancouver’s Health Professions Graduate School Fair from 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26 in the Firstenberg Student Commons. Meet with admissions representatives from more than 20 graduate schools to discover which graduate program is right for you.

“This event is a great opportunity for current students and community members to explore career options and graduate programs in the healthcare field,” said Carson Creecy, WSU Vancouver admissions counselor.

Participating colleges and universities will represent medical doctor programs, dental programs, chiropractic, acupuncture and Chinese medicine, nursing, nurse practitioner, herbal medicine, massage, veterinary, healthcare MBA and more. Graduate programs from throughout the United States and one from London will be represented. To view a complete list of participating schools, visit http://studentaffairs.vancouver.wsu.edu/admissions/health-professions-graduate-school-fair.

Admission to the Health...

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Mark Hosler, co-founder of the experimental music and sound collage act “Negativland” and an instrumental person in the development of the Creative Commons, will screen his film, “Illegal Art,” and speak at 5 p.m. April 27 at North Bank Artists Gallery. His appearance is part of the “LOUD & Clear” media art exhibit and performance series sponsored by the creative media and digital culture program at Washington State University Vancouver and the Associated Students of Washington State University Vancouver.

The event, “Adventures in Illegal Art: Creative Media Resistance and Negativland,” takes on the notion of media literacy, the art of audio and visual collage, creative activism in a media-saturated, multi-national world, file sharing, intellectual property issues, evolving notions of art and ownership, and law in a digital age. Artistic and funny critiques of mass media and culture, and so-called “culture jamming” (a term coined by Negativland in 1984) will be part of the evening. The event is the brainchild of creative media and digital culture senior Brian McGovern and faculty member John Barber, who worked for more than a year to bring...

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington State University Vancouver will welcome Washington State Supreme Court Justice Steven C. González as its keynote speaker for the university’s 2012 commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. May 12 at the Sleep Country Amphitheater.

Before joining the Supreme Court in January, Justice González served for 10 years as a trial judge on the King County Superior Court hearing criminal, civil, juvenile and family law cases.  

Justice González earned his B.A. with honors in East Asian Studies from Pitzer College and his J.D. from U.C. Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) where he was the technical editor of the La Raza Law Journal. Prior to serving as a judge, Justice González coordinated hate crimes prosecutions as an assistant United States attorney in the Western District of Washington, prosecuted domestic violence...

VANCOUVER, Wash. – JPMorgan Chase & Co., a leading global financial services firm with operations in more than 60 countries including branches in Vancouver, Wash., has given $40,000 to the Business Growth Mentor & Analysis Program in the College of Business at Washington State University Vancouver. This is JP Morgan Chase’s second gift to the program for a total of $62,000.

The Business Growth Mentor & Analysis Program helps businesses in the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan region manage growth. Since spring 2011 the program has been providing high-level consulting services—pro bono—to help businesses and non-profit organizations grow and create jobs in our community.

While the Business Growth Mentor & Analysis Program is beneficial to businesses, it also offers business students the opportunity to put classroom knowledge into practice, gain consulting skills and develop project management skills. WSU Vancouver students work in teams under faculty direction and with the support of seasoned business professionals. The end product is a business assessment, recommendations for achieving business growth and success, and help with implementation.

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