PASCO -- It's the first day of summer school at Columbia Basin College and more students are taking advantage of the session to get a boost on their education.

So far, there are more than 1,500 students enrolled in the summer session.

That's more than an 8% increase from last year.

Many students say this is the first time they've gone to summer school, and they're taking classes so they can graduate earlier than originally planned.

Some say they want to be ready make good money in the tough economy as soon as possible.

"I have been trying to look for a job. I actually work at McDonald's right now, but I want something better than that. So that's why I'm going to school. So I can finish faster and run my own business, instead of working for somebody else" said Jose Munguia, student.

The deadline to register for the summer session at Columbia Basin College is tomorrow.

Don't get thee to a nunnery. Instead, head over to Columbia Basin College's Summer Showcase Series to catch the latest revival of Nunsense.

The only survivors of a bad batch of soup, five nuns try to gather money to lay their dead counterparts to rest, after buying a TV and playing bingo, of course.

Ten years after their last hurrah, the Sisters Mary are back in the musical that makes you question the ladies in black.

"We had nuns come to the show once," said Marsha Polk, who plays Sister Mary Hubert.

"They sat through the show giggling and asked, 'How do they know we do that?' "

"That" being inside jokes about the habits and life inside a convent.

The tightknit cast includes Joyce Bean as Mother Superior; Marsha Polk as Sister Hubert; her right-hand nun, Signe Wurstner as the dancing Sister Mary Leo; Melina Hall as Sister Amnesia and newcomer Molly Holleran as Sister Robert Anne keeping everyone on their toes.

The role of Robert Anne is the only one who has had a different actress in the habit for every one of Nunsense's four appearances, and a stroke of divine intervention led Holleran to her new destiny.

"I heard her sing Adelaide's Lament and thought, if she can do that, then she'd be perfect for our ensemble," said director Ginny Quinley.

But what's perfection without a little practice?

Stepping in to a cast that has had the same recurring roles since Nunsense first premiered in 1992, "was overwhelming," Holleran admitted. "Everyone knew each other and their lines already."

Rehearsing since March, the cast interact like sisters, and it shows.

"These nuns bring a truth and sincerity to their characters that other productions have not," Quinley said.

Are these roles their true calling from the Big Guy? Only time will tell ...

"Well, we were called four times from Ginny," Hall said.

Performances are July 3-5, 7 and 10-12. July 5 and 12 are matinees at 2 p.m. with all other performances at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at Shelby's Floral, Adventures Underground and the CBC Performing Arts office for $15 adults or $12 for students and seniors.

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

The Class of 2009 graduated from CBC on Friday, June 19, 2009, at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.

Michelle Tyson of West Richland, right, puts on her gown while her nephew Hudson Tyson, 2, holds her cap while waiting to enter the Toyota Center in Kennewick for the Columbia Basin College 2009 Commencement. Hudson's mom is Brittni Daffe of Richland, center. More than 400 students participated in this year's graduation out of 938 students eligible. See photo gallery posted on this site. - photo by Richard Dickin,TCH

Lining the halls downstairs at the Toyota Center on Friday night, Columbia Basin College students geared up for a long-anticipated moment: Graduation.

More than 400 students fidgeted with their navy blue caps and gowns in "the tunnel" while thousands of friends and family members filled the seats, anxious to get a photograph of the special moment.

"Relish the moments of life as they pass," said CBC President Richard Cummins in his introductory speech to the crowd at CBC's 53rd commencement exercise.

Taking note of all the smiles and the emotions in the center, he reminded the graduates, "(Happiness) is not something that happens to you, it's something you make."

The college awarded one-year certificates and two-year degrees to 938 students -- 93 of whom received their high school diploma two weeks ago.

Juan Trevio, president of the Associated Students of Columbia Basin College, addressed the crowd in Spanish before the graduating class took to the stage to receive their diplomas.

"Me gustara dar las gracias a todos los paps," he began, saying thank you to all of the parents for their love and support before he continued in English.

Trevio thanked his parents, faculty and peers for being his support system before ending with a final shout-out to his mom, saying, "Gracias mam, te quiero mucho."

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

Michael Carroll, right, gets a hug from her late son's fiancé, Nichole Rushin, Thursday in the front yard of their Richland home. The two will receive diplomas together at tonight's graduation ceremony for CBC. Photo by Bob Brawdy of the Tri-City Herald

Michael Carroll started taking classes at Columbia Basin College in Pasco in the early 1970s.

She'll finally graduate today after taking time out to raise a family and see her three children attend college.

"The kids all got their degrees. My husband got his degree. It was time for me, I guess," she said with a laugh earlier this week.

Carroll, 57, of Richland, will receive her associate degree at a 7 p.m. ceremony at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. The college is awarding two-year degrees and one-year certificates to 930 students.

Back when Carroll started taking classes at CBC, the college looked a lot different, she said. She wouldn't have been able to take online classes back then, which is how she completed the three courses she needed for her degree -- physical geography, computer science and history.

Carroll re-enrolled last year after her middle child, Ben, died. He had spinal muscular atrophy, a degenerative disease that weakened his muscles and left him in a wheelchair.

But he also had a tenacious spirit. He graduated from Hanford High School in 1996, then went onto the University of Washington and Pepperdine University's law school in California.

Carroll went with him because he needed daily care. Her husband, David, a dentist, and their other children, daughters Jennifer Lopez and Wendy Dammarell, also made regular trips to help.

Ben was sworn in as an attorney by Judge Craig Matheson in 2004. He died in April 2008 at age 30.

His fiancée Nichole Rushin, a Texas native who moved to the Tri-Cities to be with Ben, also is graduating from CBC tonight.

She lives with the Carrolls, and the family is planning a party to celebrate the women's accomplishment. Michael Carroll also has a niece, Aariann Ibatuan, graduating from CBC.

Rushin said education was important to Ben and he wanted her to get her degree.

"It wasn't just my dream and wish, it was his too," she said. "I think he'd be really excited and really proud."

Both women said they're excited to don their caps and gowns. They worked hard to do well in class and are happy to see that pay off together. Carroll proudly pointed out that Rushin is graduating with honors.

The 24-year-old plans to continue with her education. Rushin is headed to Corban College in Salem this August to pursue a degree in education.

Carroll, who works at her husband's dental office, also has plans for her degree.

"I get to put (it) up on the wall with all those kids' degrees," she said, laughing. "I don't get to be left out now."

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

Columbia Basin College will switch to summer hours Monday, June 22. Office hours will be 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Thursday, and 7 a.m. – noon on Fridays.

The college will return to normal operating hours September 8. Summer quarter begins June 29.

View the Tri-City Herald Photo Gallery

Maria Ramirez proudly displays her diploma Friday night at Columbia Basin College's 22nd annual GED & High School Completion ceremony. CBC Awarded over 600 students either a GED or high school diploma. - Photo by Richard Dickin, TCH

The Columbia Basin College High School Equivalency, or HEP, program recently graduated 75 students with their general education development, or GED, certificate.

The federal grant program is designed to assist migrant/seasonal farmworkers earn their GED, the equivalent of a high school diploma and subsequently get a job, attend college or other training.

The program expects another 25 students to receive their GED by September.

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

TRI-CITIES -- There is an upside to a down economy. Local community colleges are seeing record enrollment. These tough times for job seekers have more people heading back to school.

"We're getting increases in every area of the college," said CBC president Rich Cummins.

It's another record breaker for Columbia Basin College. Summer enrollment is above last year's record. The number signed up for fall is already up and it's only June.

"Record enrollment in the worst economy in 80 years. More people want to come back to college but there are fewer slots for them," Cummins said.

CBC's president looks at enrollment every week. He sees a direct link to the number of students and the number out of work.

Oregon just released its unemployment figures. The unemployment rate is not going up as fast as it was, but at 12.4%, it's still a record breaker.

That is more than double this time last year, and one of the worst rates in the country. Washington releases its numbers Tuesday.

"People losing jobs, it's (college) an alternative in hopes of getting a job again," said Sarah Conley.

Conley should know, she's a community college student.

"My mother is about to enroll and she's 42. She thinks a college degree will get her a better job," said Conley. Action News called four different schools: Yakima Valley Community College, Blue Mountain Community College, CBC and Walla Walla Community College.

At WWCC, the school saw a 25% increase in Spring enrollment compared to Spring 2008.

All four schools told us the same thing. They're seeing more students apply and more students enroll.

But it's all happening while the schools’ budgets are getting slimmer.

"Don't be discouraged by the competition for seats. Motivated students will find what they need here. We're open for business," said Cummins.

Open for business in a time of bad business. Students might just have to wait out the recession in the classroom, so that they are first in line when jobs open back up.

So what programs are most popular right now? CBC's president says computer science and health-related fields.

Five years ago they had five health programs. Now they have nearly two dozen with plans to add more.

Columbia Basin College presents the class of 2009 at its 53rd commencement exercises this Friday at 7 p.m. in the Toyota Center.

CBC will award two-year degrees and one-year certificates to 930 students. Festivities will begin with the procession of dignitaries and faculty accompanied by the Desert Thistle Pipe Band. Students will follow with pomp and circumstance played by the Columbia Basin Concert Band. Speakers will include CBC president, Rich Cummins; board of trustees' chair, Salvador Beltran; Outstanding Alumnus Gary Spanner; faculty senate chair, Melissa McBurney; and ASB president, Juan Trevino.

The doors open at 6 p.m. and everyone is welcome to attend.

Maria Ramirez proudly displays her diploma Friday at Columbia Basin College's 22nd annual GED and High School Completion ceremony. CBC awarded over 600 students either a GED or high school diploma. Photo by Richard Dickin of the Tri-City Herald

For Pasco farmworker Adelfo Flores, getting his GED certificate Friday may be the start of a new journey.

"I'm excited," said the 32-year-old Flores, who last attended school in Mexico and now wants to study to be a mechanic.

And he said he's proud of his wife Miriam, 30, also a farmworker, who graduated with him.

"We worked hard for it," Adelfo said. "(The diploma) is very important for me and the community."

The couple were among the 148 graduates who attended the 22nd annual GED & High School Completion ceremony Friday night at the Columbia Basin College gymnasium.

Besides the Floreses, another couple, Luis and Irma Hernandez, and brother and sister Salvador and Maria Osorio also were among the graduates.

In all, the class of 2009 included 597 students who got their GED certificates and eight students who got their high school diplomas through CBC.

"This is a record number of graduates," said CBC spokesman Frank Murray.

CBC tested them all, but not every one attended CBC's program, Murray explained. Students also went through GED programs run by, among others, the Community Action Committee, Kennewick School District and Benton Franklin Juvenile Justice Center, he said.

The Floreses were part of CBC's high school equivalency program, Murray said.

About 1,000 family and friends gathered in the gymnasium to celebrate the occasion.

The joyous crowd loved keynote speaker Jose Hernandez, who broke into an impromptu rap as he shared a story from his time as a state trooper.

Set your goals, be creative and innovative to achieve them, said Hernandez, student achievement coordinator for the Pasco School District. "You're going to influence a lot of people," he said.

"Focus on what you want," he told the graduates.

Each one of you has the ability, but you need to be willing to work hard, he told the graduates.

"Recognize your strengths and make the most of it," Hernandez said.

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

The workshop, presented by Brenda J. Smith, will highlight immigration law, recent changes and what businesses need to do to comply with regulations.

It runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Gjerde Center at CBC. Cost per person is $149,

which includes lunch and materials.

For more information, call Linda Adams at 425-438-1145, ext. 107.

The workshop is sponsored by the Tri-City Development Council, Washington Manufacturing Services, Columbia Basin College and WorkSource Columbia Basin.

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

The HEP program is a federal grant program designed to assist migrant/seasonal farm workers in obtaining their GED, the equivalent of a secondary school diploma, and subsequently to gain employment or be placed in an institution of higher education or training.  HEP is currently in the fourth year of its second grant funding cycle.

HEP program director, Adan Suarez, expects another 25 HEP students will receive their GED by September.

PASCO -- The automotive, welding and machine technology programs at Columbia Basin College in Pasco will be getting a new home.

Heavy equipment sits idle Thursday as Columbia Basin College President Rich Cummins addresses a gathering at Thursday's ground breaking ceremony for the college's new 80,000 square-foot career tech center at the Pasco campus. Photo by Bob Brawdy of the Tri-City Herald

Ground was broken Thursday on the Center for Career and Technical Education, a nearly 80,000-square-foot facility that will replace the aging V building.

Construction will start this month. The center is supposed to be finished in time for winter quarter 2011.

"I'm elated to see how much progress we've made," said Board of Trustees chairman Sal Beltran during Thursday's ceremony.

Deep cuts in the state operating budget have hit the college hard, but leaders will continue planning and working for the future with projects like the center, he said.

About 100 people attended the half-hour ceremony, including community and education leaders.

Construction of the new facility will cost $16.6 million. Chervenell Construction of Kennewick is the contractor.

The center will be paid for with money from the state's capital budget, which is different from the operating budget.

The new center will be about twice as large as the V building, with room to offer more programs down the road, said Rich Cummins, CBC president.

CBC leaders especially want to start a nuclear technology program and are reaching out to the community for help making that happen.

The programs to be housed in the center are critical, Cummins said. Even with the slumping economy, there still are jobs going unfilled because there aren't enough skilled workers, he said. The programs help meet that need, he said.

Eduardo Enriquez, an automotive student, said the new facility will help motivate students like him.

"The building and the new technology will help students develop technical skills" and boost morale, he said.

The center is going up on the north side of campus near Argent Street.

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

PASCO, Wash.--  More than 200 parents and students are one step closer to going to college. This is after an informational session at Columbia Basin College Wednesday night.

7th, 8th, and 9th graders learned about the College Bound Scholarship Program. Students have to take a pledge to graduate high school with a 2.0 grade point average, stay crime free, and be from a low income family. Higher education coordinators say more people qualify for the scholarships than last year because of the economy.

CBC staff explain they don't want to let money stop anyone from going to school. Martin Valadez, Vice President of Diversity and Outreach at CBC, says, "We want students to pursue higher education.  We want to make sure that finance is not what's keeping them from pursuing their college dreams."

Finances certainly won't stop Seth Ackley. He's a ninth grader and took the pledge to go to college. He says, "I was here today to make sure I can go to college and do what I really want to do for a living. I want to be a game warden. It's like a police officer and helps with the hunting and stuff." Ackley has a 3.94 GPA.

The deadline for current 8th and 9th graders to apply for the scholarship is June 30th.

Parents are invited to bring their kids from preschool age through sixth-grade. CBC students will provide demonstrations and other fun activities with mathematics. For more information, contact Meg Bartrand at 542-4381.

The 22nd annual GED & High School Completion ceremony will be held June 12, 7 p.m. in the CBC gymnasium. A record 565 students will receive GED certificates. Seven others will receive their high school diploma through CBC's High School Completion program.

On June 13, the Dental Hygiene pinning ceremony will be held in the CBC Theatre at 6 p.m. The 17 graduates all recently passed their National Board exams.

CBC's Radiologic Sciences program will celebrate its second pinning ceremony June 20 for 16 graduates. The ceremony will be held in Gjerde Center at 1 p.m.

The CBC Nursing program will hold its pinning ceremony honoring 88 Associated Degree Nurses (ADN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) June 20. The ceremony begins at 3 p.m. in Art Fuller Auditorium in Kennewick.

Ruiz was encouraged to stay in school and pursue his dreams, and eventually graduated from Mattawa High School and attend Columbia Basin College. Now, the son of immigrants with a middle school education is heading across the state to the University of Washington with plans to one day be a surgeon.

Friday night, the 21-year-old was recognized for overcoming obstacles to become an exemplary student at Pasco's community college.

Ruiz has been a participant in the school's Student Support Services/TRiO program since 2007. He received the TRiO Spirit Award for staying motivated and really pushing himself in the last year.

Ruiz said the federal program -- offered for students with disadvantaged backgrounds -- changed him completely and gave him a new outlook on life. He has worked to complete his pre-medical requirements at CBC so he can transfer to UW this summer and major in biochemistry.

"They encouraged my goals and saw the passion that I had within me ...," he said. "We have the choice to decide our futures for ourselves. Now it's time to step out and see what your calling is. What are you going to dedicate your life to."

Columbia Basin's TRiO program held an achievement ceremony Friday at the Richland Shilo Inn to honor 16 Upward Bound graduates and 72 Student Support Services graduates and transfers.

Upward Bound helps low-income high school students prepare for college and ultimately become the first-generation in their family to graduate with a higher education degree.

Student Support Services also targets first-generation, low-income and disabled students with academic advising, career planning and financial information so they can stay in college, graduate or transfer to a four-year college.

Program requirements include a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade-point average, high motivation to graduate and certain skill levels for math, reading and writing.

Adn Tijerina, SSS director, told a room packed with students and loved ones that his program grows champions.

The event recognized Brooklynn N. Mitchell-Jefferson as Upward Bound's outstanding alumna and Tien Do for Student Support Services.

Shelley Patterson was named the outstanding Upward Bound supporter, and Bev Casey the top supporter for SSS. Both women work at Columbia Basin.

"I just wish every student at CBC had this kind of support that TRiO offers you," Patterson said.

Columbia Center Rotary gave $4,000 toward scholarships and $1,500 for resources, like textbooks.

Andy Miller, Benton County prosecutor and chair of the rotary club's education committee, commended the students and said their stories are inspiring.

"In my job I deal with people who are very sad and at challenging times in their lives ..." Miller said. "It's nice to see people doing well considering the challenges in their lives. And it is also nice to be in a room of happy people."

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

Plans to start a bachelor of applied science program in applied management this fall remain in place, with the college expecting to admit up to 35 students.

Applications for the program are due by June 30.

"We're hoping for a robust pool of applicants for our first class," said CBC President Rich Cummins.

CBC is closing its fire science day classes, human services, paralegal and auto body programs after losing $3.4 million in state funding for the next biennium.

CBC's operating budget before the cuts would have been about $31 million, with just less than $23 million coming from the state and the rest from tuition.

The budget adopted by the Legislature in late April reduced the college's allocation to about $20 million, resulting in the loss of the equivalent of 55 full-time jobs and as many as 1,000 students on campus.

But the money for the applied management program comes from a different fund the Legislature set aside to let community colleges offer some limited bachelor's degree programs and isn't affected by cuts to the operating budget, Cummins said.

The program was approved by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board last year.

David Lemak, the business instructor designing the curriculum, said it was a wise investment by the Legislature because the kind of people who become students in the program will contribute back to the local work force and economy.

"They are already established in this community and they are going back to work in this community," Lemak said. "They're pumping a bunch of earning power back into this community -- not just this state, but this community."

The program is designed to help students with associate of applied science degrees who are working in fields such as welding, office technology and computer science advance their careers by gaining business and management skills.

Because the program is aimed at working students, classes will be in the evenings or weekends.

For information or to apply, contact Business and Information Technology Dean Deborah Meadows at 542-4863 or dmeadows@columbiabasin.edu.

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

Construction will begin on the new building in June.  The Career and Tech Center will replace the current V building which is the oldest building on the CBC campus.  The new building will have nearly twice as much space as the V building.

The CCTE will house CBC’s Automotive, Welding, and Machine Technology programs, and potentially house Nuclear Technology and Solar/Electrical Design programs.  Construction will cost $16.6 million.

Energy Northwest CEO Vic Parrish and 8th District State Representative Larry Haler along with CBC President Richard Cummins will be among the speakers for the groundbreaking.  Completion of the new Center for Career and Technical Education is scheduled for winter quarter 2011.

Close to 90 Columbia Basin College TRiO students will be honored during an achievement ceremony held at the Richland Shilo Inn at 6 p.m. on May 29, 2009.  These students, who come from disadvantaged backgrounds (low-income, first-generation, disability or a combination), have successfully completed their program and are closer to earning a higher education degree. 

Upward Bound (UB), a program that serves low-income high school students by preparing them for college, will celebrate 15 students who will graduate from high school next month and move on to attend college in the fall.  This feat is commendable, as these students will become the first generation in their family to graduate from college.  Meanwhile, CBC Student Support Services (SSS) will successfully have helped 70 students graduate from CBC and transfer to a four-year college to continue their education. 

“TRiO programs change lives,” states SSS Director Adan Tijerina.  “Over the past 15 years, I’ve witnessed the struggles students with obstacles endure when attending unchartered college territory; but through these programs, they gain the knowledge and inspiration to complete their A.A., transfer and graduate from a four-year institution, and ultimately obtain the career they desire.  Their lives are changed and so are their families.”

Tien Van Do is an excellent example.  The former SSS student and CBC alumni went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Washington State University and is currently employed as an Academic Advisor for the Student Support Services/TRiO program at Lake Washington Technical College.  He is an outstanding Student Support Services Alum.

Brooklyn Mitchell will be honored as the Upward Bound Outstanding Alumna.  The Pasco High School graduate has come a long way.  After high school she earned her Associate of Arts Degree at Columbia Basin College.  In 2005, Brooklyn earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations and minor in English at Washington State University.  She is currently a Marketing Coordinator and Technical Writer for Meier Architecture.

The 2008 Outstanding CBC Supporters will be presented to Bev Casey and Shelly Patterson for their commitment to supporting SSS and UB students and programs.
The TRiO Spirit Award will be presented to Alexander Ruiz who plans to transfer to the University of Washington and major in Biochemistry.  Following this, he plans to apply and attend medical school and become a surgeon.

BACKGROUND
TRIO was established by Congress as a program under the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America’s economic and social life. 

Local higher education officials are looking beyond the current budget crisis to plans for the future.

Columbia Basin College President Rich Cummins and Washington State University Tri-Cities Chancellor Vicky Carwein spoke to the Columbia Basin Badger Club on Thursday about the state of their campuses given sweeping budget cuts by the state Legislature, and on what they're doing to plan for eventual growth.

"Though there are a lot of reasons to be negative about higher education, I am a hopeless optimist," Cummins said. "We have an ability to solve things creatively for the greater good of the people."

The Legislature cut funding for higher education and other state programs for the 2009-11 biennium to balance a $9 billion budget deficit. About $4 billion was cut from programs and the remaining $5 billion gap was filled using federal stimulus money, freezing salaries and pensions, and one-time transfers from other funds.

CBC lost about $3.4 million in operational money from the state, and Cummins announced last week that the college would shutter a few of its vocational programs to save money. It also will reduce enrollment by up to 1,000 students.

WSU overall lost a net of 10.4 percent, or $54.2 million, of its state funding after accounting for a 14 percent per year tuition increase. Cuts include eliminating 370 jobs statewide, shutting down several academic programs and reorganizing the university's administration.

Cuts to WSU Tri-Cities total $711,000, or about 10 percent of its state funding.

Despite the financial setbacks, Cummins and Carwein were positive about the demand for higher education in the Tri-Cities and expected growth at their campuses.

"The good news is CBC is not going to disappear," Cummins said. "We are going to contract a little."

The college is moving forward with plans to build a new Career and Technical Center starting in June, and Cummins remains hopeful about getting legislative approval for a performing arts center that, with contributions from city governments, could serve the region.

"We have bright things in our future," he said.

Carwein is focusing efforts on building community partnerships, such as the one with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory that built the Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory, which opened last summer.

She also announced she got approval from the administration in Pullman to apply for a Hispanic-Serving Institution designation from the federal Department of Education.

Dick Pratt, vice chancellor for academic affairs, said by telephone Thursday afternoon that the branch campus would have to show 25 percent of its students are Hispanic before it applies. WSU Tri-Cities could meet that standard this fall, but given a June deadline, the application won't be submitted this year.

"It's a long-term strategy," Pratt said.

Getting the designation would allow WSU Tri-Cities to apply for grant funding to strengthen its offerings for Hispanic students, but that also would provide benefits for other students on campus, Pratt said.

Jaime Contreras, director of student affairs, said getting the designation would show WSU Tri-Cities has a commitment to diversity.

"It would be a huge boost to this area because it shows an intentional desire by this community institution to court the fastest-growing population," he said.

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

A collection of art created by students of Columbia Basin College will be on exhibit through June 11 in the Fred Esvelt Gallery on the Pasco campus.

The juried show features conventional and curious art mediums including paintings, sculpture, drawings, graphics, illustration, photography, jewelry, ceramics, fabric art and design.

Samantha Ray of Kennewick created an unusual sculpture, titled CommitmentPhobia, for the juried show. The piece symbolizes the epitome of the old ball-and-chain theory.

"I made it because commitment phobia is an issue I have been dealing with for a while," Ray said. "I almost ended up married at 19 (and) while engaged I hated it. I felt claustrophobic and wanted out of it so bad.

"I was too young and still had so much I wanted to do with my life. So I broke off the engagement and ended the relationship. That ended up being the right thing to do and a huge weight was lifted off my chest."

And there lies the significance of Ray's mixed media sculpture, which depicts a nude woman with a ball and chain dangling from her feet and her ring finger missing.

"Even though this all happened two years ago, I still have had a hard time fully committing to a relationship," Ray said. "You could say that I have been relationship-shy for a while. That is what inspired this piece.

"I wanted to convey the feeling of being trapped and willing to do almost anything to get out of a situation -- like cutting off your ring finger, which is attached to a ball and chain. I wanted anybody who was looking at it to apply it to any situation they are going through, not just marriage."

Jessica McCoy's Exuberated Apathy is another interesting piece in the exhibition, which is an oil painting featuring the head of a woman deep in thought. Using bold, powerful colors, McCoy's painting was mean to accentuate the absence of excitement on the human face.

"I wanted the piece to conflict itself through the medium and the subject matter," said Kennewick resident McCoy. "The harsh, rough texture and strokes of the paint show excitement and the subject matter's careless face shows its lack of interest in anything exciting.

"After my piece was finished I felt the loud colors and textures, along with the plain, rather somber face, created somewhat of a balance within the piece."

Her ultimate goal, she added, was to stir up thoughts, feelings and emotions to the viewer.

Pasco resident Erin Schmidt's Convergence: A Study in Urban Crawl is a 3-foot-by-4-foot abstract mosaic that represents the merging of the Snake and Yakima rivers with the Columbia River and the urban sprawl that has developed because of the area's vast resources.

"I have been astonished by the enormous population growth in the Tri-Cities area," Schmidt said. "The Tri-Cities metropolitan area is currently the fastest growing region in Washington state, and the vast sprawl of new housing developments clearly are a reflection of this growth."

The Juried Student Art Exhibition continues through June 11. Admission is free.

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

PASCO, Wash. --  For college senior Alex Lasota, the end is in sight, and a year early.

"I really enjoyed the program personally because it got me a year ahead, a head start," she says.

Lasota started Columbia Basin College in her senior year of Richland High thanks to the 'Running Start' program. She's since graduated with an associates degree. Now it's on to her bachelor's degree at WSU Tri-Cities.

"I'm studying english and digital technology and culture," Lasota adds.

And best of all for her, it was a year of free tuition.

"I'm thinking of grad school, so it really helped me out in that aspect," she says.

"The money is transferred from the K-12 institution to the college institution and the family doesn't pay tuition," says Columbia Basin College President Richard Cummins.

And that's part of the problem. The college is losing $3 million, an estimated 1,000 students, and adding a 7% tuition hike. Some say its unfair high school students get a free ride. But CBC president Richard Cummins defends the program.

"That's based on the idea these students aren't regular students," he notes. "They are regular college students."

The program has grown since the state legislature adopted it in the early 1990s. Now almost 500 high school students are taking college level courses at CBC.

"Our teachers don't know who the running start students are," adds Cummins. "They might make some guesses, but the law is blind to that."